Page 69

There is smoke everywhereand the remains of a furious fire on some of the thatched roofs. I know we are close. The dragon must have hit this village only a few hours ago. It could still be nearby, resting from the carnage it wielded. I make my way to the few survivors who are busy mending each other’s wounds.

“Which direction did the dragon fly?” I ask no one in particular.

The villagers looked at me with fear in their eyes. Seldom did a knight clad in armor appear in their village, less seldom than a dragon, it would seem. One courageous young girl pointed behind me. “It went that way.”

“Thank you,” I say to the little girl, attempting to cheer her with a brave smile.

Before I can turn around, the little girl grabs my hand. “Are you going to fight it?” She asks with a quiver in her voice.

“I am going to kill it.”

Her eyes widened at my statement. “Be careful, sir. It ate my mama and papa. But it could still be hungry.”

I squeeze her hand before releasing it and walk with purpose in the direction the little girl had pointed. My men follow my lead as I mount Gringolot, making haste to catch up with the monstrous beast.

We gallop at full speed for an hour before sighting the dragon. It is flying low to the ground, making its way toward the North Sea. If it leaves the confines of the land, we will not be able to follow. Maybe it will leave our island for good, but there is a chance it might return. A chance I cannot take.

I signal Agravain and Kei to flank the dragon and let loose an arrow. Kei’s arrow lands on the target. The dragon’s wings shoot up in shock at the sudden attack. When the wings flap back down, a gust of wind throws some of the men off their horses.

Shouting commands, I organize my men into position, hiding behind the rocks that decorate the incline to the cliffside. We had gone over many scenarios; this is one we briefly discussed, one of the trickier battles with the sea to our fronts. We must not let the dragon escape.

More arrows fly toward the now grounded dragon, only a few piercing its tough skin. While the rain of arrows occupies the dragon, I sneak around to its backside, my sword still sheathed. I approach the dragon’s tail. Since the dragon had just sieged an attack on an entire village, its fiery breath only shoots out in spurts,barely closing the distance between it and my men. It even seems out of breath in a way.

I take the opportunity and jump quickly onto its back, using the spikes on its spine to climb up to the neck. Then I draw my sword, ready to kill. As I lift my sword, an eerie silence fills my ears. I look down to see the dragon’s eyes on me.