Chapter Eight

‘See ya tomorrow then, Ry?’ The boys stood by the postbox on the corner of the street, by the library. ‘I’ll have to help in the shop this afternoon. It’ll be busy today.’

‘Yeah!’ Ry laughed. ‘See ya then. I’m going to change into some normal clothes.’

‘You should wash your face too!’ Harri giggled. ‘It’s covered in Ancient British dirt.’

32

‘You can talk!’ Ryan jeered, jogging backwards down the side road that led to his house.

The Red Dragons liked to look authentic, which meant that everyone had to rub their faces with a dirty brown, greasy cream to make it look as if they hadn’t washed for months.

I wonder if they ever wash those great big hairy beards? Harri thought as he pushed open the old, heavy door of Merlin’s Cave.

Merlin’s Cave was busy. The town was full of tourists who all wanted souvenir bottles of water from St Gertude’s Well. Imelda was helping out in the shop, answering questions about her magic potions and spells.

An American lady was studying a packet of herbs. ‘And you say this helps you to concentrate in exams?’ she asked in her twangy voice.

‘Oh, definitely,’ Imelda said. ‘Brew it up and drink it like tea before an exam, and you’ll remember everything you ever revised.’

‘That’s so quaint!’ The lady laughed like a donkey. ‘I’d get arrested if I told them that at customs at the airport back home!’

Imelda smiled patiently. Some people just didn’t believe in magic. It was pointless trying to explain it to them.

She kept glancing nervously out of the window and down the street. Her mind was distracted. Where was Harri? He should be back by now. She wouldn’t be happy until he and Tân were safely home again.

‘There you are!’ Imelda smiled and sighed with relief. ‘Go and put Tân out in the back and clean yourself up. We don’t want anyone asking questions about the dragon at the parade.’

‘It’s okay,’ Harri said cheerfully. ‘We were very careful. Everyone thinks Tân is a model.’

Imelda’s face crinkled up. ‘Let’s hope so,’ she said.

But deep down, in her heart, she knew there was going to be trouble ahead, and it was all her fault!