Arthur looked up lazily as the crystal ball glowed with light, casting shadows over the walls of his cave. He stretched a clawed foot idly and wondered who it was this time. Probably Archie, he thought. The MacArthur, Lord Rothlan and the Prince kept in touch from time to time — principally to give him news of where they were and what was going on — but Archie talked to him every day. Although he hadn’t said anything, he knew that Arthur had felt a bit left out of the whole adventure and was doing his best to make up for it.
Arthur knew this and was grateful for, although life in the Valley of the Dragons hadn’t been dull, the fact remained that the fuss and excitement of his arrival had long since died away and even the sentries posted at intervals round the valley, seemed to have lost their initial drive and enthusiasm.
Archie and everyone else, on the other hand, seemed to be having a really exciting time. The MacArthur had taken the citadel and was now firmly installed in Stara Zargana while Lord Rothlan and Amgarad had somehow managed to rescue Clara. Arthur smiled as he thought of Clara’s excitement when she’d spoken to him. Maybe it would be her face he’d see in the crystal! Perhaps she wanted to talk to him again!
So it was with a comfortable feeling of happiness and relief that he got to his feet and, ambling over to the crystal, looked casually into its glowing depths expecting to see Clara’s face or Archie’s or even that of the MacArthur. Instead, he recoiled in horror, for the evil face staring triumphantly at him through the glass was none other than that of Lord Jezail himself.
Jezail saw shock and fear cloud Arthur’s wonderful eyes and smiled scornfully. He wasn’t going to have much trouble with this lily-livered excuse for a dragon, he was sure of that. He unsheathed Dragonslayer and held the sword in front of him so that Arthur could see it.
“Be afraid, Arthur,” he hissed, “be very afraid! I am coming for you and this time there will be no mistake. I will kill you! Dragonslayer is hungry for your blood!”
And, before Arthur could make any reply, his face faded and the crystal misted over.
It was then that the alarm sounded; a screaming, dragon roar of warning that echoed among the jagged peaks. Arthur left his cave and, running up the tunnel that gave onto the valley, gasped in amazement as his eyes took in a scene of total confusion. There were dragons everywhere. Some circled the peaks while others, having hurriedly tumbled out of their caves, now huddled fearfully at the entrances, shielding baby dragons with their wings. All of them looked around in wonder and fright as the silver-grey soldier dragons criss-crossed the sky, screaming their warning to the heavens.
Arthur took the situation in at a glance but before he joined in, knew he had to pass the message on to the MacArthur and Lord Rothlan. This was totally unexpected …
Hurrying back down the tunnel to his cave, he hastily passed his hand over the crystal and breathlessly spoke the magic words. The crystal glowed and it was Prince Kalman’s face that looked at him.
Seeing the fear and worry on Arthur’s face, the prince knew that this was going to be no casual conversation. “What is it, Arthur?” he asked sharply. “What’s happened?”
Arthur took a deep breath and steadied his nerves. “Lord Jezail spoke to me a few minutes ago,” he answered. “He threatened me with Dragonslayer. He … he must be close to the Valley of the Dragons for the sentries have just called a warning.”
Prince Kalman moved out of the way as Lord Rothlan appeared. “Don’t worry, Arthur,” he said reassuringly. “We’re expecting the MacArthur’s army any minute and the Onegin are almost ready to march. We’ll be with you soon!”
Arthur breathed a sigh of relief. Help was at hand! He rushed up the tunnel once more, his heart beating hopefully. He had to tell Gladrin at once!
Gladrin was down in the valley, calling the grey dragons to him. As they swooped out of the sky to cluster round him, Arthur flew down to see what they had to say; although he could already guess.
They must have spotted Lord Jezail and his men.
The grey dragons were all talking at once but grew quiet as Arthur landed among them. Gladrin looked grave and his words weren’t at all what Arthur had expected. “Lord Jezail has come,” he said. “He is already in the valley and very close …”
The grey dragons hissed and glanced round fearfully as though expecting him to appear there and then.
Arthur blinked his wonderful eyes and regarded the sentries accusingly. “Why didn’t you raise the alarm when you saw him approach?” he asked. “How could you miss an army that size!”
Nestor, the commander of the grey dragons, stepped forward and bowed low. “Milord,” he said respectfully, “there is no army; only the magician and a few soldiers.”
Arthur felt a pang of anxiety at this, for the MacArthur had quite definitely told him that Jezail had left Stara Zargana with most of the soldiers in the citadel.
“They must have slipped in under cover of darkness,” one dragon snarled angrily.
“Either that or they made themselves invisible so that we wouldn’t see them,” Nestor added grimly, “for we patrolled the outer ring of the mountains all night.”
Gladrin looked enquiringly at Arthur, as did all the others and his heart sank as he realized that they were relying on him to defend the valley. Well, he thought, at least he had some good news to give them. “Help is at hand,” he said reassuringly, looking round their anxious faces. “Even now, Lord Onegin is sending an army from Trollsberg and the MacArthur will soon be here, too. His army is travelling by magic carpet. Lord Rothlan and Prince Kalman are powerful magicians. They will protect us all.”
A sigh of relief shivered through the assembled dragons as their eyes rose automatically to search the surrounding skies.
“I don’t know exactly when they’ll arrive,” Arthur admitted, “but it will be soon.”
“In the meantime,” Gladrin took command once more, “we must defend ourselves as best we can. You, Nestor, will lead a …”
“No!” Arthur interrupted. “No,” he repeated in a softer tone. “That’s not a good idea, Lord Gladrin. Lord Jezail will hex them out of the sky as soon as he sees them. He has come to the valley to kill dragons but it is Dragonslayer who rules his thoughts. You see, I have, in the past, felt Dragonslayer’s magic and I know its power. Lord Jezail was once a great Dragon Seeker and although he wants to kill dragons, his sword has but one idea in its mind,” he said gravely, looking round the circle of fierce horned faces. “Yes, I know it wants to kill you all — but before all else, it wants to kill me. Twice it has failed and this time — well, this time it has to succeed. It must kill me!”
The dragons eyed one another sideways and said nothing.
“Nevertheless,” Gladrin said, speaking for them all, “you are our friend and we will be by your side in this venture. Don’t forget that Lord Jezail is our enemy as well as yours.”
There was a hiss of agreement as the silver-grey dragons flapped their wings and blew streams of fire from their nostrils. It was time to go into battle.
Arthur smiled sadly. He appreciated their support but he knew he had to face Lord Jezail and Dragonslayer alone.