Tempting the dragon.

Fred looks up from tending the fire.

"There may have even been a hundred," continues Alexandria. "I must have come across the base."

Fred picks up the bodice with a long stick and puts it in the fire.

"Why?" sputters Alexandria.

"Hot, isn't it?" says Fred as he stirs the fire.

"I am a your guest or a captive?"

"Depends." He stirs the fire.

"There were five, maybe six, who attacked the boat. None wore armor, but instead had black leather pants. Some had a tatoo of the dragon across their bellies. The largest had a long spear, the rest swords. They killed my father and brother and took me captive. They tied me to a tree and intended to rape me after they had eaten. I worked away at the ropes until they snapped. I fled up a tributary that led into the mountain itself. There I hid for several days until I was so hungry that I gave myself up. I do not know how many days it was. I found a patrol carrying about forty other prisoners in a barge. Some had burns on their flesh from the dragon. One of the prisoners attacked the helmsman. The barge drifted down the wrong channel and wrecked over a waterfall. I was thrown out. I turned to give myself back up, but saw the guards--there were eight for the whole barge--and these two just stabbed a prisoner with a spear. I turned and ran. That's when I found you. I must have been delerious when I saw the crest. I'm. I'm sorry."

Fred takes a small bag from his belongings and throws it at her. "That's hardtack. Eat some."

1. Fred tells her to stay here while he goes and sees if there are other survivors from the barge.
2. Fred tells Alexandria to come along and show him where the barge wrecked.

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