Part 2:
“Dragons are usually found near water, a river or stream,” our guide told us in the morning.
“Their diet? Mainly forest creatures. Deer, possum, bear – whatever crosses their path."
“People?" I asked.
“They are not averse to human flesh. Stories abound."
“Wonderful news," I said.
“They also have weaknesses. For example, milk is a delicacy they cannot refuse."
“Milk?" Rick wondered.
“I've heard hunters send out maidens with fresh bowls. The beast laps at the milk, while a party scores an easy kill."
“Makes sense, I guess."
“Makes no sense. Skullduggery! Success shall come through fair play, or not at at all."
I liked Winthrop. He wouldn't take the easy way.
Skullduggery be damned.
“What else?" Dale wondered.
“Dragon eggs are said to be magical. Any who eats a shell shall create rainbows at will; the yolk grants speech with birds.”
Winthrop’s voice became incredulous, his face perplexed.
“Can you imagine? Such chatter as you stepped out-of-doors? I’d go daft in a week.
Think of it:
‘Hello Mr. Hawk, spied any tasty field mice today?’
‘Why no, friend Wren, and by-the-by, how’s that corn on the missus’ foot?’
‘Oh, quite terrible, she hops around like a bunny, can’t walk or stand quite right.’
‘And greetings to you, good Whippoorwill, how’s the beak?’
‘Old but still sharp, still sharp, able to yank worms out with one pull, even the plumpers!’
‘And chirp-chirp try that grain and caw-caw watch this cat’ – oh, so horrible! I couldn’t stand it!!”
I saw Dale nodding solemnly in agreement.
I did the same, even though honestly I felt like laughing.
“Their diet? Mainly forest creatures. Deer, possum, bear – whatever crosses their path."
“People?" I asked.
“They are not averse to human flesh. Stories abound."
“Wonderful news," I said.
“They also have weaknesses. For example, milk is a delicacy they cannot refuse."
“Milk?" Rick wondered.
“I've heard hunters send out maidens with fresh bowls. The beast laps at the milk, while a party scores an easy kill."
“Makes sense, I guess."
“Makes no sense. Skullduggery! Success shall come through fair play, or not at at all."
I liked Winthrop. He wouldn't take the easy way.
Skullduggery be damned.
“What else?" Dale wondered.
“Dragon eggs are said to be magical. Any who eats a shell shall create rainbows at will; the yolk grants speech with birds.”
Winthrop’s voice became incredulous, his face perplexed.
“Can you imagine? Such chatter as you stepped out-of-doors? I’d go daft in a week.
Think of it:
‘Hello Mr. Hawk, spied any tasty field mice today?’
‘Why no, friend Wren, and by-the-by, how’s that corn on the missus’ foot?’
‘Oh, quite terrible, she hops around like a bunny, can’t walk or stand quite right.’
‘And greetings to you, good Whippoorwill, how’s the beak?’
‘Old but still sharp, still sharp, able to yank worms out with one pull, even the plumpers!’
‘And chirp-chirp try that grain and caw-caw watch this cat’ – oh, so horrible! I couldn’t stand it!!”
I saw Dale nodding solemnly in agreement.
I did the same, even though honestly I felt like laughing.
Our progress soon led a small river, sparkling green, looking fresh and clear in the sunlight.
The watered skittered and bubbled loudly, as if late for an appointment.
As we gazed at it's passage, we reviewed our plan:
Win would talk with Joacquil to barter for an egg.
At the first sign of trouble, Dale would blink us to our couch in the forest.
We traced the river's banks until entering a different forest, one where the torrent of leaves no longer fell.
The knight continued watching the water until he saw what he liked.
“Traveler’s Knoll,” Winthrop told us. “The spot where the water is most shallow. We can wade to the the other side."
He stood on the stone banks and lingered at the sight.
“For gruel or gravy, we stand almost there.”
The watered skittered and bubbled loudly, as if late for an appointment.
As we gazed at it's passage, we reviewed our plan:
Win would talk with Joacquil to barter for an egg.
At the first sign of trouble, Dale would blink us to our couch in the forest.
We traced the river's banks until entering a different forest, one where the torrent of leaves no longer fell.
The knight continued watching the water until he saw what he liked.
“Traveler’s Knoll,” Winthrop told us. “The spot where the water is most shallow. We can wade to the the other side."
He stood on the stone banks and lingered at the sight.
“For gruel or gravy, we stand almost there.”
After the crossing, we marched up a slope and left the glimmering water behind.
Our hike lasted another hour.
For some reason I found myself missing the falling leaves.
That was until I saw it.
The dark cave looming in the distance.
An arch of rock, under a bluff, covered by a hill.
