Out of the Shadows
The Never Ending Quest - Episode 58943
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As she slept, Astra had another of her lucid dreams. But she quickly
realised that this one came from a different source. The earlier dreams
had been almost entirely visual; she had been shown things by someone
(whom she had later learnt was Esau) who did not share a common language
with her and so could not speak to her using words. This one had words as
well as images.
She saw a distinguished-looking, well dressed man aged about fifty, sitting in a comfortable study that was lit by an oil lamp. She realised when he "spoke" that he was the man in the shadows who had spoken to her in the silent speech, for the "voice" was the same. The lieutenant had thought that he was only an agent for some patron, but Esau - via Sudukis - had said that he was very rich. "Well, Dragon Astra," he said. "He who hesitates is lost, they say, and I made a grave error when I did not purchase you when I had the chance. But at least your new friends, in removing the charm that was preventing you from transforming, have enabled you to demonstrate that you really are a dragon." "How did you know about that?" "They made a mistake in removing your anklet before their ship had left harbour. I didn't even need to use magic. We have powerful devices here called telescopes that enable one to see clearly a great way off. It is convenient that the moon is so bright tonight. I had had a man keeping the Stony Brook under observation. He was told to alert me if he saw anything of interest. He reported a boat leaving the vessel. So late at night, it was clear that something was up. So I took over the observation myself. In your human form, you were too small for me to identify, but when a dragon suddenly appeared on the deck of the boat's destination it was obvious what had occurred." "I see. So why are you talking to me now?" "Because I haven't yet given up hope of securing your services. Whatever riches they have offered you, I can offer you far more." "Assuming that I were to accept your offer, do you expect me to fly to you now? I am too tired for that." "In a day or so's time, when you have rested, would be fine. The small extra distance that you would have to fly would not be a problem for you." "To leave them after they have displayed faith in me by removing the anklet would seem like a betrayal of their trust." "Ha! You said yourself that you are too tired to fly. They would have known that. And it's not as though you had any choice in the matter of going with them. Didn't the captain of the Stony Brook sell you to them, whether you would or no?" "Well, sort of. But I gave them my word that I would not try to go free before we arrived at Biscuit Creek. They said that, after that, if I wanted to I could leave. They told me that I would lose my soul if I worked for you, and that you would make me your slave." "And you believed them?" The voice was scornful. "So what would you have me do for you?"
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JH
6/11/2006 12:43:56 PM
Extending Enabled
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