The Quest Renewed

"What you say is true," she declared. "My current predicament is no one's fault but my own, and I beg forgiveness."

"No apologies are necessary," said Belboz. "You reacted out of instinct, not malice."

"I humbly thank you," she replied. The woman then noted, with some surprise, that Belboz had not spoken Allarian, but some foreign tongue - and that she had first spoken to him, then answered, using that same tongue. "What language do we now speak?"

"It is called Tarani, the language of Shen Tso - the woman whose form you now wear. She was a woman of some acquaintance several years ago, a warrior of considerable skill and grace, who, alas, is no more. However, since you are now in Allaria, I will give you the ability to speak and understand our language, both spoken and written." Belboz made a motion with his fingers, and the armored woman felt the knowledge of the Allarian language enter her mind.

"Again, I thank you," she said in accented Allarian. "And, in honor of your friend who is no more, I will adopt her name - it seems 'Fred' no longer suits me." With a sigh, Shen Tso sat on the ground, cross-legged. "You say my new form is more suited to slaying the dragon, correct?"

"That is so," Belboz agreed. "The prophecies about the beast clearly indicate that a woman is the one who can slay it. It lives at the heart of the caves, and the path to it is filled with danger in many forms."

Shen Tso considered this for a moment, then rose. "Very well. I have given the King of this land my word that I will slay the dragon, and I will do so. It seems, that without meaning to, you have given me an advantage, and for that, I thank you. Now, though, I must complete my quest."

She bowed low to the magician, who returned the gesture. As she headed to exit the cave, though, Belboz called after her. "Shen Tso! Before you leave, there is one very important thing you must know!"

1. "You cannot return to the castle when you are done - the original Shen Tso is wanted by the King for epsionage!"
2. "Your sword is magically charged. It's the only thing that can kill the dragon!"
3. "You'll meet two elves further in the passageways! Beware of the one wearing green!"
4. "I - I was engaged to Shen Tso! Please be careful - I still love her - you - and I can't bear the though of losing you twice!"
5. "The dragon you seek was once human - it was, in fact, originally Shen Tso!"
6. Before Belboz can elaborate, another heavily armed woman charges into the chamber and slashes him with a sword.

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