The Eight Remaining Maidens

"Yes. A little further on it will lead you into a large cavern, which is used as a communal dining hall for all the Dragon's soldiers and servants - apart from Astra and myself at the moment, of course. On the far side there are three exits. Take the middle one, and you can't go wrong."

Fred thanked the princess, and he and Velus continued on down the tunnel. After ten minutes walking, they reached the large cavern that Exotica had told them about. If anything, she had under-stated its size, for it was bigger than a football pitch. It contained many rows of long, highly polished wooden tables, each line of tables being flanked by benches on either side.

But more notable than all of this was that the eight other naked maidens were hard at work in the hall. Some of them were polishing the tables. Others had buckets of soapy water and mops, and were cleaning the floor.

Fred took a step forward, and the nearest maiden saw him. "Don't you dare walk across my nice clean floor in your dirty boots!" she shrieked. "Do you have any idea how much effort it takes to get this floor really clean? If the Dragon isn't completely satisfied with the job we do, then we will be replacing Astra and Exotica."

"Er, I'm sorry," Fred responded. "But I'm here to slay the Dragon and free you all, and I need to cross this room to do that."

"Well, take your boots off and carry them in your hand, then."

The maiden, a petite girl with waist-length blonde hair who judging by her accent might come from Califie, had not even stopped work whilst she talked to him. She must be really frightened of the Dragon's wrath, he thought. The others too. They all seem to be trying to act as if I wasn't here. I suppose that Astra and Exotica's fate showed them what would happen to anyone who dared step out of line.

He took off his boots, and began walking down the hall, between two lines of tables. He hadn't got very far when:

1. A girl, bolder than the rest, spoke to him.
2. Two of the Dragon's guards appeared in one of the exits at the far end of the cavern.
3. The Dragon himself entered the hall.
4. Velus left a "calling card" on the floor. The nearest girl let out a piercing scream of anguish.

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