Bethjoy.com

Chapter Three

After breakfast was over Nancealia said that should leave their horses behind them in a nearby glad of trees, she explained that this was a good idea as the horses would only be in their way when they were with the dragons. They then walked forward until they were right up against the hills.
Then Nancealia said, “Stay here for a minute while I reconnoiter.” She slowly walked forward and she disappeared behind the hill. After a few minutes she came back and said. “There is just one dragon in the cave, and its a small one. It’s in the process of eating a moose. We can probably all walk to the cave since it’s busy and not keeping a very good eye on things.”
All four of them walked slowly around the hill. As they came to the other side of it they saw a green valley. There were more sheep and goats grazing throughout the valley but the most remarkable thing about it were the many green hills that stood up like humps. Most of them had an entrance, and Arnold thought that the entrances were much too small for dragons. However the Lesser Dragons were “Lesser” and that meant that they were diminutive, and if you do not understand what diminutive is then you will have to wait to meet the dragon to understand. They walked towards the opening that was into the hill that they had just walked around. They stopped at the entrance to the cave and looked in. It wasn’t a large cave, just enough room for a small dragon to move around in and maybe have a few other dragons over. The Dragon inside was not very large, only about nine feet high (normal sized dragons are about thirty feet high, and very long. And exceptionally strong dragons in their prime can be fully seventy feet tall (with their heads held high of course)) This dragon was busy eating a large moose (not a chocolate one) in one corner.
Nancealia used the hilt of her sword to rap loudly on the side of the entrance.
“Can’t it wait until after I finish this moose?” asked the dragon, “”I got my Uncle Alexander to cook it for me and it’s hot.”
“We can wait.” replied Nancealia.
“Dragons talk?” asked a rather surprised Arnold.
“Most of them do. Usually the younger dragons don’t talk but this one must be old enough to have learned.”
“Yes, I turned three hundred today,” said the dragon, in between bites. “That’s why my Uncle got me a roasted moose for my birthday.”
“Happy Birthday then!” said Nancealia, “And if you can spare a moment could you tell me if there are any annoying dragons whom you wouldn’t miss too much living near by.”
“Yes,” said the dragon. “Drarw, three caves down to the west, you can’t miss it, he has a dragons skeleton in front. He got into a fight with that dragon and killed him. None of us can be quite easy with him around. He is rather fierce.”
“I would think so! But he still doesn’t breathe fire?”
“No, he doesn’t breathe fire. He isn’t even old enough to talk your language! He is just old enough to be annoying and dangerous and not have any sense.”
“Well, happy birthday and enjoy your moose. I’ll go disturb Drarw.”
“Wait a minute,” said the dragon. “What is your name?”
“Nancealia Arloth.”
“Nancealia Arloth! I am very glad you came by. I hope you will disturb Drarw, you are very good at that I’ve heard.”
Nancealia smiled at that then turned and led the others out and headed for the cave mentioned by the dragon.
“So we aren’t going to fight that dragon?” asked Schelsh who was not quite sure what to make of the conversation he had just witnessed.
“No,” said Nancealia, “it isn’t proper or nice to kill a dragon on its birthday. Besides some dragons are the marauding, stealing, cruel sort and others are rather nice and just want to live and let live quietly in the mountains. The dragon we just met was one of those. He’ll probably just go on enjoying eating wild moose and never bothering anybody so long as they don’t bother him. Drarw sounds like the other type, the type that kills for pleasure.”
They were soon at the cave, for the Lesser Dragon Hills were rather thickly populated, and entered. This time they were greeted by a roar and it wasn’t too terrible or loud a roar though they plainly saw that it was the best that the dragon could do. Quite a few bones and even the weapons of two knights lay around the cave. This dragon had a slight hoard, though it wasn’t much to speak of, just two swords, a spear, a few jewels and two saddles. But before they could really notice what was in the dragon’s small hoard, it attacked. The dragon and not the hoard.
Quickly every one unsheathed their weapons and began to get ready to fight. Nancealia and Celticia were as calm as a smooth pool of water. Schelsh was also calm but not as certain of what to do. Arnold felt slightly nervous for he really did not know much about fighting dragons. But he stood still and tall and hoped that it would hurt much.
As the dragon rushed toward them Nancealia said “Step to the side as soon as it’s almost to us, then use your swords and attack while its stunned from running into the side of the cave.”
They did so. During the struggle that followed neither Nancealia nor Celticia did too much, they let Arnold and Schelsh do most of the fighting, and since they were the ones needing the experience that was just fine. Besides since the cave was so small and Nancealia and Celticia guarded the entrance the dragon couldn’t go anywhere and had to be a good target. Schelsh finally plunged his sword into the dragon’s heart and ended the fight.
“Congratulations,” said Nancealia, “You have just taken down your first dragon.”
“What shall we do with the dragon?” asked Arnold, for even though it was a small dragon it still looked to large to carry or bury.
“Leave it.” said Nancealia, “It will be taken care of. There are many vultures and other creatures in the woods that like to eat dead Dragon so it will be taken care of.”
Arnold and Schelsh were only too glad to take her advice and they turned to the hoard, which was extremely small indeed.
“Two knights attacked and were killed by this dragon, that or one knight who had an extra sword and suit of amour. Thats where most of the stuff came from, the rest,” she motioned to some ruff gold stone and a few badly shaped jewels. “Came from the hills themselves, and some of the necklaces and other jewelry probably came from other dragon’s hoard, the one that is out there.” she motioned to the skeleton out front.
“What are we going to do with the hoard?” asked Arnold.
“We’ll probably see much better later on and that will just be inconvenient to carry further on right now. However since it is somebody’s birthday I think I know what to do with it.” Nancealia quickly gathered some of it up and began walking back to the first cave, the one where the dragon eating the moose was. Arnold and Schelsh were almost surprised at this but they noticed that Celticia looked as though this were completely normal and as she was picking up some more of the treasure Arnold and Schelsh picked up the rest and helped move the small hoard of treasure to the first dragon’s cave.
“Did you defeat him?” asked the dragon.
“Yes,” said Nancealia, “By the way, what is your name.”
“Lennard.” said the dragon.
“Well, Lennard, I brought you a present.” said Nancealia and everyone laid down the treasure in front of Lennard. He was so pleased he just grinned and then began making some hopping movements around the room.
“Oh Thank you, Thank you!” he said, “This has been the nicest birthday I’ve ever had. The only hoard I had was that,” he said pointing to two small silver bracelets and one plain knife and a piece of gold rock. Nancealia and the others added their treasure to the pile and wished Lennard many more happy birthdays and then left.