Uther and the Secret of the Dragon

7/21/2019 Uther and the Secret of the Dragon

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/uther-and-the-secret-of-the-dragon 1/304

1 The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

UTHUR

And The secret of the

Dragon

by

David William Kirby

Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon

©Copyright David William Kirby 2013

he Dogbreath! "ubli!hing

#

2013

The dogbreaths publishing

Scribd Edition, License Notes




This ebook is licensed for your personal enoyment only! This ebook may not be re"sold or given

a#ay to other people! $f you #ould like to share this book #ith another person% please purchase an

additional copy for each recipient! $f you&re reading this book and did not purchase it% or it #as not

purchased for your use only% then please return to Scribd and purchase your o#n copy! Thank you for

respecting the hard #ork of this author!

UTHUR

and the secret of the

Dragon

in memory of PhillipP, a good friend !th "#ly $%&'

Scene one E(t Day

Albion 25.00BC late Neolithic

he !ound of cro$!%

he !cene unfold! around a !erie! of thatched round hou!e! !et into a hill on a

promontory% &igh above them a round !tone to$er $ithin a $ooden fort provide! a

bac'drop% he fortre!! i! !et upon the !tony hill $hich fall! do$n a !teep incline to the !ea%

he angry $ater cra!he! upon either !ide of that beautiful place( the la!t of )lbion*! land

before the !ea! !eparate it from it! neare!t continental neighbour %

)ll around the roundhou!e! fire! burn and people $or'% Some have !'in! in $ooden

frame! and are $or'ing the leather to ma'e hide! for clothing% +ther! are napping flint!

into arro$ head! and a,e!% Children play a! other $omen coo' animal remain! over open



' The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

fire!- or boil herb! in clay pot!% ) young girl .W/ ma'e! a nec'lace from !ea!hell! a!

her father- U) nap! flint into a K/%

Ul()

That&s very pretty% my child!

*W+)

$ hope to #ear it on my #edding day father% if UT,U- remains true

and our t#o families are oined as arranged!

.ut $ am unsure if $ #ant to bare his children and s#ear love to

no other/ even if my oath brings peace to our land!

$t&s a big commitment for someone of my age!

.ut if his #ord is true% if he can be trusted% my

0eelings for him may gro#!

U()

ou are both young% so there is time for love to blossom!

bet#een you both! This union doesn&t have to be the product of

adults and our #ishful thinking/ in time you #ill understand!

(ny#ay% $ think #e can trust him and his family/ after all% he is the heir to

this land and his father heads a noble family!

,is commitment to you #ill be #itnessed by the #hole -oyal 3ourt!

4kay% UT,U-&s father may see

union #ith our clan through your marriage as the last step for our

people to#ards a lasting peace! .ut $ kno# UT,U- has real




feelings for you! $&ve seen it in his eyes and the #ay he

acts #hen you and he are together!/ and $ trust his

udgement too! ou #ill not find a better mate in all (lbion

and if #e are to confine our battles of the past to history

only one family can lead us! ead us out of the misery of continual #arfare

and into a peaceful future! UT,U-&s father and $ trust this union

#ill be the foundation for a great and prosperous nation!

$t #as foreseen% our clans #ill be oined% and it #ill be the proudest day

of my life to see you oined #ith that boy!

6,e reaches across and touches her hand gently7

*W+)

Then #hy must #e #ait% surely if desire e8ists

in our hearts % #hy #ait9

U()

.ecause you are both children% that is #hy! When your body

develops% develops enough to bear a child% the time for

union #ill come! Time #ill soon pass/ you&ll see!

.efore you kno# it you&ll take your place beside your

husband up there in the fortress! Till that time% help

your mother% make your #edding e#els/ sing and be

happy! Time #ill soon slip by!

*W+)



: The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

So much can happen! 4ur tribes may be at peace at the

moment but there are stories of others #ho #ould come

to cause chaos in our green and pleasant land! $ fear monsters

and sorcerers from across the seas!

4nly the other day $ heard of men

on horseback #ho attacked the village yonder% they had

the sun for heads and carried bolts of lightning in their

hands! Their magic killed people!!!

U()

,ush no#% 6giggles7 Take no heed of the #ild and

fanciful tales of old #omen!

Unless $ see these men for myself $ #ill not believe it!

$ too hear stories% on moonless nights #hen #e gather

around the campfire/ but they are stories% nothing more!

$ don&t believe them and neither

should you!

*W+)

,ark 0ather/ $ hear the sound of horses approaching!



; The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

he t$o loo' do$n the path that lead! from the village and !ee the K.- 4U&U5*!

father6 approaching $ith outrider! carrying hi! flag! and colour!% he hor!emen come to a

!tand!till 'ic'ing du!t into the air a! the King addre!!ed the men%

K$)*

<uick= ou #omen and children% drop #hat you are

Doing% and take refuge in the to#er! >ake hast% evil approaches!

he $omen gather up the !mall children and ru!h up the hill to$ard! the !afety of the

to$er% U) !hoo! .W/ a$ay and !he too follo$! the $omen%

>en% gather your spears and shields! We must

form and defensive line here cross the path!

