The Broken Finger
(3/28/09)
“I don’t know. Are you sure this is going to be ok, Peter,” Ben asks his fellow metal clad friend.
The other knight puffs up his chest, “C’mon, Ben, have I ever let you down? It’s a fool proof plan.” Ben raises an eyebrow in humored suspicion. His friend takes it as a sign to continue, “Everyone knows this king has a dragon to slay. We go in, get his blessing, slay the dragon, and get the reward. And maybe he’ll have a cute daughter to woo.” He smirks and nudges Ben.
“But what about my hand,” he asks pulling the blue gauntlet from the swollen hand that purple and yellowish brown decorate.
Peter scoffs, “Real knights fight through their pain. And you are a real knight, right?” Caught in a conundrum, Ben nods his head slowly ashamed of his weakness. “Good. Then let’s get in there and get our plan in motion.” Ben puts the blue metal glove back on his hand and follows his friend.
As they are lead into the throne room they are met with an interesting contradiction. Everything is in mint condition and orderly except the one seated on the throne. The white hair sprouts in many directions under and through the golden crown. Next comes the crazy eyes and the shaggy beard. The bare feet and tattered rags complete the wild man image.
Ben almost misses a step in surprise. But his training comes rushing in, “Do not judge a book by its cover. Always be respectful and kind.” He continues to walk shoulder to shoulder with the ever confident Peter. They kneel before the three thrones and the one spread across two of them.
“Rise, oh knights. What is it that you want?”
Ben lets Peter take this one, “Oh great and mighty king, we have heard that you have a dragon to destroy and we have traveled far to come and vanquish him for you.” Ben coughs to cover the laugh bubbling up from the mistruth in that statement.
“I see. I see. And you want my blessing, I take it.”
Ben thinks he can handle this one at least to squash the laugh, “Yes, your majesty.”
“And what makes you think you can do this?”
The brave one speaks, “Well, your majesty, as you can see there are two of us and one of them. Surely the two of us can distract and double attack the beast. It won’t take us long to kill it.”
A buxom younger woman wearing revealing yet lightly royal clothes bounces in and plops down into the second largest chair. This happens to be the only one not being used. She reaches over, grabs the king, pulls him toward her, and kisses him soundly. He slides back on his throne with a big, cheesy, dazed smile. “What were you talking about, honey,” she asks.
It takes a moment for him to register that she is talking to him. His brows knit in concentration, until he looks up to the two men standing before him, “What were we talking about again?”
Peter takes the initiative, “You were about to give us permission to defeat the dragon for you.”
The wild man’s eyes light up, “Yes. Yes. You have my blessing. Get rid of that horrible menace for me.” The men turn to leave as the crazy king looks hungrily at the queen.
They start to leave but something bothers Ben. He turns back, “Your majesties?”
“Yes?”
“Why is it that you have another throne? Does the prince …”
From a couple of steps behind him, Peter joins in, “… or princess live here?”
The couple look confused, “Oh no no. We have never been able to have children. That is why we are looking for the strongest fighter to become our heir.”
“That’s part of the reward,” gushes the queen whose clothes barely contain her.
“I see. Thank you, your majesties.” They turn and exit.
Outside, Peter removes his black helmet with purple highlights and looks at his friend, “What did you ask that for?”
“I don’t know.”
“Well, let’s get some mounts and directions to this lair.”
Both are easily obtained from the citizens once the knights convince them that they have the king’s permission. After two day’s ride and one day’s climb they reach the cave. Carefully, quietly they make their way in to surprise the dragon.
The first thing they see is the mound of gold and jewels reflecting the light of their torches. They don’t need the torches much after that as holes in the roof pour light in. There atop the pile of riches is what they both desire, a sleeping dragon. Ben holds his blue shield defensively with his good hand while Peter signals them both to sneak up on it.
Again something doesn’t feel right to Ben. He can’t quite put his finger on it, but it’s there. He gets further behind as he tries to pinpoint it. At the top Peter silently draws his sword. He raises high above his head, and then everything goes wrong.
