Chapter 10: Son of the High King

Once again, Nathan laughed! The appearance of Flindee at that moment seemed to break the dragon’s spell and the fear that gripped the prince. This time it wouldn’t happen the way it had in his dreams! Gripping the pirate sword in his hands he stepped forward to confront the evil of Snagglefang.

The dragon was indeed shocked and spun around in confusion to see what had happened. When he saw Flindee behind him, he roared with rage and swung his tail to strike down the foolish little dwarf!

“You! How DARE you meddle in my affairs, fool!” he shouted.

Flindee simply executed a perfect back flip and dodged the tail with a whistle. “Easy there, bosso, your nostrils are flaring again! Remember what your temper does to your blood pressure! And I don’t have any of your medication with me.”
“Jester, you are fired!” Snagglefang snarled and turned to breathe fire at the little acrobat.
Nathan’s eyes went wide with horror as a stream of flame filled the tunnel where Flindee had been. But once again, the jester was just too fast. Doing the thing that was least expected, he leapt straight for the dragon and somersaulted under his chin as the fire burned over his head.
“You can’t fire me,” he quipped, jumping back to his feet on the other side. “I already quit! You owe me a last paycheck, by the way. And I’m sure Quattlebom will want his toothbrush back that you borrowed!”

For a moment Nathan thought that Flindee might single handedly take on the dragon himself, but then the jester was knocked to the floor from behind. Hagwig, seeing her master’s anger, took it upon herself to put a stop to the offender. The two wiry little dwarves tumbled about on the cave floor, a jumble of bright colors and black rags.
Snagglefang turned back to face Nathan.

“So… Sir Vanderfluff decided to go on my little quest after all. And now that I have the Eye, the valiant knight wishes to take it from me? Still wishing to be the hero… BOY?”

Snagglefang taunted the prince mercilessly as he slithered toward him. There was anger and hatred in the dragon’s eyes that burned Nathan more than any fire breath could. “Did you really think you could deny me my prize, Prince? And do you think now that you are warrior enough to slay me with a toy sword?”

“It’s enough to finish you, dragon!” The prince shouted with determination. Flindee’s bravery had inspired him and he was determined to meet Snagglefang’s hatred with courage, but then the situation changed again.

“Ah. That might be true if I were the poor little dragon that you believe me to be. But I assure you, I am not!”

Suddenly, Snagglefang reared up on his hind legs, throwing his arms wide, and roared. The roar was louder and deeper than anything the prince had heard before or ever expected from such a small dragon. But then, Snagglefang wasn’t as small as he had been a moment before. The evil serpent was growing… and changing.

Green, swamp-colored scales began to darken to a crimson red while the underbelly blackened from the color of tarnished pennies to smoldering ash. Claws grew from knives to spears and jagged horns sprouted from every joint and protrusion on the dragon’s body. But worst of all, were his eyes. As Snagglefang grew, so too did the black slit of his eyes until the prince felt they would swallow him like the open mouth of some deep pit.

Staring into those hate-filled eyes the prince felt his resolve waver. How could he face such a monster and hope to survive with nothing but a thin pirate sword? The dragon now towered over him, forked tongue flicking from his blood red jaws which seemed to smile in anticipation of victory. The prince had been completely deceived by the dragon from the beginning. Snagglefang was not some little defenseless dragon who had been neglected, abused, or even misunderstood. He was wickedness in the flesh and the prince could not hope to defeat him, grown up or not.

Then a memory came like a gentle breeze and whispered to his heart, “Do not be afraid, son. I will be with you as you go to your sister. My strength will be yours.”

And Nathan knew what he had to do. Throwing aside the pirate sword, he stood firm and spoke to the serpent with authority.

“And I assure you that I am not simply the boy that you think me to be, dragon. I am the son of the High King! I do not come against you as a dwarf, no matter how small I may appear to you. I come against you with the authority of my father and with the strength he has given me to defeat you! I do not walk in disobedience as my sister, lured by your deceptions. I have made peace with my father and know He is with me at this moment!”

Suddenly, the steel armor that the prince wore began to glow like the sun and change it’s hue from silver to gold. A shield appeared on his left arm emblazoned with the head of a mighty lion and in his right hand appeared a huge broad sword that ignited with flames as he held it aloft. On his head, a prince’s crown appeared and for the first time Snagglefang shrank back… but only for a moment.

The prince was still young and inexperienced and the dragon old and cunning. Snagglefang had come too far to surrender now. If it was a battle this boy wanted, it would be a battle he would have, and the dragon would show him no mercy.

“Then come, your Highness,” the dragon sneered with contempt. “Embrace your end and witness the rise of my rule over Darrowold!”

And with words spent, the Dragon and the Prince clashed in a battle that went beyond mere sword and claw. It was a battle of spirit and will that was fought for the very heart of Darrowold!