Set these logs on fire! >ake it

bla?e #ell for #e need a #all to keep the

demons back!

<uickly% #e have little time!

U()

Who leads these evil ones >aster% #ho are they9

K$)*

$&ve heard they serve a beast called +rick

the .oneless! They are not human $ tell you/ #e must



A The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

he troop! approach and $ith one !$ipe the bron7e !$ord! cut through $ooden !pear

pole!% Someone trie! to batter one of them $ith a !tone a,e only to lo!e hi! arm under the

blade of the !$ord%

ULAN

The men are not human! We cannot #in against them today%

>aster save yourself and your son% go to the fortress

before it is too late!

K$)*

$ am the King of this land and $&ll die defending

it! Where is my man% >erlain9

MERLAN

,ere master!

!N"

*o to the fortress and find my son! Take him to the boat

and get a#ay from here% keep him safe until #e can defeat

these beasts!

Will you do that for me9

>+-($)

$&d rather die here at your side Sire!



B The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

K$)*

$ have no intention of dyeing today and your loyalty is

not in Cuestion either%! *o% save my son in case the

beasts over"run us% get to the boat no# my friend!

>+-($)

$f that&s your #ish Sire% $ shall go% but #e #ill return%

#hen the boy is a man and able to take back

his seat beside his father!

K$)*

*o% Cuickly% $ put my trust in your hands/ do not

fail me!

>+-($)

our trust is safe master% you #ill see us return

(nd% #hen #e do% #e shall rise up and

destroy these beasts!!!!!!

S)ENE $ E*T DA+




+n board the boat- manned by ten of hi! father be!t !eamen- U&U5 and 8/5) loo'

bac' acro!! the choppy $ater! and up the !tairca!e the led to the top of the hill- at !mo'e

ri!ing around the !tone fortre!!% he young boy- 9u!t ten year! old grip! the old man*! hand

tightly a! he !ee! flame! lic' the top of the !tone !tructure% 8/5) turn! the boy a$ay

and !hout! at the cre$%

>+-($)

Set sail around *aul into the Southern Sea!

There #e #ill head to the east and find a #ay to

defeat these monsters! When #e return #e must be

triumphant or all today&s sorro# #ill be for nothing!!!

S)ENE $a E*T DA+

We !ee Ulan and .$en loo'ing at the bodie! of !lain men on a battlefield% he find the

body of the K. and $rap it carefully in hi! flag%

)! the !un !et! over the to$er the build a funeral pyre and !et it abla7e- !tanding $ith

$omen and $ounded villager! a! the body i! con!umed by fire%%%%

SC// 3 /: D);




he boat !ail! through the .ibraltar !traight! and into the 8ed- on$ard until the .ree'

!land! ri!e up in the di!tance- eventually they pa!! a !ailing boat and pull up be!ide it%

>+-($)

,ello friend% tell me are these ports safe for

craft to moor9

0$S,+->()

We are an enlightened race% petty sCuabbles are a thing

of the past in these lands/ you&ll be safe here providing

your manners are good and you have things to barter!

6,e smiles a toothless grin7

>+-($)

Thank you% good fishing to you!

6,e turns and addresses the cre#7

et&s make for the port yonder and find our land legs

Perhaps #e can stay for a #hile or get supplies

to travel further!

Sometime later 8/5) and the boy are $al'ing through a !tone city in bright

!un!hine- there are !tall! every$here and !eller! of fine fabric! and cloth- +ther! !ell pot!

and earthen$are urn! $hile the !mell of food coo'ing on !mall grill! fill the air% hey !top

by a !tall and e,amine !mall gold di!c! $hich 8/5) pic'! up and e,amine!%




What are these for9

ST(,4D+-

,air!!! 6She shakes her hair and >erlain sees the gold

discs have been folded around the girl&s dreadlocks%

they sparkle in the sunlight7

>+-($)

They are very beautiful% like the delicate flo#er that

#ears them! Tell me friend%

in my land #e find this element in the rivers and

use it for barter! $s it so here9

ST(,4D+-

es Sire% it is greatly valued in this land!

>+-($)

We call this material alum% #hat is it called here abouts9

ST(,4D+-

We call it *old/ some call it (lum too% but because it is the

colour of the sun% #e also kno# it as *old!

>+-($)



1' The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

(nd #here does this material come from9

ST(,4D+-

They find it in the rivers too% they say the gods of

the mountain #ash their hair in brooks high in

the clouds and the alum #ashes out to be carried

by the #ater do#n into local streams! There #e collect

it as a dust and beat it into #hat you see! $t also gets

mined out of the ground% in some places there are

deep seams of it% running through the rock! The people e8pend great

effort to collect this metal! That&s #hy it&s e8pensive

8/5) loo'! up and !ee! the boy $andering off through the cro$d!% &e !mile! at the

!tallholder and run! after the boy% Soon they find a !mall group of people in an open

!<uare being addre!!ed by a man !tanding on a !mall Dia7% he boy i! intrigued by $hat i!

going on%

>+-($)

UT,U-% do not #alk off like that/ you had me #orried!

