Fred and Astra Try to Plan for the Future

Astra had been surprised when Fred had kissed her on the cheek. She wasn't sure whether he meant anything by it, or what her own feelings were for him. But at least the surprise of it had snapped her out of her uncharacteristic bout of self-pity. "I feel a bit better," she said. "So what are we going to do now?"

"Like I said, destroy everything that came from the dragons."

"How can we do that? Destroying jewels and gold coins is no easy task."

"I suppose you're right. We'll just have to dump all the treasure somewhere, then. Somewhere where it won't be found."

"You said 'dragons'? Plural?"

"Yes, the horse that the female dragon gave us will have to go too."

Astra sighed. It was a beautiful horse, and she would be reluctant to lose it. "At least we should get a good price for it," she said.

"But then we would still be profiting from the riches of a dragon. I'd rather just give the beast away."

"Please be practical, Fred! I've let you destroy the Crystallic, and I'm willing to go along with disposing of Minestus's gold and jewels, but this is too much. We're going to need whatever we can get from selling the horse. How much money have you still got in your pack left from what you had when you set out?"

"I didn't take much with me on my quest," Fred admitted. "There didn't seem to be a lot of point. Where was I going to spend it in the Southern Caves?"

"And I have no money of my own, of course. We're in an unfamiliar town and almost destitute. If we can't use Minestus's gold and jewels then we need to sell our horse for a good price. Even then we'll have to find ourselves jobs before long. Or at least you will, since I'm going to be occupied with giving birth to a litter of goodness knows what in a few months time, which is one more thing for me to worry about."

"For us to worry about. But if you're talking about finding jobs, then you seem to be assuming that we'll be staying here rather than moving on?"

"Where else can we go, Fred? At least we are tolerated here. In most other countries, you know perfectly well that we'd be killed on sight."

"I suppose you're right," Fred conceded. "But I don't like this place. It stinks of corruption."

1. Fred and Astra attempt to dispose of what they had taken from Minestus's hoard.
2. Synizn has recognised the Signal that emanated from the destruction of the Crystallic. From its magnitude, he knows that it originated from close by. He starts investigating.
3. Andromedia's interrogation of the captain of the Heart of Oak proceeds.
4. Four warships set sail from Collinsport, to investigate the disappearance of the Heart of Oak.
5. Fred and Astra sleep on their worries...

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