Velus

Perhaps the dragon was running short of suitable guards, for she soon sensed that the latest - a shy peasant boy of sixteen or so who told her that his name was Velus - was different. Certainly he stared at her wide-eyed, but he seemed much more respectful than the others, and as the hours passed he showed no sign of wanting to take advantage of her. She found herself liking him more and more, and wishing that she could tell him: "Whatever you do, don't touch my right nipple." But of course her curse prevented that.

They talked about this and that, Astra doing most of the talking given how shy Velus was. "I can't see why the dragon has you guarded," the boy said after a while. "It's not as though you can escape."

Astra could not say: "It amuses him to turn boys into dogs." Instead she replied: "I suppose he's afraid of some questing knight happening by and freeing me."

"But what could I do against a knight? I've a sword, true, but I've had minimal training in how to use it."

"Then perhaps you are here out of the kindness of the dragon's heart, to give me someone to talk to."

Even Velus, naive as he was, could tell that she was not being serious. "I suppose there is the point that I have to supply you with food and drink," he said. "Would you like something now? It must be close to lunch time."

"Thank you. What have you got in your basket?"

"Nothing very exciting, I'm afraid. Some bread, cheese, ham and a few apples. And some water and a flagon of ale."

"I'll have some bread and cheese, thank you."

Since Astra's wrists (as well as her ankles) were chained, Velus had to feed her. It was all part of her humiliation, she knew. That accomplished, he brought her a cup of water. But in doing so he had the ill-fortune to trip on an uneven portion of the tunnel floor, and found himself falling forward.

He instinctively flung out his free hand in an attempt to steady himself, and it closed over Astra's right breast. The startled doggy yelp from Velus and the clang of the metal cup hitting the floor of the tunnel were almost simultaneous.

Astra looked down sadly at the bewildered, brown and white terrier. "I'm so sorry, Velus," she said. "The dragon cursed me, but I'm unable to warn anyone about it. I've no idea if you can understand me, but I had to tell you."

1. Velus gives no sign that he can understand human speech.
2. Velus seems to understand her.
3. Just then, the aforementioned questing knight, having become thoroughly lost, arrives in the tunnel where Astra is imprisoned.
4. There is a bit more to the dragon's curse. Velus is her tenth "victim", and with each multiple of ten she herself will become slightly more doglike. This time she acquires doggy ears and a tail.

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