The Sob Story Twist

With an aggressive trill, a heavy weight crashed down against Fred, who staggered in the air. Fred struggled to stay in the air as another dragon bit him on the neck and grabbed his wings, then when a high-pitched voice hissed at him, "Land or I'll slice your wings," he settled into a downwards glide that landed him quickly. It was automatic; protecting his wings abruptly became the biggest concern he had, completely wiping out thoughts of saving the village's medicinal supplies.

Meanwhile, another faerie dragon harried the merchant, first clouding his eyes with a gust of faerie dust and then pulling at his hair with swooping grabs. The merchant occupied himself trying to swat the little dragon out of the air until abruptly, a blade appeared at his throat. The faerie dragon perched smugly on the now still merchant's head.

The dragon that had pinned Fred looked up between the bandits. "There! Your mother is safe! But couldn't you have done it more peacefully?" it squeaks to the first bandit. The bandit shook his head and replied even as he searches the hand cart. "No. These medicines were going straight to Baron Luciano, and he doesn't hire compassionate merchants."

The second bandit growls and leads the merchant over to a tree, then has him put his hands behind it. He traces the knife across the merchant's arm as he steps around cautiously, then in a feat of dexterity, manages to tie those hands together without letting the point of his dagger move away from them.

All of this left Fred rather baffled. A bandit's mother? And what about Baron Luciano? Baron Luciano had never seemed anything but hospitable and friendly to the King and his Knights. What was going on?

What is the truth about Baron Luciano?

1. Baron Luciano is a good ruler; the bandits have tricked the dragons.
2. Sickness has struck the area. Everyone is short of medicine.
3. Baron Luciano is an evil ruler; he's blocked shipments of medicines to any but himself.

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