by Anne Forbes
He became aware of a hissing noise and, looking at the vast bulk that was Arthur, saw that the dragon seemed to be shrinking by the second. Poking the red scales on the dragon’s side with the blade of his sword, he stiffened angrily as the sudden burst of escaping air made the rudest of rude noises.
It was then that realization struck him.
The dragon was nothing more than a great big balloon!
“You didn’t really think that we’d let you kill Arthur, did you?” Prince Kalman said conversationally.
Lord Jezail whirled round, an expression of fury on his face, to find Prince Kalman and Lord Rothlan standing behind him.
“You!” he mouthed venomously, realizing too late that he’d been outwitted. “You think you’re so clever, don’t you! But don’t forget,” he hissed, “don’t forget that I still have the girl — and,” he waved the sword threateningly, “I have Dragonslayer as well!”
And, before they could answer or make any move to stop him, he muttered the words of a hex and disappeared.
“Look out,” Archie shrieked as Prince Kalman’s hex returned Arthur to the hill in a roar of sound, fire and fury.
No one needed to be told. The MacArthurs took one look at the dragon and scattered — for Arthur, unaware that he was no longer confronting Lord Jezail, was a terrifying sight as, wings beating strongly, he roared his way furiously round the cavern. Great sheets of flame scorched the walls and several banners and wall hangings were reduced to ashes before he discovered that he was no longer in the open air but back in the safety of a strangely deserted hill.
Where, he thought, looking round in amazement as he swooped down to land, where had everyone gone? It was only when he saw scared faces peeping apprehensively from behind rocks round the cavern’s edge that he realized the sensation he’d caused and, feeling more than slightly guilty, landed beside the MacArthur and the Lords of the North who had watched his sudden arrival with heartfelt relief.
“Well done, Arthur!” the MacArthur smiled broadly as he jumped to his feet, delighted to see him safely back.
Archie, Hamish and Jaikie rushed up together with the rest of the MacArthurs who crowded excitedly round the dais. They looked rather shame-faced at having run away but really, as Archie said later, you could hardly blame them; for the fearsome dragon that had soared into the cavern belching smoke and flames all over the place was nothing like the Arthur they knew and loved.
Conscious that he’d done well, Arthur’s eyes glowed with happiness as Archie flung his arms round his neck. No longer fearful and timid, he’d stood up to Lord Jezail and his magic sword.
It was then that Neil arrived with Prince Kalman and Lord Rothlan.
“Arthur, you were wonderful!” Neil said, rushing forward. “Absolutely brilliant!” he added, looking at the dragon with real respect. He still couldn’t quite believe that Arthur could look so terrifying.
It was when the MacArthur cleared his throat that they noticed the Lords of the North and hastily moving towards them, bowed low.
The MacArthur, nodding approvingly, gestured to Hamish and Jaikie, who immediately brought chairs forward for their visitors. It was only when Amgarad flew over to perch on Lord Rothlan’s shoulder and everyone had settled comfortably that Arthur breathed a very gentle cloud of smoke down his long nose and looked questioningly at the magicians. “What happened?” he asked simply.
Prince Kalman smiled. “Well, we’d no intention of letting Lord Jezail kill you, Arthur. You know that. I just waited for the right moment and hexed you back into the hill.”
“So I disappeared?”
“Well, not quite,” the prince confessed. “I, er … I left your image behind … in the shape of a huge balloon. The people watching didn’t know the difference.”
“Neither did Lord Jezail,” added Lord Rothlan. “In fact, his face when he discovered that he’d just killed a balloon was really quite something!”
“I bet he was gutted!” Neil grinned.
“Something like that,” the prince admitted, his eyes gleaming appreciatively.
Amgarad hissed as Lord Rothlan rose to his feet and approached the small table that held the MacArthur’s crystal. With a muttered few words, he passed a hand over it but to no effect. The crystal remained dull and cloudy. “No joy there,” he remarked. “He’s still hiding himself from us.”
“And Clara!” Lord Alarid said somberly.
Lord Rothlan nodded. “Actually, those were his final words,” he said, looking dismayed as he remembered the triumph on Lord Jezail’s face. “He has Clara and he has the sword …”
“He won’t hurt Clara, will he?” Neil asked hesitantly.
