Astra Has an Idea

"Please wait a moment," Astra requested. "Will you tell me a little more about what's going to happen to me tomorrow? You plan to sell me, don't you? You haven't said as much, but it's pretty obvious. But for what and to whom do you intend to sell me? As a household slave to a rich noble? To a brothel, perhaps? Or did you have in mind that some mage might be interested in buying a dragon? No doubt you'd get a much better price for me that way. Except of course that any potential buyer, whether of woman or of dragon, will be able to see that I am not well."

"You have it worked out pretty well," the captain conceded. "I can see no point in lying to you. Yes, we're hoping to sell you as a dragon."

"That's something of a relief. At least I won't be sold into prostitution. So how much would you expect to get for me, assuming that I was well?"

"Well I don't have any experience with selling dragons. I don't suppose that anyone has. But I should hope for maybe thirty gold pieces."

"As much as that? But as I am now, you might not get half that, indeed might not be able to sell me at all. I've just had an idea. Why not sell the rest of your cargo first before you try to sell me? Then give me say five gold pieces from the proceeds. That should be well worth your while if it restores me to full health. And I should have thought that it would be enough to do that."

1. The captain agrees to Astra's proposal.
2. The captain refuses.
3. Back on the other vessel...

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