Dragons of Draegonia (7 page)

Yellow’s body shivered in fear, “I’m afraid I can’t assist” Yellow snorted, “I have a bad cold, my flame is very, very weak and almost nonexistent, got spots developing all over me
and
I have a bad back.” Dragon Brown ignored Yellow’s excuses. “You always have a bad back and a cold so what’s new, and we all have problems with our flames, that’s why every dragon has to do their duty, and there will be no exceptions.” Yellow’s jaw dropped open in dismay, he usually got out of anything that was dangerous or even mildly challenging, but here was Dragon Brown, who seemed to be in total command, ordering him into what he thought to be imminent death.

Dragon Green was studying the unfolding events intently. What was he to do? He surely could not have any dragon too close to him, especially now when things were going so well and definitely not anywhere near him while he was conjuring up more imaginative stories. But then he had a ‘Dragon Brainwave’.

Yellow was really a big coward, he would not want to go anywhere near any enemy or any dangerous situation and if given the opportunity would hide or take the easy way out.

Green decided to take charge of the situation. “Come on Dragon Yellow, we’ll keep out of sight and at a safe distance and just observe and study the invaders.” Green’s little brain was working overtime. “I’ll get the closest to the enemy’s camp and report things back to you so that you in turn can take the information back to Dragon Brown. You’ll be a sort of special messenger.”

Green had made his mind up that Yellow would be no threat to his aim of being the only hero of the day. And Dragon Yellow, he was relieved to know he would be at a safe distance from any danger. Brown, with another deep frown appearing across the top of his forehead, scrutinised both dragons and in a commanding voice barked. “So what are you waiting for? GO!” And with the command resonating in both dragons’ ears, they were just about to scurry away when they both spied Dragon Gold in the distance.

Brown, for a brief moment thought as to how and why Dragon Green had changed, why was he being so helpful and agreeable? But Brown’s thoughts were immediately interrupted by Dragon Gold’s noisy clanging chain of office bouncing from side to side as he ran into the chamber with great urgency. “We have a horrendous problem now” he gasped. “The hospital has reported that all dragons carrying the black spot plague have lost their ability to shoot flames and that every dragon on Draegonia has now become infected.”

Gold continued in a hurried and fearful voice “Dragon Black has decided that the invaders are probably using chemical warfare and that their leaders must be taken alive in order that we can obtain an antidote from them.” There was a mumbling from several on-looking dragons, each carrying the black spots and all having trouble to spit flame and fire.

Brown listened intently to Dragon Gold, his eyes narrowing, his furrowed brow deepening further as he had two major challenges facing him. The first was to identify who, out of the recently reported hundreds of invaders, their leaders may be and secondly what type of antidote would they have and how was he to obtain it.

Gold continued, “Also, Dragon Black wants you to put Dragon Green in charge of capturing their commander in chief,” Gold paused, “that’s if they have one.”

Dragon Green preened himself. He was to be put in charge. And before any dragon, especially Dragon Brown, could raise an objection, Green pushed Dragon Yellow through the chamber exit. On exiting into the street Green issued an order to Dragon Yellow to follow him. They headed at great speed to where Dragon Green earlier had seen flashes of tiny white and the occasional reddish sparkling lights. After what seemed ages, both dragons came within ‘Dragon Seconds’ of where four children and a pink dragon were still all curled up and fast asleep.

Yellow grabbed Green’s arm and both dragons came to an abrupt stop. “Look you were attacked,” Yellow puffed, “and only just managed to get away, what good will it do for both of us to get captured or worse?”

Green was hanging on to every word spoken by Yellow, for he was also concerned but for different reasons. He had lied about being attacked and as with all lies it required more lies to continue such fabrication. What was he going to do? Another plan formed in Green’s brain: he would leave Yellow and go on ahead to reconnoitre, he would then come back and provide information for Yellow to take back. If anything went wrong he would say that Yellow had misinformed or made it up to get out of actually fighting the invaders. Yellow, he knew, was a coward at heart and would be only too pleased to wait in safety and let him take the decisions and all the risk.