Inside that place lived a dragon.
The black entrance of the cave obscured the inside as we took our places.
A friendly overture of hello hoped to breach the darkness.
“Dragon of the cave? I am Sir Winthrop. Please forgive this intrusion. I came only to talk.”
We heard movement, followed by an exhale of annoyance.
“Leave this place now,” said a raspy yet honeyed voice. “You and I have no quarrel; stay and one might arise.”
“Beg your pardon,” Win replied, “but I must ask again. Mine life hangs in the balance.”
“Your life hangs in the balance? Oh, more than you know.”
“I fear not death. I am a brave and honest man.”
That statement brought a chuckle from the cave.
“An honest man? Now that I must see. Move back more. I will come and speak with you, honest man.”
We retreated in line with the bushes as a snout poked from the entrance.
Our hike lasted another hour.
For some reason I found myself missing the falling leaves.
That was until I saw it.
The dark cave looming in the distance.
An arch of rock, under a bluff, covered by a hill.
Inside that place lived a dragon.
The black entrance of the cave obscured the inside as we took our places.
A friendly overture of hello hoped to breach the darkness.
“Dragon of the cave? I am Sir Winthrop. Please forgive this intrusion. I came only to talk.”
We heard movement, followed by an exhale of annoyance.
“Leave this place now,” said a raspy yet honeyed voice. “You and I have no quarrel; stay and one might arise.”
“Beg your pardon,” Win replied, “but I must ask again. Mine life hangs in the balance.”
“Your life hangs in the balance? Oh, more than you know.”
“I fear not death. I am a brave and honest man.”
That statement brought a chuckle from the cave.
“An honest man? Now that I must see. Move back more. I will come and speak with you, honest man.”
We retreated in line with the bushes as a snout poked from the entrance.
A real, actual dragon!
Standing right before us.
And honestly ... she was very lovely.
Her skin shined in multiple purples, vivid and rich.
Broad shoulders smoothed into a torpedo body, ending in a long tail.
A slender neck stretched to nearly twice my height.
“What brings you here? What concern of yours involves me?”
“The king has ordered me to fetch a dragon’s egg. Or offer mine own life in its place.”
“The best advice? Seek your home in a different kingdom,” she said. “Are you a fool?"
He took dangerous steps forward.
“Perhaps I am. I was counseled to poison you and steal your eggs. I chose instead to speak openly.”
“And for this I’m to thank you?”
“I shan’t say what you might do. But take heed, you may find me a fool, but mine blade is never foolish.”
“I’ve not had many dealings with your kind. Are you all so sensitive? So fragile?”
Winthrop’s puffed chest lost air and his shoulders dropped. Shocked eyes went wide.
“Sensitive? Fragile? Those words have never been uttered in mine conjunction.”
“I meant no harm, good knight.”
I am Winthrop the Bold. Winthrop the Swift. Winthrop, Son of Felix.”
“You speak as if legend. Are you man or myth?”
“I am no myth. And I am all the things I say.”
“No doubt you are.” She took another look at us. “You came here with just these three? You truly brought no army?”
“I am an honest man.”
“Then put away your sword, brave one. We shan’t fight today.”
Winthrop holstered his sword.
“Now then,” she smiled. “You ... say you need my eggs?”
Standing right before us.
And honestly ... she was very lovely.
Her skin shined in multiple purples, vivid and rich.
Broad shoulders smoothed into a torpedo body, ending in a long tail.
A slender neck stretched to nearly twice my height.
“What brings you here? What concern of yours involves me?”
“The king has ordered me to fetch a dragon’s egg. Or offer mine own life in its place.”
“The best advice? Seek your home in a different kingdom,” she said. “Are you a fool?"
He took dangerous steps forward.
“Perhaps I am. I was counseled to poison you and steal your eggs. I chose instead to speak openly.”
“And for this I’m to thank you?”
“I shan’t say what you might do. But take heed, you may find me a fool, but mine blade is never foolish.”
“I’ve not had many dealings with your kind. Are you all so sensitive? So fragile?”
Winthrop’s puffed chest lost air and his shoulders dropped. Shocked eyes went wide.
“Sensitive? Fragile? Those words have never been uttered in mine conjunction.”
“I meant no harm, good knight.”
I am Winthrop the Bold. Winthrop the Swift. Winthrop, Son of Felix.”
“You speak as if legend. Are you man or myth?”
“I am no myth. And I am all the things I say.”
“No doubt you are.” She took another look at us. “You came here with just these three? You truly brought no army?”
“I am an honest man.”
“Then put away your sword, brave one. We shan’t fight today.”
Winthrop holstered his sword.
“Now then,” she smiled. “You ... say you need my eggs?”