A Long Shot Comes Off

Luc spoke up. "My master can help you there," he said. "He killed the beast."

Fred went pale, expecting a gout of fiery breath to come his way at any moment. "No I didn't," he said quickly. "Nothing to do with me."

"But you must have," Luc protested. "Don't be so modest, sir. You're a hero. You went to the Southern Caves to kill the dragon, and now the beast is dead."

"If the four of you have information on what happened, then I think that you had better come with me," Callistus said. "Euaristus will want to hear your story. Perhaps some of these men can fashion netting from ropes to support you. Then I can be your transport."

"I don't have any information," Sergeant Jameson said quickly. "I've never been anywhere near the Southern Caves."

"Very well, just the other three then."

"Who is this Euaristus?" Exotica asked, stumbling over the strange-seeming name.

"The leader of the three of us who came from afar on this expedition. It was she who detected the death of Minestus. Though he was an outcast, the death of a dragon is rare enough that she thought that it should be investigated."

"I didn't actually go inside the Southern Caves," Luc said, feeling torn between his desire for adventure and his duty. "And if Lord Frederigo and Princess Exotica are to go with you, then I suppose that I ought to stay here to ensure that Matthias is properly looked after."

"Who is this Matthias?" Callistus asked.

"He was one of our party," Exotica said. "But he is unconscious, and even before that he wasn't making much sense. He shouldn't be moved. It would be best if just Fred and I went with you."

Fred wasn't too keen on going anywhere on dragon-back, but he could hardly contradict the princess. Seeing his doubtful expression, Callistus said: "You may have heard that dragons can teleport." Two blank faces looked back at him, as he went on: "We can only do that over short distances, and the Shreken range is too far." So an hour later, when an improvised carrying net had been rigged up to be borne by the dragon, Fred and Exotica climbed into it and the great wyrm took off.

Meanwhile Heraclius and Astra were sitting in an awkward silence on a rock that had been cleared of snow. Astra had no idea of how one made small talk with a dragon, and Heraclius apparently was no better informed about humans. It did not help that Astra was mistrustful of her companion. Euaristus had radiated authority and calm, whereas in contrast Heraclius had made a poor first impression on her, having seemed panicky.

A mile or so away, copious quantities of smoke had been emerging from the next peak in the range. The smoke was getting harder to see now the daylight was fading, but a glow was becoming visible, possibly from lava. Astra hoped that nothing any more dangerous than smoke and lava would be ejected. She didn't fancy being subjected to a rain of boulders or even of ash. Occasionally there would be a minor earth tremor. Some of these had triggered avalanches lower down the slopes.

1. "So what is your story?" Heraclius eventually asked. "I arrived here too late to hear what you told Euaristus."
2. Heraclius never said a word. One moment he was there, the next he had teleported away, presumably to somewhere safer, leaving Astra alone on the summit.
3. With Fred, Exotica and Callistus...
4. Meanwhile Euaristus and Elaine...
5. Meanwhile what of Adele, Orphyn and the shade of Belboz?
6. We remain in Pellgar, with Luc and Matthias.

Add New Option

Go Back

View Forward Story Tree
View Back Story Tree