UT,U-

ook at this% the man is asking the people if they

agree to a road being built yonder% the one there

dressed in the grey has ust outlined reasons for not




building the road and this one is laying out reasons

for doing so! $ find it interesting that decisions like this

should be discussed in public!

>+-($)

This land must not have a king! Someone #ho decides these

Things for the people! $f this is ho# they make decisions

it must take years for things to happen!

)n elderly man from the cro$d turn! to hu!h the t$o%

>()

Please keep your chatter do#n/ $ am frail and find it

hard to hear!

>+-($)

Tell me friend% #hat you call these meetings9

>()

ou must be stranger to these parts if you have not

heard of our system of government!

>+-($)

4h% so this meeting is part of the land&s government/

ho# so pray tell me9



1: The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

>()

We call these meetings a Think= $t&s part of our land&s

democratic process! We&re having a EThink& today

to decide over the building of a ne# road!

ou can see the speaker yonder/ he is putting an

argument for a proposition and the fello# in the

gray is putting the argument against it!

When the people have heard both sides

#e take a vote and #hoever gets the

greatest sho# of hands is the side #e take!

>+-($)

$t sounds a lengthy and fruitless #ay of making a

decision/ isn&t there a king #ho decides for his people locally9

>()

$t is neither lengthy nor fruitless! We have a king

but even he regards our current system far superior

than the systems of the other lands hereabouts!

They still argue and fight% make #ar and kill to decide

#ho does #hat and #here! .ut #e% #e hear all

sides and the people decide% in this system #e

have put an end to bloodshed and tyranny!

)o# say it is fruitless!



1; The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

he man loo'! to$ard! the !pea'er and hu!he! the !tranger!%

.e Cuiet% they are going to ask for a sho#

of hands

With that mo!t of the cro$d hold a hand above their head- including the old man%

Someone goe! through the cro$d and count! the !ho$ of hand! before an ad9udicating

officer !pea'!%

+C/5

With a count of three hundred to t#enty the eyes have

it and the proposition is carried!

>+-($)

)o# the vote is cast and the argument carried #ho makes

sure the proposition is taken through! $ may not kno# this

democracy you speak of% but $ do kno# men% and if they

are against something% they #ill oppose it unto death!

>() 6aughing7

Perhaps in your land friend% but not here! ou see the

officer there #ho announced the outcome of the vote9

Well he represents the king% so once he says something



1@ The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

has been carried% it must become la#!

)o man here is greater than our king and no king is

greater than our system!

UT,U-

$t sounds so sensible and right $ am ama?ed that #e

have never seen a system of government like

this before in our land!

>+-($)

True% but at home our kings $S the la#/ he can make it%

break it and decide ho# it should be implemented!

This system has served us #ell for hundreds of seasons!!!

UT,U-

.ut that doesn&t mean it cannot be bettered!

>+-($)

True young friend! 3hange is as inevitable as the rising

of the sun!!!

>()

ou seem enlightened men% my friends/ $ am >emet

of 3arthage/ like you% $ am a traveller far from home!



1A The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

3ome/ let me buy you some food or drink!

hey $al' off together and after a fe$ !tall! 8/5) !ee! !omething that catche! hi!

eye% &e !top! by the !tall and pic'! up a !hiny bron7e dagger%

>+-($) 6addressing the stallholder7

What is this dagger made from9

ST(,4D+-

We call it a metal! $t comes from across the sea of sand!!!!

>+>+T

es% do you like this% $ can see in your interest! We call this

material .ron?e% it is made of t#o distinct elements and

they are beaten together to bring this bright and hard

substance into being! ( magical process!!!

>+-($)

>etal9 $t is hard and sharp! Where can $ obtain these elements

you speak of and find out more about this metal9

>+>+T

The girl is right% you&d have to cross the sea of sand%

$t&s a long and dangerous ourney! +ven at the ourney&s

end you are not guaranteed success because the



1B The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

elements themselves must be stolen from the

mouths of dragons!

UT,U-

Surely not9 Dragons do not e8ist!

>+>+T

3ome #ith my camel train tomorro# to the city of

.abylon% three days ourney across the sand and

$ #ill prove to you that they do!

>+-($)

We couldn&t impose ourselves on you hospitality%

although you are kind to offer!

>+>+T

(n imposition never% $ need hands to #ork the

camels so you&d be #ell re#arded for your efforts

and $&d have a ready audience for my storytelling!!!

UT,U-

Say yes >erlain% please!!!!

>+-($)




0or the boy&s sake% yes!!!!

SC// = /: DUSK

We !ee a long camel train loaded $ith good! leaving the city% 8/8/ lead! the fir!t camel

on foot $hile 8/5) and U&U5 !hare a !mall hor!e at the rear% Soon the du!ty road

di!appear! under a flo$ing !ea of !and dune! a! far at the eye can !ee% ater that day they

ma'e camp and the boy help! 8/8/ erect a !imple tent $hich they tether the camel! to

a! 8/5) ma'e! a fire%

>+>+T

$t certainly gets cold during the darkness here%

)o matter ho# hard -a% beats us #ith his rays

during the day% at night his brother Set still

chills the bones to their core!

UT,U-

Who is -a9 $&ve never heard that name before!

