One Among Five

Three other voices said: "Hello, Fred." He turned his head the other way, and saw three more naked figures chained to the wall.

He had not recognised the redhead, but these three were familiar to him, though he had never seen them nude before. Two were Sir Josh and Sir Toby, two other knights who had been sent by the King to slay the dragon, one a month ago and the other two months ago. They had never returned and had been presumed dead.

But the big shock was the identity of the remaining prisoner. She was Princess Exotica, the King's daughter. Though almost as tall as the redhead, she was much more willowy of build; she had dark hair. When Fred had left on his mission, several weeks before (it had been a long journey from the King's court at Caemlyn to the Southern Caves), she had been one of those who had waved him on his way. How could she have come here, and so quickly? Fred was not sure whether he was more embarrassed by being naked in her presence or because she was naked in his.

As he tried to regain a modicum of composure, Exotica said: "I think that introductions are called for. Astra, this is Lord Frederigo D'Honaire, nobleman and knight. His father is the Duke of Suffex. Fred, this is Princess Astra of Aqualaria."

"Pleased to meet you, Fred, though the circumstances are less than ideal," Astra said. "Just call me 'Astra'. It's hardly the time and place to be formal."

"Er hello, Astra," Fred stammered. "I'm pleased to meet you too. Though we've never met, I've naturally heard of you. And hello to Princess Exotica and Josh and Toby as well. Can any of you tell me who our gaoler is?"

1. "It's the dragon," Astra says.
2. "It's the necromancer rumoured to live in these caves," Sir Toby says. "It turns out that it was more than just a rumour."
3. "It's an order of sorcerors calling themselves the Red Hand," Exotica says.
4. "We don't know," Sir Josh says. "We only ever see his underlings, and they won't tell us." "Or possibly her underlings," Astra points out. "One said that when they had a sixth captive they would be ready," Exotica adds. "But for what we don't know.

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