“OK, Yellow, you stay here, I’ll obtain the intelligence for you to return it to The Council of Dragons and you can take all the credit, as I am already considered a hero,” Green slyly pontificated. Without any further chat, Green trotted off towards the area where he had earlier that night had seen the sparkling lights, leaving Dragon Yellow mopping his sweating brow and breathing a huge sigh of relief.

Whilst all this was going on Dragon Pink had stirred from her sleep. She could see the first few rays of the early morning sun painting the black sky with shades of orange. Not wishing to awaken the four children, she slid quietly away from their rocky enclosure. So silent was she that Dragon Green never heard or saw her but, as he crept silently over the brow of the ridge separating the children’s camp site from the two dragons, he spied four unusual beings curled up and asleep around a pile of now, not so hot, rocks.

What were they? Were these part of the invading army that he had reported and where were the rest of them? Green shuddered. Was this all, had he made a huge mistake? He crept nearer for a closer look and as he did so caught his foot in a crevice that hurled him head over heels sprawling on the hard ground and with a massive thump came to rest behind some very tall thick bushes. Four startled children jumped up. One screamed, one shouted, one yelled and the other, George, waving his arms furiously, picking up a stick, hurtled some 20 meters towards where Green was nursing some bruises.

Green saw George and the other creatures racing towards him and assumed this was the beginning of a fearsome attack. He immediately jumped up, did a one hundred and eighty degree full turn in mid air and hurtled back in the direction from which he had come. The four children stopped in their tracks looking on in amazement and as the green dragon disappeared from view, chattered vigorously, interrupting each other, about what they had just seen.

What had become of the pink dragon, had it been a dream? No it couldn’t have as they had all just seen a green acrobatic dragon, jump from the ground, do a mid-air turn and then disappear from view. What was this island and why were there so many dragons of different colours? And how many more would they come across? The three stragglers (they just could not keep up with George) were now in deep conversation. Joel, interjecting that he was hungry and wanting his food, Zach intent in fighting off any more intruding dragons, Grace raising question after question without waiting for an answer, was soon rejoined by an out of breath George, who quickly restored some order.

In the distance, and out of sight of the four, two dragons, Yellow and Green, collided with each other. Just as Yellow had thought he was safe and preparing to settle down for Green’s return, a fleeing Dragon Green looking more over his shoulder than where he was going, ran straight into him.

“Quick,” Dragon Green yelled, “Get back to Dragon Brown tell him that
we
have four of the invaders cornered and that after a short battle, WE have frightened the army into retreat and as we speak now, they are leaving the island!” Green had decided that he had made a grave error in making everyone believe there were hundreds of troops but on seeing the size of the four (unbeknown to him) children, he could imagine that such an army of little people would have run, on seeing two dragons such as Yellow and him. Yellow picked himself up, looked at Green in disbelief and said,” What do you mean
we?”
“Well” responded Green, “do you want to have everyone believe you did nothing but sit on your haunches whilst I fought them off on my own, do you want everyone to think” Green paused and with a faint smile continued, “that you were a coward and did not try to help?
Or
would you like to take some of the credit and inform the Council of Dragons and Dragon Brown of our heroism and your part in cornering the invaders’ command centre?”

Yellow did not want his true yellow colour to reflect his image or reputation; he wanted to be brave but never quite managed to be. Yes, he would run with the message and he would take any glory that Green was so magnificently sharing. “Right, I’m off and will get assistance, how many will it take to bring back the four and are they the ones in charge?” Green thought for a brief moment then again with a rye smile said. “Tell them we have, no you have immobilised them and that they have no fight left in them. Inform Dragon Brown we should only need Dragons White and Physician Grey and on your return with them, the four of us will round up the invading generals and bring them in.” Yellow started with some haste to run back to the centre and turning slightly, shouted over his shoulder “But what did I do to assist you?” Green’s answer was short and to the point, “You did everything to chase the army off the island, just make it up.” Yellow was running so fast that he did not realise he was being unfortunately set up and that very soon he would be made to look very foolish.

Dragons Brown, Blue, Red, and Gold, were seated in the Great Hall with Dragon Black, the all night session showing on their tired faces. They were discussing in detail with Dragons Grey and White their verbal reports. Dragon White still wanted to explain about earlier, when she had seen the little craft and the tiny people and the fact that she definitely had not seen an invading force, when Dragon Yellow hurtled in.

