:: http://www.geocities.com/dragynmistress ::
:: By Jennifer Vromant			   ::
:: jen_vromant@yahoo.com		   ::
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Spoof - Chapter 09

The hooded man followed a young servant through dark corridors, his robes swishing along as usual with his limp.  Eventually the servant stopped in front of a golden door, bowed, and walked away.  The hooded man knocked on the doors and sighed.  A voice from within called, "Enter!"

The hooded man sighed again as he pushed open the great doors.  It was a spacious room without windows.  There were dark velvet drapes all over that walls, and in the middle of the room was a wide oak table with a woman sitting behind it.  When she saw her guest, she smiled, rose gracefully and said, "Scarsher.  Welcome back.  How was the hunt today?"  The look on his face told her it was unsuccessful and she sat back down, frowning.  "What happened?" she asked coldly.  

Scarsher shook his head and started telling her, "I sensed draclings, I told General Bolsh, and we went up the Joflyn Pass into the mountains.  At the top of the pass, we were attacked by a family of three draclings.  The magicians were doing a good job, when suddenly a huge copper-red dracling appeared out of nowhere."

They both turned as the door was swung open.  General Bolsh walked in with two knights.  They bowed and Bolsh said, "Your Highness, I am deeply sorry to inform you that today's hunt was unsuccessful.  Once most of my men have somewhat recovered from their wounds, we will find a dragon den and bring you all the skins."  He noticed Scarsher and bowed to him.  Scarsher pretended not to have seen the gesture and looked back at the woman.

"I don't want the dragon skins anymore."  she said.  

Everyone looked at her, startled.  Bolsh said, "But Princess Grallyn, that was the reason we hunted dragons from the beginning..."  

She shook her head and replied, "I want the copper-red dracling.  Alive."  Bolsh and his men stared at her in unbelief.  

He protested, "But Princess, the dracling is the reason out hunt failed.  It would be impossible to capture it alive! It-".  

She cut him off, "Are you refusing to carry out my wish?"  He shook his head, bowed, and left with his men.  Then she turned to Scarsher and said, "And you will help them."

He watched her as she shuffled through stacks of papers.  Then she seemed to have found what she was looking for and she handed him a sheet of paper.  "I got this report this morning.  It might be of interest to you."  

He skimmed through it and handed it back to the princess.  He bowed and said as he left, "I'll look into it, Princess Grallyn."

As he walked out of the great room and thought to himself, "A girl who can talk to dragons..."