home Chapter: 1 .. 2 .. 3 .. 4 .. 5 .. 6 .. 7 .. 8 .. 9 . 10 . 11 . 12 . 13 . 14 . 15 . 16 . 17 . 18 . 19 . 20 . 21 . 22 . 23 . 24 . 25 . 26 . 27 . 28 . 29 . 30
At dawn we are all awake and we investigate the Dragon Machine. I shake my head. It will never puff again, and it's going to take days to cut it up and haul it way as scrap. Not only do I have "no dragon body" to explain, I have to explain what this contraption is doing here in place of the dragon. My day is not getting easier.
At sunrise we are waiting at the cave entrance to the lair. We are about to go in when Gunther holds up his hand signaling "wait". I motion to the ladies and we quietly back out while Gunther quietly goes forward. A minute later he quietly yells, "All clear." and we all go in.
What Gunther spotted was a dragon body.
It is Queen Almidahl's body -- there's no doubt of that -- and it's dead as a stone. Gunther hands me a note.
My Dear Baron,
It occurred to Queen Almidahl and me that your story desperately needed a dragon body for its happy ending. At my suggestion, the Queen graciously assembled a simulacra, and we promptly killed it. Please remember to thank her the next time you see her.
Have a happy ending,
Lazar
Gunther snorted. "Thinks of everything, doesn't he."
"It sure seems that way, doesn't it."
The remains of Queen Almidahl's hoard that we find are ample. I send a prearranged signal to Chancellor Napier indicating success, and that he should send a party of men to come clean out the lair. In the meantime, the five of us move articles of particular note from the lair out to the wagons, pack the crossbows, and prepare to head home.
I make a pronouncment. "We will continue to honor Dragon Day. But from this day forth the villagers who are selected for the Dragon Day "sacrifice" will be sent to one of the great cities to study. They will learn, and they will bring that learning back to the villages. In this way the Dragon Day sacrifice truly do what it was intended to do: better us all. And you ladies will become the members of my household who administer the Dragon Day ceremonies."
Gunther drives off ahead; the ladies clearly have something on their mind that he doesn't need to be a part of.
"Well," says Anna, holding arms behind her and rocking a bit, "This is like the first time you saw us. You tied us up and carried us home." Her eyes light up at the memory.
"You want me to tie you up now? For the trip back?" Anna nods.
"I'll compromise. I'll tie you all up, but one of you has to ride up front and get 'pawed' by me."
"OK... as long as we get to take turns." Anna kisses me; turns around and offers her wrists to me.
-- The End --
home Chapter: 1 .. 2 .. 3 .. 4 .. 5 .. 6 .. 7 .. 8 .. 9 . 10 . 11 . 12 . 13 . 14 . 15 . 16 . 17 . 18 . 19 . 20 . 21 . 22 . 23 . 24 . 25 . 26 . 27 . 28 . 29 . 30