The Rescue of Lord Fred?

"And oh my, what I have for an idea," Lady Akira drawls, smiling a bit in surprise as when some servants return with . . .

Later . . .

Synizn

Tiamat! I swears to myself, having avoided that latest close encounter. I had already known that Fred's kidnappers had somehow detected my scryings, but I would not have given credit for mere demifoxes to be able to . . .

I then shake my head slightly in chagrin, remembering what I now was (and shall forevermore BE), best to jettison such stupidity and be done with it. Demifoxes are NOT little children and can be as deadly and calculating as any dragon, given the right circumstances. And oh MY, it seems like right now the circumstances are right indeed!

Whoever these demifox kidnappers are, they seem to be VERY on top of their game! Yes, I could easily slaughter them with the magic I have at my disposal (even WITHOUT the Crystallic’s help), but I do not wish to spill their blood. So, instead I am playing an avoidance game and that makes things . . . interesting.

. . .

If this was a game of chess and I was actually facing one opponent across from me on the other side of the board, I would be enjoying this. Whoever is coordinating their search is very . . . skilled. Still, I would have rather not to be playing this “game” right now. Even though I have only met this Fred and Astra I find that I . . . so very much do not wish to cheat them. I really do wish to aid them in their needs and shall not abandon them to face their fates alone.

I will do what I can in curing them of their lycanthropy and the scales then shall be balanced . . . or maybe not, being that they HAD brought the means of a release for MY condition. Must reflect upon this when I am able, later!

As it stands, the quest is about done and I’m almost done. Have been able to bypass the wards on this rather high priced inn and sneak into the room that they’ve stashed Lord Fred. Not wishing to go in with spell bolts ablazing and causing havoc, I instead opt to cast powerful sleep spells (augmented by Crystallic) to knock the remaining guards asleep.

My! What ARE they planning on doing with Fred here? The smell of incense is strong and . . . is that some kind of travel altar besides Lord Fred over there? By the looks of things some kind of ritual (a preparation one?) has already been done…. Does this mean that these demifoxes have some kind of dire sacrifice ritual planned for Fred?!

. . .

Best we be on our way then! I do not recognize exactly who the altar is dedicated to, but it does have an . . . oriental flavor to it, shall we say! Do not know enough about that the far off Eastern Lands (the Oriental branch of dragondom keeps to itself), but I can’t stay to try to puzzle it out.

Hey, for all I know perhaps these demifoxes actually believe in this nonsense about fox spirits (kitsune) immigrating to these lands of recent and wish to worship them?

Stuff and nonsense!!

I silently and cautiously move towards Fred, who seems to be under sedation of some kind . . . only to draw back in surprise as his eyes snap open and . . .

1. He smiles at me with a rather . . .unnerving smile?

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