Some minutes had passed when Yellow saw two dragons forcing their way towards him. “Yellow,” shouted Dragon White, “you are needed at the police station right away - it’s a matter of life and death!” Pink reinforced the urgency by saying, “And we mean right now!”
By the time all three dragons had returned, Blue was in deep conversation with the Mayor, who in his hurry had forgotten to put on his ministerial chain and looked unusually untidy. Dragons Gold and Blue saw Dragons’ Pink and White pushing and prodding Yellow into the office. An office, that was now a very cramped meeting point.
“OK Yellow” Blue barked. “If you do not tell us the truth Dragon Brown, is going to be sentenced to death, and if we do not act now perhaps will be executed before we can get to him.”
“That goes for the four children!” Pink cried out. “You must tell us the truth.”
Dragon Yellow sat down on his haunches, eyes popping out of his head he was seen to shiver as it dawned on him the game was up. “It was Dragon Green,” Yellow started, “he suggested I make up a story so that dragons would not see me as a coward.” Yellow then detailed everything that had taken place. He confirmed that it was he who ran away from four children who he had been told were tied up by Green. He also confirmed that he had not seen any army but thought there had been one as it was Dragon Green who had told him he had seen them.
Dragon Blue wrote down everything Yellow was saying. “We must hurry Blue,” Dragon Gold was becoming agitated, “surely we can leave the administration and form filling until after we prevent Dragon Black murdering them all?” he said.
Dragon Blue was not to be rushed. He was aware of the urgency but also the need to have documented hard evidence if he was to present it to Dragon Black. “I know the seriousness and urgency, Gold” Blue protested at being rushed. “But if we do not have statements with us from Dragons Yellow, White and Pink, then Dragon Black will just throw our protestations out and execute them all.” He paused, then in a serious tone of voice. “And possibly all of us could end up with the same fate. We must present irrefutable proof of innocence.”
Dragon Green had now reached Volcano Peak and anchored each of the prisoners by their chains to the metal rings protruding from each of the slabs of rock. They were all facing Dragon Black who glared and growled at Dragon Brown, but Black just stared in bewilderment at the four small creatures before him.
“This court is in session” Black boomed out, “I will read out the charges brought against you.” Dragon Black had no charge sheet, just the written reports of Green and Yellow.
Black continued, “First I will take the charge of espionage and assisting the enemy, dereliction of duty and placing Draegonia in great danger” Black’s eyes were focussed on Dragon Brown. “How do you plead?” Black waited for Brown to answer.
Dragon Brown made no move but stood straight (well, as straight as he could be being anchored to the rock by his chains).
“Nothing to say eh!” Black motioned his claw in a circular wave, “You’re guilty by default.”
However, before Dragon Black was just about to pass sentence, Dragon Brown spoke. His voice was loud enough to be heard by all, but he did not shout. His tone was firm and precise with no hint of fear. “Dragon Black, this is not a Draegonian judicial court. I am innocent of any of the trumped up charges and if not released into the custody of the law pending the preparation of my defence, then you will be guilty of imposing improper justice.”
Dragon Black roared with laughter, sneering at Brown he leaned forward and growled. “I am the Law, I am the Judge and I dispense the Justice here, something you will soon learn. You’re GUILTY AS CHARGED!” he finally bellowed. “And I sentence you to be thrown to your death.‘’
Brown eloquently spoke once more. “Not only are you making a big mistake, Dragon Black, but it is you who is in contempt of this so called court, dealing with jumped up charges that will be eventually proved false. Irrespective if you sentence me and the other prisoners to death, you will be responsible for our MURDER.”
Black was not going to be threatened or made to look a fool in front of his personal guards and Dragon Green. He was not going to have his authority undermined. “Brown, you are guilty, you have been sentenced to death and you will be the first to be executed, crouch down and shut up!” Black waved his claw up and down in a gesture to Brown.
“Now you four,” Black turned his attention and gaze on each of the children, one by one. He spoke, his head moving slowly so that his speech was evenly distributed across the four.
“You are charged with espionage.” His gaze moved on. “You are charged with attempted murder.” He looked at Grace, “You are charged with using chemical warfare.” And finally his gaze came to rest on George. “You are charged with invasion and the attempted overthrow of Draegonia. How do you all plead?”
George, standing on the execution plinth looked on by three worried friends said in a loud voice, “None of us are guilty of any crime.”
“That’s right!” shouted Zach with clenched fists. Although he was youngest he was not afraid of anything and was prepared to show it.
“Shhh,” sighed Grace, “Don’t annoy him any more than he already is.”
Joel, not to be outdone, piped up. “Look we know you have made a mistake but….” Joel was immediately interrupted by Dragon Black who snarled at him to be quiet.
George had been thinking about their predicament for the last 24 hours and during the forced march to Volcano Peak had chance to talk to Grace. They had both agreed that Dragon Green was behind their capture and that he just lied about everything and was definitely not to be trusted. Neither of the two however, could understand Dragon Brown’s position in all this and both questioned why he was a prisoner facing what appeared to be trumped up charges.
