Presents for Astra

The Never Ending Quest - Episode 34325

Looking through her pack, Checkers had some difficulty in deciding on what would be suitable payment, since the expendable items that had any obvious value (which amounted to a couple of silver coins) had already been given to Astra, along with her spearhead. Seeing her hesitate, Fred came over to see what was detaining her.

"This would be just the thing for Astra," she told him, indicating the golden rope, "but as I mentioned just now I don't have any coins to leave in payment, and I don't think that there's anything in my pack that would be suitable to use in trade."

"I left the last of my coins for this statue, though it must really be worth many times as much. I hope that what I left will be sufficient to act as a token of my good faith, though. I suppose that I could spare my dagger to leave for the rope. Though of plain design, it is of fine workmanship."

"Thank you. I'm not sure just why it's important to bring Astra valuable things, but I feel that it is. She seemed quite poorly and lethargic till I gave her two silver coins and my spearhead, which I pretended was worth a lot. Then she perked up."

"She's building her hoard," Fred realised. "I've heard that that's very important for a dragon. Let's hope that she remains content to be given things, and doesn't start trying to take them by force."

"She wouldn't do that."

"She might not be able to help herself. She's a dragon now, and has draconic instincts."

Checkers hoped that Fred's foreboding was unjustified. From even the short acquaintance with her that she had, she felt that Astra was a stronger character than that. But of course she could not be sure.

They made their way back to the chamber in which Astra lay, the dragoness having made sure that she had put her tail where it would open the way back for them. Checkers came first, and Astra was delighted when she saw the golden rope. "Can you fasten it around my neck for me?" she asked. "My forepaws are reasonably dextrous, but not enough to manage tying a knot."

Once that had been accomplished, she turned her attention to the statue that Fred carried. "Yes, that is me," she said wistfully. "Or rather, that was me. I feel like I want to cry, but I don't think that these eyes are capable of tears. I should like to keep it, if I may, though it will be a bitter-sweet thing to have."

"Are you going to try gently breathing fire on it like I suggested, to see if you can melt the covering?" Checkers asked.

"I might as well. I can't see that I have anything to lose. Fred, please put the statue down and then you and Checkers stand well back. I'm not sure just how much fine control I have yet, and I might overdo it a little."

When all was ready, Astra breathed fire on the statue as gently as she could.

  1. The disfiguring covering began to melt, and to drip off of the statue.
  2. Astra began to feel uncomfortably hot. It seemed that the heating of the statue was somehow being felt by her.
  3. Nothing at all seemed to happen.
  4. The covering appeared unaffected, but the gold of the statue itself began to melt and distort.
  5. As the covering heated, its expansion caused it to crack.

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JH

10/12/2003 8:41:41 AM

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