Dragonsfall, or: The Dragon, the Witch and the Captain

Chapter III: The Siege of the City and Escape of the Prisoners

Snow came down that night, covering the ground in a thin dusting. The taller grasses peered through the snow, making the moor look a slight patchwork of brown and white. In the grey light of the winter dawn, with the clouds still hanging in the sky, a horn blast cascaded through the air. It was unlike any horn the night watchmen had heard and when they saw from where it came, they immediately summoned their lord. An army had assembled outside the City. The gates were closed and the Earl had ascended the stairs of the watchtower just as the Herald of the army came forth.

'Hail, Duke of this city!' announced the Herald, 'I present Malika, from Arabia!'

A woman on a brown horse then rode forth. Her skin was tan and her hair black. On her brow she wore a tiara of gold in which was set many gems: rubies, sapphires, and in the middle a large emerald. But even these gems paled when compared to her eyes. They were a deep brown that were beautiful as they were fierce, just as was she. She curiously wore mixture of Arabian garments with a cloak of heavy black bear fur over it. All her soldiers were dressed likewise, save that they had differing kinds of furs, but none had her kind.

'Hail, Malika!' sayeth the Earl. 'What wouldst bring an Arab queen all the way to our fair city?'

Steadily, only slightly raising her voice, as opposed to the Herald or the Earl, she responded, 'The pursuit of vengeance; the pursuit of a dragon. In my case, such goals happen to be inseparable.'

'A dragon? Indeed thy quest is unique. Might I inquire as to why ye thinkest a dragon wouldst be in these parts? Surely I wouldst know,' said the Earl.

'I think thou dost know indeed. I received a letter from the captain of thy city guard six months past in which he said that a dragon had come and attacked thy city. After inquiries were made, it wast determined from whence it came: from mountain village, imprisoning a Princess, killing a Prince. That Prince wast my brother. I have come now to avenge his death by slaying the Dragon.'

'I know of no such letter.'

'Then I wouldst speak with the Captain.'

The Earl thought for a moment, 'The Captain, I'm sorry to say, hast been executed for treason,' he lied.

'Such is an ill fortune. But wouldst thou allow me admittance into thy city? Perhaps together we canst destroy the foul beast.'

'Nay, stay thou there and I wilt speak with my wife and advisors and we shalt consider thy request.'

'Consider my request?' said Malika, flabbergasted, 'I wouldst have thought that any ruler with a dragon residing in his fiefdom wouldst be grateful for an army with which to destroy it.'

The Earl said no more and left down the watch tower and ran back to his castle, summoning such advisors as he deemed needed along the way. Malika's confusion passed, for she was perceptive and saw something hidden in the Earl's manner. Her lieutenants did not so easily overcome their bewilderment. 'What shouldst we do, my Lady?' asked her Herald. 'Tell the men to make camp here,' she said.

While the tents were pitched and stables erected, the Earl and the Witch took counsel. Once roaring fires had been lit and Malika had taken residence in her royal tent, the Herald came to her and said that the Earl had summoned her to the gate. She walked and stopped on the other side of the causeway.

'I have taken counsel with my advisors,' said the Earl, 'and we have decided that we shalt handle the matter with the Dragon ourselves.'

Malika was stunned. 'But, thy city guard is not strong enough to destroy a dragon itself!'