To Aqualaria Bound

"Come on in," she said, joyfully.

Fred started to get in, then paused. Was he doing the right thing? He had duties of his own to carry out. Just why did he want to be with Astra so much, anyway? Then Fred realized. He was in love with her.

Immediately after he had that thought, Fred brushed it off. It was rediculous. How could someone fall in love with a woman after only having known her about a week? It sounded like one of the poems of an inferior court bard. And yet...

And yet Fred was definitely in love with her, he realized. However silly it seemed, he was. They were meant for each other. Fred admired Astra's nobility, courage, and compassion, and Astra did the same for Fred. And she was very beautiful indeed. And she clearly seemed to reciprocate his feelings.

But should he go with her? He still had a lot of duties to perform, ceremonial functions to attend. His father Duke Drederick would be very angry with him.

That settled it. Fred was definitely going. He leaped into Astra's carriage. "I think I'll enjoy this ride quite a bit," said Fred.

"I think I will too," said Astra. And the carriage sped off into the night.

In a dark room in an abandoned fortress not far from Castle D'Honaire...

"What do you mean he wasn't in his room?"

"Exactly that, my lord," said the assassin. "He wasn't in his room."

The man who the assassin was speaking with paced around the room. He was tall, and menacing, wearing clothing that obscured his face. "Where is he?"

"I don't know, my lord." The assassin was one of the greatest in the Great Kingdom, and was normally obsequious with no one. But this man was an exception. He could destroy him with a flick of his finger.

"I think I know where he is," said the man. "He's with Astra, I'll bet. He's probably fallen madly in love with her, like some sort of silly adolescent." He turned to the assassin. "We must go to the Queen's Palace in Aqualaria. Frederigo D'Honaire must die at any cost!"

"But why, my lord? He is no longer on a quest to stop you."

"That may be, but he is still dangerous to me. Do as I say, or I shall destroy you now!"

"Yes, Lord Zardoz." And the assassin left the room.

1. A few days later...

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