Ill call him Emerald anyway, Estella decided aloud, even though he looks more like a swampy in color.
You should call it Ale, said Reason. He always responds to the word ale.
There were plenty of empty ale barrels in the dungeon. Some had been crushed to splinters by the claws of dragons. From the smell, it was clear to this day what their contents were.
And he likes to drink heady drinks, Estella concluded bleakly.
Well, call him Drunkard, Reason jumped off Estellas shoulder and began bouncing around the kegs, even trying to pull the corks out of some. He didnt seem to mind a drink himself. Fortunately, our dragon had not yet reached the fancy wine cellars in the royal cellar. And it wasnt because he was lazy. The cellar is a narrow passage, and your daddys spell on the door. Its impossible for a dragon to get in. Otherwise hed have been nicknamed the Wine Connoisseur a long time ago.
It is no more name choices, she said, staring mesmerized at the green spines on the dragons backbone. Ill call him Emerald.
Hes not really a doggy to give him names.
Of course hes not a little dog. He is my own personal dragon. I have the right to give him a name and an honorary title like chief watchman of the kingdom.
Youd better give him the title of sleepyhead. He can sleep for decades.
Reason poked the dragon on the tip of his ear, but the sleeping monster grumbled drowsily and exhaled a puff of steam from his nostrils.
He grumbled, as if he were in a laundry, with steaming laundry, Reason grumbled grudgingly.
Well, its not right in the oven, is it? Estella realized that the dragons mouth was as large as several ovens. Its tongue and saliva must have been fiery. And this monster had been asleep in her dungeons for years, and she didnt even know anything about it.
And if he wakes up now, will he burn us, like my knights?
Of course not, Reason said uncertainly. He doesnt burn anyone alive when hes full. Well, not unless its fun. Do you know any charms for controlling dragons?
What kind of stupid question is that? Im not a sorceress.
So the King didnt teach you anything, Reason was visibly disappointed.
Why did he have to teach me magic? He trained me to be a queen, not a sorceress.
Youre a laugh and a sin! Youre the daughter of a sorcerer king, and you cant do magic, Reason scowled resentfully. If you could, you could control a dragon. And the good ale would not go to waste in his fiery belly.
Reason realized he didnt have the strength to pull the plugs out of the barrels or unscrew the faucets. He murmured something to the effect that the wine bottles in the nearest cellar would be much better. How he could get one for supper?
Estella didnt care about Reasons worries. She could see the dragons twisted horns, its scales sparkling in the torches, and its sharp claws, each the size of a spear.
If you could conjure, youd take him out to hunt and hed drink blood, not ale, as a martial dragon should.
Is he a battle dragon?
King Abraham would feed a non-combat dragon in his cellars. Your father was a shrewd and hoarder, Reason grudgingly kicked a barrel of ale with his clawed paw. Had it not been for his provisions, the dragon would not have been a drunkard.
Emerald! Estella called softly and stroked the dragons scaly horn.
Careful! Youll hurt yourself! The scales are sharper than razor blades and impenetrable to arrows and spears. There is a reason why magicians have long since learned to fashion armor from dragon scales that is resistant to fire. Such armor makes anyone a hero. Once you wear it, not even magical creatures can defeat you. By the way, you have one such armor in your arsenal. When you put it on, you can go to war with evil spirits.
Reason hastily covered his mouth with his claws. He must have said something unnecessary.
Im not going to war with anyone else, Estella reassured him.
Of course you arent! Why would you want to go to war when you have a martial dragon? If you send it to war, therell be no more enemy troops left. As long as he stays awake, he can get to the battlefield in time, long before the other armies march on to our castle. Imagine! Enemies are already ramming the gates, and you cant get the dragon to wake up.
Reason laughed evilly. His laughter caused the dragon to wiggle his ears sleepily, as if trying to drive away a pesky gnat.
Tell you a secret. If you sing a song, a lullaby or something touching, the dragon will wake up.
Lullabies usually make you fall asleep.
Thats just it! Everything works differently for dragons than it does for humans. They especially like the songs of young innocent maidens. If you want to tame it, youll have to become a singer.
Lets try it! Estella prepared to sing the only song she knew. The girls used to sing it at the spinning wheel.
The yarn stretches,
My heart is aching
Im waiting for a beautiful bridegroom,
And theres nothing but evil around.
Im waiting for a rider on a horse,
But only black elves are dancing in the hearth.
The song was a somber one. It was usually sung by spinners at work. Apparently there was a shortage of young men in the villages of Aluar, and there were plenty of bad ones. Estella could see for herself that there were more of them when she discovered colonies of boggles beneath the battlefield.
Dont sing! Reason nimbly jumped up and clamped down on Estellas mouth. Not when you want to wake up a dragon for war or hunting.
But I want to wake it now, she protested, and Reason jerked his claws from her mouth. She must have gotten her teeth caught carelessly in them.
You are wretch! He hissed and blew on his fingers.
Who are you talking about?
It is a cask of ale, my dear, Reason brushed her off. Ale is a bad drink, if a dragon drinks it. Lets go to the cellar and get some wine. Hes going to wake up and give us a hard time. If we leave, hell go back to sleep.
But the dragon was already awake. One of its yellow eyes flickered reluctantly open.
Emerald! Estella exclaimed happily.
His name is Virgil, said Reason, correcting her. Thats what your father once called him. And what his real dragon name is, only his scaly ancestors know.
I am so glad you are awake! How handsome and scaly you are! Ill sing for you again, if you like! Ill even learn ballads and romances. You like singing, dont you?
Estella stroked the dragon, and it rumbled like a big cat.
Hey, you, Reason scrambled up the barrels so that the dragon could see him. Remember me, big boy?
The dragon hissed at him, but Estella encouraged him.
Virgil, my dear, Reason snapped at him, you ought to loosen up a little, keep watch over the realm. Otherwise youd be lying on your side.
The dragon shooed at him, exhaling hot steam again. Reason ducked behind the pile of barrels.
Hes comfortable here, Estella said for the dragon.
My tail stiffened as I sat in the chest, Reason complained.
How is it that Estella liked the dragon, but not Reason? Maybe dragons prefer silly coquettes.
Oh, my darling, she petted him.
You sound as if you were singing a lullaby to him. Hes a monster, not a baby.
Hes so nice and cute.
When he shoots sparks at you, youll change your mind.
But the dragon was slow to fire at Estella. Apparently dragons dont hurt princesses. Not without reason, even the prim Gisela loved tales of love between beautiful girls and dragons. Estella felt almost in love when the dragon encouraged her affectionate touch. She had finally found the friend she had never had in her life. And Reason had managed to pierce the bottom of the barrel with his claws and was now greedily drinking ale straight from the puddle on the floor.
It was delicious! He said. If Id been locked in a cellar with hops and groceries, Id rather be in there than with you.