Introductions

Princess Alicia moaned and frowned at a strange beeping sound.

<That has a similar pattern to a heartbeat.> Alicia dazedly thinks to herself. She felt AWFUL, but....from what she remembered before she had lost consciousness....!

Startling green eyes snap open and dusky skinned hand reaches and touches the area the vile undead had tried to drain her of her blood. Soft fabric of gauze and tape meet her touch. Looking down and around her told her that she was in a strange room.....worthy of her....bizarre savior.

Somehow, her rescuer looked much like a human, though immensely tall and dressed in odd clothing. But from what she had seen of the fierce struggle between her rescuer and TWO vampires (!) in hand to hand combat......slashes and bites that should have instantly downed the rescuer in agony had instead been countered with an annoyed look, punches, and blasts from a strange weapon that shot out blobs of color that burned....

Her rescuer was not human....but a golem. Yet, why would a magical construct even bother trying to protest....much less fight.....for a mere human?

<Apparently I have much to learn about the true nature of those magical constructs?> Alicia ponders silently, as she examine the grey simple outfit she was now wearing. <THIS golem seems to deserve something more than outright suspicion and distrust from me. Indeed, I would now be one of the Undead if not for her!>

Alicia paused to give silent thanks to her Lord God for sending such a strong (though unorthedox) rescuer to deliver her from the vile creatures who had violated her so!

An uncharitable glee entered her heart as she remembered how, through means that could only be divine, she and the entire group suddenly found themselves in the bright sunlight of some strange land. She especially loved remembering the screams of agony and the smell of burning vampire.

She then chided herself at such unchristian sentiment!

"At least their cursed existence was ended so they can now rest in peace," Alicia finally murmured.

She opened her eyes in interest, finishing her prayer quickly as she heard something approaching.

She yells and grabs the nearest thing that comes in handy, the metal arm that was holding the drip fed IV attached to her arm. Then she stops, seeing something that...causes her to relax....a little bit.

It isn't him....his image shows those strange glass windows behind him! she nervously laughs in hysterical relief.

Frederigo D'Honaire, in human form looks at the dusky skinned woman in askance, and then looks at Malachi. Both dragons are at a loss for the swift change from hostile intent to giggling relief in this exotic looking woman.

If Fred wasn't totally and forever in love with Malachi....and still human....his heart would be racing from the exotic beauty of her. As it was now, only a distant part of his mind told the increasingly menatlly draconized former Dragon Slayer that this woman was beautiful....as far as humans go. But right now.....

"Well, I'm glad to see you awake and whole." the young dragon chuckled, getting over his confusion. "We hadn't....exactly expected you.

Fred cleared his throat, and Malachi took up the slack.

"Pardon our manners," the dragoness sighs. "My name is Malachi D'Honaire. " She curtseys as she's seen human woman do. "This is my ma...husband, Frederigo D'Honaire." Fred gives a slight bow at that.

"Princess Alicia of the House of John," Alicia curtseys back....in respect to the manners of the strange lands north of her homeland. "Ruling family of Aethiopia. Presently and for now, glad to make your acquaintance. "

Fred and Malachi blink, look at each other, and then each reaches the same conclusion together. This was NOT the same Alicia that had betrayed Fred and Malachi to the Pack. Rather....

Another analog! they said to each other.

Something was strange here....but they had already known that.

"Outside are several of our companions....which all have a few questions for you....if you feel up to it. Actually, I have a few questions myself." The fromer Dragon Slayer cuts in. "Pardon my abrupt nature, but we need to know much before we decide on something. What can you tell us about that female Golem that we found outside this metallic conveyance?"

"Is she okay?!" Alicia asks, suddenly worried. "I owe my life to her!"

"She'll be okay, child," Malachi says in a paternal, soothing voice. "We just need to undo a terrible mistake we made....'tis all. But please, tell us about what happened to you....and how the Golem came into this story."

Alicia tells her two hosts hat she had been on a quest to obtain a grand magical item.....that turned out to be nothing more than a ruse by the vile dragon, Vellus!" Alicia says, with a trace of ire in her voice. She then notices a slight frown from her hosts.

"By any chance do you believe that ALL dragons are vile?" Malachi asks, in a cold voice.

Love, give her the benefit of the doubt, Fred sent to his mate, chiding her. Until just recently I thought that all dragons were vile. And now I love and am one! She can learn the truth, I think.

Oh, I'm sure she could," Malachi sent back. But what she says next will determine what I'll have Carradene do AFTER she tells us her story! If she says something that makes me believe that she'll start to scream and carry on once she finds out the truth about us......She'll find herself in the outskirts of a city in Malbacton-the one that still seems to be a going concern-with a bag of copper and modest....if paltry....equipment, and a note to not insult her hosts!

While this mental conversation is taking place, Alicia is actually giving some thought to the question before she answers. Finally, she shrugs and speaks.

"Not really," Alicia admits. "Believe it or not, when a dragon had killed some of my land's citizens, while my da....my father the King was about ready to order the death of all dragons wherever they were within his lands.....a pair of dragons from the Oriental-graceful creatures who's body styling was a bit different from the Occidental dragon who was terrorizing the outlying provinces in the desert , and killed the murderer. Basically, I'm sure that I'd have to take it on a case to case basis. Within reason, of course."

<Like while I'm not going to try to kill every dragon I hear about, I'm not going to greet every dragon like a long lost brother or sister.> Alicia qualified herself, mentally.

She then told her story and what she had overheard by the echoes of undead Fred and his master, Varney, in these references, for brevity's sake. Re: 1824, 2234, 2235, 2505, and 2537.

Alicia stops, and draws a shuddering breath before continuing.

"Know this," Alicia says softly. "I feared as I was dyeing that the unexpected arrival of the golem who rescued me was just a delusion formed from fear and desperation! Now that I know that I know that that woman Golem is real...I must see her. If only to thank her.

"Forgive me for my rudeness, but....." Alicia pushes her way past the starteld dragons. "I will see her now.

"She doesn't lack courage." Fred chuckles to himself as Malachi just looks at where the princess had left.

1. Suddenly, a piercing scream splits the air!

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