Grace had an idea and shouted at Dragon Black. “You have the wrong dragon in front of you facing the wrong charges!”
Black, with his piercing eyes looked straight at Grace but before he had chance to say anything George spoke. “Yes that’s right, you do have a traitor in your midst and it is not Dragon Brown.”
Dragon Brown followed the conversation, thinking to himself that he had misjudged these little ones. They were not only unafraid but were willing to tackle Dragon Black head on. But who were they saying was a traitor?
Black reared up, snorted again this time bellowing black puffs of smoke out of his large nostrils. “So” he said, “who is the traitor if not Dragon Brown.”
All four children in unison turned to their left where Dragon Green stood, and pointed. “He is your traitor!” they cried.
“Yes and his plans are to overthrow you,” Grace added.
Black’s head turned swiftly and his eyes darted towards Dragon Green, who was taken aback at the onslaught. “Don’t believe a word they say,” Green choked, spluttered and continued, “they are crafty liars and you don’t have to take just my word. Dragon Yellow claims he was attacked by these four and remember,” Green paused, then snarling at the five accused, bellowed “and it was Yellow who saw the fleeing army, not me. So don’t call me the liar here, it is you lot!”
Green was feeling quite pleased with himself his manipulation of events were paying off and the outburst from the children seemed to reinforce his interrogation report now, being carefully studied once again by Dragon Black.
Black lifted his head and donning a large black leather cap tinged with white fur, swiped his tail back and forth three times, making noisy cracking sounds as it whipped through the air. “Enough” he said, “I am convinced of all your guilt and sentence you to immediate death by burning. You will be taken and thrown one by one into the volcano and let this be a lesson to any who try to overthrow me.”
CHAPTER 17
The Race is On
Dragons, Blue, White, Pink and Gold were joined by Dragon Red who had been called to take them all in his fire truck. There was insufficient room for Yellow who was told to make his own way and joi
n them, on reaching Volcano Peak.
“Can’t we go any faster Dragon Red?” sighed a frustrated Dragon Pink. “If we don’t get a move on it will be too late.” Pink was riding in the cab with Dragon Red who, switching on the siren, placed his foot hard on the speed pedal. “I cannot go any faster we have too much weight on and it is an uphill climb.”
On either side of the truck, Dragons Blue and Gold were hanging on for their lives. Each had one claw holding the gleaming brass rail and using their other claws were clutching onto a very frightened and worried Dragon White. All three dragons were propelled high into the air with every bump in the uneven track, before crashing back with a jolt.
The Dragon Council guards had now unlocked the chains securing the five prisoners to their individual granite rocks where they had stood and been sentenced to death. Each one was bound with more chains, making it absolutely impossible for them to escape and at best, for them to walk very slowly. They were being prodded and pushed towards the plinth’s edge that slightly protruded over the circular mouth of the volcano.
Smoke, interspersed by the occasional flame drifted into the late morning sky, with the eerie silence broken only by the sound of the clinking chains being dragged across granite as each neared the edge and their final execution point. George and Grace glanced at the other two who were trembling, looking very scared and understandably worried.
“Don’t worry” Grace said, putting on a brave face. “I am sure we will all get out of this.”
Somewhat quietly for only Grace to hear, George was heard to say, “I really hope so, because time is really running out.”
Dragon Brown had been thinking of ways to escape. He was being pushed more violently than the others, by one of the dragon guards. With a sudden movement, Brown caught the guard with one of his chains, wrapping it round the guard’s right leg. The guard, caught unawares, tumbled over. But because he was linked by a short chain to Dragon Brown, he pulled him over as well.
Both dragons toppled head over tails until they finally stopped against a high rock that had until now obscured the track leading down to the town. Brown, unable to escape, saw out of the corner of his eye a red truck hurtling towards Volcano Peak with flashing lights. But it was too far away to hear the deafening siren.
Brown was approached by Green and the second guard and pulled violently to his chained feet. “There is no escape for you Brown,” Green sneered. “Get him back to the others.”
Brown was dragged towards where each of the children were standing on the very edges of their execution plinths, just a few centimetres away from certain death.
Grace felt the hot smoke and flames on her cheeks, the acrid fumes making her gasp for clean air as she coughed. She looked at her two brothers, who by her side, stood in front of their own execution plinth and looked on in horror.
Dragon Black had ordered that George be executed first and as he stood on his ledge, one dragon guard and Dragon Green approached each aside of Brown. “You stand there Brown” Green gestured to an empty plinth opposite George.
Brown moved as instructed, just as Green was about to push George to certain death. But before Green could touch him, Brown had whipped round, pulling his attached guard with him, making the guards tail flick round colliding with Dragon Green’s large rear.
Green, was for an instant motionless, his eyes wide open as he started to lose balance, then with an almighty fearfully screeching yelp, the last he was ever going to make, Dragon Green toppled into the mouth of the volcano. There was finally a chilling scream followed by a short hushed silence immediately broken by the sound of the hurtling fire engine’s siren, as it skidded to a halt, carrying the late would be rescuers.
