Finding a Relation

:is: that: where: I: am:? :it's: much: better: than: being: trapped: in: a piece: of rope: The Voice paused for a moment, then added: :if: you: can: hear: me: Mistress:, I: didn't: mean: that:. phew:! I: don't: think: she: is: anywhere: nearby:

"Get out! Get out! Get out!" Seeing no sign of the rope, Astra risked adding to her words the mental scream that had caused her tormentors such discomfort when she had tried it before. She couldn't keep it up for very long, though.

:please: don't: do: that:! I: don't: know: how: to: get: out: even: if: I: wanted to:. so: we: have: to: learn: to: get: along:

"What are you?"

:now:? I: don't: really: know:. a: disembodied: mind: or: soul:, I: suppose.: but: thanks: to: you:, I: now: remember: what: I: was:. I: don't: know: how: long: ago: - it: seems: like: forever: - but: I: was: once: a: man:, with: a: body:. not: just: any: man: either:. I: was: Alric:, Prince: Consort: to: Queen: Freya: of: Aqualaria:.

"Ohmigoddess! You're my great-grandfather!"

when: my: memory: returned:, I: wondered: if: you: might: be: a: descendant: of mine:. greetings:, Great-Granddaughter:.

"Greetings, Great-Grandfather. So where am I - I mean, where are we?"

:I: do: not: know:, Astra:. but: the: Mistress: - no:, the: Soulreaper: - would: not: have: sent: you: here: without: a reason:. And: she: must: be: confident: that: you: cannot: escape: her:.

"Can you see and hear - apart from hear me, I mean?"

:I: can: see: what: you: see: and: hear: what: you: hear:.

"There are times when I'll find that a little embarrassing. You may be a relative, but you are still a man."

:I: was: once: a: man:, but: have: not: been: one: for: a: very: long: time:. you: need: not: feel: embarrassed:

"Hmm. It is just you, isn't it? The others haven't come along as well?"

:just me:.

"Thank the Goddess for that."

1. Astra finds a note from the Soulreaper tucked inside her clothing, explaining what she is required to do.
2. Astra attempts to move outside the circle of stones.
3. Astra notices that the calluses on her fingers caused by many hours practising her swordplay have vanished. In fact all of her skin is now as unlined and unblemished as a newborn baby's.
4. Back amongst the bookshelves, Fred could only watch helplessly as the sorceress walked towards a new room.....

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