At the Captain's Table

"The Stony Brook is no longer in sight," he remarked as casually as he could. "Does that mean that she is headed for a different destination from ourselves? We were told before embarking on this vessel that we would be reunited with Princess Astra once we reached port."

"I don't see any harm in telling you the truth, since there is nothing thst you can do about it," the Captain replied. "The Stony Brook is indeed heading for a different destination. She will be putting in at the free port of Colonia Galia, where there is a likely buyer for your friend."

"Buyer!? But Astra isn't a slave! She's a member of the Aqualarian royal family."

"I'm afraid that you are using the wrong tense. It is true that she wasn't a slave and that she was a member of royalty. But now she is a dragoness and a long way from home, and as a non-human and an outsider most will consider that she has no rights. But try not to worry about her too much. Nobody but a fool would mistreat a dragon."

Fred lapsed into silence for a while, thinking about what the Captain had told him. Amongst other things, he was wondering how Astra would cope without her hoard, the coins of which were still making their way through his digestive system and which it seemed unlikely she would ever see again.

Meanwhile Astra was lying on her bunk below decks on the Stony Brook, feeling rather weak. She wasn't sure how much of that was due to being separated from her hoard and how much the result of being in her comparatively puny human form once more. It's strange, she thought. Not very long ago, I wanted to be human again more than anything, but couldn't manage it. Yet now I'm missing my dragon body. I used to think that I was strong and athletic, but it doesn't seem like it to me now. I suppose it's all a question of what one has become used to.

Her musing was interrupted by one of the crew. "It is time for your exercise above decks, lady," he said. "I am to be your escort."

Astra got up from her bunk, disturbed by how much of an effort that seemed to take. With a shortened stride enforced on her by the irons (which consisted of the bespelled anklet, another anklet on her other ankle, and a chain some eighteen inches in length that joined them), she followed the sailor up on deck.

1. She surveyed the surrounding ocean, but could see no sign of the Elaine.
2. Meanwhile, back on the Elaine, Fred asked the Captain what the fate of himself and the remaining prisoners would be.

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