a Conversation with Minestus

The Never Ending Quest - Episode 23894

Checkers extinguished the light, hoping the dragon would not be able to see her.

"Ahhh, that's much better," the dragon slyly remarked. "The annoying little flicker of your lantern only served to obscure my field of vision." It continued to scrutinize the spear, handling it with more care than Checker's thought a dragon would be capable of. "I think I understand now," it finally said, fixating it's great yellow eyes on the barrel behind which Checkers was hiding. She noticed how the area around her became bathed in a soft, yellowish light. "This is truly amazing," the dragon continued. "How you even managed to survive the impossible journey from your miserable country, through lands haunted with dangerous and thinking prey, accross the expanse of the Aryn, through the cold mountain passes, into my dominion and to the very doorstep of my lair, is truly a credit to your kind. I'm sure your little adventure in the Eveninglands would be something worthy of song in your homeland - your kind has a remarkable talent when it comes to that particular forte, another credit to your fragile but determined race."

Checker's mind was racing, clouded with feelings of doubt and dread. She wouldn't have a chance if she kept this up. She remembered the solemn moment in front of the White Court, years ago...



"What is considered sufficient proof of killing a dragon?"

"What do you mean?"

"I don't think that I could take the whole dragon carcass back with me. What happens if I kill it, but cannot get to the body?"

Lettelli chuckled at Checkers' concerns. Most of the would-be dragonslayers were killed shortly after they left the RDL, and here Checkers was worrying about the legal requirements of verifying a dragon kill. Checkers was possibly taking the dragonslaying part at face value, as a way of lessening the shame. It was this sort of irrelevance that kept getting her into trouble. Well, if it helps her get through the ceremony, then that can only be good. Otherwise she will disgrace us further, and in front of all those Lightning Pass people, too.

"I think that a vital body part would be sufficient, such as the heart or the brain. Kill your dragon first, and then worry about it." After a silence, Lettelli asked, "Do you have any more questions?"

"No ma'am."



Checkers was letting her thoughts stray in a crucial moment, this was no good. Instinctively, she began to perform the excercise of detatchment that had been ingrained into her train of thought from the time she had been able to walk. Her thoughts slowed, her mind relaxed. She most focus all of her energies, both mental and physical, if she was going to get through this in one peice. She was engaging a dragon in open conversation, something that she knew most beings never survived. She listened for the still, small voice of the steward....what she got was far from the calm voice of her own soul....

Foolish, young glideri, your steward cannot save you now! No one can! Your quest was hopeless from the onset, your trivial existence in this world matters to no one. You are nothing but an ostracized monster. You have no home, you have no hope. You are alone in a world of foes. I alone control your destiny now. I can kill you where you are cowering, or I can spare your insignificant life... Checker's let out an agonzing cry as the alien presence in her mind ceased it's assault and the maddening pain that had overpowered all of her other senses finally gave way.

Here the dragon really began to have some fun. It had been a boring season in the Shreken, and this glider greatly amused it and - to an extent - disturbed it."You know what I would like for you to do, little glideri?" it hissed softly, it's demeanour seemingly becoming more relaxed. "Sing to me with your sweet little voice. Any song of your choosing, it doesn't matter to me. I think maybe it might lighten the mood a bit and prolong your life a little longer."

This was an odd request from a dragon! An idea suddenly flashed into Checker's recovering mind: The Old High Dolomite passage from Belboz's tome was still etched in her thoughts, it's every verse and ryhme. She didn't believe in magic, so to speak, but whatever force had been unleashed during her oration might come to her aid even now, perhaps bringing Lord Fred, Belboz, or Astra to her aid.

  1. Minestus, clever and scheming, anticipated the glider's actions and prepared to make a convenient reappearance as Belboz.
  2. Before reciting the words a new thought occurred to Checkers...

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Ib - who had already written this episode before JH made his extension! ( excerpts from 23267 (Anableps))

2/16/2003 3:15:35 PM

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