Breach of Contract

"Or you'll do what?" Leonora, now in Fred's body, smirked.

Fred stopped to think about this. Leonora may have his body now, but Fred still had the knowledge of all the fighting skills he had been trained in since birth. Fred charged, yelling out a battle-cry that sounded all wrong in his new soft, sensual voice. He caught Leonora by surprise as he snap- kicked her in the privates that used to be his.

"Aaargh!" Leonora cried, doubling over in pain. "I had no idea this could hurt so much!"

Fred took a step back, confident that he had struck a decisive blow. "Now, return my body, and I will be merciful."

To his surprise, Leonora stood up and drew his sword. "You fool. Your own metallic codpiece spared me the worst of your pathetic attack!"

Fred could only stare. "Hey... does my voice really sound like that?"

"I was going to let you live, out of respect for my former bod." Leonora said, a wicked smile playing across the lips that used to be Sir Fred's. "But since you've decided to be such a nuisance, I think I'll simply kill you. Actually... I think I might just have a little fun with you first. After all, now I can see exactly how attractive I used to be!"

Fred grew pale as he realized what that implied. "Get away from me! I mean from you! I mean, get me away from you before you, I mean me, does something we both regret!"

"C'mon, sweetheart, I won't bite." Leonora laughed as she approached.

The next few seconds were a blur. Leonora grabbed Fred by the arm - he squealed girlishly, tried to tear free, fell down. Leonora threw herself upon him - with strength born of desperation Fred kicked out with both feet, hitting Leonora straight in the chest so hard she stumbled back - and landed on a very sharp stalagmite. The hazardously conical mineral deposit drove through the small of her back just above the chainmail, and out through her chest with an impressive burst of blood. The witch was dead.

"Oh no!" Fred wailed, sitting up. "What have I done?! I've killed myself! I'm stuck in this body forever!"

Crying, Fred pulled his body from the rock and stripped it of armour and clothing. He buried himself in a mound of soft dirt, and dressed quickly, displeased at how loose his clothing was over his new body, and how heavy his sword now felt in his hand. His boots didn't fit at all anymore, so with a sigh Fred tossed them away.

On the other hand, Fred thought, at least I'm still rich. And now I don't have to pay back Fat Tony or anyone else.

"You evil wench!" he heard a voice. Wheeling about, he saw a pale and trembling Velus standing there, pointing his finger. "I recovered from my coma just in time to catch you bloody trollop murdering my lord! You'll never get away with it! I'll tell the King, and he'll hunt you down to the ends of the earth! You'll swing from the gallows for your heinous crime, you foul witch!"

"Wait, Velus, it's me!" Fred yelled. But Velus was already up and running remarkably fast.

Options roiled through Fred's mind - some, he realized, coming from Leonora's psychic residue still clinging to her body.

1. Chase after Velus with the intent of seeing the King and clearing his name.
2. Who would believe the word of a witch? Fred must flee from the King's justice.
3. Chase after Velus with the intent of killing him so he cannot tell anyone of what he saw.

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