The Roar of a Dragon Read Free Page A

get the same vibe from this knight, who was swaggering toward me, intoxicated.
    The knight stood in front of me and pointed mockingly. ‘What do we have h-h-here?’ His voice was slurred and had a whining quality to it.
    My earlier suspicions were now confirmed — the stench of alcohol washed over me like a tide from the Oh-Gods-Above-That’s-Nasty Ocean. It was so bad, I couldn’t believe that my curly brown hair didn’t turn white — or fall out completely.
    So many things were happening at once, I was too confused to respond. The knight frowned in displeasure — then he hiccupped.
    ‘When I ashk you a queshton, you answer, boy.’ Apparently, completing this sentence was almost too much for him, for he staggered unsteadily on his feet before regaining some semblance of balance.
    Still I didn’t answer, and I was getting more and more nervous as this conversation continued. The knight was getting more and more agitated. My heart thumped loudly against my chest.
    ‘Lower your eyesh to your superiorsh,’ the knight ordered.
    At that moment, anger began to swell inside me. This man, knight or not, had no right to bully and humiliate me, just because I was the first peasant he had seen on the road that day.
    And what exactly are you going to do about it, Aidan? Drunk or not, he’s an experienced swordsman, and you’re not .
    Well played, conscience. So, after some hesitation, I did as the knight commanded.
    But the knight seemed to sense my unspoken feelings, and his eyes widened in fury. ‘You dare heshitate when I give you an order, peasant scum?’
    Now my heart was trying to bash its way out of my ribcage. Shaking uncontrollably, I stared at the knight in his heavy steel armor, brandishing a gleaming, battle-worn sword — which, I had no doubt, he knew how to use. My mind frantically searched for a way out of this sticky situation.
    Just do what he wants, Aidan .
    I could see the knight’s face getting redder with his fury, and I was really beginning to feel afraid that he was going to hurt me. So I did the only thing I could do —
    ‘Please, Mr. Knight,’ I begged, ‘please don’t hurt me.’
    The knight roared with laughter. ‘That’s right, boy,’ he said gleefully — or slurred, rather, ‘beg like the peasant you are! Put your facesh on the ground and beg!’
    My face burned with embarrassment, but at least it seemed like he was going to leave me alone if I did what he wanted. Slowly, I got down on my knees and lowered myself to the ground, my head hovering just a couple of inches above it.
    The knight put his heavy steel boot on my head and pushed it into the dirt. ‘I said to put your facesh on the ground.’ He chuckled, clearly enjoying this show of power. I heard the other knights laughing from their horses.
    I grunted in anger and frustration as the knight ground his boot into the side of my head, shoving my face further into the dirt. Truthfully, it didn’t hurt all that much — but the helplessness and humiliation hurt me all the way to my soul.
    Finally, the knight removed his boot from my head.
    ‘Now shtay there until I leave, you filthy peasant.’
    As the knight drunkenly swaggered away, the anger returned, and this time, it threatened to reach the boiling point. I couldn’t fully comprehend what had just happened to me, other than the fact that I had just been made an example out of by a bully of a knight for the amusement of his friends. That thought pierced me like a pitchfork through the chest. But I knew that open defiance would only bring more pain and humiliation, so I did exactly as I was told.
    It felt like forever, but the knight finally got back on his horse, almost falling off the other side as he did so. Feeling that I had done what was ordered, I slowly stood back up and brushed myself off.
    Big mistake. One of the other knights saw me, and pointed in my direction. The bully knight turned around, saw me, and dismounted his horse again, heading in my