>+>+T

$n the country of my birth #e have many gods




but these t#o are the most important! -a% the

Sun *od brings us the harvest and life itself/

We call him the teacher of men% the good shepherd!

,e teaches us to respect the light/ for

light"the life giver"is the essence of all ife!

$f you are lucky you #ill see him #alking on

the #aves #hen the sun is lo# on the hori?on!

Set is his evil brother% the bringer of darkness and all

evil! (t night he steals a#ay the life"giving sun and

replaces it #ith death and terror! These t#o brothers

fight continually and each da#n -a #ins the fight and

each dusk Set tries to beat him do#n again!

>+-($)

So #here does -a go #hen Set is in charge9 Does he

die9

>+>+T

Some believe that% but $ #as told that each night -a

sits aboard a golden boat #hich sails across the sky%

at da#n he disembarks to rise again!

UT,U-




We too have a story in our homeland about the sun and

>oon! $t&s said that night is the time for the moon to rise

from the under#orld to bring light in the darkness/ #hile

the sun goes under the earth to sleep!

MERLAN

(nd #hen the moon goes do#n to the under#orld%

to sleep% the sun #akes to bring us a ne# day!

We don&t consider them gods but #e kno# the

po#er they hold over the life of men!!!

>+>+T

ou see% $ could tell you #ere from an enlightened

race! $ am rarely #rong #hen it comes to people and

$ could see this in you from the first! The people of

this land #orship the golden bull% >inos! They have

#omen running their temples% can you believe that%

#omen9 They are very strange lot% you&ll see!!!

Tell me >erlain% do you ride #ell% or race the horses9

>+-($)

$ can ride any beast but at my age $ am too cautious

to race them really fast!!!




UT,U-

Where #e come from $ am considered the best horseman

in our land% tell him it&s true >erlain!

>+-($)

The boy rides #ithout caution% that is true enough%

but #eather this makes him a good horseman is

debateable% #hy do you ask >emet9

>+>+T

The steed you shared today is a pure breed (rabic!

$t runs like the #ind and can beat any nag in .abylon!

Unfortunately $ am too fat to do the beast ustice and

$ am looking for a rider to enter the races in that city!

The purse is big and $ could share it #ith you both!

>+-($)

What purse% food% drinks/ #hat do they give the #inners

of races in these parts!

>+>+T

They give the only thing that has real value in this #orld%

(lum! (nd plenty of it! *old is the only element that

shines brighter than bron?e but unlike that hard and

sharp metal% *old never dulls!




$f you bury gold in a tar pit for t#enty seasons it #ill

still shine like the sun #hen you are ready to collect it

again! )ot like bron?e% to get that to shine% you have

to polish it! 4nce the dragon has given it to man%

man must #ork hard to maintain its lustre!

>+-($)

(lum eh/ #hat course do these horses have to ride over/

my boy is good on the flat but not so if umps are involved!

>+>+T

Then #e are #inners before the race even begins% $ tell

you no#/ the track at .abylon is the flattest% straightest

course in the #orld! (ll a rider needs is a horse #ith the

#ind in its heart and nerves of stone/ #hat you say boy9

UT,U-

That&s sound ust the race for me!

>+>+T

*ood% than let&s drink a toast to the beast!

&e hand! the t$o $ooden cup! and pour! $ine from a goat !'in before pouring him!elf a

drin' and !tanding%




To the <ueen of (rabia/ may she bring us luck and

0ortune! et us #in the race in .abylon9

>+-($) and UT,U-

To the Cueen!!!

>+>+T

Tomorro# #hen #e reach a suitable place $ #ill

get the boy to ride a set distance and #e #ill time him

#ith the sand clock and $ #ill kno# if he is as good as

he thinks he is!

UT,U-

$ #on&t let you do#n/ horse riding is in my blood!

SC// > /: D);

he camel train i! pac'ed and $e !ee their trac'! in the dune! going into the di!tance a!

they come to a $ater hole% he lead camel i! led to drin' and 8emet prepare! the hor!e for

it! rider%

MEMET




UT,U-% can you see that long dune in the distance9

UT,U-

The one almost on the hori?on% yes9

>+>+T

Take the beast and ride like the #ind till you reach

that dune% turn as fast as she #ill allo# and return to

us! $ #ill fill this goat skin #ith sand and see ho#

much leaks out before your return!

>+-($)

,o# #ill that help9

>+>+T

,elp% no! $t&s ust something $ use to see ho# good

a rider is! >y best ever rider could cover the same

distance before the skin becomes half empty% so if

the boy is Cuicker $ should see it still over half full!!!

>+-($)

Fery clever!!!

>+>+T




We people of the sand are educated people% #e

kno# ho# to build great monuments% divide

huge numbers and have

a #ritten language/ #e also kno# ho# to #in races!!!!!

hey both laugh%%%%

he boy climb! upon the hor!e $hile 8emet fill! the goat!'in $ith !and% &e inche! clo!ed

one of the !'in! corner! and once the boy nod! that he i! ready !hout!%

*o <ueen of (rabia% let&s see your #orth today!

