Belboz's Explanation

"What the hell was that about?" Astra C asked Belboz angrily, loud enough for Fred to hear. She was feeling rather better now, though she still had a nasty headache. Then light dawned. "Did you think that I was the other Astra? What is it between you two? Why did she try to kill you?... And how do you project your thoughts like that? I never heard of a mage who could do that with such power."

"Let him rest for a while before taxing him with too many questions," Jenny Elf said. "After all, he nearly died, even though he seems to be making an amazing recovery."

"I'm sorry," Astra C told Belboz. "That was thoughtless of me, but I'm not feeling at my best right now. That mental projection of yours hurts. But on reflection I can understand your striking out like that, after almost being killed and then seeing what you thought was your assailant bending over you. If it's any consolation, you win the contest, since I am disqualifying Astra Transtrygia. If you don't feel well enough to compete in the semi-finals, when it's time for them, then your intended opponent will have to be awarded a bye."

"I should apologise to you," Belboz said. "Especially for what I said about making everyone here suffer. I did not really mean that, of course, but I was in fear for my life, and I thought that such a threat might deter the princess. I told you that she was prone to delusions and terrible rages, as a result of her dreadful experience with the dragon, and now perhaps all of you will understand that I was not exaggerating. But now I should like to be left alone for a while to recover, as Jenny Elf suggested. I am not a young man, and what happened was very taxing for me. I think that I shall be all right in an hour or so, though."

1. Belboz appears to have succeeded in talking his way out of trouble. Once Astra C and Jenny Elf leave him alone, he sends a message to the correct Astra.
2. Astra C wants to hear Astra T's side of the story. That poses a problem, of course.
3. Given the unexpected trouble that the contest has caused, not just once but twice, Astra C wonders if the whole idea should be dropped. Perhaps Astra T only suggested it in the first place in the hope of being matched against Belboz?

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