A Wish Almost Wasted

Astra frowned. "You must be more cautious, My Mistress. An ill-chosen phrase could negate your advantage."

Astrid nodded. She could tell Astra was upset, even though her new servile attitude wouldn't allow her to express it. No wonder some djinn turn mad or sadistic she thought. "I promise, Astra, I will be more careful. Now, though, we need to concentrate on what to do about Velus."

"Yes, Mistress. What is your plan?"

"I don't see how we have much choice," she sighed. "We'll go into the chamber with him and see if it can restore one or both of us."

"It may be a trap, Mistress."

"True, but it's a chance we should take. In any event, if he's not really an innocent young boy and we refuse top investigate, he'll get suspicious fast." She paused. "I think that's long enough, Astra - you'd best get back in the lamp."

"As you command, exalted Mistress," Astra said, bowing low as she transformed into a puff of smoke and re-entered the lamp.

Astrid took a moment to compose herself and went back to where Velus was still waiting for her. "Well," she said, "let us be on our way."

"Shouldn't we wait for Sir Fred?" Velus asked.

Astrid shook her head. "He is aware of our intent, and if we're gone too long, he'll come after us. Now, let's go."

They went into the tunnel side-by-side, since Astrid neither wanted to be led into a trap or have an unproven presence behind her. The passage went on for some ways, and every now and then, Astrid would catch Velus giving her odd looks.

He may be sizing up the best way to destroy me, she thought sourly, Or it could be that he's just a normal teenage boy sneaking a look at the gorgeous naked princess next to him. She wasn't sure which thought disturbed her more.

"Princess Astra!" Velus said in surprise. "I didn't see this before!" Astrid turned to find him standing in front of...

1. A set of women's armor and weapons.
2. A man's breeches and tunic.
3. A sword and a shield.
4. A table set with a full course meal.
5. A bin full of lamps identical to the one the real Astra was now in.
6. A huge egg - the kind a dragon might lay!
7. A doorway to yet another chamber which glowed from within.
8. A wand of some sort, mounted on a large stone platform.

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