James & the Dragon

by Theresa Snyder

coming to join the two combatants. He rubbed his new little bony dragon head on Farloft’s shoulder. “You must not hurt, Laval. Don’t you see, he’s done us a great favor? Now you will no longer be alone and I will have a family again.” James looked up at Farloft lovingly. “You can teach me everything there is to know about being a dragon.”

  Farloft’s brow knit in concentration. He remained silent for a moment until her finally said, “and for Laval’s treachery, he is stuck with two dragons instead of one,” he said, slightly amused. “It looks like the joke is on you, Wizard.”

  Laval sat down abruptly in defeat on the nearest boulder. With a shake of his head he brought up his hands to sooth his brow where the worst of headaches was just beginning to form. Nothing had happened as it should.

  “Laval has done us a good turn, even though he may not have meant to.” James said. “I think we should give him a gift. A kind of reward, and I know just the thing. I’ll go get it. You won’t go, will you Laval?”

  Laval shook his head in dismay without looking up.

  James went into the cave reappearing almost instantly. He walked to Laval and to Farloft’s amazement, spit out the Zonguldak Ruby at the wizard’s feet.

  “Sorry about the slobber. I couldn’t figure out how to carry it. All of this is new,” James said, as he lifted first one large foot and then another.

  Laval picked the stone up and began to absentmindedly polish it with the end of his robe.

  “Can you hear it sing?” James asked.

  “Yes,” Laval answered, with a touch of awe in his voice.

  “Good,” James said with satisfaction and winked at Farloft.

  Farloft had to admit, it was a fitting gift for the wizard. Laval would no doubt get what he deserved in the end.

  The wizard appeared to be mesmerized by the jewel. He rose, as if in a trance, walked to his horse, mounted and rode away without another word.

  Farloft watched his departure with satisfaction. “Giving Laval the Zonguldak Ruby was a brilliant idea, James,” Farloft complimented. “You are already beginning to think like a dragon.”

  James smiled at the compliment and flexed his iridescent, green wings in the afternoon sun. “Teach me how to fly,” James said with enthusiasm, as he pumped his wings up and down vigorously.

  Before Farloft could reply, James stopped, folded his wings and turned toward the dragon. “No....teach me how to breathe fire...” he exclaimed with equal enthusiasm.

  Farloft smiled tolerantly at the new young dragon.

  “And how to hunt...and tell the weather...and...” James began to bound around Farloft on all four of his new dragon feet, his wings flapping randomly, threatening to take him involuntarily aloft at any moment.

  All of a sudden a deep rumble emitted from James. He immediately froze, looking down at himself, unable to believe such a sound came from him. “What was that?” he asked Farloft.

  “That was your stomach growling,” Farloft informed him. He placed his wing over James in a paternal gesture of affection. “There will be time enough to teach you all you ask. Quite a lot of time, in fact, now that you have the life span of a dragon. Right now I think we had better feed you.”

  The two started toward the cave for James’ first meal as a full-fledged dragon.

  - THE END -

  AUTHOR’S NOTE

  Thank you for reading.

  I hope you enjoyed James and Farloft’s adventure.

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