Thread: Passing Strange

"Untie your king" Sera whispers. "Stand him up."

Xey and I quickly pull the trick knots we've used to secure Diddy, tied so that a single hard pull on each will release it instantly. He did not want to again be trapped on the sledge in case of an emergency. We hold him, swaying only slightly, between us. And to his credit, though it's his first glimpse of the tremendous beast, he does not falter or show the slightest trepidation, but stands as tall and straight as he's able.

Then Sera addresses the dragon:

"I have brought you a great king of a faraway land, who requests your masterful services. All he requires is transport, for which he'll offer more of that tasty sausage. First we must visit the naiad in her watery den below - several of our number are in need of her healing magic - and then it's on to the Hoarder in his shanty. It's on the same level, hardly a hop for your regal self. And then you can return to your cozy cave and resume your nap."

"This is wonderful sleeping weather, isn't it?" the dragon comments, another yawn distending his jaws shudderingly once again.

"Yes - wonderful sleeping weather. Now begone from my cave - it's entirely too early in the season to rouse and I was sleeping so peacefully. What care I for the petty problems of foreign kings and scabby vagabonds?"

Diddy surprises us all by stepping forward, standing tall and proud now, with no support whatsoever. Despite his bedraggled and soiled pink gown and matching elbow-length opera gloves and low-heeled pumps he summons an impressively regal demeanor.

"Sleep is so much sweeter when it's delayed for some short while, always with the knowledge that soon - soon you may slip again into slumber's deep embrace. Is this not so, good Dragon?" He seems to have picked up from Sera the proper tone for addressing this magnificent being.

The head drifts nearer, yellow eyes slitted, interested now.

"I see you're a fellow appreciator of the somatic state as well as a man of some refinement and breeding."

"Indeed."

"Then you'll understand why I simply must get right back to it. I was sooo comfortable."

"There's treasure in it for you."

That gets the dragon's undivided attention.

"Treasure?" He looks us over, scrutinizing our ragged state and our battered belongings, pausing briefly over DeMonica's armour, which he sniffs delicately.

"No gold. No silver. Now begone."

And he lays his head back down on the pile of treasure where we first saw it - his pillow - snuggling in comfortably and closing his yellow eyes.

"It's not here. It's at my Castle. And we'll require you to fly us there as well - which is the only reason I'm prepared to offer any treasure. Before these witnesses I swear to deliver unto you fully half of my treasury - which pieces entirely at your choosing, and I'll have stewards load it into sacks and tie them securely to your back."

"How much treasure are we talking?" the dragon asks, his long face now inches in front of the king's.

"Several hundred pounds easily - possibly a thousand. You might need to make several trips.. "

"BAH! One trip will suffice!! A thousand pounds is a feather to one such as I! I care not for weights and measures... but VALUE! How much is it WORTH?"

"Oh many thousands of dollars easily - possibly a hundred thousand or more, I'm not sure. If you want I can have it estimated before

"Half of your fine treasury will do - no need for counting. I can do that when I get back here. I do SO love to count."

"Good sir dragon, you'll have so much to count you'll fall asleep halfway through and have to start over afterwards!"

And with a crash of dislodged treasure the dragon steps fully forward now, revealing at last his full magnificence and sheer size.

"Climb aboard and hang on."