Snagglefang cast a baleful glare around the room looking for any more challengers to his power. Seeing only a cowering king and a doting old sea hag, he turned his attention toward Princess Nataleigh.
“Ah, the other child from Amiera,” He gloated.
“The forgotten dreamer. So you came down from that prison in the clouds they call a palace to take possession of your future, I see. And you believe the Eye can give you the fame and respect you desire?”
The Princess lowered her head. Nathan could see confusion on her face now that the dragon had arrived. He wondered how true the dragon’s words were. Since the moment he had found his sister her focus had been to get the Serpent’s Eye at all costs. And though she insisted her mission was important to save Darrowold, Nathan suspected that somewhere along the way she had lost sight of her reasons for getting it. The quest had become personal. But the prince did not understand how or why his sister needed to possess it so badly. Could the dragon’s words be true?
Snagglefang moved toward the princess carrying the Serpent’s Eye.
“Of course it can.” He whispered. “The Serpent’s Eye is more than a key to my Magic Castle. It is a key to any prison that holds you. And you have been a prisoner, haven’t you, princess?”
Nataleigh lifted her eyes to look at the serpent as he spoke to her and her eyes were caught by his mesmerizing gaze. The mist of the Serpent’s Eye seemed to swirl in Snagglefang’s eyes. Indeed, there seemed no difference between them.
“Your father has had you bound on that mountain top, hasn’t he? He has not allowed you to express the true you; always put your brother first. But you have dreamed of more. I see it in your eyes. You long for the power that can break the chains and allow you to know and see everything that has been withheld from you. A mirror reflection is not enough. You want to feel and touch and do.”
The princess nodded as he stood before her now and a tear ran down her cheek. Snagglefang set the crystal ball on its pedestal before her and began to circle her, almost slithering as he continued to seduce her.
“You have been deprived, my dear. Because of your potential, your father has held you back, not ready to share with his own child, the wonders of the world, for fear that she would rise above him. Can you not see how he has chosen your brother to rule over you in his place some day; how he has groomed your brother, even though younger than you, to be the Lord of Darrowold?”
Nathan couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Snagglefang’s words were lies. His father had never expressed such intentions to him and had always loved both of his children, yet the prince felt sick as he watched his sister’s expression grow harder as she continued to nod in agreement. How could she listen to the dragon? How could she believe what he was saying? His head spun and his emotions choked his thought as he watched dazedly.
“I am your true friend, child.” Snagglefang continued, coiling about the princess and untying her hands and feet. “A friend who would see you become all that you are meant to be; a friend who would never shackle your abilities, but would teach you how to reach your full expression.”
As the rope fell from Nataleigh’s wrists, her hands reached forward almost seemingly on their own.
“Yes! Reach for the Serpent’s Eye.” Snagglefang breathed in her ear. “It will set you free if you but embrace its power and embrace me!”
And then Prince Nathan realized that this was the real nightmare that he had feared all along! It was not Papa Serpent who was the enemy to be feared. And the danger was not physical. The real danger had been the Serpent’s Eye all along! The very thing they had come down to Darrowold to find was the very object of evil that could destroy them. It was not a key created by his father, the High King of Darrowold, but a profane artifact of corruption, created by Snagglefang the Dragon.
Nathan saw it all clearly now. His father had sent the Sea Serpent to take it from him before he could use it to rule! Papa Sea Serpent was the guardian who was appointed by the High King to keep Snagglefang from reclaiming that power! And he and his sister had fallen right into Snagglefang’s plans and even made the situation worse by putting themselves in harm’s way. In fact Nataleigh was even in danger of losing her soul to this fiend!
The nightmare began again…
Suddenly there was a bright green glow from the ground in front of the girl and Nathan froze as he finally recognized what was happening!
“Nataleigh!” he shouted, stepping from the tunnel in which he had been hiding, “get away from Snagglefang! He’s evil!”
The dragon turned his face from Nataleigh’s ear and smiled at the prince wickedly.
“It’s too late, boy!” he gloated. “Your sister wanted the Serpent’s Eye and I have given it to her! Now she is mine, heart and soul for no one escapes the power of the eye once they have touched its power!”
To Nathan’s horror, he now realized that he was too late! Nataleigh was staring into the Serpent’s Eye with a hungry expression on her face and embracing it with both hands.
“You see, you have failed to save her and now she is trapped in the darkness of disobedience.” Snagglefang continued. “You children are such easy prey when you leave the protection of your father’s commandments. You might have saved her, of course, if you would have given yourself to me, but since you refused and ran away, I will have to use her instead.”
Now Nathan noticed the mist in the ball starting to crawl up Nataleigh’s arms and realized that it was pulling her inside! Soon she would be gone – consumed by her own greed and pride!
“Get away from her, you snake!” he heard himself scream, knowing what would follow.
“Snake?” Snagglefang repeated with growing satisfaction as if reading a well worn script. “More than a snake, a SERPENT!”
The word cracked like thunder…
…And suddenly a brightly colored object sailed through the air and struck the princess on the head causing her to release the Serpent’s Eye and fall backwards shaking her head dazedly.
“Nice Tackle, Q!” shouted the familiar voice of Flindee as he bounded out of the passage behind Snagglefang. The irrepressible jester was smiling from ear to ear. “I told you that you should have tried out for the Jolly Men’s football team!”
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