Ben watching the strike rather than where he’s going trips on something in the pile. Down he falls onto his hands. “Ow!”
At the same moment Peter swings down and pierced the dragon.
The dragon wakes up, startled eyes wide open. “What? No!” And then her eyes blaze red and she roars. She turns on her attacker who has just removed his sword and is preparing to strike again.
Ben can only watch from the sidelines as the dragon takes a deep breath. And still takes a deep breath. A light breeze picks up from his location tickling his face. He watches something different happening to his friend. His friend, Peter, is being dragged toward the open mouth still drawing in air with his feet getting no purchase on the slippery gold below.
The breeze becomes stronger and finally after a few in vain attempt to defeat the dragon, close its mouth, or stop the hurricane force intake, Ben watches his friend get swallowed whole.
Ben can scarcely believe his eyes. Never before has he seen or heard of a dragon with a power like that. This one must be the most powerful of all. And then he sees it looking at him searching him with the evil red eyes. He scrambles to his feet and backs away in disbelief and fear. Then he turns searching for a crack or crevice to hide in to regroup and re-plan.
With the threat gone, the crimson eyes fade returning to their natural color. She quickly tries to recall what happened before she blacked out. She was awoken by a sound and then she felt a pain. And then nothing.
Her eyes focus on the present and see the blue knight headed for the entrance, “No! Wait! Don’t go!” He slips out of sight. “I can explain …,” her voice trails off in despair. Alone. Again.
---
Ben quickly looks around as he slides down the pile of gold creating an avalanche of coin. The only exit is the entrance. He quickly heads that way. But then he hears a sweet, melodious female voice call after him, “No! Wait! Don’t go!” He dives into the tunnel to avoid a blast of fire. But it doesn’t come. The same sweet voice calls to him, “I can explain …” It silences before it finishes.
His hand throbs from the fall he took. It reminds him of the job he must finish. For Peter. For the King and Queen. He tries to be brave like his friend. “Oh, who am I kidding,” he mumbles to himself while rubbing his gauntletless hand. “With this broken finger, my hand is useless to draw my sword.” He takes a step towards the outside, “Maybe when it heals, I’ll return for vengeance.”
And then he hears it. Crying. Coming from the chamber he just left. That dragon is powerful. It’s probably devious as well. It’s probably trying to lure me back in there to spring its trap. He decides to ignore it and takes another step.
But something doesn’t feel right.
“Well, I suppose a little peek wouldn’t hurt.” If it’s not on top of the pile, then I’m out of here. He looks around the corner, and there she is curled into a ball at the top.
The dragon flinches and groans and then goes back to crying. His heart melts a little, but then the words of the king enter his mind, “And what makes you think you can do this?” Ben realizes he is one versus a beast bigger and stronger than he. So much so that it would have taken both of them to subdue it. He turns to leave again.
“UUUuuuhhhhhh,” the female voice grunts from her perch.
Ben’s training returns, “Do not judge a book by its cover. Always be respectful and kind.” His eyes open. She can speak human. She said she could explain. I should see what’s going on. But safely.
He pokes his head through again, but only his head. The rest of his body he hides behind the wall. She is still where he left her. If she moves at all, I can duck and hide and run, he reasons to himself and then steels himself. “Hello?”
The dragon’s body stiffens. “Don’t come near me or touch me.”
Wait. What? Shouldn’t she be trying to draw me closer? “Why?”
“Because I am cursed.” She slowly lifts her head and looks at him. Ben doesn’t move from his position, but he does pull his head back. “Please don’t leave me. I don’t want to be alone again.”
He calls around the corner, “I haven’t left.”
“Please talk to me. I get so lonely here.”
Ben is undecided. Either she is very sneaky or she’s telling the truth. So far everything that can be proved has been true.
But it only takes one lie, argues the other side.
True. She seems genuine. Maybe we can catch her in a lie while talking to her.
Then it’s decided. “So, what happened?”
