A Difference in Valuation

Misunderstanding, the princess laid him out with a right hook. (Luckily for him, Fred had reclaimed his sword from her when he cut off the man's hed, or he might have lost his head as well as his hed.)

"Nice work, Astra," Fred said admiringly. "I've finished counting his money. He only had four cents."

"So how come it took you so long to count it? Wait a minute! He thought that he could buy me as a slave for four cents? I've never been so insulted!"

"I'm not surprised. You must be worth ten times that."

"Is that all? I'd have thought that I would be worth far more - at least one hundred gold pieces."

"So much? Can you cook? Or do housework?"

"Well no, I've never had any need to learn. But I'm very strong, and I can fight. And I've been told that I'm quite decorative." Velus barked his agreement.

"There's only one way to find out who's right. Killing the dragon can wait. We'll travel to the nearest town that has a slave market, and I'll put you up for sale as a naked slave-girl. We'll see what the highest bid is. Of course I won't actually sell you. Whatever I'm offered, I'll just say that you're worth double that and that I'm withdrawing you from the auction."

1. "You must think that I'm crazy."
2. Astra can't bear to lose an argument. Astonishingly she agrees.
3. There is a groan from Astra's would-be purchaser. He is coming round. Astra asks him how much he thinks she's worth.

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