The Dragons' Lair

Chapter One.

Prelude.

Today was the greatest celebration the kingdom of Sealand had seen for many a year. It was the Naming Day of the Princess, daughter of Prince Emdan and Princess Jasmine, and grand‑daughter of King Oswald and Queen Jessamy. Everybody who was anybody had been invited, and everybody had accepted. This was hardly surprising: Sealand was now one of the wealthiest kingdoms in the land. Its riches came from Prince Emdan’s discovery that a liquid made from the local seaweed was the most marvellous fertiliser.

He had learned the secret from a Sea Dragon named Das. The Sea Dragons used the liquid as food whenever they had to fly over land, where there was nothing else they could eat.

Twice every day the tide rolled in, bringing with it huge sheets of the “liquid gold”, as Prince Emdan called it. Almost everyone in the kingdom was employed in gathering the sea’s bounty and carrying it to the boiling vats just below the Castle.

Kings and Queens, Dukes and Duchesses, Counts and Countesses, Lords and Ladies from all over the world made their way to Sealand Castle. They brought with them their unmarried sons and daughters, for there was to be a Grand Ball in the evening, and Grand Balls were excellent places for young people to meet. Naturally, they brought their servants too.

The gathering of servants was almost as big an occasion as the Princess’s Naming Day. It was also the Naming Day for the daughter of Thomas and Mary. Thomas was the Butler of Sealand Castle and Mary, his wife, the Housekeeper. A Butler to such an important (and wealthy) monarch was a very honoured position. Their daughter had been born only a few minutes after the Princess.

The Castle was not large enough to house all the guests, so the fields around it were filled with dozens of gaily decorated tents and marquees.

It was Thomas’s job, and Mary’s, of course, to make sure that all these people were fed and accommodated properly. King Oswald had gone into a panic months before and left everything to Thomas, Mary, and the Queen to organise. Queen Jessamy had thoroughly enjoyed herself.

One very, very important invitation had been sent out as well. They had invited the Witch of the Dark Forest, Calizone. The Royal couple did not want her turning up uninvited and casting nasty spells all over the place.

“No doubt she will not come, but we have to ask her,” said Prince Emdan. “After all, she did help Princess Jasmine and me to meet.”

The ceremony went smoothly. Each set of guests walked up to the baby’s crib and announced the gift they were giving. King Oswald, Queen Jessamy, Princess Jasmine and Prince Emdan stood by the crib and smiled graciously.

The baby Princess just gurgled.

In the Servants’ Hall, the same thing was happening for the little girl there, though the gifts were more practical and certainly less expensive.

Back in the Throne Room, the final and least important guests had finished presenting their offerings, and King Oswald was about to announce the baby’s name. Suddenly the sky turned black. There was a crack of thunder. The room filled with dark, unpleasant‑smelling smoke. Many of the ladies, and a few of the men, screamed.

The baby Princess just gurgled.

When the smoke cleared, the Witch of the Dark Forest, Calizone, was standing beside the crib.

Queen Jessamy and Princess Jasmine moved forward a little.

Calizone sniffed. “Not a bad entrance,” she said. “Wish I could manage the smoke without the odd smell, though.”

“You are very welcome,” said Prince Emdan. “We hoped you would be able to join us.”

“Yes, well, that’s as maybe,” said Calizone. “But I think there are a lot of folk in here who would disagree.” She swept her gaze around the room. Most of the guests took a step back.

Calizone laughed, not a pleasant sound. “So, what have you called this little bundle of joy, then?”

“Her name is to be Princess Sarriette,” announced King Oswald in a loud voice.

“Nice name,” said Calizone. She reached out towards the baby. The Royal family drew in a sharp breath.

“Oh, stop it,” snapped Calizone. “I’m not going to harm her.” She glanced up at the ceiling. “As if I could, with all those Dragons about.”

“Dragons?” squeaked King Oswald. He had never quite recovered from learning that the Castle had been built on a Dragon’s tail many hundreds of years before.

“Dragons,” said Calizone. “The whole Castle is surrounded by them. Sea Dragons, to be sure, but Dragons all the same.”

“I didn’t know,” said King Oswald. “We didn’t invite any Dragons, did we?” He looked accusingly at Queen Jessamy.

She had the grace to blush. “Well,” she said, “I did send a message to Princess Jasmine’s friend Das, to see if he wanted to come. But I didn’t know he had arrived, or that he had brought friends.”

Calizone placed her hand on Princess Sarriette’s forehead.

The baby Princess just gurgled.

Calizone nodded. She turned to Princess Jasmine. “You could have studied to be a Witch, as I told you two years ago, but you may be glad to know there is not an ounce of magic in your daughter.”

Princess Jasmine bowed her head. “I have never wanted to be a Witch,” she said. “And I have never done any magic since Thomas and I cast that spell all those years ago.”

“Good,” said Calizone. “Let’s keep it that way.” She looked around the room. “Now, since I seem to be making a great many very important people extremely nervous, I think it is time for me to go.”

“You are welcome to stay for the Grand Ball,” said Queen Jessamy.

Calizone chuckled. “I think not. No one here is going to want to dance with the Witch of the Dark Forest, just in case.”

She strode down the Throne Room. At the door she turned. “Send me a piece of Naming Day cake.”

There was another crack of thunder. The room went black. When the light returned, Calizone was gone.

And so it was that she missed the Naming of the child who did have magical ability. The daughter of Thomas and Mary was officially named Rose. And as her proud father said, “She is really magic.”