Nick the Knight VS Slorag the Dragon

 Nick the Knight VS Slorag the Dragon

Nick Gurndel rubbed the sweat out of his eyes and admired the surrounding trees as he walked through the emerald forest.

The emerald color of the trees seemed to shimmer and the dull bark brought out the green in splendid fashion.

The pinecones on the ground crunched beneath Nick’s thick, leather boots.

For about the gazillionth time that day Nick was relieved that he had decided to wear chainmail instead of real armor.

Nick was the laughingstock of his town. After his grandfather had cowered from the princess’ kitten in broad daylight, none in his family were treated like others in the kingdom.

Luckily in his kingdom there was no rule that you had to be descended from a knight to become a knight so Nick had been able to become a knight but was nevertheless mercilessly mocked and teased.

Now Nick was determined to end all of that. He was no longer willing to put up with the ridicule. He was willing to do anything it took to end this and, after much prayer he realized that there was only one way to do that. He needed to bring the king the head of Slorag the Evil, a fire dragon.

Rumored to live in a clearing in these forests, Slorag was supposed to be the size of a large house when he was tucked up. He’d lived for hundreds of years and was supposed to be years past his prime but still powerful. His fire could burn a tree down in seconds. Slorag had been evil until he’d retired some twenty years back. He’d stolen from kings and destroyed castles, slaying anyone who should dare to defy him.

Nick had decided to wear silver chainmail to allow him freer movement. He also had a long dagger sheathed on the side of his shin. He had his lightweight longsword clinking against his side. His head was bare allowing him much better vision. He also wore a light bag over his shoulder, it was meant to hold Slorag’s head when it was off the dragon’s shoulders.

Nick stepped over a large log and snapped off a stick. He slashed it at the side of a tree before flicking it at the other side. The stick snapped and Nick tossed it away as he walked on.

~~~

It was early in the afternoon when Nick came into the clearing.

The clearing was covered in long, dead, grass and littered with tree stumps.

In the middle of the clearing, a massive dragon lay, asleep.

Slorag was the color of hot coals, his claws were the size of Nick’s dagger, on the back of each wing, every few yards, were spikes the size of Nick’s fist. Mounted on Slorag’s massive head were two bull horns. The dragon’s tail was smooth but at the end there was a long spike with what looked like dried blood smeared on it.

Nick silently unsheathed his longsword, he was always amazed at the lightness of the blade, and crept forward. If he could cut off Slorag’s head before the dragon awoke, it would end the dragon. Nick smirked. The beast would never see it coming. Then Nick froze. This wasn’t how he wanted to win. He didn’t want to kill a sleeping opponent. That would just be more of his grandfather’s cowardice. He couldn’t do that, even if it would put an end to his mockery in the kingdom.

Annoyed at his conscience, wishing that he didn’t care about honor, Nick took a breath, and leaped away. Quietly dancing to the edge of the clearing. Nick put down his large bag and stomped his foot. Instantly the dragon in the clearing opened its eyes and stared straight at Nick.

Slorag got to his feet and unfurled his wings threateningly.

Nick gaped at the dragon’s incredible size. If it could stand on its tail it would have been twice the size of any of the trees around.

Slorag bared his sabresized teeth and growled low in his throat.

Nick interpreted the growl to mean that the dragon was offering him a chance to retreat. “Your offer is kind,” Nick called, hoping that Slorag understood him. “But for your entire life up to twenty years ago. You killed to kill and stole to steal. Your hoard will be somewhere around here but I do not kill for treasure or for the joy of killing.”

The dragon roared and Nick could feel the ground shake beneath his feet.

“Therefore I do not accept your offer and, instead, I offer you an offer of my own. Yield and die peacefully, and I will tell your story as the dragon who reformed and realized his wrongs. As far as I’m concerned you will be Slorag the Great.”

Slorag snarled and took a step toward Nick.

Nick shifted his sword. “If you do not yield I will cut you down and slay you. I will take your hoard and your head and that will be the end of you. Stomp with your back legs if you accept and your front if you decline.”

Slorag prepared his wings and stomped with his front two feet.

Nick grimaced. “Your loss, you will continue to be known as Slorag the Evil.”

Slorag launched himself into the air and flapped his huge wings, soaring up, and over the clouds.

Nick clenched his teeth. The dragon was using the clouds to hide himself as he came from any direction he wanted and Nick would never know.

After a few minutes of Nick spinning around, shifting his sword and doing some practice swishes, Slorag came shooting over the trees from behind Nick.

The dragon inverted and swooped to the ground, he took a deep breath and then blew at Nick.

The knight lunged to the side, rolling on the ground and only getting his leather boots singed.

Nick jumped to his feet and dashed toward Slorag’s legs.

The giant dragon thrust his wing back and one of the spikes shot toward Nick’s stomach.

Nick dropped to the ground but not before the spike grazed his forehead and gave him a thin, yet searing cut.

Nick got to his feet again and ran in closer to the dragon, hoping to stab Slorag in the stomach and end his life quickly.

Slorag’s wing came back around but this time Nick was ready.

The knight dropped to his stomach, rolled onto his back, and thrust his sword into Slorag’s wing.

Slorag let out a deafening bellow and stomped away roaring.

Nick barely managed to dodge Slorag’s tail as the dragon spun around and exhaled a ball of fire.

The knight ran to the left and the ball of fire flew past him, hitting a tree stump and lighting it aflame.

“This isn’t how you want this to end, Slorag,” Nick yelled. “Just surrender yourself and you can still be known as Slorag the Great.”

Slorag tucked down his head and flapped his magnificent wings; he rose only a few inches off the ground and charged Nick, his horns poised to strike.

Nick whipped out his dagger and held it ready. He had no plan but when he’d first decided to come here to find Slorag, he’d decided to trust his instincts. Using his dagger, Nick knocked the horns to his side and brought down his sword as hard as he could.

The dragon fell to the ground, his head hanging on by a thread.

Nick brought down his sword and the head came off completely.

Sweaty, tired, blood trickling out of the gash on his forehead, Nick retrieved his bag and placed Slorag’s head in it. Then, the triumphant knight walked through the forest and into the outskirts of his kingdom where he’d left his horse.

Nick rode to the castle and ordered an immediate audience with King Truvier.

It seemed that Nick’s appearance did the trick because men who wouldn’t have allowed Nick’s request passed on the demand without hesitation.

It took only a few minutes for a messenger to run back to Nick and inform him. “Your request has been granted, you are to come to the throne room.”

Nick followed the young boy to the throne room where King Truvier sat. He glared at Nick. “You requested an audience with me, what is it you want to discuss?”

Nick dropped his bag to the ground and bowed to the king. “I have slayed Slorag the Evil.”

King Truvier burst out laughing, it echoed around the throne room and his stomach bounced.

“I do not lie,” Nick declared. He took the dragon head out of the bag and put it on the ground, causing King Truvier’s laughter to die instantly. He gaped at the head.

“That looks like Slorag’s head. I went on an expedition once when he was powerful with a few trained knights to slay him.”

“I do not lie,” Nick repeated. “I do not know where his hoard lies but the dragon is dead.”

King Truvier thought for a moment. “I believe you and will send a trusted scout to prove your tale. What do you ask for your service?”

“I ask only that the name Gurndel is cleared of any cowardice and that I be a more trusted knight.”

“If your claim is true I will give you what you ask for and also one fifth of the treasure in Slorag’s hoard,” King Truvier said.

“You are kind,” Nick thanked. “I accept your offer.”

“I will come through on my promise,” Truvier vowed.

And, he did.