CHAPTER 18
The Law Prevails
In all the kafuffle Dragon Black had not heard or seen the five dragons speed in until he had heard the siren that followed Green’s desperate screams. Following at a breathless pace soon after was Dragon Yellow. Dragon Blue had dismounted the red carrier and presented himself in front of Dragon Black. “Sir,” Blue started, “You are under arrest.”
Dragon Black pulled himself to his full height, smiled, and in a threatening voice said: “Dragon Blue, be careful what you say. I am in no mood for frivolities. I urge you all to leave now whilst I am feeling benevolent.” Black paused then menacingly lowered his head, his bad breath making Dragon Blue’s eyes water, continued, “We do have plenty more room in the volcano for you all.”
Dragon Gold sidled up to Dragon Blue. He had had enough. “Dragon Blue, continue to read out the charges, charges that I have endorsed and approved. The days of you continuing to rule by fear, Dragon Black, are over.”
Black roared. “And who is going to attempt to apprehend me? Who has the courage to stand in my way?” Dragon Black looked towards the Draegonian Guards who were by now looking at each other in some confusion.
“They are not going to assist you, Black,” Growled Dragon Gold. “As Mayor of Draegonia, under martial law, the state of emergency laws you yourself passed, I have the sole right to appoint a Commander in Chief. That commander…” Gold turned and looked straight towards Dragon Brown, who released from his chains, was helping the four children, “is Dragon Brown, he now commands the Draegonian Guard”. Gold paused for breath then turning to Dragon Blue said, “Dragon Blue do your duty.”
Dragon Blue stepped forward and as he did so Dragon Black made a move to flick his enormous and dangerous tail. But it did not move. Zach, during the arguments, had sneaked up behind the lofty stand Dragon Black was standing on. Black’s long tail was hanging down, its tip rolled in a loop on the gravel floor.
Zach had used the chains that had previously bound him, to wrap round Dragon Black’s tail, securing the end to a large protruding boulder. Black was restrained, he could not move without causing to himself significant injuries and it was the youngest of all, who had achieved his containment.
Dragon Black, crouched on all fours, was unable to move his long tail, his movements were severely restricted, he was going nowhere.
Dragon Blue stepped back and looking up to Dragon Black read out the charges: “Dragon Black you are charged with the following crimes: Holding a Judicial Court without following due Draegonian procedure.
1) Allowing unverified evidence to be presented.
2) Not allowing for a Jury.
3) Not hearing all evidence from all parties.
4) Passing sentences without due Draegonian authority.
5) Using unlawful means to procure the death penalty.
6) Attempted murder.”
And at this point Dragon Blue took a deep breath and in a very firm and loud voice said:
“AND SEVEN, MURDER.”
Dragon Gold nodded profusely, thanked Dragon Blue. As for the very first time a subservient Dragon Black looked on, Dragon Gold adopted his rightful role as judge and confirmed the arrest. “Dragon Black, you will be chained and taken from this place to a secure area within the Hall of Dragons where you will wait for your trial date to be confirmed. In the meantime the four children are to be given every kindness and support. They have been through an ordeal and if it had not been for Dragon Brown I fear George would have met an untimely death. Dragon Pink you are given the responsibility to take good care of them.” Gold continued “Dragon Brown I want you to ensure that Dragon Black has a 24-hour guard and that Dragon Yellow is put under witness protection now that Dragon Green is dead. Yellow will be an important witness in this case. I am sure that the full process of law will prevail and that the sentencing of Dragon Black will rid us of all his evil.”
The Draegonian Guards, first releasing Dragon Black’s tail, unceremoniously dragged him down. Heavy restraining chains were firmly affixed to his legs. Dragon Black’s tail was then chained under his body to prevent any deadly movement. Brown commanded them to ensure all chains were tight enough to prevent Black escaping but still enabling him to walk. The two Guards took positions front and rear of Dragon
Black. In front of the procession was Dragon Blue with Dragon Yellow. He was now in protective custody. Following up the rear were Dragons White and Brown.
The secret entrance that Black had used to go back and forth from Volcano Peak to the Hall of Dragons was used by Black for the last time. The convoy using the entrance from the volcano leading into the labyrinth of tunnels marched Black to his holding point, where he would await trial.
The fire truck, this time with no siren or flashing lights descended in the midday sun towards the town of Draegonia. Now the cab held Dragons Gold and Red with Dragon pink ensuring that the four children, laughing, chatting and clinging to the side rails, were looked after. Their well being was now her responsibility.
CHAPTER 19
Finding an Antidote
Dragon Red stopped outside Dragon Pink’s cave and the four children with Pink, alighted and entered her home. Pink was very tidy, everything in its place. Although Dragon Pink was small, the rooms of her cave were numerous and she did not hesitate in offering separate bedrooms for the four.
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