Page 135 of Tiger's Voyage

“The same prize?”

The dragon shifted its body cutting me off from Ren and Kishan.Yes. Come along then, my dear.

“What? No!”

Oh, yes. Once the game has begun, it must be played to its conclusion.

It stretched forth a taloned claw and circled my waist. I struggled when it picked me up and prepared to leap into the air.

“Wait! What are you doing? You can’t do this! We don’t even know the rules of the game!”

Kishan and Ren both moved toward me until the green dragon blew a spurt of fire across the sand, halting their progress. I bucked against its claw, but its sharp talons cut into my waist.

Stop jostling, young lady. We don’t want our prize to be damaged after all.

“Prize? What do you mean?”

The dragon sighed and kicked into the air. It blew more fire down on Ren and Kishan, so they were totally encircled by it but remained unburned.

Kishan removed hischakramand yelled, “Put her down, dragon, or we will kill you.”

Lsèlóng scoffed.We dragons cannot be killed.

Ren pulled out his trident and twisted the handle so the prongs elongated to shoot spear darts. “We cannot be killed either, dragon. And we will hunt you until she is safe.”

The dragon bent its head toward Ren and hissed.That is exactlywhat I am counting on, tiger.

Kishan shouted as the dragon circled higher in the air, “Bring her back. Now!”

Ren leapt through the fire, threw down the trident, and switched to his tiger form. He scaled up a tall tree in great bounds and ran along a narrow branch. He was much closer to us now. He roared and swung a paw at the dragon.

Lsèlóng indulgently lowered its head close enough to face the white tiger but remained far enough away so as not to have its nose batted by a paw. Ren changed back to a man and clung to the branch. He looked at me. I could feel his desperation. I was out of his reach, and there was nothing he could do to save me.

His expression turned dark, dangerous, as he faced the Dragon of the Earth. “If she should be harmed inanyway, I promise you that Iwillfind a way to kill you. Take greatcare, dragon.”

The dragon narrowed its eyes and smiled malevolently.Yes, thisgame will be most diverting. Because you insist on knowing the rules ahead oftime, I will tell you this … thegameisyou.I’m going to go on a safari, yousee. I will take the form of a man and hunt you. Both of you. You will takeyour tiger forms. There will be traps and other creatures lying in wait for you aswell. If you can make it to the castle hedge before I shoot or trap you, you willbe able to move on to the second round. If not, I will have two very beautifultiger-skin rugs to place before my fire.

“And if we make it to the second round?”

If you outwit me, which is highly unlikely, then the game will change. Youwill have to fight your way to the castle through a maze. Put down your flyingdisk, or I will eviscerate the girl.

I gasped and looked down at the base of the tree where Kishan had crept,chakramraised. He lowered his arm, and the dragon spun in a circle like a weather vane. I reeled dizzily from the movement. It

trained its eyes on both men as it continued,Your weapons will be givenback to you before you enter the maze. This part of the game is older than theworld. The players will be one white knight, one black knight, a dragon, and aprincess. You must go through the maze and climb the castle walls. Then thereis the dragon to slay, played by me. The winner gets the girl.

“I thought you were immortal,” Ren said.

Oh, I am, but if you can land what would normally be a killing blow fora dragon without being burned to a crisp, you win.

“And ifyouwin?”

Why, of course, if I win, then I will get the girl.The dragon smiled evilly and squeezed me slightly.

I sucked in a breath of pain and heard menacing growls from both Ren and Kishan.

Ren spoke slowly, promise ringing in his voice. “We will play your game, dragon, but remember this, for every hurt you cause her, however minor, I will return that hurt to you a hundredfold.”

The dragon bobbed in the air, watching Ren, appraising him.It’sbeen a long time since I’ve had such brave opponents. I wish you luck. Let thegame begin!