A Day of Freedom for Astra

And so where were Fred and Astra? And what was taking them so long to get back?

After Belboz had left for the caves, there had been a discussion on tending Fred's horse. Fred wanted to make sure that the horse was still there, and was healthy. He also wanted a companion in case he encountered unexpected trouble. He suggested that Checkers come along, since she was lighter than Astra, and there would be less strain on the horse.

To Astra's joy, Checkers declined. The Glider had never been trained to ride horses, there being little occasion for her to use them in the bounds of the League, and the Western thoroughbreds were huge and initimidating creatures to her. The Gliders had few horses, with the pokey but good- tempered red donkey being the main beast of burden. She suggested the Astra might be a better rider, and more experienced with horses.

This was true. As a noble of the royal house, she would be expected to be a skilled in handling horses, but her skill was such that it was noteworthy even compared to her well-schooled relatives. The logic having her accompany Fred and leaving the caves was unanswerable. She felt as if someone had lifted a weight off her shoulders. Freedom, if only for a short time! And she would be alone with Lord Fred.

They left the camp with Fred armed with a sword and packing a canteen of water. Astra was unarmed, and had a few dry strips of bacon that she saved from breakfast, and a green pill that Checkers gave her. It is not much, but you are out in open country and may need it if you get hurt. The preparations for a journey of a half hour may have seemed excessive, but they were in hostile and somewhat unfamiliar country, and it always helped to be prepared.

Fred and Astra chatted about nothing during the walk to the little creek where the horse was tied, but each found the other's conversation engrossing and lively. They approached the stump that had one low-lying branch jutting out from it. Fred's horse was tied to the branch. He flicked his ears and snorted as Fred grabbed the rope and picked up a bridle. The horse was content, having patiently munched on the grass near the creekbed while Fred was away.

"I will release you from this branch, Wimpy, and you can get some exercise," Lord Fred whispered into his mount's ear. He untied the rope from the branch, and placed the bridle in the horse's muzzle. Fred mounted the horse, and the horse aimlessly wandered around. Fred then called out to Astra - "I am going to exercise him a little bit. It will be good for him." It was at just this time that Belboz's first spell took effect.

It was as if suddenly the horse was possessed by an evil spirit. The horse started to shudder, and then broke into a gallop. Wimpy ran in a crazy path, and Fred crouched low to the horse in order to avoid falling off. He pulled the reins back, trying to stop the horse. "Whoa, Wimpy! Whoa!" The horse had taken the bit between his teeth, however, and could not be controlled. Wimpy was twitching and bucking in an attempt to throw Fred. Astra ran as fast as she could so that she would not lose sight of the horse.

Fred could see that the horse was now glistening with sweat, and behaving irrationally. His one hope was that he could hold on while the horse tired. The horse was charging further into the wilderness. After what seemed like hours, but was really only ten or fifteen minutes, Fred was thrown from the horse, which dashed north.

"Are you all right?" asked Astra, as she caught up with Fred.

"Yes. I think that my pride is hurt more than anything. I do not know what got into Wimpy. He acquired the name because he is so even- tempered, to the point where he lacks spirit. I have never had him do that."

"I am glad that you did not fall on your sword. Do you still have it?"

"Yes, for all the good that it will do me."

"It is still good to have. And it is a good thing that you thought to bring a second person."

Fred agreed. Fred and Astra tried to follow the animal, hoping that it would tire and regain its senses. Wending their way northward, they eventually saw the animal placidly staring into space and shooing away flies with its tail. However, when the animal caught sight of Astra, it became spooked again and ran away.

It was now late afternoon, and they decided to camp out and venture after the horse in the morning. They were now on some low, rolling, and barren hills leading up to the Shreken. Twisted dwarf brush and tall grass covered some of these hills, but there were many outcroppings of rock. The spot where Fred chose to camp was a flat, low spot, with few rocks. Astra managed to slay a Shreken rock grouse with Fred's sword, a large, black bird with white stripes on its tail and an annoying call. Astra had another piece of luck when she discovered that one of the shrubs in the brush was an oilbush, so called because its wood was saturated with an oil that burned easily. She was able to start a fire easily. The oilbush gave the meat of the grouse a pleasantly smoky taste, and provided them with a wholesome meal, supplemented by the bacon that Astra had carried.

Fred noted, "At least the weather is fine, and we should be able to sleep out in the open with little trouble. We will have to do so, as the local shrubs are not really fit material to build a temporary shelter. With any luck, the horse might come back to us tonight."

"Do you think that there is any chance of Checkers or Belboz being able to find us?"

"I do not think that they will come after us, and it might take a while if they did. I was hoping that they would see our fire, but they are probably too far away, and we are hidden by a line of hills between here and the cave."

Astra shrugged her shoulders as if she were taking a bad piece of news with fortitude, but she was secretly delighted. Another day where her mind could be free of Belboz reading her thoughts! And she was not violating her oath. Belboz never ordered her to stay in camp, and she had not intended for the horse to have run away. She would have to go back, eventually, but for now she treasured each moment of solitude out here on the plains.

Fred groaned softly.

"Are you sure that you are not hurt?"

"Oh, yes. There is a slight bruise on my hip, but I feel fine. What hurts is my chest. Right here." Fred pointed to the spot where the burning beetle had wounded him. "I still feel a bit of a cramp there."

"If you do not mind, I can try rubbing it and seeing if that helps. Or you can use the green pill that Checkers gave me."

"Oh, I have one of those. From what she told me, the pill will kill pain. I do not want to waste it though, so let us try the rubbing cure."

Astra removed Fred's overshirt and started to message the afflicted spot. Whether the cure was worked in the body or the mind, Fred did not know, but Fred's cramp eased. Fred was starting to drift to sleep.

Suddenly a heavy rain fell upon Fred and Astra.

1. Fred, being chivalrous, takes measures to keep Astra as dry and comfortable as he can.
2. Back at the fire in front of the cave mouth, Belboz and Checkers ...

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