The Champions have had an understandable tendency to view Terra Prime as
being somehow central in the scheme of things. Thus it is something of
a surprise for them to hear about Midworld, a place that it seems really
is at the centre. They are also surprised
to find that they seem to have had a narrow escape from being turned into
griffins.
But it is when pixie
Fred reveals that the person he talked to had claimed to be called Zerm
that
they really get a shock.
There is a long silence whilst they digest this news. Eventually Dragon Synizn says: "We know that analogs can be radically different in character. We've got what seems to be a prime example with us now in Arthema. But I must say I find it hard to accept the notion that an analog of Zerm could be anything but evil." "But he had us in his power, yet did nothing to us," Jarlath points out. "I suppose he could be under some delusion and not really be Zerm, but what he told Fred was enough to convince me. But we have a more pressing problem to deal with. What are we to do with Arthema, whose followers are now all griffins, if we believe what we were told? Zerm apparently gave us two options for her fate." "I must fight her to the death in single combat," Astra 9 says flatly. "Thessamer honour demands nothing less. I've never really hated anyone before, but I feel hatred for her. And from what we've been able to learn about her, she richly deserves death." "But it might not be Arthema who dies," Joan points out, her face grave. "She is sure to be a highly skilled fighter, and she is likely to have had much more experience in single combat than you. As a Champion, you might not be able to die, but you could suffer injuries which it might take you decades fully to recover from." "But I have been trained by the best in the business: Anina," Astra retorts. "Arthema may well have had an Anina of her own, though," Andrea points out. "It makes no difference. My mind is made up," Astra 9 says, her face set.
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6/23/2001 9:10:52 AM
Extending Enabled
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