“The back door?” Again the dragon had captured Nathan’s attention.
“Yes,” the dragon hissed. “I know of a secret tunnel from the island above that leads to the underwater cave. Have you forgotten that it once belonged to me?”
“If you know of a secret entrance, why don’t you just sneak in there and get this magic pearl for yourself? Why do you need me?”
“Ah, now that is the irony of the whole thing. You see although my size is my curse, I am still too big to fit through the entrance of that secret way. Only dwarves can fit through.” Snagglefang began to pace back and forth in his aggitation and lowered his voice as if talking to himself. “Oh the cruelty of my existence! Not large enough or small enough to be of any good for anything. What cruel punishment I must endure!”
There was a moment of awkward silence and Nathan was just about to ask him what he was talking about, when the dragon wheeled around yet again and fixed the prince with a gaze of renewed determination.
“WELL? What will it be, knight? Will you come to the aid of the helpless and defend the weak? Will you make a name for yourself in the pages of history and live a legendary life that is sung about in minstrel songs? Or will you allow this once in a lifetime chance to pass you by and leave this cave the way you came, unknown and unloved in the world? Make your choice!”
Nathan was caught off guard at the suddeness of Snagglefang’s question and almost said yes at that moment, but something held him back. He wasn’t sure that he believed this dragon was the victim it pretended to be, or that it’s intentions were completely trustworthy. He didn’t want to make a decision yet but knew that he had to say something quick. Then another question popped into his head.
“Where is this secret cave entrance that I’m supposed to use?” he blurted out.
Snagglefang paused in thought then raised his long neck proudly. He cleared his throat, put his hand to his heart and answered.
“Under bone and tooth of stone,
Beside the belching froth,
Below the eye that still might spy
Those who find the cross of cloth.
Beneath the hand and drifting sand,
The guardian must die,
Courageous heart will play it’s part
And take the serpent’s eye!”
His claw returned to the floor and he looked at Nathan as if he were waiting for something. After a moment he spoke again.
“Well, what did you think of my work? I wrote that myself after I was kicked out of the cave.”
Nathan was impressed, but also confused by the verse. “What does it mean? It didn’t make much sense.”
Snagglefang was offended. “Really? I thought it was quite plain actually. They really don’t teach you knights the way they used to. I suppose I’ll have to give you the written version with the map that I have.”
“Oh hey, I got that right here, boss!” The jester jumped to his feet producing a worn parchment from under his hat.
“Never mind that right now.” the dragon scolded waving off the intrusion. Then he fixed his eyes on the prince and grew deadly serious. “First give me your word - the honorable word of a knight - that you will undertake this mission and see this evil creature destroyed!”
Again, Nathan almost said yes. What could be the harm in helping to destroy a big, two-headed sea monster anyway? Why not help? But somehow he knew that the magic pearl was something that should not be given to the dragon. He couldn’t explain why, but something told him that this was all wrong. So he tried to get out of answering one more time.
“How will I get to this island where the secret door is anyway? I don’t have a boat.”
This seemed to catch the dragon off guard for a moment. He paused once again in thought and Nathan thought he would get out of it until he heard the slow, deep rumble of Gart’s voice. The giant had been so quiet that Nathan had nearly forgotten he was there.
“Um, ‘scuse me, boss.” Snagglefang turned to scowl at the giant who gulped hard and then went on. “He don’t have no boat...but he got’s a DRAGON.”
Snagglefang froze in place and the expression on his face completely changed. His face darkened and his eyes widened. Gart saw the dragon’s features change and thought he had said something good so he continued on.
“It’s a big one too! With big blue wings and purple skin! But that didn’t stop Weggio and me from takin’ this little knight from it! You shoulda seen it, Boss. Weggio flew right in it’s face and...uh,” The small minded giant suddenly recognized the familiar look of impatience in his master’s face as Snagglefang slowly turned to face him. “Um...anyway, I bet it could fly him to Skull Island in a minute!”
“Did you say a dragon?” Snagglefang’s voice was deadly, but Gart didn’t seem to notice as he proudly shook his head up and down.
“You betcha, boss! But nothing me and Weggio can’t handle! We could catch it and make....”
“Idiot!” Gart scrambled to his feet and stumbled back as his “boss” advanced on him. “Why didn’t you tell me this before? Do you know what this means?”
At this point the jester was on his feet as well and they were all moving away from the angry dragon who seemed to be throwing a temper tantrum as he turned back to Nathan with smoke in his nostrils.
“It means that you’re no dwarven knight! If you were with one of my brothers or sisters than you’re no dwarf at all! You’re a human!” Snagglefang reached out and grabbed the prince’s helmet, yanking it off of his head and seeing his childish face for the first time. The helmet clanged against the floor as the dragon’s blue scaled face seemed to turn white with fear and his hands began to tremble. “You really ARE from that accursed castle on Ivory mountain! Which means you’re one of His children!”
For a moment, no one moved and Nathan thought the wild reptile would eat him at any minute in a fit of rage. Snagglefang seemed capable of anything at that moment. But as quickly as the panic came upon him, it left and he grew strangely calm again taking long slow breaths as he turned back to the cowering giant.
“Gart, where is the other dragon? Tell me quickly!”
“I left Weggio to keep ‘im busy after he knocked the little man from the dragon’s back.” Trying to redeem himself, the giant kept talking. “It was great, Boss, you should have seen it! Weggio was flying circles around it...”
“And where is your bird now? It has been a long time since you left it to face a creature ten times it’s size. Surely you don’t believe your little pet can evade one of my kind for long, do you? Did you consider that the dragon could have roasted it by now?”
Gart’s tiny forehead wrinkled in puzzlement. Then as the idea finally registered in his small brain, his hands clenched into tight fists and Nathan knew something was about to be smashed.
“I suggest that you check on your fine feathered friend,” Snagglefang ordered, “and make sure that the dragon doesn’t find out where you have taken this boy!”
The giant turned and stomped out of the cave angrily with a growl , ready to smash anything that got in his way and redeem himself with his master. As Gart left, Snagglefang glared back at Nathan!
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