Just a Poor Old Country Mage

Astra holds her left palm flat, and extends her right index finger. Her index finger then makes a few strokes across her palm. She then looks at Fred and Checkers, holding both of her palms out, to indicate that she needs help.

"She is asking for something to write on. Is there anything here, Checkers?"

"I have something that will work nicely." Checkers reaches into her pouch, and proudly pulls out two objects. The first is a short, thin, rod that is sharpened to a point on one end, and is hammered into a flat, smooth surface on the other end. The other is a little unornamented book, the leaves not much bigger than the palms of Astra's hands. Checkers hands both to Astra. "Whoever you are, please do not lose them," Checkers asks.

Astra opens the book, and sees two leaves, with a shallow pool of wax filling the hollow in each leaf. This is obviously a cheap diptych, and a plain stylus, objects that she had seen slaves and servants carry often in the court of the Aqualarian capital. Astra is touched that this Checkers attached such value to this. She is either very poor, or the objects have some other significance for her beyond what she would get for them in trade.

Astra takes the stylus and writes in the wax, "I am Astra, Princess of Aqualaria. Escaped dragon. He has made me mute. Help!" There is limited space in the diptych, and Astra is concerned that Belboz could come back at any time.

Checkers looks at the diptych, shows Fred the message, and smooths the wax with the flat end of her stylus. Belboz enters the room. At first, a dark expression comes across his face, as if one of the three had offended him. This passes quickly. Apparently he is mistaken in what he first thought had happened, or he has changed his mind. He speaks genially to the trio.

"Ah, yes, I see that you have met Astra. I have not quite finished helping her recover yet. She had a horrible experience with the dragon. I am just a poor old country mage, and have not yet figured out how to reverse some of the damage she sustained in combat yet. And the damage that the dragon can do to one's mind - it is horrible! Astra bore her torment courageously, but she still bears the marks of the trauma. She is sane much of the time, but there are times where she sees the dragon everywhere, even in the most unlikely of places."

"You are such a kind man to help her," observes Fred. "Does she often go into those fits and point at you?" Astra is animatedly trying to communicate something, but without success.

"Yes, unfortunately. She sometimes thinks that I am an agent of the dragon, or even the dragon himself." Belboz chuckles at the absurdity of such a thought.

"But she has seen the dragon?" Checkers asks. "Is she well enough to join us on our quest? She could be helpful, if properly equipped and dressed."

1. Much to Astra's suprise, Belboz says, "If she feels well enough to go, it might be the best thing for her."

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