)! the hor!e ta'e! off 8emet let! go of the corner and !and begin! to lea' from the !'in%

?oth men $atch the boy hunch do$n in a good racing po!ition and 'ic' up !and in their

$a'e%

The boy kno#s ho# to handle a horse% look at his

posture% it&s perfect!!!

>+-($)

,e #as taught by his father/ the boy has ridden

since he could talk!!!!

>+>+T




$ can see% let&s #atch ho# he turns% a race is #on on

the turns you kno#!!!

U&U5 dig! hi! heel! in a! the dune approache! and pull! the hor!e! head about to turn

in a !econd- 8emet grab! 8erlain*! arm and !<ueal! $ith delight%

>+>+T

The boy could do it% you kno#% look at his skill!

With skills like that and my horse #e #ill be

able to take all the gold in .abylon!

he hor!e pull! up in a flurry of !and and 8emet pinche! the goat!'in% )! U&U5

di!mount! and lead! the hor!e to $ater 8emet !mile! broadly%

ou certainly have the balls to #in the races boy/

the goatskin does not lie% if it is less than half full

you #ere good but not that good!

UT,U-

Well% don&t keep me in suspense! et me see inside

the skin!

he boy and 8erlain 9oin 8emet a! he !lo$ly pull! open the top of the goat !'in% 8emet

9ump! for 9oy !eeing only a !mall amount of !and ha! lea'ed from the !'in and it i! !till

over t$o third! full%




>+>+T

ook% less than a third had gone% that must be

the fastest $ have ever seen my horse run! $ am

truly ama?ed! $ kne# you #ere good but never

in my #ildest thoughts% that good/ like $ said%

the skin does not lie!!!

SC// >a D);

?ac' in )lbion- .$en and Ulan are forced to 'neel before /ric' the ?onele!!- pledging

their allegiance to him%

+-$3K

$ am your ne# king and master! ou #ill go and

#ork in the mines but $ #ant this #oman to #ork here

in the castle! $ sa# the burning of your king last

night from my #indo#! Did he die #ithout issue9

Ulan

,e #as too young to have #ed and born a son!

+-$3K

*ood% then my right to this realm is complete!




S)ENE ! E*T N-HT

hey are !itting again be!ide the rai!ed tent and an open fire a! a 9oint of meat !pin! over

it! lic'ing flame!% he old man i! !mo'ing a hubbly@bubbly pipe and offer! 8erlain a puff

$hile U&U5 !leep! on a !tra$ mattre!! nearby%

>+>+T

Try this/ it is the pollen from a plant that gro#s

in the mountains around my home city!

>+-($)

$t smells s#eet% like the scent of a musk o8% #hat

do you call this!

>+>+T

We call is hashish/ some use it instead of the #ine to

rela8! $ like to smoke it #hen $ think% especially under

the full night sky% look up at the millions of stars!

They look so pretty out here in this sea of sand!



'1 The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

8erlain ta'e! a puff and cough! before ta'ing !ome more% Suddenly a !mile cro!!e! hi!

face%

$t&s Cuite into8icating don&t you think9

>+-($)

es% beautiful! $ see #hat you mean about the stars%

they have never looked prettier/ $ feel like laughing!!!

>+>+T

Then laugh #hy you don&t!!!

hey both bur!t into laughter%%%%

Try some more!!!!

8erlain puff! again and pa!!e! the pipe bac'%

>+-($)

)o# $ am hungry% the meat smells so delicious% hmm/

$ could eat all that oint!!!

hey both laugh aloud again




Tell me >emet% my friend! This alum you say #e

could #in!!!

>+>+T

The gold% yes #hat about it9

>+-($)

.ack in the market to#n #e met a girl #ho #as

selling thin slivers of this substance to decorate her hair!

Gust thin foils% no thicker than a blade of grass!

$s this #hat the gold #ill look like #hen #e #in it9

>+>+T

)o% #e #ill #in a trunk of gold coins% as heavy as three

sheep! Those thin foils the girl #as selling% you could

make a hundred of them from every coin!!!

>+-($)

3oin9

>+>+T

*old is pressed and beaten into coins! +ach coin must

#eigh a specific #eight but some% like the girl%

#ill beat the gold #ith stone a8e heads until it is the

#idth of a blade of grass and then she #ill cut small



'' The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

discs from it and sell or barter them! ike $ said you could get at least a

hundred

foils from one coin!

>+-($)

,o# many coins #eigh the same as t#o fully gro#n sheep9

>+>+T

>any hundreds my friend! With such #ealth $ could buy

several horses like my lovely Cueen over there!

4r build a great fortress for my family and staff it

#ith slaves from )ubia!

We #ill do very #ell if our boy runs as good as he did today!

>+-($)

Then #e #ill do #ell!!!

hey both laugh again%

8emet ta'e! a bron7e dagger from a !heaf on hi! $ai!tband and cut! !ome meat to eat% &e

pa!!e! the blade to 8erlain $ho loo'! at it intently%

This is #hat #e seek! The secret of this substance

here% #ill alum gets us its secrets9




>+>+T

The people #ho keep the dragons are very dangerous/

they guard them #ell and only bring the elements

from the dragon&s heart in secret! They #ill barter

you bron?e for gold but you #ill never take their

dragon% it is too valuable!!!

