Granny Keeps Her Options Open
The Never Ending Quest - Episode 46308
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"Not right away," Granny said. "I am inclined to believe the latter part
of the girl's story, remarkable though it was, especially since the
evidence of the rings supports it." She naturally had no intention of
revealing the real reason why she believed it. She went on: "As to whether
she is really a princess, or whether Governor Gilder was really holding
her prisoner in his palace before she turned up in the estates of the
Satrap, that is another matter. I think that she believes those things
herself, but that does not necessarily mean that they are true. Perhaps
Fari's theory is correct, and the alchemists have addled her mind.
"But it would be unwise of us to risk antagonising Governor Gilder by letting her go, if there is any chance at all that he could have put out a warrant for her arrest as a dangerous criminal. Of course, it may well be - even if that part of her account happens to be true - that she was jumping to conclusions, and that the criminal that Gilder wants apprehended is not her at all, but someone else entirely. We are so remote that we are always the last to receive any news, but in a day or two we ought to get a message from Polabi telling us to be on the look out for whoever this criminal is that Gilder is after. Then we will see if the description matches that of our guest. If it does, then we shall have to send her under escort to Polabi Courthouse. It will then be up to them to decide whether or not she should be sent on to Corona, but at least we will have been seen to have acted properly in accordance with the law. If we have had no message within four days, then we can safely assume that no criminal is being sought." Bella thought: Of course, the description in this message will no longer match how Zari - I mean Astra - looks now. Is Granny hinting that she might use that as a pretext for letting Astra go? Since she was covered in tar when she arrived. nobody can say for sure what she looked like before the tar and the lye soap did their work on her hair and skin. Of course, it would be no more than a pretext, since the description would be sure to mention her exceptional height and great beauty as well as her hair colour and complexion, so that there could be little real doubt of her identity. But I'd better not say anything about this whilst the others are present. I wouldn't want to risk upsetting Granny.
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JH
10/9/2004 6:35:10 AM
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