DRAGON KNIGHTS

The stars shone. A halo to the moons. Smarg gazed out at the night sky. It was one of those peaceful nights in which he revelled. Pure bliss.

A clattering sound disturbed his contentment. An intruder. And sure enough, sword upraised, visor down, a beastly knight was striding across the rocks towards him.

Smarg belched out out a plume of fume from his nostrils, its rank smoke filling the cave. This was unforgivable. He’d had enough visitors during the day. Nights were sacred. Time to contemplate the infinite.

“Defend yourself,” the newcomer bellowed.

Smarg slithered out of the cave and spread his wings.

His interloper staggered back. “Bloody eck!” the knight gasped. “You’re enormous.”

Not only was the nobleman an affront, he was also stupid. Of course, dragons were big. And he was the biggest. He gazed down at the puny human who cowered before him. Fire or claw? He was undecided. Perhaps the warrior had a preference. Smarg breathed a gentle flame over him.

“Argh, oh, ah,” the man screamed, “that burns.”

Claw then it would be. With a quick swipe of his talon, he opened the man’s armour eviscerating him at the same time. Raw flesh. Smarg wondered whether he’d have preferred his meat roasted. Still, he enjoyed the uncertainty of his challengers’ choices. Some would carry a shield and try to attack regardless of his fiery breath. Others simply ran, and it was fun to pounce on such. The latest had simply stood, as most did, as he bathed them in flames. They were the most stupid and often the tastiest.

His midnight snack devoured, Smarg slithered his way back into the cave. He gazed up at the night. The stars still shone. The moons still glowed. Nothing had changed. Pure bliss and he’d had a snack. What more could he want? Perhaps another one now that he’d tasted man-flesh.

The thud of horses’ hooves on stone made him look along the beach…