“No, but he’ll force Clara to give him the spells,” Prince Kalman’s voice was grim, “and I wouldn’t be surprised, either, if he has plans for Dragonslayer. Or, more likely, that Dragonslayer has plans for him.”
Lord Rothlan looked startled. “You mean he’ll attack the Valley of the Dragons?”
At his words, a murmur of unease ran round the circle of assembled lords and Amgarad gave a cry of distress.
Neil looked at the MacArthur. “You mentioned that before,” he said, trying to visualize a valley full of dragons. “It’s in Ashgar, isn’t it?”
Lord Rothlan nodded. “Yes, and once Jezail returns to his citadel in Stara Zargana, I think the sword will most definitely take charge of him. Lord Jezail will become another Sir Pendar.”
“Not necessarily, Alasdair,” the MacArthur disagreed. “Sir Pendar wasn’t a magician and once Jezail has the spells from Clara, he might well be able to control the sword.”
“Oh, no,” the prince leant forward to emphasize his words. “He won’t want to! One of Jezail’s main complaints was the price he had to pay for his dragon pills. He was never a well man and he’s very old, you know, even in our terms. He used to say that if it weren’t so dangerous, he’d have a go at killing some of his own dragons to save himself the expense. Jokingly, you know … but underneath it all, I think he was quite serious.”
Lord Rothlan smiled sourly. “You’re right, Kalman,” he nodded in agreement. “Once a Dragon Seeker, always a Dragon Seeker!”
Arthur gazed at Lord Rothlan in horror. He’d heard stories about the Valley of the Dragons when he was very young; a fabulous place set among fantastically shaped cliffs that hid caves and deep gorges. No human ever went there for the dragons were fierce and could kill with one long breath of flame. Now, from what Prince Kalman had said, the dragons were in real danger. Worry gripped him. He knew only too well the strength of Dragonslayer’s magic. The dragons wouldn’t stand a chance and even if they tried to hide, there would be no escape. Lord Jezail would use the sword to seek them out, pick them off one by one and kill them all! He had to go there and warn them. Now! At once!
He was just about to say so when Lord Alarid rose to his feet and looked at them all in turn. “Now that we know his true nature, I think we must make plans to stop Lord Jezail before he does any more damage,” he said seriously.
There was a general murmur of agreement at his words.
“Quite right,” Lord Dorian said grimly. “The man’s a menace. He’s always been full of crazy schemes and, if he gets the spells from Clara, he’ll be a threat to the entire region!”
“Very true,” Lord Alarid nodded, “but first of all, we have to rescue Clara from his clutches, and then,” he continued, “do what we can to protect the Valley of the Dragons from Dragonslayer.”
Prince Kalman and Lord Rothlan looked at one another. This was going to be no mere skirmish.
“You’re talking about a massive undertaking, Alarid,” Lord Alban said seriously.
“I am, indeed,” Lord Alarid said. “I’m talking about war!”
“War?” Neil gasped as everyone sat up, looking more than slightly startled.
“War,” Lord Alarid repeated sternly. “It’s the only way! We must end Jezail’s rule in Ashgar forever!”
Hamish and Jaikie looked at one another in al
arm but Arthur’s eyes lit up at Lord Alarid’s words and, with a roar of approval, he sent a long, curling stream of fire streaking across the cavern.
They were going to Ashgar!
19. An Unexpected Guest
They rose like a cloud to meet him.
Dragons! Dragons of all shapes and sizes! So many of them that they darkened the sky!
Arthur flinched at the sight of the oncoming horde and almost fell out of the sky in fright as they flew towards him. He’d expected a reception committee of some sort for he was quite sure that the Valley of the Dragons would be well guarded, but this was something else! There seemed to be hundreds of them and, he noted apprehensively, they didn’t look particularly friendly either for the silver-grey soldier dragons in the front rank were breathing clouds of smoke and great bursts of fire.
His eyes dilated suddenly when, at a signal from a very old dragon who seemed to be their leader, the mass of dragons split in two and, swerving to both right and left, swept round him in a mass of horned heads, steadily beating wings and ripples of fire.
