Small Talk

Fred looked at this woman with awe. While waiting for the lava to get on its way, she had told him that she had been in these caves for the last two weeks, tracking the Dragon, staying hidden from minion patrols, and reconnoitering. She had almost been captured on two occasions and had to lop the head off a kobold on a third. She had come across a naked maiden but before she could rescue her Dragon minions had come and had taken her away. There was the sound of much screaming thereafter and Astra believed the poor woman to be dead.

"But you do not say much of yourself," remarked Astra to Fred.

Fred was a bit afraid to. He was still confused by what had occured only three days prior. He was confused by imaginings and hallucinations. "I...I was sent here by my LeigeKing, Emry Exultaine."

"Ah," said Astra. "I know of him. When I was a girl, word came to our capitol that emissaries of the Kingdom of Exultaine had reached our northeastern borders."

"We call our land Allaria, the Great Kingdom," said Fred.

Astra laughed. "Great is in the eye of the beholder."

Fred wasn't sure how to take the remark but decided that the insult- sounding words could be forgiven, given his circumstance. "You know," he said. "I almost was party to that mission - or, at least, my father almost was. He is Duke Drederigo D'Honaire of Duchy Suffex."

Astra remained silent, the name making no impression upon her.

Fred changed the subject. "This Dragon is dangerous. It casts spells of mighty magick."

"Of course, it does," answered Astra. "Why do you think it is named the DragonMage... for its knitting?"

"Now see here, there is no need--"

The little argument was interrupted by a bright light. The two looked and saw the light fade, and then a shadow emerge. They were immediately on their feet, blades in hand. What ensued was a queer battle - the shadow emerged, showing itself to be a person wrapped in cloak and hood - but this stranger moved like the wind! The Knight and the Princess leaped and flung, thrust and curved, they kicked and lurched and swiveled. Yet it seemed they could not make contact! Meanwhile the attacker slashed and cut and punched and yanked and within minutes both the Knight and the Princess found themselves bleeding from multiple cuts!

By the end Fred found himself huffing like a little schoolgirl and looking down upon the dead form of the Princess from the south. The stranger, after administering the deathblow, had jumped back into the eerie light and had disappeared.

"I barely knew her," thought Fred. "An hour, maybe two - now I am alone again, in these caves, an outlaw to my own people!"

1. follow the strange killer...
2. follow Fred as he decides what to do next, and where to go...

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