The Mystery Woman

After the trance was complete, Viani announced to the tribe, "I think that we are supposed to meet with someone along the way. They have something that will allow us to get whoever is in the caves."

"What about the people in the valley?" said Radagaisic.

"Ah, that makes sense. Astra will lead us into the valley, we will get some help, and then go into the caves."

Astra was crossing her wrists into an "X" and shaking her head to try to let them know that they were mistaken.

"The caves first, and then the valley?"

Astra nodded her head to indicate that this was correct, and then she pointed south, toward Aqualaria.

Radagaisic replied, "Something about the river. You need some water."

His brother said, "That reminds me, we had better send a messenger to the nearest Aqualarian outpost and let them know what we are doing. They get annoyed when they are not told about things like this."

If Astra had a voice, she would have cried out, "Yes! Finally!"

Radagaisic said, "It would go bad for us if we did not send a message. So we will make sure that the message gets back to Aqualaria right away, so that the good omens continue. We will tell the leader at the outpost that there has been an omen from the gods. A woman who is named Astra has appeared as a living statue to lead us in the attack. We will be attacking the lair of the dragon, and freeing her companions. After we do this, could use help in capturing the Golden Hind."

Astra wanted to scream at the top of her lungs, "Ask for the magefire!" But she knew that she had work within the limits of a well- intentioned but unsophisticated tribe. She would try one more vision. She kept it simple. She imagined a simple picture of an Aqualarian sorceress in her characteristic costume, and the magefire. She directed the vision at Radagaisic's brother.

This was the first vision directed sole at him. He went into a trance, and when the trance was over, he said, "Wow." He then described what he had seen. Viani said, "I saw the same woman just now. She seems to be very important to this quest. I do not know her name, or where she is, though."

Radagaisic said, "I imagine that she will appear, just as Astra has appeared, at the right moment. Brother, I deputize you and a person of your choice to take this news to the Aqualarian outpost, and then return right away."

The man said, "Certainly, chief. Might as well ask about them about this mystery woman, too. Probably Astra knows her. Maybe someone there can make sense of what I saw."

1. Radagaisic's brother and an assistant depart toward the Aqualarian frontier. We follow them.
2. Astra departs with the rest of the tribe for the dragon's caves.
3. Back in the Dragon's Valley....

Go Back

View Forward Story Tree
View Back Story Tree