The Best of a Bad Bunch

It was tempting to cock a snook at the wizard by getting Astra to restore her to her rightful form without delay. But when Astra did not disappear as a result, that would reveal the wizard's mistake to him. Suppose Belboz then restored the status quo by simply changing Fred to Astrid a second time?

So it seemed to lie between the third and fourth options. Even her nobility of character had its limits, and she could not bring herself to give herself up as a slave for all eternity so that Astra could be free.

That left the third option. Once they were a safe distance away from Belboz's domain, she could use a wish to get Astra to undo the necromancer's magic. That would mean there would be no wishes in hand, since the third wish could not be used, but perhaps some other way could be found to defeat the dragon and restore Astra. Yes, the third option seemed the least bad of a bad lot. "I believe Astra and I will take our chances, wizard!" And with that, she and Astra turned and exited the way they came in.

As they left, Astra looked at "Astrid" with surprise and concern on her face, apparently having expected herself to have been ceded to Belboz. Astrid put her finger to her lips - probably unnecessarily so, as the submissiveness required of a djinn would prevent Astra from initiating a conversation.

As they left, Astrid held her breath, afraid that Belboz would not accept her decision and would make some move against them, but he did not intervene. Once she felt they were a safe distance away, she said: "I thought that the option I took was the best of a bad bunch. Now, Astra, will you be able to return me to normal?"

1. "Yes, Mistress."
2. "Mistress, Belboz's magic on you is too strong to be undone by this djinn, to her shame, though she could give you clothing, armour and a sword."
3. "Mistress, this djinn regrets that to restore your body, attire and sword would each require a separate wish. Which one - or two - wishes do you want to use?"
4. "Astrid - Fred - I kept quiet in front of Belboz. A djinn can have a master, but not a mistress..."

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