She groans and then sniffles, “When I was young, I was taken from my parents by a witch.” She grunts again. “She brought me here and changed me into this. And then she put some spells on me.”
“Like?”
“When people touch me I … I … eat them, sorta.”
“Sorta?” Ben is confused, “So, you know where Peter is ?”
“He was the one who attacked me?” Ben nods. “Yes. HeeeEEEeeee’s. rrrrrrrrrIIght. Here!” She sighs in relief. Ben peeks around the corner, but doesn’t see anything. “It’s alright. Come on in.”
“No trick?”
“No trick. Stay on the floor if you like as you come around to the other side. But if you don’t touch me, I won’t hurt you.” Ben slides around the wall until he reaches the opposite side from the exit. He is nervous about a possible attack and no way to escape.
Then he sees what wasn’t there before. An egg. “That’s Peter?”
She nods. “This is what happens. They become dragons. It’s hard for a dragon to attack its mother.” The egg begins to grow. She feels it and explains, “Another spell speeds growth for new dragons. In about a day, my baby,” she pats the egg, “will be full grown and ready to leave.”
“And none of them return …” Ben finishes.
One of her hands jumps off, “Oh! He’s going to be a good dragon. He just kicked.”
Almost involuntarily, “May I?”
“Certainly.”
Ben climbs the golden hill and lays his hand on the egg. As if it recognizes him, it kicks again. Completely enthralled, Ben spends hours with the dragon watching the egg grow.
---
“Ben. Ben,” demands an unfamiliar young voice, “Get up!”
Ben opens an eye and realizes that he had fallen asleep. There before him is a black baby dragon. Ben yawns, “Peter?”
“Yeah. This is so cool.” Then in a conspiratorial whisper, “We still gotta kill her.”
A non black tail slides from under Ben’s head dropping it onto the hard pile of riches. “Oh no, you don’t,” says the mommy dragon grabbing Peter by the scruff of his neck. They both laugh and play fight together.
“So, what do I do,” Ben wonders aloud, “I promised the king and queen we would slay you, but I can’t lay a hand on you or I become like Peter.”
While continuing the wrestling, she speaks back to him, “Well, that’s not completely true, and I have you to thank.”
“I don’t understand,” Ben says rubbing his sore hand through his hair.
“When you went to sleep last night, you did it on my tail. You were touching me and I didn’t attack you.”
Starting to follow her logic, “So, it has something to do with attacking or hurting you.”
“Yes!”
“Great, but that doesn’t help killing you for the king.”
She nods, “I know. We’ll figure something out.”
Half a day passes and Peter the dragon is nearly the size of the other dragon. Ben’s stomach growls. “Ummmm, I didn’t realize how hungry I am. What do you do for food around here?”
The she dragon concurs, “Right this way.” She leads the two of them down a side tunnel. A lone moo greets them. She looks to her son, “Care to try your wings?” He nods. “Then go down and bring up our meal.” He dives off the cliff into the walled pen below.
“Thank you for staying here. I appreciate it.” Before Ben can respond, a gust of wind blasts him as Peter lands with a cow in his talons.
“Woo! That was great!”
“Peter,” she asks him, “Why don’t you bring another up?”
“I can’t, Mom. This is the only one.”
Ben sees her shoulders tighten. “I see.” Ben gets the distinct suspicion that something is wrong, but he cannot figure what. “Sir Knight, would do us the pleasure of slaying this beast?”
Ben grips his hilt and winces in pain. “I’m sorry. I’m still injured.”
“No matter. Peter, would you like to do the honors?”
“Oh yeah!” In moments the black dragon’s talons have sliced up the cow near the fire pit. A quick blast of fire starts cooking the meat. As it does the female dragon teaches him the finer points of claw cutting.
The threesome enjoy their steaks and when they return to the main chamber, Peter is the larger of the dragons. “If I have been here a whole day, why am I hungry now? Another spell?”
“Another spell.” Peter flies up to test out his wings while the two decide to talk.
