The Fate of King Emry

Fred sat at the head of a long table, with Astra on his right and Reaibn on his left. The savoury smell of the roast beef made Fred's mouth water. Meats and sweets crowded the table, and it appeared that the table was set for a holiday. He could hear chewing and slurping sounds for the guests at the table, as well as the clanging of chains to his right as Astra was devouring a pudding of some sort and a heap of roast beef. "Who knows what she had been eating in captivity, and when was the last time that she had a hearty meal?" thought Fred.

The one thing that disturbed him was the company that he saw around the table. He recognized but two of the household knights, and one of the barons of Suffex. The others were either unknown to him, or recognizable as household servants or villeins from Camelyn. Fred stared at them, and was not eating.

"Is there anything wrong, Lord Fred? The Lady of Billings Keep is one of the finest cooks in the realm, and if she fouled the beef, it is my fault. I thought you liked it rare."

Fred stared at Reaibn. "The Lady of Billings Keep, as a cook?! One of the more unapproachable and delicate creatures in the duchy? What is going on here?"

Fred not only felt disoriented, but that some power had disordered the old and familiar universe of Camelyn. He feared to appear hostile, but needed to find out what was happening.

"Oh, no, Reaibn, it looks ... good. I have just been on a long journey...." Fred paused, trying to probe. "Ah, um, as a knight, you know that I am charged with making a report to King Emry. Is he here?"

Reaibn, apparently unconcerned, replied

1. "He is probably out in the fields, tending to the orchards. He begrudges every day that he had to spend inside the castle. "
2. "King Emry has passed on. He had trouble adjusting to the changes. I hope that you will not have the same problems."
3. "The King is being held for ransom by the dragon and taken beyond the borders of Allaria. His loyal servants here have tried, but we have neither the money nor the strength to redeem him." [see 23569 for an explanation]

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