| The map was checked and rechecked; Lord Fred D’Honaire knew what it
was to have badly written maps and he didn’t wish a repeat of any bad memories.
The Warcharger accepted Astra as its mistress and soon the two demi-foxes
were on their way.
The countryside near to the demolished lair of Minestus was full of trees that bore much olive and pomegranate. The grasses grew high and often a breeze blew them to and fro making the land seem as if it were a green sea full of waves. “Freddy” called out Astra to Fred. “You’re too quiet. Whatcha thinking?” Lord Fred had never been called ‘Freddy’ before and wondered at the strangeness of it. The fox-fur of the warrior maiden spilled into his face as he turned to her and the strangeness of the whole sight caused him to laugh. “What’s so funny?” asked Astra. Between guffaws Lord D’Honaire was able to answer: “WE are.” Laughter broke out between the two and then silence anew. The Warcharger continued its way as Astra commanded and time flew as if on crow’s talons. The country began to change as soil gave way to rock and the high grasses to thorny stubs. They were entering the lands of the Salmonshire Confederacy which were just north of Malboncton. The Confederacy was a bizarre nationality espousing ideas foreign to both Fred’s notion of nobility and Astra’s ideals of warrior strength. The confederacy held the belief that all people were equal under the law and that war is a fool’s errand; the confederacy held the belief that money was the Way to Enlightenment. Though comprised of various shires, all were ruled by a single person. The current ruler was a commoner who bore no title and had the simple name of Bill. Lord Fred had heard rumors of this man; it was said that though his body was soft as jello on a warm day, his mind was as quick as an eagle in flight. Both Astra and Fred wanted nothing to do with this foreign land and turned the Warcharger southwards. Time passed and soon they saw that they would reach the frontier between the Confederacy and Malboncton. Of a sudden, though, they heard the sound of racing horses and shouts. Turning their heads back they saw that they were being pursued by men dressed in strange black velvety suits with flowing thin bowties; they were the dreaded Taxmen of the Confederacy! Fred gave a shout to Astra and she bade the Warcharger to go full force, but still it was under the dead dragon's spell. The Taxmen advanced faster, coming closer and closer. What were our hero's to do? Go Back |