>+-($)

We&ll see% all men have their price and if alum is as

valuable as you say% $ #ill have to make sure $

have enough!!!

8emet bur!t! into laughter%%%

>+>+T

>en never have enough gold my friend!!!!!

SC// A /: D);

he camel train approache! a high $alled city in the di!tance $ith trailing vine and ivy

!pilling over the uppermo!t parapet!% ) central gate made from thic' timber! and $ooden

peg! open to allo$ them entry and both 8erlain and U&U5 are ama7ed by the height

and beauty of the building!% "eople are milling around decorated in fine gold 9e$ellery and

$earing thin cotton clothing- 8erlain*! thic' $oollen cloa' loo'! bul'y in compari!on%



': The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

U&U5 notice! ho$ beautiful the young $omen are and ho$ perfect their teeth loo'( in

fact all the inhabitant! loo' $ell fed and healthy%

hey approach a !<uare $hich i! dominated by a huge- mechanical bron7e bull% t !nort!

!team from it! no!tril! and it! giant horn! po'e the air a! maiden! lay offering! of flo$er!

at it! giant feet%

>+-($)

>y #ord% #hat is this great beast9

>+>+T

$t is the god of these people% you see ho# it lives

and yet it is made from the same elements that make

my dagger! Their god has given it life and they lay

flo#ers at its feet to prevent it going mad and

destroying the city!

UT,U-

(ma?ing!

>+>+T

See yonder in the hills there9

>+-($)

What% those building carved into the rock



'; The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

high in the mountain9

>+>+T

That&s #here they keep the dragons% at night you

#ill see it breathing fire do#n the mountain% you&ll see!!!

>+-($)

What a truly #ondrous place!!!

hey continue through the city until they reach a huge one !tory hou!e% 8emet get! off hi!

camel and bec'on! for 8erlain and the boy to 9oin him%

>+>+T

This is the house of my good friend #here $ store

the carpets $ have brought from the coast! et&s go

inside #hile his slaves unload the camels% $ #ill

introduce you to him!!!!

U&U5 i! !hoc'ed to !ee blac' men come from the hou!e and begin to unload the bail!

that are attached to each of the camel!% +ne ta'e! the Bueen- 8emet*! hor!e- to a rear

!table and they $al' into the hou!e to find it cool and light% he floor i! covered $ith

intricate mo!aic and the $all! decorated $ith bright fre!co! depicting beautiful men and

$omen frolic'ing among the crop!%

(drius% my friend% please let me introduce my



'@ The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

companions/ they are ne# to these parts and have

travelled far!

(D-$US

(ny friend of >emet is a friend of mine!

,o# go you friend9

&e hold! out hi! hand and 8erlain loo'! confu!ed% 8emet nod! to indicate that he !hould

ta'e the man*! hand% 8erlain doe! !o and the three men !mile%

>+-($)

$ go #ell% ho# go thee9

(D-$US

(ll the better for meeting you my friend! $ am

(drius Seronius and #ho is this% your son9

>+-($)

)o% no% $ am his mentor and protector! ,is father

has placed the youth in my hands for his betterment!!!

(D-$US

So% you are his Heus% and he your *anymede!

,o# very traditional/ come brother in arms and

mentor% you and your cup bearer are #elcome in



'A The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

my house!

&e lead! them into a huge room $ith an open ceiling $here a fountain blo$! a to$er of

cool $ater into the air% hey recline upon !oft cu!hion! a! $omen bring fruit and other

thing! to eat upon $ooden tray!%

So >emet% have you brought some fine rugs

for me to sell for you! The last consignment sold

#ithin days and my stall has been empty since yesterday!

>+>+T

-ugs and something else9

(D-$US

3ome% you have sparked my curiosity no#! What else

does your train carry for me9

>+>+T

)ot for you% my friend% oh the rugs and carpets are

there and many more than before! ou see my helpers

enabled me to bring t#enty more camels than last

all laden #ith the finest #oollen rugs for your stall!

.ut $ have also brought something else% one of my

horses and a rider too% one #ho is going to #in us the

trunk of gold at this bull day races!!!!



'B The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

(D-$US

4h my friend% your hopefulness fills my heart

#ith sunshine! ou kno# the king&s man al#ays #ins

the trunk of gold% if he didn&t there #ould never be another race!

>+>+T

What you mean to say is that his man has never been

beaten and there is al#ays a first time% like death/

change is inevitable!

(D-$US

$ #ill drink to your enthusiasm and raise my

glass in your favour!

&e clap! and the gue!t! are each handed fine gla!! cup! $hich U&U5 hold! up to the

light and peer! through having never !een !uch beauty% he !lave then fill! it $ith blood

red $ine%

To >emet and his horse!

>+>+T

To my <ueen of (rabia and UT,U-% #ho

#ill be the greatest rider .abylon #ill ever kno#!




(D-$US

>emet% your rider looks bored!

UT,U-

$&m okay/ #e&ve ust had a long ourney!

>+>+T

The boy&s fine!!!

