Good Velus, Evil Velus or Not Velus?

Now it seemed that he had managed to find them again. Astrid was a little suspicious, though. If this was truly Velus, then how had he managed to get himself restored to human form? Could it be that Velus was more than the simple victim of the dragon that he had pretended to be? Maybe he had lagged behind not because he was frightened of Astra's aura but through concern that she might be able to see through his deception?

Also why had not Astra detected his approach? An innocent explanation might be that she had not scanned the tunnel through which he had come because it would not be on the route they would take. Alternatively, whoever this was might have the ability magically to transport himself through the cave system, or else to somehow conceal his presence from Astra.

Then Velus - if it was truly he - spotted Astrid's head poking from behind the boulder as she peered out at him. "Princess Astra!" he said. "So Belboz did turn you back. I'm very happy for you. Why are you hiding behind that boulder, though? And where's Lord Fred?"

Astrid stepped out from behind the boulder, carrying Astra's lamp. "I see you kept the lamp as a souvenir. I'd have thought that Belboz would have conjured up some clothes for you, though," Velus commented.

Astrid considered whether to tell him all that had happened. If this wasn't really Velus, then whoever it was must be trying to deceive her for some reason. Even if it was Velus, he might be attempting to trick her. Two could play at that game, and it might be to her advantage that he should not know about the continued existence of Astra the djinn. Even if this wasn't really Velus, whoever it was seemed to have had access to all of his memories of their time together, so she would have to be careful to make any falsehood sound plausible.

1. Astrid decided she was just being paranoid. She would relate everything.
2. Astrid decided to be cautious. "Well he didn't clothe me," she said. "As to Fred, he is scouting up ahead. Now, what happened to you after we became separated?"

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