Dragon Seeker Read Free Page B

twenty-three wasn’t the record. That was held by the English knight, Sir Pendar.”
    “You can hardly compare yourself to him, though,” Vassili objected, holding out a plate. “
He
had a magic sword, after all!
You
didn’t!
His
job was easy by comparison!”
    “That’s true,” Lord Jezail mused, helping himself to a piece of cake. “He killed forty-nine dragons if the old stories are true.”
    “And died trying to kill Arthur!”
    “Yes, Arthur was to have been his fiftieth kill,” Jezail agreed. “You know the story, then?”
    The count nodded. “Well, sort of. I know that the Lords of the North rescued Arthur and that he’s lived with the MacArthurs in Arthur’s Seat ever since …”
    “Mmmm,” Lord Jezail bit into the slice of cake. “Sir Pendar’s buried in Edinburgh, too — in the castle rock. Did you know that?”
    “No, I didn’t,” Vassili looked surprised. “In the rock, itself?” he frowned. “How on earth did the townspeople manage that?”
    “They didn’t,” Lord Jezail answered. “The Lords of the North hexed his tomb out of the rock and guided the people to it. Once he’d been laid to rest with his sword, horn and flag by his side, they closed the tomb by magic. At least, so the story goes.”
    “So he’s still there,” Vassili mused, “after all these years? With his sword and all?”
    “As far as I know,” Lord Jezail nodded, putting the last piece of cake in his mouth and waving his hand to indicate that he’d finished eating.
    Vassili rose to his feet to summon the servant and, in so doing, missed the strange expression that crossed his master’s face.
    Dragonslayer, Lord Jezail thought, a sudden wave of excitement shooting through him. Why hadn’t he thought of it before? Dragonslayer; the magic sword that could pierce the scales of dragons! As Vassili had just so conveniently pointed out, it was still there … in Edinburgh!
    Gripping his hands together to calm his racing mind, he was careful to keep a straight face. Vassili must never suspect. He knew the count. If he got so much as a tiny hint of the scheme that had suddenly flashed through his mind, he’d start putting all sorts of obstacles and objections in the way.
    But … to
own
Dragonslayer! To become a
Dragon Seeker
once more! The thought was really quite breathtaking and, he realized excitedly, certainly more than possible; for he wouldn’t need his old strength to wield such a wonderful sword. Dragonslayer would slice into a dragon as easily as a knife slides through butter. And, as they were going to Scotland anyway, they could certainly include Edinburgh in their travels. If he failed — well, he wouldn’t be any worse off, but if he were to succeed …
    Thoughts of Dragonslayer filled his mind for the rest of the day. Opening the tomb, he thought, might present problems, especially if it had been closed by magic … but, on the other hand, maybe not.
    So it was that when night fell and lamps were lit in the town, he stood once again at the high window of the citadel. This time, however, his eyes were blind to the twinkling lights of Stara Zargana or the high peaks of the mountains standing stiffly against the darkening sky; for his mind was full of swords, dragons, magic … and the earthquake that might make all of his dreams come true.

2. Earthquake
    “Hey, Clara,” Neil shouted excitedly, “tell Mum and Dad to come and look at the telly! There’s been an earthquake in Edinburgh and they’re showing it now!”
    Clara called her parents and rushed to the TV set in the living room where the announcer talked them through the earthquake that had devastated Edinburgh and, more to the point, rocked the great castle that loomed, in all its majesty, over the city centre.
    “My goodness,” Mrs MacLean said worriedly as they watched,” just look at the expressions on people’s faces!”
    In the mobile phone footage, everyone on Princes Street was looking up in alarm at the sudden noise; a