The ancient dragon, whose scales had quite definitely seen better days, spoke in a somewhat wheezy voice. “I am Gladrin the Great, Lord of the Valley of the Dragons,” he announced. “Who are you and what is your name?”
“They call me Arthur, Milord,” Arthur replied.
The old dragon searched his memory. “Arthur?” he repeated slowly. “If you are the Arthur I have heard of then you must have travelled far …”
Arthur relaxed. He bowed his head respectfully. “Milord, I have come from Scotland,” he replied, his voice friendly but steady. “I bring a message from the Lords of the North who send you their warmest greetings.”
Gladrin’s expression changed. He had heard of the Lords of the North and if this was the dragon he’d heard tell of in ancient tales then they were, indeed, honoured; for Gladrin, like all dragons, was well versed in history and knew Sir Pendar’s story. He dipped his wings and bowed his head. “Welcome, Arthur,” he said graciously. “Welcome to the Valley of the Dragons.”
So it was that Arthur, escorted by Gladrin and a whole host of dragons, soared high over the dizzily towering peaks and pinnacles that guarded the fabled Valley of the Dragons and landed in quite the strangest place he’d ever seen.
Apart from the open stretch of ground where they’d landed, it was a place of light, cream-coloured rocks. Jagged hills and rocky ravines rose steeply towards the surrounding cliffs that stood, almost white, against a sky of the brightest blue. While the hills and high peaks blazed brightly in the sunshine, dark marks here and there indicated the presence of what Arthur thought might be doorways or entrances to tunnels.
And there were dragons everywhere.
Before the alarm had been raised, the Valley of the Dragons had presented a peaceful scene that hadn’t changed much over the centuries. Draped lazily over smooth shelves of rocks, the female dragons spent much of their day sprawling idly in the heat of the sun watching over their adventurous young in case they flew beyond the high peaks that protected them from the outside world. Now, however, they looked on, wide-eyed and anxious, as dragon after dragon soared in to land. They’d no idea what was happening. Visiting dragons were more or less unheard of, but of one thing they were quite sure — a stranger in their quiet valley meant that change was on its way.
Unaware of the consternation he was causing, Arthur was quite overwhelmed. The Valley of the Dragons was a fantastic place, he thought, looking round in amazement. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined it being quite like this. And if the cliffs were the homes of the dragons, there must be hundreds of them for the valley seemed to stretch for miles.
Bowing to Arthur, Gladrin gestured to Nestor, captain of the grey soldier-dragons who, carrying slender, spiky spears in their claws, immediately formed a guard of honour. Then, at a sharp word of command, they all made their way towards the high, steep slopes that fringed the valley.
Arthur had been right in his assumption that the dragons lived in caves and marvelled as he saw a myriad of openings hidden deep in the craggy clefts of the rocks. Gladrin escorted Arthur into what was, obviously, his cave. The opening, although wider than the others, narrowed quickly and the passage that sloped steeply downwards had walls that had been brushed smooth by the wings of countless dragons over the ages.
Gladrin’s halls, when they reached them, were not nearly as grand as those of the MacArthur but were stern and impressive in a dragon sort of way. Ancient hangings lined the walls but what took Arthur’s attention was the enormous fireplace that dominated one side of the hall, the iron baskets by its side piled high with logs. He smiled slightly for the MacArthur had told him that in winter the snow in Ashgar lay deep in the mountains.
The floor around the fireplace was scattered with a variety of rugs and cushions and it was here that the dragons settled, looking expectant and excited — for word had swiftly spread that their unexpected visitor was none other than Arthur, the legendary dragon of Sir Pendar’s famous story.
Once Arthur had been introduced to the notables of Gladrin’s court he looked at them all and lowered his eyes sadly as they waited expectantly to hear the reason for his visit. They were all so polite, so interested, so excited to see him and yet he knew that within the space of the next five minutes he was going to give them news that would destroy their nice, comfortable little world. Nothing would ever be the same again.
Perhaps the dragons sensed this for, as the silence lengthened and Arthur said nothing, Gladrin spoke gently. “You come bearing bad news, Arthur?”
Arthur nodded his head. “I do,” he said sadly. “It … it concerns Lord Jezail.”