“So, what’s going on,” he asks about the unspoken tension.
“What do you mean?”
“You had a cow back before the steaks. What’s going on?”
She sighs. “I’m sorry, but you need to go away for a day.”
“What? Why,” he asks surprised and concerned.
A new voice adds to the mix, “I am why.”
Ben feels her tense again before he looks up for the voice. He lifts his head up from her belly where it was resting. There at the bottom of the pile of gold is a woman. Her green hair spills over her shoulders onto the dragon skin dress she is wearing that barely holds in her assets. In her hand she has a magical wooden walking staff.
“Leave,” calls the female dragon behind him her voice shaking in controlled fear.
The woman smiles a fake frown, “Is that how you greet the one who just brought your next month’s meals?”
“What’s going on?” He starts to stand.
“She is the one who did this to me. And each month she comes and reminds me,” she stirs uneasily behind him.
The witch mocks, “Oh, I see you have a pet. However did that happen? We’ll have to do something about that.”
She advances on him, but a black blur blocks her assent. Peter roars at her, “Leave him alone.”
“Ah and this one has his mind. Well, they don’t call me the ‘Dragon Witch’ for nothing.” Ben hears her snap her fingers, and Ben’s friend slowly turns to face him. Peter’s eyes are blood red just like the dragon when she sucked him up.
Uh oh. There’s no way I can take him on. The black dragon raises a claw to strike. Ben raises his shield. The crash vibrates and reverberates all through the room. The claw rises again. But this time the blow doesn’t come.
Ben looks above his weak shield to see Peter’s confused expression as the dragon decides if he should hit his mother who moved to protect him. Ben hears another snap. But nothing changes. “Ha,” laughs his protector, “I’m not a real dragon. You can’t control me.”
The green haired magic user comes where he can see her, “Very well, She-Dragon. You win this round. But know this. He won’t last long. They never do.” Ben looks to Peter as the witch makes her way to the exit. His friend is returning back to normal.
“Thank you,” the female dragon whispers as she slides under his bruised and broken hand causing him to pet her.
“You’re …” He stops. Something doesn’t feel right. He looks around while he finishes, “welcome.”
Suddenly time slows as the woman in the scaled dress appears opposite him with staff raised high. She swings it down. Ben follows the trajectory to his hand. Not my broken finger! He slides his hand as fast as he can to avoid the blow. The witch’s eyes go wide as he falls backward onto the gold, but it is too late for her to stop.
Time returns to normal as he falls on his hand again. “Ow!” The dragon in pain looks around. “It wasn’t me,” Ben claims. Her eyes blaze red as she turns to her attacker whose wooden staff is still pressed on the dragon. Suddenly Ben is knocked out of the way, and he rolls to the bottom of the gold. Peter lands next to him.
The still air swirls and twirls as it picks up speed. The witch fights with all she can. Peter’s eyes turn red. He leaves Ben’s side and heads to her, but it is too late. “No! You can’t do this! I’m the Dragon ….” She never finishes.
The one on the hill starts laughing. “Yes, she is the dragon alright. At least she will be when I’m through with her.” Peter starts laughing. Ben joins too, but he’s not sure why.
Once they finish, with Ben leaning against her, “So, what do we do now?”
“I don’t know,” she answers honestly, “But I’m glad that she is no longer around.” Ben stomach growls.
“Shall we get another bite to eat?”
“Sure. We have a whole month’s worth down there. Besides I think I could eat a cow by myself.”
“Me too,” Peter agrees.
“Me three,” Ben chimes in.
Peter brings up two horses and they dig in. Later from atop the hill of gold, they lay relaxing. She grunts. “Here comes the witch dragon.” She groans.
Feeling her muscles tense and strain Ben stands up concerned, “Is there anything I can do?”
She smiles up at him, “No, but thanks for asking. I’ve done this enough times to … uh! That’s new.” Her face turns concerned. She pushes harder trying to clear out the egg as fast as possible. Sweat pours from somewhere. And finally with a sigh, the process is done. There sits a green egg.
