of Travels and Adventures

The Never Ending Quest - Episode 25276

"What is it, Fred?" asked Astra.

"This isn't right," he said.

"What? Me leaving King Emry's Castle after midnight so as I can begin my journey back south through your lands, over the Tumbar Road into the Ryngaerd region and then eastwards over the Goth Mountains and back into my own home of Aqualaria?"

"Well, um, yeah..." said Fred. "You could wait till dawn."

"That's already been gone over with your King's advisors. Your lands are relatively tranquil, and the word has already gone out from your King's own hand, his messengers have gone out to the four winds, your regional and local leaders know of my presence and my mission homeward. Who would dare harm the daughter of the Queen of Aqualaria?"

"Well, uh, you got a point..."

"But?"

"But the fact is, I was talking with King Emry and he and I believe that your going home can bring a greater sharing between our two peoples."

"Of course it can, and it will! Once I get home I shall relate all of my adventures and my royal reception here in the lands of Allaria."

"The King believes one of our own should accompany you back to your motherland."

Astra smiled. "And you have volunteered?"

Fred's cheeks reddened. "Well, um, no." Now it was time for Astra's cheeks to redden. "I have far too many responsibilities now. I have been given lands and peasants to command, I shall be the Lord of Fief Borea."

"Then who?"

"A monk of a man, chosen due to his disciplined celibacy and for his learning in the arts of healing, education, self-defense, and history."

"He is a wizard?"

"No, remember the words of Doctor Vincent... Over the decades our lands have seen fewer and fewer magic-men. In the company that I have kept since childhood, well, we thought it was due to some kind of epidemic, you know, the practicioners getting a little of what they'd practiced all these years. Considering that most magic-users are, well, anti-social, sinister, and bad dancers, we really didn't miss them. We had no clue that some egomaniac called Zardoz was behind it all. Pash Bolger is an herbalist and a teacher, similar to Doctor Vincent in some ways, but he practices nothing of the Octarine Arte."

"And where is he?"

"Right here m'Lady," came a voice from the far end of the drawbridge. A man dressed in traveling clothes - woolen pants, sturdy shirt, boots and a hardy cloak with cowl - came walking towards Astra and Fred. "Pash Bolger at yer service, my pony is up ahead with your steed. I wish to learn all I may as we travel together. I am most curious about the unknown lands you have spoken of in your stay with us: Aqualaria we know of, though mostly in tales from the Ryngaerd merchants and the trappers, but Aquilaria and Aqualonia, Apolonia and Corynia, and the other southern tribes and nations, principalities and city-states... of these we know nothing. I see this as a grand adventure if I say so myself, even though for you it is simply going back home."

"Home," whispered Astra. "Yes, it is time. Goodbye Frederigo of Allaria... may the Goddess bless you and the Daemons fear you."

"Goodbye, my Princess," said Fred and he walked back into the King's castle. Fred had much preparation himself, and still he was under the watchful eye of the Watchers, and of the HeadMaster himself... Carradene. Though the land was empty of wizards and mages, of warlocks and witches, but for Zardoz the Powerful, Fred was a hybrid of sorts... his own body seemed to hold a parcel of the Octarine, as evidenced by his mysterious scissored hands. Fred knew that his fiefdom would still wait while the men of learning poked and prodded, queried, questioned, and experimented upon him and his hands.

  1. follow Fred...
  2. follow Astra and Pash...

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3/23/2003 9:33:18 PM

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