Astra Grants Her Assent for an Ascent

Astra thought. She summonded pictures from her memory of the past week. Her new body was tough - it had endured cold, rocky ground, and the fall into the pit far better than her body could have before the change. The only steingeweser that she had seen hurt was Thomas, and his wounds seemed to have happened before his body changed. If she did fall, she wanted to avoid a shock to her head, but otherwise she felt that the distance between the top of the pit and the floor posed no great danger to her.

She did have other needs. She craved more sunlight, and she knew that she would need water and the right kind of sand to maintain her health and strength. The replacement light that Gloria had fashioned would do, although it was not a complete replacement for the broad sunlight. She thought of this light as the steingeweser equivalent of a meatless meal - it would keep her body and soul together for some time, but sunlight would be more satisfying. The water probably would not be a problem. She could make someone understand by means of a vision that she needed water, and plenty of river water was nearby. Getting the sand would be more difficult. It played some role in invigorating her body, and she doubted that she could make it clear to Gloria or the Dunchovians the exact sand that she was looking for. She recognized the sand when she saw it, but could not describe even to herself what made it special. Her need for it did not appear to be urgent, and it might be some time before her body would crave it.

Astra was concerned about both the Dunchovians and Thomas of Alkamore's group. She knew that she had inspired the Dunchovians to undertake a quest that was beyond what they would normally try to do, and if she was not visible to lead them, they might lose the initiative, and even become disheartened. A long stay at the pits might also tax their supplies, although as they were hunters, they might well find ways around that. And it had now been nearly a week since she left Thomas and Fred in the caves. Although they were resourceful, and Thomas knew the valley well enough to avoid immediate trouble, delay meant that the dragon's treasures and magic items were available to any hands that could grab them. More Aqualarians soldiers and mages would strengthen the expedition, but too long a delay might allow a malevolent mage or a dangerous creature to become master of the caves.

1. The Dunchovians tried to raise Astra from the pit - with success.
2. The Dunchovians tried to raise Astra from the pit - but it did not work.
3. Something happened before the attempt to raise Astra started.

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