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Authors: Kate McMullan

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BOOK: Beware! It's Friday the 13th

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Coach stopped. His mouth hung open. He stared at Worm.

Wiglaf ran forward. “This is not a wicked dragon, sir!” he cried. “This is…this is…” He was at a loss as to how to explain Worm. “He would not hurt a flea, sir!”

“He’s cute, isn’t he?” added Gwen.

“What are they yapping about, Plungett?” said Sir Mort, whose visor was down over his eyes. “Let’s get on with it, shall we?”

“Dragon in the yard, Mort,” said Coach. “Not too big. Looks harmless.”

“Totally!” said Janice.

“Harmless, eh?” said Sir Mort. “Like a kitten. A fluffy, little kit—”

“We are here!” said Coach, cutting off Sir Mort. “To give you new students a quickie course in dragon stalking and slaying.”

Worm hid behind Wiglaf.

“I’m happy to demonstrate!” called Erica. Then she said, “Don’t worry, Wormy. No one is going to hurt you.”

The princesses lined up with their swords. The rest of Class I stood nearby.

“Stalking a fire-breather is no easy matter, lads,” Sir Mort began.

“We’re not lads,” said Gwen. “We are princesses.”

The old knight struggled with his helmet. At last he pushed up the visor and peered out. “So you are!” he exclaimed. “I knew a princess once. No, wait. It was a prince. Only he’d been turned into a toad. Or was it a frog?” He scratched his helmet.

“Sir!” Erica called. “There isn’t much time. Snagglefahng is coming. Remember?”

“Snagglefahng, eh?” said Sir Mort. “That dragon bit my shoulder. Gave me a doozy of a wound. Bled like a gusher all night.”

“Sir, stop!” cried Wiglaf, gagging at the thought of Sir Mort’s nasty wound.

“Remember!” said Sir Mort. “When you stalk, you’ve got to keep your eye on the dragon. Keep your ear to the ground. Keep your hands at the ready. Keep your mind on the job. And keep your finger out of your nose.” He turned to Erica. “Go on, demonstrate.”

But Coach Plungett stepped forward just in time. “Thank you for that valuable stalking lesson, Sir Mort,” he said.

Gwen said, “
That
was a lesson?”

Wiglaf shrugged. He turned his eyes skyward. The sky looked cloudy…or was it smoky?

“I always warm up my Slaying class with ten laps around the castle yard,” Coach Plungett told the new lasses. “Followed by push-ups, sit-ups, and chin-ups. Then, most days, one of the lads throws up.” He chuckled at his joke.

Suddenly, the sky grew darker and darker. And yes, Wiglaf definitely smelled smoke.

“Snagglefahng is upon is!” cried Torblad.

“Oh, too bad. Guess we don’t have time for a warm-up today,” said Coach, speaking very quickly now. “We’ll go straight to the basic thrust-and-stab. Hold your sword by the handle. Step forward with your left foot, pull back your right arm, and plunge your sword right into the dragon’s gut.”

Smoke filled the air now. Wiglaf’s eyes stung.

“If you’re a lefty,” Coach said quickly, “turn it all around. Questions? No? You’re ready, ladies!” He began backing toward the castle. “Go get that dragon! Best of luck! Tah-tah!” He gave the princesses two thumbs up. “I’ll be watching from inside!” Then he turned and ran into the castle.

Chapter 9

W
orm bounced over to Wiglaf.
“Runnnn, Mommmmy!”
he cried.
“Hiidddde!”
Then he spread his wings and flew over the castle wall.

“Be safe, Worm!” Wiglaf whispered.

The smoke was thick now. Over the thumping of his terrified heart, Wiglaf heard the whoosh of wings. Not pipling wings. Huge wings. Snagglefahng wings.

THUD!

The ground shuddered as if from an earthquake as the dragon landed.

The smoke began to clear. Slowly, a huge dragon came into view. Snagglefahng stood near a practice dragon. He was ghostly pale. He smiled a fang-filled smile.
Where did those teeth come from?
Wiglaf wondered.

“Line up for battle!” ordered Erica.

All the Class I dragon slayers lined up behind her. Wiglaf was still coughing from the dragon smoke.