The female dragon gets up unsteadily and heads down the hill. “Where are you going,” Ben calls after her.
“Away from here. I don’t want to be around when she hatches. If she hatches. I’m not incubating her.” Ben scoops up the rest of his armor. She sees this. “You know what? You deserve a prize for staying with me and helping me.” She heads down a third tunnel that somehow Ben didn’t see before.
There before him is an alcove of various priceless artifacts and pieces of expensive armor. Embarrassed she explains, “These were all dropped before I was attacked. I thought they were pretty so I kept them here. Take whatever you want.”
Ben eyes his tattered and torn shield and spots another in the pile. As he reaches for it, she describes it. “That shield absorbs fire and probably other stuff as well. Good choice.”
He turns to go, but another thing catches his eye. He reaches out to it and touches the hilt. Soothing healing flows into his hand. He curls his hand around it and pulls the sword out. His pain is gone. He looks to the bruise and finds his hand normal.
Peter laughs. “I guess they didn’t want to heal you when they killed you.” Satisfied, Ben unbuckles the old sword and latches the new scabbard on his hip. Then he returns the new blade to its home at his side.
The female dragon clutches her stomach. Weakly she looks up, “I’ll be fine. Let’s go.” They make it almost to the entrance when she falls doubled over in pain. Ben kneels by her side. She cries out in pain. Tears stream from her eyes. Her whole body swells and then returns to normal in an undulating cycle. Each time she grows bigger and screams in pain.
Ben stands and backs away unsure of how to help. And then it happens. She grows so large that she explodes.
Scaly flesh splatters all over Ben and hits him from all sides. And finally it stops. He wipes the bloody shrapnel from his face and sees the back dragon in the same spot covered in dragon bits.
The melodious voice moans. Ben looks to the she dragon to find a young lady in an elegant dress lying on the floor untouched by the dragon mess. Ben takes a step toward her.
He extends his scale covered hand to her. He retracts his hand to wipe it off. But it doesn’t come off. He takes off his gauntlet and finds that the dragon skin has bonded to his armor. He gives her a hand as he lifts her to her feet.
The two humans and the dragon exit the cave, “So, where to, my lady?” He then realizes he doesn’t know her name.
Seeing the confusion on his face, she offers her hand, “Princess Mallory,” she greets him, “And let’s go home to my parents.”
Ben is surprised by this, but tries not to show it. She smiles and giggles. They look down the cliff face to see their mounts gone. They look to each other in realization of what their last meal was. Ben turns to his friend, “May we, Sir Peter?”
“Absolutely.” The dragon lowers his body and they slide on. With a jump, he flies up into the air, and in moments they are where they began.
The king now looks quite regal and his wife the same. The bizarre images from before are gone. They jump up and surround her in hugs. “I guess Mallory wasn’t the only one with a spell on her,” Ben whispers to Peter. The dragon nods.
“My daughter, it is so good to see you. At last you are returned to us.”
She smiles. “It is so good to see you both again, too. And it was all because of these two that the spell was broken.”
They then notice the knight and dragon again. “Thank you bold and courageous knights for coming to our rescue. As a reward …”
Peter’s eyes go wide, “Excuse me your majesties, but … I need to use the …”
The king nods and in a flash Peter is gone. “As a reward you shall live with us as heir to the throne and …”
Peter peeks his head back in, “Uhhhh, Princess, can I see you for a moment?” She smiles and nods and joins him outside.
The king continues again with a slight chuckle, “… and you will live tax free and …”
The door opens and Mallory returns with an embarrassed dragon trailing behind carry a gem and as much gold as the two claws can hold. “I guess one of the spells is still in effect.”
Ben looks to the embarrassed dragon who answers before it is asked, “Don’t ask.”
The queen prompts the king, “He’s the heir and tax free and …”
“You may have whatever you like up to half of my kingdom,” he finishes finally.
Ben looks over at Mallory who is smiling back at him. He smiles at her and says, “I think I can think of something.”