Diagnosis

Fred replied, "But the trail that I saw certainly looked like I could walk on it easily."

Astra drew a picture of a peak and wrote down two words at the top: Strong wind.

George said, "But, Your Grace, wouldn't you shatter like an earthen pot if you fell?"

The corners of Astra's mouth turned up into a smile. She seemed to be as expressive as a normal man or woman. Was she more like clay than marble? But she seemed solid enough when she easily lifted an artilleryman. Astra shook her head.

Fred then said, "Your Highness, if you are willing to take the risk and go alone as a steingeweser and bring help, that would be most welcome. But might you need to bring back a wizard to get through the dragon's charms?"

Edwin said, "Don't the magic end when the dragon dies?"

Nobody knew.

Fred then asked about something else. "It appears that Thomas may be hurt. Is healthy enough to go with you?"

Astra approached Thomas, and appeared to examine him. Fred could not tell if some form of the talking through pictures was being used, although he would not have been surprised. He was wondering how to hold the group together if both Astra and Thomas were gone. Thomas had been able to impose some form of discipline on them when they were hiding from the dragon, but now that the dragon was dead, would they all desert and look for their share of the loot? And if they did that, would those that treated with dragon be able to murder them, one by one? After thinking these thoughts for a time, another picture formed in Fred's mind.

1. Fred daydreamed about a young boy with the flu. Perhaps Astra is trying to tell him that Thomas is sick and not injured.
2. Fred daydreamed about a woman who fell off a horse, and broke some bones. Perhaps this Astra trying to tell him that Thomas cannot move far without pain, and is obliged to stay here.
3. Fred daydreamed about a group of Amazon warriors at the end of a long, tiring hike. Perhaps Astra is trying to tell him that Thomas is weary, but otherwise fine.
4. Fred daydreamed about a lucid but frail old man. Perhaps Astra is telling him that Thomas survived the spell, but has been greatly weakened.

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