Snagglefahng puffed a small cloud of blue smoke from the horn on his head. He squinted at the DSA students before him.

“WHERE ITH BROTHER DAVE?” the dragon lisped. “DRAT THETH FALSE FANGTHS.” He reached into his mouth and adjusted his teeth. “I WANT TO THPEAK TO HIM. NOW!”

“Be gone, dragon!” Erica shouted.

“Right!” shouted Wiglaf. “Leave Brother Dave alone!”

Angry black smoke poured from the horn now. “I HAVE WAITED YEARTH,” he whined. “I AM THICK OF WAITING!”

The dragon reared up on his hind legs and belched. Flames spurted from his mouth.

“Dragon slayers, get ready,” said Erica.

Old Class I students drew their swords. The princesses watched and then did the same.

“We’re ready!” shouted Gwen.

“Get set!” cried Erica.

They pointed their swords at the dragon. “We’re set!” shouted Janice.

“Charge!” cried Erica.

They all ran toward the dragon.

Suddenly, a brown-robed figure darted between the dragon and the charging mob.

“Fighteth not!” he cried. “I surrendereth!”

Erica and her troops stopped.

Snagglefahng broke into a grin. “THO, WE MEET AGAIN, LITTLE BROTHER,” he said.

“So we do,” said Brother Dave calmly.

“Run away, Brother Dave!” Wiglaf shouted. “Now!”

“DON’T LITHEN TO HIM,” said Snagglefahng. He waggled a long, curved, sharply pointed claw at the monk. “COME CLOTHER.”

Brother Dave walked boldly forward.

In a flash, Snagglefahng hooked the claw under Brother Dave’s rope belt.

“THAT’TH BETTER!” cried Snagglefahng as he dangled Brother Dave from his claw.

Wiglaf’s heart sank. Poor Brother Dave!

Snagglefahng turned to the future dragon slayers. “THTAY WHERE YOU ARE AND NO ONE GETTH FLAMED.”

Swinging from the dragon’s claw, Brother Dave said, “I—I never meant to harmeth thee.”

“HARMETH THEE?” The dragon’s eyes narrowed. “ARE YOU MAKING FUN OF THE WAY I THPEAK?”

“No,” said Brother Dave. “Little Brothers of the Peanut Brittle all speaketh like this.”

“BRITTLE!” cried Snagglefahng. “YOUR BRITTLE WATH HARD ATH A BRICK!”

“I knoweth,” said Brother Dave. “And for that I am truly sorry.”

“WHY THORRY?” Snagglefahng drew the little monk very close to his scaly face.

“Sorry…the brittle…broketh your…fangs!” squeaked the monk.

Wiglaf heard the sound of wings behind him. Then over the castle wall flew Worm! He circled Snagglefahng’s head, calling,
“Helllp yoou, Brrrrr! Helllp yoou!”

Wiglaf watched, horrified, as Worm dove awkwardly at Snagglefahng.

“GET LOTHT, THQUIRT!” cried Snagglefahng. “THITH ITH BETWEEN ME AND BROTHER DAVE.” He batted

Worm away with a claw, like he was a pesky mosquito.

The blow sent Worm spinning across the yard. He slammed into the wall and slid to the ground. He didn’t move.

“Worm!” Wiglaf cried. He found himself racing across the castle yard toward the stunned dragon. “I’m coming, Worm!”

Worm raised his head and rubbed it with a claw.
“Mommmy?”
he whimpered.
“Mommmmy? Wrrmm hass a boo-boo!”

Chapter 10

B
ig yellow tears ran down Worm’s green cheeks.

Erica and the others ran over to comfort Worm. The dragon wiped his tears with the back of a claw and scrambled to his feet.

“
Wrrrrmmm allll riiiight
,” said Worm. And he began bouncing toward Snagglefahng crying, “
Brrrrrr! Wrrrmmm herrrre!
”

“Come back, Worm!” shouted Wiglaf. “You’re no match for Snagglefahng!”

Worm bounced back to Wiglaf.

“Let’s fight that dragon!” cried Erica. “Form up for battle!”

“COME ON, BROTHER DAVE,” said Snagglefahng. “LET’TH GO WHERE WE CAN THPEAK IN PRIVATE.” He spread his giant wings. “THAY THO LONG TO EVERYONE!”

