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Astra waited as "Lord Fred" seemed to talk to himself, although she knew it was Castellan. A warm, moist draft flowed past her. After a few seconds, the draft stopped. A brilliant white light then flooded the cavern. Astra heard a voice assert, "I am Belboz, one of the guardians of this sacred place. Who is tresspassing on our grounds, and why are you here?" The knight had closed his eyes and covered them with his right hand. The knight replied, evenly, "I am Lord Fred, of Suffex. I ca-me he-re to pick mushrooms." The voice from the light mocked him, "You ca-me he-re? Wouldst thou speak-e li-ke Old Ti-me Tetralonian?" "I am from far away. Pardon any mista-kes that I ma-ke with the speech." "I have been to Allaria, and know of Suffex. Nobody there speaks like that - not even those with knowledge of the ancient and arcane books. Do not mock that which you do not know." "I do speak-e li-ke that. So what you sa-ye is not true." "You are impudent. Or mad. For your own good, I would suggest that you find your humility and sense quickly." The figure of Lord Fred stood still, shielding his eyes against the light. The voice replied, "Now, if you are just gathering mushrooms, you will not need that sword. Put it down, and walk back." Lord Fred did as commanded, but with a smile on his face even as he kept his eyes covered. "Now place the glass with the blue liquid on the ground." "Are you sure that you don't want me to rub some of this on you, old boy? You smell a little funny. Like cabbage that has been left in a sink a day too long." In the middle of the great light, Astra saw a man outlined in a hazy purple, and could hear a soft, low-pitched crackling sound. "Fred" suddenly screamed in pain. She was surprised that Belboz could get the best of Castellan so quickly. But then, after the scream, the light flashed even brighter for a second, and then dimmed. Astra could see both "Fred" and Belboz in a weak purple light that shone from their bodies. Belboz was now silent, with his eyes fixed on "Fred." Fred now had his eyes open, his arms folded across his chest, and a smug smirk across his face. Belboz said, "You are not here to pick mushrooms. Who are you, really, and why are you here?" "Who am I? A am Lord Fred, when it suits me. It was useful to let him experience your light and lightning show for a few seconds. I can bear the pain, but why bother? But I am mostly Castellan." Belboz hesitated. Something had happened to extinguish Belboz's brilliant light and remove his cockiness toward Lord Fred. Belboz said, "If you are lying, Fred, I will indulge you because of your imagination. There is a king that I know that would welcome you as his fool. Anybody can pretend he is Castellan - speak in an outrageous stage Tetralonian accent and spew nonsense that sounds like magic. However, if you are Castellan, tell me ..."
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11/8/2012 10:00:12 PM
Extending Enabled
24940454 episodes viewed since 9/30/2002 1:22:06 PM.