Fred's Diplomatic Skills are Tested

Lady Heather and Sir Paulito headed back toward the water, and away from Belboz and Astra. Slowly a mischevous grin developed on Belboz's face. This is just too good to pass up, thought Belboz. He had relied too much on Glider xenophobia and Allarian arrogance to create the friction he was hoping for when he paired Checkers and Fred together. For some reason, the Glider was much friendlier and the knight was a bit more humble than he expected. Much to his surprise, this odd couple was actually friendly and cooperative. Oh, well. All the better, if Heather behaves the way I expect. The pride of an noble Aqualarian prima donna against the pride of the Glider race. Whose republics, by the way, have a strong cultural disdain for the pretensions of monarchy, and tend to make a point of it. Sir Fred and Sir Paulito will wish that they were fighting a dragon before this is all through.

Belboz concentrated, and the rattling of chains and the moan of a princess appeared to be coming from the chamber with the great light, where Fred and Checkers were currently resting. Neither Fred nor Checkers could hear it, however. Belboz withdrew.

"The Princess!" said an excited Heather, as she turned toward the light. "That has to be her!"

"Hey, don't tell the world we are here!" whispered Sir Paulito. "It could be a trap."

"What is the matter? The flower of Allarian nobility isn't up to rescuing a damsel in distress? I will do it myself if I have to."

"I am coming. Just be quieter. There might be guards. I will go first."

"It is my mission. I can handle myself. I just need you to help mop up."

Sir Paulito rolled his eyes. "Whatever," he thought. If it were not for the possibility of a diplomatic incident, he might have slapped her. Heather is a lively young lady with a fantastic figure, but she needed to be taken down a peg, thought Sir Paulito.

When Sir Paulito and Heather entered the chamber of the great light, they were suprised not only to find no princess, but to find Sir Fred, who had been sent earlier to kill the dragon, and an odd, thin woman with reddish brown hair who had something descending from her bony arms that looked like a black cape. The top of her head came to Sir Paulito's chest level. Sir Fred was nursing an ankle injury, and both were dirty with grime, sweat, and were worn from the fight with the wallhugger and from wandering in the caves.

"Sir Fred!", called out Sir Paulito.

"Sir Paulito!" shouted Sir Fred exuberantly. "Who is the fair damsel?"

Heather cut in. "The fair damsel, my bumptious Allarian knight, is Lady Heather Allspice of the Court of Aqualaria. I am leading a search for our Princess Astra, whose chains we heard in this room. Where is she?"

"The wind must be carrying the sound from another chamber and away from here, as I have not heard her, and have not seen her," suggested Checkers, trying to help solve the mystery.

Lady Heather addressed Sir Fred. "Sir Fred, your servant is impertinent. I do not know where you picked her up, and what possible use she might have, but if she does not learn her proper place, I shall have to ask you to discharge her."

"Lady Heather, I am not searching for your princess, although I will be glad to help. Checkers has shown quite a bit of courage and ability, and I would request that you show her a little respect."

Heather laughed condescendingly. "I see that Sir Paulito has exaggerated your ability somewhat," she said as she looked at his ankle. "It does not look like you have killed your dragon yet." She changed her tone a bit, and smiled flirtatiously as she looked him in the eyes. "I do admit there has to be some germ of truth to Sir Paulito's praise, and I can see the physical attributes for greatness. I suppose that your judgment will get better with experience. The harpy might make a good cook, but she will be a liability when it comes to fighting. Their race has a history of cowering before the dragon, and she would not be reliable."

Fred tried to keep a poker face. The purposes of Lady Heather and Sir Paulito complemented his, and they could provide some help. Besides, he had to foster good relations with Aqualaria, and it would not be a good idea to respond violently to Heather's insensitive statements. However, he had to have Checkers for her ability to see what he could not on the maps and in the caves, and she had already proven that she would serve him well in a fight. He liked her spirit. Fred noticed that Checkers did not react until Heather made the statement about "cowering before the dragon."

1. Checkers said nothing. Her posture stiffened, her wings were partially extended, and her face became stony.
2. Checkers turned very slowly to Heather, and then says softly, "Smile when you say that, stranger. The proper term is glider, by the way, not harpy."

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