“S—so long!” cried Brother Dave.

Wiglaf’s eyes widened. He couldn’t let Snagglefahng fly away with Brother Dave! He was only a small dragon-slayer-in-training, but he had to do something!

“Kneel down, Worm,” said Wiglaf.

And before he could change his mind, he ran and jumped onto Worm’s back. He drew Surekill and threw his other arm around Worm’s neck. He held on tight.

“After them!” Wiglaf cried.

“Wait!” cried Gwen. “I want to ride him too.”

“Too dangerous,” Wiglaf said.

“Not for me!” cried Gwen. “I ride my pony every day!”

Before Wiglaf could say another word, Erica stepped up to Worm.

“This is no pony, Gwen,” said Erica. “Wiglaf is my friend, and I’m going with him to help him!”

Gwen put her hands on her hips. “He’s my friend too.”

“You may have been queen of the dress-up corner at Pretty Little Princess Preschool, Gwen,” Erica said. “But this is Dragon Slayers’ Academy. Welcome to my world!”

Erica jumped onto Worm’s back, behind Wiglaf. He felt her grip him around the middle. “Let’s ride!” she cried.

Worm hopped a few times, testing the weight. Then he began flapping hard, rising unsteadily into the air.

“Good, Worm!” cried Wiglaf. “Higher! You can do it!”

Worm swooped and rolled in the sky. Wiglaf felt dizzy. He tried to steady his gaze. He spotted Snagglefahng circling above them with Brother Dave dangling from the dragon’s claw.

Worm suddenly got the hang of it. He soared upward. Wiglaf clung to his neck for dear life. And Erica clung to Wiglaf. Worm winged his way up until he was high above Snagglefahng. Then he leveled off, flattened his wings to his sides, and dove.

“Aaaaaaiiiiiiiiiyyyy!” cried Wiglaf and Erica as they hurtled downward.

Snagglefahng looked up.

Wiglaf gripped Surekill. He shut his eyes.

“Hey!” Erica cried. “What’s the big idea?”

Wiglaf felt her suddenly let go of him. He looked back over his shoulder. No Erica.

“Up here, Wiggie!” she cried.

Erica was clutched in Snagglefahng’s other claw. The huge dragon beat his pale wings, treading air. He smiled.

“THURRENDER YET, THQUIRT?” Snagglefahng called to Worm.

Worm answered with a midair flip. Wiglaf clung to his neck, not knowing which way was up or down.

Worm zeroed in again on Snagglefahng.

As they whizzed past the huge dragon, Wiglaf felt himself get yanked off Worm’s back. Snagglefahng had hooked him by his tunic!

“Zounds!” cried Wiglaf. “Help!”

“Oh, Wiggie!” cried Erica. “Is this the end?”

“I—I hope not,” said Wiglaf.

“Fear not, thou brave hearts,” said Brother Dave. “We art not yet goners.”

Snagglefahng circled down and dropped his three passengers onto the castle’s highest turret. He landed next to them, gripping the turret with big clawed feet.

Wiglaf huddled close to Brother Dave and Erica. He looked down. Everyone in the castle yard looked no bigger than ants. Torblad’s shrill little voice floated up to them: “Doom! Doom!”

Snagglefahng poked Brother Dave with a claw. “LITTLE BROTHER—” he began.

But that was as far as he got. For Worm zoomed down, lowered his head, and butted Snagglefahng in the gut—hard!

“OOF!” cried the dragon, clutching his belly. He swayed dangerously, lost his balance, and tumbled off the turret.

Wiglaf braced himself for an awful thud. But he heard only a wild flapping of wings. Then Snagglefahng shot up at a furious speed. He grabbed Worm by his long neck and flew higher into the air.

“Gluuuug!”
cried Worm.

“He is a baby!” cried Wiglaf. “Put him down!”

“I WILL,” said Snagglefahng. “IF YOU THWEAR TO DO ATH I THAY!”

“I swear!” cried Wiglaf quickly.

“I swear!” added Erica.

“Little Brothers cannot sweareth,” said Brother Dave. “But I promiseth!”

BOOK: Beware! It's Friday the 13th

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