Repercussions

"WHAT?!!?" screamed out the duo. "We just put some coins into your greedy little hand!!!"

"And a nice tribute it is too," replied the Attendant......

Meanwhile, back in the Kingdom the repercussions of Lord Fred's actions had caused a series of unexpected situations.

**********************

The royal chamber was filled with lords and ladies, knights of the field and squires as well. They wore dark clothing, indeed, all color seemed to be drained from their faces.

"Oh, I can remember it almost like it was yesterday...the Quest. That damnable Quest." The King was stripped of any finery. His robes looked more like sack-cloth and his crown was dull and lifeless. "I remember my words to him: 'So we send our most heroic warrier, Lord Fred, to vanquish the most terrible dragon of the Southern Caves. For years the dragon has tormented our people. Burned our fields, taken our children, and been an all around mean dragon. Lord Fred, take this map. Use it to locate the entrance to the dragon's lair at the Southern Caves. May God be with you on your quest.' Why did our victory have to be so depressing? Why did I not send him out with an army? How could I have sent him to his death?"

"Do not say such things your Majesty," consoled the young man known as Duke Zular. "It is not your fault."

"Oh my King," continued the Lady Constance. "You sent out the best Knight of the Great Kingdom; we all had high hopes for him."

At this there was sobbing from the gathered crowd. "Hush little one," said the Lady Champlaine to the Lady Fredrina. She caressed her cheek and hugged her tighter still. The old man to her left remained stone-faced and silent.

"The Dragon is dead," resumed the King. "We are grateful to the gods and to our Knight. We shall miss him dearly, but in his honor we shall create a squire's scholarship - it shall be the Lord Frederigo Scholarship!"

There was some clapping of gloves from the crowd, but it was only half- hearted. Lord Sarlo gave a knowing wink to Duke Zular and clapped all the more. Then, the awkwardness of the moment was punctuated by a strong voice, the sound of Duke Dredrik, the Duke of Suffex and father of Lord Frederigo D'Honaire.

"My Liege," he began, bowing at the waist. "I am honored by the honor you show unto my son. I lost one son long ago and now it seems that I have lost another, but I stress the word 'seems.' King Emry, we have not found any body, nothing of human form within that charred lair of damnation! I refuse to believe that he is dead, I refuse to believe that my son was killed even as the dragon died. He was too smart for that!"

The Lady Fredrina looked up at her father, as did the old and wizened Master Crom. Sir Josh of Lockley, Sir Paul the Little and Sir Toby also gave their full attention to the grieving father of such a great knight and their good friend.

"I propose that we search for my son; I propose that this...this funeral be postponed, for I tell you - as surely as I stand here this day - my son is Not DEAD!"

"Here, here!" called out Lord Sarlo. "It has been most disturbing traveling the month's journey to the Southern Caves and finding half the caverns in smoldering ruin. It has been most disturbing discovering the strange half-beasts that fled the scene of carnage or stayed near for the god's only know why. It has been most disturbing finding no sign of the great Lord Fred and even more so seeing nearly all the Kingdom declaring him dead! Here, here Duke Dredrik! We must begin a new quest - the Quest to find Lord Fred!"

~~And while all the knights are away, Duke Zular shall play~~ thought the malicious duke to himself.

********

Back at Walants, Lord Frederigo and Princess Astra were finally free of the Attendant and had found a place to sleep for the night: the Inn of the Hanged Head.

1. Lord Fred settles into the Inn while Princess Astra seeks information about Synizn
2. Princess Astra settles into the Inn while Lord Fred seeks information about Synizn

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