Dragon's Keep by Janet Lee Carey Page B

the news of the listing ship, but early with dire warnings.
Padding to the dock he called, "She'll sink before you reach her!" And
though the men on the Dentsmore boats were too far out by

then to hear him, he went on. "She's sure to be a
serpent's supper! Daft fools! I say turn back, afore ye all go down
together!"
    Kitty Wells, whose man was on a boat, took up
a shank of driftwood and whacked Sheb Kottle on the head. He left off his
predictions but set to moaning like a wraith, which spread the fear all round.
    Standing apart from the others, I looked
straight into the wind, myself unsettled as
my father's boat reached the larger ves sel. By now the broad white
sails tipped sharply. I thought sure the ship would tumble over and go down a
moment after. The craft did not topple as I feared but, escorted by the
Dentsmore boats, slowly headed for the harbor. I could not see what set the
ship a-kilter till they came closer in.
    A carriage arrived. Hearing the chapel bells,
Mother had come to greet the ship, surrounded by her castle escort. She called
me from the shore but I stayed on the creaking dock. I meant to stand there
until Father's boot was safely on the dock again, for the tilting ship, growing
ever larger as it neared the shore, gave me a sense of foreboding.
    "Ah! They've
caught a whale," called Kitty, waving the drift wood above her head.
    "Nay! Not a whale," called Mavis. "But
a serpent sure!"
    I shielded my eyes and looked out. There,
lashed to the side of the vessel, cresting and bobbing in the sea, was the
thing that had nearly sunk the ship. First
I saw its giant head, hanging limp, snout down in the sea. Then I saw the
blue-green scales across its back glinting in the water. Blood washed
from the deep gash in its side.

"Dragon!" shouted Sir Allweyn,
running down the dock.
    " it's dead and
conquered!"
    "We are free!" shouted the people
on shore.
    Suddenly everyone was dancing: Jane with
Kitty, Sal with Jossie, Sheb Kottle with himself. Then Jossie Brummer threw her arms around me,
shouting and jumping as if a mouse were in her kirtle. She spun me round and
round in a jig, till the sea and sky were all one color. All the while I reeled,
joy and loathing mixed strangely in my heart.
    Mother flurried onto the dock arm in arm with
Sir Richmond and Sir Kimball.
    "This will be a day of celebration for
all Wilde Islanders!" she cried, and she herself twirled round on the dock
with Sir Richmond.
    By the time the ships reached us, we were all
a-scuttle to the tune of "Hey Diddle Da," pipes tooting, drums
pounding, and children singing all out of tune. By now I was swept into the joy
of the dragon s death and had put away the strange sorrow I first felt when I
saw the beast.
    Father hopped onto the docks and wrestled
Mother away from Sir Richmond. Fairly pushing the knight into the water, he
kissed Mother there and then in front of all the world.
    The villagers shouted and clapped as the
sailors hopped down to tie the galleon to the docks. Then, herding all but the
royal family back to the shore, the fishermen set to work cutting the ropes
away from the dragon.
    I could see only the snout, the beast being
on the far side of the ship. I stood close
to Father as the captain, dressed grandly in

a torn cape and bloody clothes, stepped down to greet
the king and queen. He doffed his hat to the cheering crowd on the beach, and
bowed to Mother and Father.
    'I am Lord Godrick," he said. "I've
come with greetings from Empress Matilda." And Mother swooned.
    It was too much for Mother to have in the
same day the downing of her mortal foe and greetings from Empress Matilda.
Here was the captain of Matilda's ship, come to Wilde Island to pay homage to
its king and queen, to invite the princess to Matilda's court—and strapped to
his vessel, our mortal enemy, slain.
    When Mother woke from her swoon she ordered a
banquet brought from the castle to the very beach where we stood. There with billowing flags and bonfires we