| Since they are under several hundred feet of solid rock, the group
cannot use its radios, but foreseeing this several of the mages have brought
magic mirrors in their packs. (They could have used Minestus's own mirror,
but were worried about the possibility of hidden traps.) Then they head
back to the entrance to the cave system, to rendezvous with the dragons
who will be collecting them.
"It was something of an anticlimax in the end," Astra 2 says as they
walk back. "We didn't need to come mob-handed after all. It looked as though
Evis could have done it all by herself." "Yes," her husband says. "I'm
beginning to think that when science comes up against magic there can be
only one winner - and it's not magic." "I'm not so sure about that," Astra
2 responds. "Against Zerm it was a damned close-run thing." "At least you
got to go on that operation," Astra 3 says a little wistfully. "I'd hoped
that going on this one would compensate in terms of excitement, but it
hasn't really."
"You shouldn't complain," Synizn points out. "At least you got to come.
Have you noticed how almost all the Freds and Astras who have children
got to go on this mission, whilst almost all those without children weren't
selected? That's the reverse of what might have been expected, and I wonder
if Probe had any hidden motive behind it or whether it's just that you
were more persuasive than those who were left behind." Probe smiles at
that, but doesn't say anything.
Clothes have been found for Andrea from one of the Astra's packs, though
they are less than a perfect fit. She has heard the story of how Simon
and Aethir met their end [10635] with sadness, and with sympathy for Astra
8a - though she isn't sure that she is yet capable of sympathy for the
Fred who had been the Thaobath.
Something else is on Andrea's mind now, though, and she speaks to Astra
4, who happens to be walking next to her. "With the departure of the contagion
from my blood, I no longer feel the addiction to my lycanthropy that I
did, but I'm still going to miss the feeling of freedom that it gave me."
"I can understand that. But you've got much to look forward to. With the
death of Minestus, it shouldn't be hard to reconquer Croix Keep. Hopefully
your family will be alive, and when they are released you can be reunited
with them." "Much though I miss them, that will be something of a mixed
blessing if they try and impose the restrictive regime of old on me." "I
don't think they could do that now, after all you've experienced.
"Also with the lycanthropy out of the way, you'll be free to explore
your magic gift. In fact, you may well need that gift, because the Unseelie
Court may not take defeat well, and they could still have designs on you.
Of course, one has to face the unpleasant fact that your family may be
dead. In that case I imagine the King may want you to take on the running
of the Duchy of Croix yourself." "I'm not sure if I'd be well fitted by
my temperament for doing that. I don't suppose there's any chance of joining
up with your party if my family is dead?" "I don't know. It's not
altogether in our hands, but it's too complicated to explain now."
-
 They exit from the caverns.
|