>+-($)

,e needs someone his o#n age to sho# him

around the city #hile #e elders get to kno# each other!!!

(D-$US

(nd the #ine% eh9

hey all laugh% )driu! clap!

$ #ill get one of the )ubian slaves to take him

around the local market% someone his o#n age!!!




) tall blac' man enter! the room and bo$! lo$%

Gesu% bring +suit here!!!!

UT,U-

Seriously% $&m okay!!!

) beautiful young bro$n !'inned girl enter! the room and bo$! lo$%

+SU$T

ou #anted me master9

(D-$US

*irl% this is my guest UT,U-% he is ne# to this city!

+SU$T

-eally sir9

(D-$US

Take him out and let him see the market% get some

food and charge it to my house! Would you be

favourable to this young UT,U-!!!9




U&U5 !mile! and the girl and i! entranced by her beautiful !mile%

UT,U-

es sir% $ #ould like that very much!

(D-$US

>ake sure you get him back before the moon

reaches its ?enith% and don&t get into trouble!!!

U&U5 loo'! to$ard! 8erlain and an a$'$ard !mir' cro!!e! hi! face% 8erlain !mile!

bac' and nod!%

>+-($)

ou heard the man% don&t get into trouble!

he girl !nigger! a! !he reache! out and ta'e! U&U5*! hand( together they leave the

room and go bac' to the front entrance%

E#UT

+8cuse me sir% but your cloak looks hot and heavy%

can $ suggest you #ear #hat is fashionable for

young men of your stature in .abylon% or #ould

you think it rude for me to suggest such a thing9




UT,U-

$&m afraid this is all $ have #ith me/ it&s not dirty% is it9

+SU$T

4f course not sir% but the city is #arm at night

and you may be comfortable in a toga% let me

get one for you from the master&s #ardrobe!

She goe! off and return! $ith a !oft cotton !hirt hemmed $ith golden thred%

,ere% you pull it over your head like so and

perhaps tie a belt here!

U&U5 doe! and !he in!truct! before admiring him!elf in the full length gla!! by the

door%

UT,U-

Fery fetching% are you sure the master #ill

not mind me #earing his clothes% especially something

so beautifully made!

+SU$T

,e #ill be delighted sir!

UT,U-




Then take my arm and sho# me the city% if

$t is half as beautiful as my companion $ shall

have a very pleasant evening!!!I

SC// /: DUSK.&

U&U5 and /SU !troll through a bu!y mar'et place- $here !tallholder! !ell fa!t food-

!il' and cotton clothing- !hoe! and !andal!% hey !ee a magician in the to$n !<uare

creating thunder and lightning by $aving a $and and $atch in ama7ement% )fter a fe$

hour! !he ta'e! him to a tall to$er $here the city unfurl! beneath them- in a gentle-

t$in'ling candle and lamp light- the !cent of hanging garden! in their no!e!% he !it

among a bac'drop of !tar! and e,amine each other%

UT,U-

,o# long have you been a slave9

+SU$T

$ #as taken from my village #hen $ #as a small child!

UT,U-




,o# terrible% don&t you #ant to escape% go back

and find your family9

+SU$T

$ did! .efore $ came to serve my present master

$ #as the property of another family% they #ere

cruel and #icked! The mistress beat me and the family

fed me ust corn soup/ $ #as so unhappy!

4ne day my present master found them

beating me in the street and challenged them!

,e gave a bag of gold for me and since then $

have served him and his mistress!

They are very kind and treat me #ell% like one of

their children!

UT,U-

$ am glad! What is your country of birth like% can

you remember it9

+SU$T

Tell me about yours first% #e are both far from home




and $ #ould like to hear ho# others live! ,o# many

day&s ride is your home9

UT,U-

$ts many days on horse and then a #eek on a boat!

+SU$T

That is far% #hat is your land like9

UT,U-

$t&s cold in the #inter and hot in the summer! We have

lots of rain but it makes the crops fertile and the co#&s

fat #ith milk! $t is the greenest island you #ill ever

see% no# #ith thick fruit forests and clean and cool rivers/ $

miss it very much! )o#% tell me about yours!

+SU$T

>y homeland is hot all through the year% #e have rain

ust for one season and the earth is red and dry! 4ur

crops fail regularly and our co#s are thin/ #e used to

live on fish and roots from the dry earth!

$ had never tasted bread until $ came here% or cheese

or s#eet cake! The people of this city have managed




to get their god to love them very much!

hey hear the !ound of heavy cart! rolling through the !treet beneath them being pulled by

o,en% he t$o children loo' over the parapet and e,amine the !cene%

UT,U-

This city is vast!

What is in those carts% the o8en are straining to pull

Them% so it must be very heavy!

+SU$T

That is the green rock% they mine it ust outside the

city and they are taking it to feed the dragon!

$f they feed the green rock to him% he #ill allo# them

to take the red element!

UT,U-

(lum% er% gold9

+SU$T

)o% silly! That comes from the stream/ it gets #ashed

do#n from the mountain #hen the gods rinse

their hair! The red element is different% have you




never seen it9

UT,U-

There is so much $ have never seen here!