“We have fought and frightened the invaders off” Yellow yelled. “They are taking to the sea in small crafts” he further exaggerated. All the dragons turned their heads towards Yellow. “And as they were so small and no match for the two of us I and Dragon Green chased them off, with their tails between their legs.” Yellow was so full of the importance of his role, he forgot that earlier, Green had carried a bloodied bandage and wounds of a battle, with what he now was confirming as a fearful force.

Dragon Black only reacted to the fact that the invaders had been repelled and with a very rare smile on his face congratulated Dragon Yellow for his and Green’s remarkable bravery. Yellow was the centre of attention, something he was not used to, and as such continued with the story he had rehearsed on his way to The Council. “It was my role to chase off the invaders as Dragon Green had cornered the army’s generals” he continued with his lies. “We have them a couple of ‘Dragon Miles’ away in the scrub land hiding behind the rocks, pleading for mercy.”

Yellow loved the adoration and admiration coming from all around him but one of the dragons was not entirely impressed. Dragon Brown interrupted Yellow’s flow and said, somewhat quizzically. “So Dragon Yellow, how many were there in the army you chased away? What weapons did they have? How did you manage to repel them without any fire flame? And more to the point, why did their generals stay behind, only to be captured?” Yellow was now a little stuck for words. He had not reckoned on being questioned in so much detail, so he had to think very quickly on his feet, something he had never been used to.

“Well,” he slowly started, “the main army I could only see in the distance, they had obviously decided to leave the island thinking that perhaps a smaller force would suffice.”

“So why did they leave four generals behind with such a small force and what is the strength of this remaining army? And, will the others, who you say, YOU chased, be back with the main force?” Brown cross examined. Yellow was floundering it was obvious that Brown had severe reservations about the whole saga.

“Brown, you’re reading too much into what obviously is a very brave action from two of our finest and heroic dragons” Dragon Black bellowed. “Yellow, where is Dragon Green right now?” “Well Sir,” Yellow said puffing out his chest at being referred to as heroic, “Dragon Green has the invading generals cornered a couple of ‘Dragon Miles’ away and we can bring them in for questioning with the assistance of Dragons White and Grey, well that’s what Dragon Green suggested.”

“Good idea,” agreed Dragon Black. “The three of you should bring them in immediately for questioning and confiscate any weapons they may have.” Black continued, “Dragon Blue and Brown go and organise the interrogation rooms and arrange four containment areas so that there is a cell for each of them.”

Brown, turning from a hard stare at Yellow’s twitching cheeks spoke to Dragon Black. “Dragon Blue can arrange the cells, I’ll go with them Sir to assist and verify the intelligence.”

Black snorted, “Totally unnecessary, Dragon’s Green and Yellow appear to have everything well under control, no real thanks to you and your efforts are obviously not required by them. You go with Dragon Blue and prepare the cells, Gold and Red you stay with me, the rest of you
MOVE.
“

Outside the Council of Dragons Main Hall, numerous dragons could be seen running in all directions, some scampering off with the news to others and many preparing themselves for the imminent arrival of the prisoners.

Green taking as much cover as possible afforded by the thick shrubs had been crawling back and getting closer and closer towards the four intrepid travellers. His steely devious eyes were now watching their every movement. He was considering, why were they not armed? How small they looked and what were they doing on the island?

George, out of earshot of the other two boys was quietly talking with Grace. George pointed towards the island’s centre. “You know we should be very careful as we get closer to that volcano. We have seen three dragons now, White, Green and Pink and I am sure there must be more!” Grace nodded her head in agreement and diverting her eyes towards Joel and Zach, she said. “ I think Joel should keep close to me and you take care of Zach” she continued more in a whisper, “if we get separated let’s meet back at the life raft and hope someone will find us soon.” George was in agreement and with a reassuring smile added. “You know I am not too sure that those dragons are more scared of us than we should be of them. Think about it. The white one was not particularly scary especially when it did the submarine impersonation, the pink one was kind of sweet and that green one looked as though it was frightened out of its life by our shouts and screams.” Grace thought for a moment. “Look” she said “let’s try to find the pink dragon and ask it to help us.”