The dragons stiffened where they sat and eyed one another apprehensively. Some of them hissed angrily, remembering how, in times past, the Dragon Seeker had hounded them from mountain to mountain until they had found safety in their precious valley. They blew clouds of angry smoke down their nostrils, but still no one spoke.
“We have the power to deal with Lord Jezail,” Gladrin frowned, looking puzzled.
“It’s a bit more serious than that,” Arthur said, unhooking a bag that hung round his neck. He pulled at it with his claws until it opened wide enough for him to tip the crystal ball it held, onto the carpet. “Lord Alarid wishes to speak to you personally, Lord Gladrin,” he said. “He wants to tell you himself why the Lords of the North have decided to declare war on Lord Jezail and why he is bringing an army to Ashgar.”
“War?” Gladrin looked and sounded astounded, as well he might, and a hiss of unease rippled among the assembled dragons.
“The Lords of the North will explain everything,” Arthur assured him. “It’s a long story. In fact, it started when Sir Pendar tried to kill me with Dragonslayer all those years ago …”
Dragonslayer! The very mention of the word sent a piercing stab of terror through the heart of each of the assembled dragons.
Before they could start asking him awkward questions, Arthur hastily placed the crystal on a cushion where it rested in full view of the dragons and, conscious that they were all watching him, passed a rather shaky claw over it. It was the first time he’d used a magic crystal and his heart beat faster than usual as he muttered the magic words and wondered what would happen if it didn’t work. The crystal, however, as if sensing his anxiety, behaved beautifully and glowed brightly.
The dragons gasped in awe and regarded Arthur with great respect; for a dragon to use a magic crystal — that was really impressive! Arthur, quite weak with relief, hid his trembling claw so that they wouldn’t see how nervous he’d been and smiled thankfully as Lord Alarid’s face appeared in the crystal.
Once the initial polite greetings had been gone through, Lord Alarid, in a sombre voice, told the dragons the story of the earthquake and how Lord Jezail had hexed Sir Pendar’s sword. He also mentioned Clara’s part in stealing the Book of Spells from the witches but, Arthur thought, it was doubtful if many of the dragons heard this
part of his story as the thought of Lord Jezail and Dragonslayer had sent their minds into a complete spin.
As the enormity of situation dawned on Lord Gladrin, he looked at Lord Alarid with fearful eyes. “You must know that we are defenceless against the magic of Dragonslayer,” he said apprehensively.
“That’s why Arthur insisted on flying out to warn you,” Lord Alarid explained, “so that you would be aware of your danger.”
“We are more than grateful to him, Lord Alarid,” Gladrin nodded, “and you can be quite sure that we will welcome you and your army to Ashgar. Dragonslayer is a threat to us all.”
20. Stara Zargan
“There now,” Maria said with a smile. “Don’t you think you look pretty?”
Clara looked at her reflection in the long mirror and nodded. She did, indeed, look pretty in the new clothes that Maria had brought her. They were a big improvement on her jeans and T- shirt which now lay in a heap on her bedroom floor. She’d been wearing them ever since they’d arrived back in Ashgar and they looked indescribably tatty.
Looking round the bedroom she found it hard to believe that she was in a foreign country and wondered how they’d travelled. Probably by magic, she thought. Not that she remembered anything after Lord Jezail’s hex had hit her, but she assumed that she’d been put back in the crystal again for she was still quite stiff.
“All the young girls in Stara Zargana dress like this,” Maria chattered on. Smoothing the print skirt with its colourful braid trim, she adjusted the gathered neck of her white blouse, and stood back to admire her. “Now try this on,” she instructed, holding up a little black jacket. “The weather’s not nearly as warm as it was yesterday and we can’t have you catching a cold now, can we!”
“Thank you, Maria,” Clara said gratefully, looking at the pile of new clothes that lay scattered across her bed. “You’ve been very good to me and … well, you didn’t need to buy me so much.”
“I got you a few winter things as well,” Maria confessed. “The summer’s almost over and the wind’s really quite chilly this morning.” Her eyes, however, were troubled and more than a little afraid. She liked Clara and would do what she could to protect her, but using a hex to attack Lord Jezail hadn’t been at all wise and her master had by no means forgiven her. “Come downstairs and have some breakfast,” she urged, banishing her worries from her mind.
