notes, then a repeated kee-kee-kee. Soldier had no doubt that it was Wo who was mimicking the calls, from behind the trees, and he went into a cold sweat. Fancy forgetting a kestrel. He had almost lost his life because the bird he wanted was such a common sight in his old land that it passed from the mind, like finch or pigeon. Gilchrista said, That was lucky. Wilandow added, Very lucky. I hope you werent cheating, Soldier. Cheats never prosper, you know. You mean that kestrel over there, calling just at the right time. Yes, yes, oh, it was pure luck. How on earth, or anywhere else, had Wo known that the kestrel was the last on the list? So, my dragon guards, the last on the list is the knave or servant, who is permitted to hunt with the kestrel. Have I performed my task satisfactorily? May I now pass into the cave? You have passed the test, you may now enter, said the red dragon. Be our guest, added the green. Oh dear, groaned the disappointed old woman, cracking open a skull like a coconut, all them good bones. Are there any dangers I should be especially aware of, inside the cavern? Or in the underground lake? Who knows? said Wilandow. Theres only one way to find out, added Gilchrista. Thanks for nothing, muttered Soldier. Then came another call from the tree line. It was the cry of an eleonoras falcon - keya - a harsher sound than that of a kestrels call. And you too, he directed back at Wo, thinking it was a good thing Wo had not mimicked the eleonora first, or Soldier might have been lying dead on the ground from a dragons blow. Soldier pushed through the curtain of spinal cords and entered the cave. Just inside he unhooked his tinder box from his belt and, striking a light, lit the faggot he carried. This torch enabled him to see into the cavern. There were dancing shadows on the walls, from the flame of the torch, but apart from those nothing moved. Encouraged, Soldier ventured further inside. Right at the back, some twenty yards from the entrance, he found a set of steps cut out of the rock, descending into the lower regions of the earth. Boldly he took this route, hoping it would lead him to the underground sea. No ugly gnomes sprang out from behind stalagmites, nor goblins dropped from overhanging stalactites. It would indeed have been rather unfair if, having got past two formidable dragons, there should be more obstacles in his way. In fact he made it to the stony, sloping shore of the flat, calm sea without hindrance. He tested the water with his hand. It was icy cold. He began to strip to the waist, wondering how he was going to see to find his sword in the blackness of the lakes depths. Once ready for his dive, he held the torch high above the water. It was clear down to the bottom. There he could see something shiny, a blade definitely, lying on the bottom. Why is there no lady of the lake? he muttered. Theres usually a lady of the lake who retrieves the sword. But for a king, not for some ordinary mean knight. Knights had to get their own swords. It was then he saw the silvery shadow pass below. A long very long lean, serpent-like shape. Perhaps fifty yards in length? But as thick as a mans waist, with powerful swimming muscles. The serpentine form moved away, out of the light, and into the darkness of another part of the lake. A shiver went down Soldiers spine. It was naive of him to think that there would be no more obstacles, obviously. Here was another. A monstrous water serpent. Only one? Perhaps there were more? Soldier continued to watch, counting the seconds under his breath. The monster came again, a full minute later. This time Soldier had time to study its head, which seemed to consist of two large eyes and foot-long jaws with rows of teeth. All along the creatures back was a dorsal fin with sharp spines protruding from it. There was a similar fin running the length of its belly. It snaked through the water with ease, turning once it reached the rocky shelf. Then, again, it slid out of sight, into
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