The Demonstration

Astra could have jumped off the pedestal without being likely to come to much harm, but she evidently recognised that doing so would be futile. Instead she said: "You rat, Simon! Why did you rescue me, only to betray me to the dragon?"

"As I said, I needed to get his attention, and that was the best way of doing it."

Fred supposed that Simon might be putting on an act, an act that Astra might be in on as well, but it didn't seem very likely. Astra would have to be a very good actress to look as convincingly enraged as she did.

Get on with it, the dragon said, evidently speaking to Simon. In response, Simon stretched out his arm, pointing at Astra. From the angle from which Fred was viewing, he could not tell whether Simon had anything in his hand or not.

The effect was immediate and startling.

1. Astra's clothes and sword vanished. "You need fear no oppoenent if you can neutralise their armour and weapons," Anselm pointed out, rather unnecessarily.
2. Astra began to shrink. When she was about two feet tall, Simon said: "Is that enough to convince you, or would you like her smaller still?"
3. Astra collapsed, writhing in apparent agony.
4. Astra was levitated into the air.
5. Astra began to look younger. "The power can make anyone as much younger or older as you wish," Anselm said. "It only affects the body, though, not the mind."
6. Astra was turned to stone.

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