Astra's Incredible Tale

Astra answered Bakhtar, "Now how I came here, I really do not know. I was minding my business, at a reception for the new Allarian ambassador, when I suddenly found myself on a beach outside of Corona. [17376] Some pipsqueak named Fred claimed that he was the one that brought me there, by some sort of magic potion." [14618] She looked at the puzzled faces in her audience, and explained, "Yes, I have a hard time believing that myself. If any of you have a better explanation as to what may have happened, I would be glad to hear it."

Fari replied quietly, "Go on, khanomam. Perhaps if we hear all of your story, things might explain themselves."

"Thank you," replied Astra. "Anyway, this Fred character is not only a coward, but untrustworthy as well. When we had an interview with Governor Gilder, we agreed to disguise our places of origin. It is not that I am ashamed of being an Aqualarian. It is just that I thought that your authorities might arrest me or something, and I just want to go home as soon as I can. You can understand that, can't you?"

They were all quiet for a moment, and Bella then said, "Yes, I think that we all can. It is just that your story is incredible. But do go on."

Astra continued, "Fred then betrayed me. He told Gilder that he was from Allaria after all, and then said I was his slave, and sold me to Gilder as a servant. He then left the country on the Bloated Seal. I hope that the poltroon gets impressed as a galley slave before he gets back home. So when I said that I was on the Bloated Seal, that is where I got the name of the ship. I made up Foggy Island."

"It seems that you are very good at telling stories," said Shirini.

"I am really not very good at it. Nobody believes them. I am telling you the absolute truth right now, and even I am having problems believing some of it. As I said earlier, this land is strange to me, and maybe you can help explain some things. So, after Fred left, I was held under house arrest in Gilder's palace. He was going to ask to marry me. Under the circumstances, there was not any way that I could win. If I refused, then I might get killed. If I accepted, then I might never get home. And I had heard stories of these 'marriages' to princes lasting for one night, and then the girl gets killed anyway, once the prince gets bored."

Astra continued, "So I tried to put him off by telling him stories. It worked for a night, and I lured him to sleep. Then I made my escape. I was only able to get out because two guards got into a fight and killed each other. I was to get over the wall of the palace. I stumbled around until I found a horse that was able to get me away from the place. I was able to get to the place that you call Polabi Courthouse."

"So why did you not continue on west, out of Hespan?" asked Fari.

"Well, I was arrested for bathing in one of Polabi's lakes. I was tired, and sore from riding bareback. I did not know that it would be a problem, as the lake seemed so out of the way! An officer saw me, and took me to the court of the satrap. The court is very informal, in an open area underneath an awning. The satrap was a nice man, who told me not to do it again, gave me a new set of clothes and a saddle for my horse, and gave me an escort back to Corona."

"Describe the satrap, if you could," asked Bakhtar. "It has been four years since I have seen him last."

"I think his name is Agha Safid. Zari the Seamstress told me that. He is kind of short. His complexion is dark, although not quite as dark as yours, Bakhtar. He is hairy. He has a grey, coarse, very curly beard. I could see some streaks of black in it. I can also remember his eyes as being brown."

Bakhtar responded, "His hair had much grey in it even when I visited last. It sounds as if it is nearly all grey now."

Astra replied, "Just about. In other ways he does not seem like such an old man, though. Mary, may I have another pear brandy? My throat is getting a bit dry."

Mary poured Astra another glass of brandy, this time without the resin. Mary was not sure whether this batch of resin had gone bad or not. Astra was telling the tale as if she were convinced it were the truth. But the story was a mixture of plausible details and unlikely episodes.

Astra drank the brandy and continued, after thanking Mary. "Well, when I and my escort got to the Corona River, we saw yellow flags at the inn. I heard that that was a signal that an infamous criminal was on the loose. I had escaped Corona, and had stolen a horse, so I assumed that meant me. I fled with my horse toward the river. I found a raft and floated downstream. I fell asleep and found that I had floated out to sea. I left the raft and swam back to the beach. The gnats were a problem. I heard from the tales of Captain Shirk that tar was helpful in keeping gnats off, so I covered myself in it, not thinking about how hard it would be to get off. I followed the river up to the here, and that is where you found me."

The gathering was silent for a few seconds. Astra broke the silence by asking Bakhtar, "It seems that you have traveled. What did you do?"

Bakhtar replied that he was

1. a cavalry officer.
2. one of the King's envoys.
3. a trader.

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