The Dragons' Lair Chapter 7

Chapter Seven.

 

Dragon’s Lair.

 

Sarriette kept her eyes tightly shut for a long time and clung to the Dragon as if her life depended on it.

Finn, by contrast, kept his eyes wide open and described everything he could see below them.

“Some adventure this is,” thought Sarriette. “If I’m too scared to look.”

She forced her eyes open. After a few moments of terror, she too began to watch the land drifting past beneath them.

They flew on until the light began to fade. Jak circled a small lake and landed on its shore.

“I don’t like flying in the dark,” he said. “And I’m getting hungry. Stay here while I hunt something for myself. Can I fetch you anything? Fish, rabbit, deer, plenty of those about.”

“I wish we’d been able to get my things,” said Finn. “I packed everything we’d need to spend the night outdoors.”

“I forget you humans need to cook things before you eat them,” said Jak. “I’ve never actually met people before.”

With that, he swooped low over the lake, dipped his feet into the water, and came up with a large fish. He tossed it into the air, caught it neatly, and swallowed it whole.

“Show‑off,” muttered Sarriette.

Finn frowned. “I thought Sea Dragons only ate seaweed. That’s what the book said.”

“And I’m sure the book says Sea Dragons are green,” added Sarriette. “Jak is definitely reddish.”

“You don’t think he might be a Royal Dragon?” Finn sounded worried.

Sarriette nodded.

Before they could say more, Jak landed beside them, licking his lips. “Nice bit of fish, that.”

“Pardon us for asking,” said Finn nervously, “but… what kind of Dragon are you?”

“Ask away,” said Jak. He drew himself up proudly. “I am a Royal Dragon.”

Sarriette squeaked and backed away. “But Royal Dragons aren’t supposed to be friendly to humans.”

“True,” said Jak. “That’s the fault of my great‑great‑grandfather Arthur. He went a bit funny in the head when he got old and started eating people. We’ve suffered ever since.”

“So why are you helping us?” asked Finn.

Jak sighed. “I was bored.” He stared out over the lake. “I suppose you’d better know the truth.”

A huge tear rolled down his cheek.

“I’m a failure as a Royal Dragon. Try as I might, I can’t make fire. The others laughed at me and said I was a disgrace. They banished me to the Sea Dragons’ island.”

“That’s awful,” said Finn.

Jak sniffed. “My father said that since I couldn’t breathe fire, I was no better than those big green lizards. His words, not mine.”

“That’s terrible,” said Sarriette.

“Anyway,” Jak continued, “the Sea Dragon you know as Das was kind to me. So, when you called for him, I answered. He’s sworn never to go near humans again.”

“He kidnapped my mother,” said Sarriette.

“Not according to him,” said Jak. “He and your mother had a wonderful adventure together. He told me all about it.”

“Tell me,” begged Sarriette. “Mother has never said what really happened.”

Finn interrupted. “Before we start on stories, we’d better decide what we’re doing tonight.”

“If you don’t mind sleeping on the ground,” said Jak, “each of you can sleep under a wing. I may not breathe fire, but I’m warm enough. Can’t help with food, though.”

“We’ll just have to go hungry,” said Sarriette. “Now, tell me about Mother and Das.”

Jak told them the whole tale.

Afterwards, Sarriette crept under one wing, made herself as comfortable as she could, and fell asleep. Finn did the same under the other wing. Dragons only slept once every hundred years, so Jak stayed awake and counted the stars.

Sarriette did not sleep well. She was not used to lying on the ground. In the morning she went to the lake, drank some water, and washed her face.

“Where’s Finn?” she asked Jak.

“He woke at first light,” said Jak. “He recognised the lake. His home is only a couple of miles through the forest. He said to tell you to wait, he’d be back soon.”

“I didn’t think adventures would be so uncomfortable,” grumbled Sarriette. “And I’m very hungry.”

True to his word, Finn returned about an hour later.

“I sneaked into the Castle and got breakfast,” he said. He handed her bread and a large lump of cheese. “And I brought you a warm cloak. It gets cold in the mountains.”

“Thank you,” said Sarriette, taking a huge bite. “I hope no one saw you.”

Finn laughed. “Not a chance. I’ve been sneaking in and out of that place since I could walk.”

After breakfast, they climbed onto Jak and flew the short distance to the mountain called Dragon’s Lair.

They landed beside the tower.

“That was much easier than climbing,” laughed Finn. “The first time I tried, I hurt my leg.”

Jak pushed his head inside the tower and sniffed. “Definitely Dragons here,” he announced. “Not for a very long time, though.”

“Can you tell what kind?” asked Sarriette.

“Mountain Dragons,” said Jak. “This is exactly the sort of place they’d like.”

“But why did they leave?” asked Finn.

“We’ll have to ask them,” said Jak.

“Do you know where they went?” Finn sounded hopeful.

“No,” said Jak. “But I can smell their trail. I can follow it if you want.”

“Please,” said Finn. He turned to Sarriette. “If you don’t mind.”

“Of course not,” said Sarriette. “Now that we’ve eaten and I have a warm cloak, I’m ready for anything. Let’s go.”

They climbed onto Jak, and after sniffing the air, he set off northwards.