All Set

He read an incantation from the spellbook that he had brought with him, and Astra found herself standing next to him, looking at the chains that she had been wearing a moment before now hanging empty. "Thank you!" she said, massaging her wrists.

Belboz next conjured up a likeness of Astra, her wrists in the chains as the princess's had been. "That's astonishing," Astra said.

"Isn't it? With any luck, only I and Exotica will ever see her at close quarters, though Reaibn will probably look in on you from a distance from time to time. He has the power to do that. The big risk is that he might decide to come down here to try to negotiate with you face to face, but I think that he is likely to want to let you stew for several days before doing that. You see, though physically she seems identical to you, there is no mind there and so she can't talk of her own volition. She will just stand there looking straight ahead."

"You said that she can't talk 'of her own volition'. What does that mean?"

"If Reaibn should come down here, I shall have to come here with him, and project words from my mind via your double's mouth. But that would be pretty desperate, as he would detect that if he was paying attention. Now to transform you into the likeness of Exotica, whom I have ordered to remain in her room until you have brought me the crown and have been changed back."

Belboz gave Astra a potion to drink and then read another incantation. Astra felt momentarily dizzy, before she abruptly changed into the likeness of Exotica. It seemed rather strange; Exotica was several inches shorter and much more slight of build than the body that she was used to. Some of her now untidy, long dark hair was obscuring her vision, and she pushed it back out of her face. Looking down, she saw that she now wore clothing that was every bit as ragged and filthy as Exotica's.

"This feels weird," she said, finding that even her voice sounded like Exotica's.

"You'll soon get used to it. Now here's the copy of the key to Fred's quarters that I promised you, and a map of the castle with his quarters marked. I suggest memorising the map and then putting it and the key away in your pocket so that nobody will see them and wonder why you have them. Don't worry about finding the crown in the dark of Fred's bedroom. The red gem glows in the dark. In case anyone sees you leaving the castle, here's a bag that you can put the crown in. It will fold up small enough to go in your pocket till you need it."

1. Astra heads for the castle.
2. "I suggest that you wait here for a couple of hours, say till midnight, to make sure that Fred has gone to bed and is asleep," Belboz says. "Also the fewer people who are around to see you, the better."
3. "I'm an idiot!" Belboz suddenly exclaims. "Why didn't I think of it before? I'll transform Exotica into your double and put her in the chains. Then at least she can keep up a conversation should that prove necessary, and thus reduce the risk of detection.

Add New Option

Go Back

View Forward Story Tree
View Back Story Tree