A Happy Ending

Checkers and Astra each had a crudely cut strip of animal hide about two yards long and six inches wide looped around their shoulders, joined at the ends by a piece of bone punched through to make a long sash. The sash shone like a red chain mail. Astra seemed much slimmer, but also much happier. She talked freely.

Minestus was dead! The omen that Fred and Alaric had seen had come true - but they were not the warriors that the birds represented. The dazed sparrow was Astra, who had been ensnared by the magic and the wickedness of the dragon, who had disguised himself in the form of the mage Belboz. The plucky wren was Checkers, who had slayed the dragon. They were carrying parts of the dragon's hide, now drained of magic, as a trophy of the battle.

Lord Fred was overjoyed and relieved. He no longer had to choose between two dishonourable courses of action, between abandoning Astra and endangering his sister.

Checkers said little, modestly letting Astra describe the aid that she had given while Astra was still suffering Belboz's curse, unable to fend for herself. When Astra had finished, the Glider did ask if one of the gentlemen could assist her by packing the folio of Belboz. She had determined that she would like to spend the winter in the court of the Aqualarian matriarchs, and write an account of her journey from the Dolomite Range to the Shreken. At the same time, she wished to translate the Dolomite sections of the folio into the language of Fred and Astra, insofar as a translation was possible.

Fred and Astra readily assented. Alaric had asked if it would be possible to go north first, and get some more horses and men to scour the caves. Surely there were objects of value that might spoil if left alone.

Astra raised an objection. Aqualaria had as good a claim to the treasures of the Shrecken as Allaria. And she wished to get on her way.

Fred said, "Any spoils from the cave shall be warehoused in the nearest city, and kept under guard. Insofar as restitution to their original owners are possible, it shall be done. If that cannot be done, then it should be split into thirds - one third for the King of Allaria, one third for the Queen of Aqualaria, and one third for the, um, what do you call the ruler of the Dolomite League, Checkers?"

"The Burgesses would be the nearest. But it might impossible to get all of it back there. We can debate that later, but I will trust whatever arrangements that you can make, Lord Fred."

With Astra also agreeing to the arrangement, the four headed to Pellgar, the largest city in the south of Allaria to bear the good news. They passed through the village of Mudspot first, and they were joyously received by the residents. The villagers gawked at Princess Astra's beauty, Checkers' wings, and the majesty of the heroic Lord Fred, one of their own. Even Alaric shone with a reflected glory. Their gold and silver were of course, no good in Mudspot, and the heroes ate well after subsisting on wallhugger meat for the duration of the encounter. The two luxuries that they appreciated above all others were warm baths and the simple straw beds of Mudspot. It was nearly noon of the next day before they woke up!

After they had arrived at the larger city of Pellgar, the celebration was even more extravagent. Lord Fred had succeeded where hosts of Allarians had failed! With the help of just two companions and his squire, he had lifted the shadow of the dragon. The Lord Mayor of the Pellgar presented both Astra and Checkers with a key representing the freedom of the city.

After a day of celebration, Fred quickly made practical arrangements. He would not return to Suffex right away, but a herald was charged with riding ahead as speedily as possible to the Duke and the King, to inform them of Fred's success, and to arrange for an orderly removal of the spoils. They were also to be informed that Lord Fred would be riding south, to the land of the Amazons, in order to restore Astra to her people. On the third day, Fred, Astra, Alraic, Checkers, and eight warriors of the city headed south, into Aqualaria.

And the happy party rode across the pass of the Shrecken, and into the northernmost part of the Ryngaerd.

This being the NEQ, of course, the story did not end here.

1. On their way to the court of the Queen of Aqualaria, the assistance of the band was requested for a vexing problem.
2. They passed the winter comfortably in the court of the Queen. Fred rose to favour, and the queen proposed a charter to Checkers - she was free to found a colony in the wild lands of the north for her people.
3. They were passing the winter in the court of the Queen when Checkers made a discovery in the folio of Minestus.

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