A Most Unwelcome Interruption
The football field was just on the other side of the gardens.
Of course, when those gardens surround a palace, that’s a bit of a walk.
But Parker didn’t mind. It was a beautiful spring day in Ambergeldar. Perry--King Algernon--had been happily filling her in on the details of the kingdom’s first football field ever since Amy escorted him into the parlor. (Seriously-a moat? Parker couldn’t wait to see this.)
There was a moat. All the way around the playing field.
“For when the players go outside the bounds,” the king said grinning, leading her over one of the small footbridges set up over the water and onto the playing field itself. “To give them a bit of a dunking.”
There was a small group of workmen on the field, shouting and throwing an oblong leather ball back and forth. They quickly snapped to attention when they saw the king, though, doffing their hats and bowing.
“I was just about to send the boys back to work, Your Majesty,” the eldest of the men, clearly the one in charge, said.
The king just waved. “Carry on, Will. I’m just going to show Lady Parker your progress. Isn’t it just about dinner time for you men, anyway?”
“Near enough, Your Majesty. Near enough. They’ve been working up quite an appetite today.”
Perry nodded.
“Glad to hear it. Why don’t you go on ahead while Lady Parker looks things over.” He smiled over at Parker. “I’ll be interested to get your opinion on the battlements.”
Battlements?
Okay. So it was not an even remotely regulation playing field. There were small battlements, hillocks, trenches, and a tower in the center (still under construction) which apparently served as the VIP box. But it definitely looked interesting. Parker couldn’t wait to see a game played on it.
The king had just walked her over to examine what looked suspiciously like a sand trap when a sudden gust of wind blew her hair and skirts forward, and a large shadow sped over them.
“What the--” Parker looked up.
And her eyes went wide at what she saw.
It was the size of an elephant. Larger, maybe. With a long, snaky neck and wings twice the length of its body. The dragon swooped close to the ground, banking gracefully, wingtip nearly skimming the grass, as it turned to come around again.
That was all she had time to see before King Algernon grabbed her by the hand.
“Run!”
Parker hoisted the skirt of her dress in one hand to keep from tripping, as the king pulled her along, toward the center of the field. Toward the only real cover-the tower. Parker could hear wing beats close behind them, and then a near deafening roar.
They reached the tower, and the king shoved her inside the half completed walls.
“Stay here. Stay out of sight. Try not to make a sound,” he ordered.
Before Parker could say anything, he ducked back out into the open again. Through the gaps in the walls, Parker saw him wave his arms (presumably at the dragon-Is he crazy?) and then run away from the tower.
The ground shook slightly. Or was that her knees shaking? Parker wasn’t entirely sure. She held her breath. There was a brief moment of silence.
And then a loud CRRRAAAAAACK! as the top of the tower was pulled off.
Parker ducked, covering her head as splintered chunks of wood rained down. The inside of the tower went dark as the sun was suddenly blotted out, and a large, slender clawed hand reached inside.
Oh, this did not look good.
If she had paused to think, Parker would probably have realized that a scrap of board wasn’t going to be much of a weapon against a dragon. But it was all that she had. Parker grabbed a chunk of wood and swung it at one of the clawed digits.
The hand withdrew and, a second later, another chunk of tower was knocked away. This time the dragon managed to reach in and grab her before Parker could even look up again.
The next moments passed in a muddle of confusion. Parker could hear a man shouting angrily. And see a figure running toward them. Perry? The dragon was watching too. Parker still had her chunk of wood, and jammed the pointed end into the dragon’s hand.
For all the good it did. The dragon looked back at her with something that resembled mild annoyance. And tightened its grip slightly. Parker dropped the piece of wood as first sparks, and then dark blotches appeared in front of her eyes.
And that was the last thing she knew for a good long time.
Of course, when those gardens surround a palace, that’s a bit of a walk.
But Parker didn’t mind. It was a beautiful spring day in Ambergeldar. Perry--King Algernon--had been happily filling her in on the details of the kingdom’s first football field ever since Amy escorted him into the parlor. (Seriously-a moat? Parker couldn’t wait to see this.)
There was a moat. All the way around the playing field.
“For when the players go outside the bounds,” the king said grinning, leading her over one of the small footbridges set up over the water and onto the playing field itself. “To give them a bit of a dunking.”
There was a small group of workmen on the field, shouting and throwing an oblong leather ball back and forth. They quickly snapped to attention when they saw the king, though, doffing their hats and bowing.
“I was just about to send the boys back to work, Your Majesty,” the eldest of the men, clearly the one in charge, said.
The king just waved. “Carry on, Will. I’m just going to show Lady Parker your progress. Isn’t it just about dinner time for you men, anyway?”
“Near enough, Your Majesty. Near enough. They’ve been working up quite an appetite today.”
Perry nodded.
“Glad to hear it. Why don’t you go on ahead while Lady Parker looks things over.” He smiled over at Parker. “I’ll be interested to get your opinion on the battlements.”
Battlements?
Okay. So it was not an even remotely regulation playing field. There were small battlements, hillocks, trenches, and a tower in the center (still under construction) which apparently served as the VIP box. But it definitely looked interesting. Parker couldn’t wait to see a game played on it.
The king had just walked her over to examine what looked suspiciously like a sand trap when a sudden gust of wind blew her hair and skirts forward, and a large shadow sped over them.
“What the--” Parker looked up.
And her eyes went wide at what she saw.
It was the size of an elephant. Larger, maybe. With a long, snaky neck and wings twice the length of its body. The dragon swooped close to the ground, banking gracefully, wingtip nearly skimming the grass, as it turned to come around again.
That was all she had time to see before King Algernon grabbed her by the hand.
“Run!”
Parker hoisted the skirt of her dress in one hand to keep from tripping, as the king pulled her along, toward the center of the field. Toward the only real cover-the tower. Parker could hear wing beats close behind them, and then a near deafening roar.
They reached the tower, and the king shoved her inside the half completed walls.
“Stay here. Stay out of sight. Try not to make a sound,” he ordered.
Before Parker could say anything, he ducked back out into the open again. Through the gaps in the walls, Parker saw him wave his arms (presumably at the dragon-Is he crazy?) and then run away from the tower.
The ground shook slightly. Or was that her knees shaking? Parker wasn’t entirely sure. She held her breath. There was a brief moment of silence.
And then a loud CRRRAAAAAACK! as the top of the tower was pulled off.
Parker ducked, covering her head as splintered chunks of wood rained down. The inside of the tower went dark as the sun was suddenly blotted out, and a large, slender clawed hand reached inside.
Oh, this did not look good.
If she had paused to think, Parker would probably have realized that a scrap of board wasn’t going to be much of a weapon against a dragon. But it was all that she had. Parker grabbed a chunk of wood and swung it at one of the clawed digits.
The hand withdrew and, a second later, another chunk of tower was knocked away. This time the dragon managed to reach in and grab her before Parker could even look up again.
The next moments passed in a muddle of confusion. Parker could hear a man shouting angrily. And see a figure running toward them. Perry? The dragon was watching too. Parker still had her chunk of wood, and jammed the pointed end into the dragon’s hand.
For all the good it did. The dragon looked back at her with something that resembled mild annoyance. And tightened its grip slightly. Parker dropped the piece of wood as first sparks, and then dark blotches appeared in front of her eyes.
And that was the last thing she knew for a good long time.