| There was much to ponder, but they dared not remain in the keep. They
had seen new, shadowy figures operating in the guard posts. No doubt Lucien
had opened the keep to a group of the enemy, who had taken the defenders
completely by surprise, and rapidly either dispatched or imprisoned them
and everyone else in the castle. Andrea hoped that it was the latter possibility,
at least as far as her family and friends were concerned. Sneaking out
of the keep by the back way, reluctantly leaving the horse behind in the
interests of stealth, they continued until they were a safe distance away
from the castle, hidden in the nearby forest, and then camped for the night
and discussed what they should do. <p"Why did Lucien seem not to recognise
me?" asked Andrea, who was still smarting at his having called her Andy.
"His idea of a joke?" suggested Astra slightly distractedly. She was more
concerned by what Lucien had told her about herself. The wyrm had certainly
had ample opportunity to cast spells on her when she had been his prisoner,
before Fred had freed her. "I must find a powerful mage," she said, "and
quickly, before whatever enchantment the dragon has laid on me can come
to fruition. Once that spell has been countered, we can decide how best
to thwart the wyrm's plans."
Andrea replied:
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