Tell me% dragons9 Do they really e8ist9

+SU$T

$t&s true% you #ill see it from here! When the beast eats

the green rock it spits fire and gasps great sparks that light

the #hole night sky!

UT,U-

There is so much in this strange place that is ne# to me% can

#e go see the dragon eat9

+SU$T

)o% they protect him from the people but from here you

can see and hear him eating the green rock!

UT,U-

Will he eat all those cart loads% there is so much9




+SU$T

The last cart is the #hite rock% #hen they feed him

that he allo#s them to take the silver element!

They then beat both into the bron?e you are so

interested in% you can see

them doing that over at the forge/

$ #ill take you there tomorro#!

Suddenly a loud !creaming !ound echoe! out from the mountain and they both loo' up%

rom their vantage point they !ee !mo'e and flame! and !par'! emanating from the hut!

on the hill%

There% you see! The dragon is being fed!

S)ENE . NT DA+

U&U5 and 8/5) are eating !ome brea'fa!t $ith 8/8/ and )D5US% ) $oman

dre!!ed in !oft chiffon robe! enter! and !it! be!ide )D5US !he i! S)5)&- hi! $ife%

S(-(,

Please introduce me to your friends >emet!

>+>+T



: The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

Sarah% this is >erlain from a land far in the north

and #ith him is his cupbearer% UT,U-/ the boy

#ho #ill #in the races for us this coming event!

#ARA$ %ta&ing a glass o' (ater and drin&ing)

So you ride horses at home young UT,U-9

UT,U-

>y father o#ns many horses and $ have been a rider

since $ #as a small child!!!

S(-(,

,as your father not travelled #ith you for a reason or

is it custom for your people to send their youth far

across the sea #ith a mentor9

(D-$US

Sarah% you ask too many Cuestions% leave the boy

alone% you see ho# uncomfortable you make him #ith

your inCuisition!!!

>+-($)



:1 The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

et me ans#er% #e have no secrets here among

friends! ou see our land has been invaded by monsters!

>en% against #hom arro#s have no effect and #ho are

armed #ith s#ords made from bron?e!

UT,U-&s father has sent us a#ay to find the secret

of this substance so that #e may defeat them and

drive them from our land!

UT,U-

We may have to capture a dragon first!!!

(D-$US

(hh% dragons! )o# there&s a story!!!

>+-($)

So it&s true% it is ust a story to keep inCuisitive peasants

a#ay!!!

Sarah and )driu! loo' at each other $ith !ly !mile! and 9u!t a! he i! about to an!$er

8emet interrupt!%

>+>+T

3ome friends% one Cuest at a time! .efore you t#o

divert your attention to#ards capturing a dragon let&s

#in the races first! With a trunk of King >inon&s gold




in your cart you could buy all the s#ords in .abylon/

there #ould be no need to search for a dragon to capture!!

>+-($)

That&s his name% >inon9 $ am sure $&ve heard that name

before% but in another land!!!

(D-$US

,e has a brother on the island of -hodes% it is the home

of our god% the >inator or sacred .ull!

>+-($)

4h% hence the bron?e bull in the market sCuare! ( truly

magical sight/ $ #as ama?ed #hen #e sa# it toss its

head and breathe steam from its nostrils!

Do you kno# ho# it #orks9

S(-(,

$t is controlled by the #ill of the gods! We give it gifts

and it protects us!

UT,U-

(ll the #ay from -hodes% it must be a po#erful god to

be in t#o places at once!



:' The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

S(-(,

The >inator is every#here! $f you erect an idol

in its image he #ill breathe life into the idol!

>+>+T

+nough talk of gods and dragons% (drius my friend

has you still access to that piece of land ust outside

the city #all9

(D-$US

4f course% #e use it to gro# our fruits for the #ine you

are drinking! The vines are bare currently as #e have

ust stripped them of their bounty!

>+>+T

*ood% so #e have a place to prepare for the races!

$ think #e need to place a #ager #ith the king!

S(-(,

$&ve seen the horse he #ill enter in this season&s race%

a huge and strong black stallion! $t is very fast >emet%

you may lose your gold if you are not careful!




>+>+T

oose never% a horse is only as good as its rider

and #e are blessed #ith one of the best $ have ever seen!

(D-$US

That #hite stallion you arrived #ith last night%

it looks sleek and healthy but is she fast!

>+>+T

The <ueen of (rabia #ill have the king&s nag

chasing her rump on the day! That&s if it can see the

Cueen&s rump through the cloud of sand she #ill

thro# up! UT,U-9

UT,U-

es >emet9

>+>+T

et&s take her among (drius& vines for a #hile as the

sun is still lo# on the hori?on% then after her e8ercise%

if you do #ell% $ #ill give you some gold to spend in

the city this afternoon!!!!



:: The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

UT,U-

Would $ be able to take +suit out again% she #as very

good company last night9

S(-(,

ast night% #ell% it didn&t take long for you to be

captivated by our )ubian beauty!

>+>+T

,e&s a boy% a full blooded young man! et&s try to

capture that heat #ithin his balls to burn our hooves

into the racetrack!!!!!

UT,U-

>emet% please!!!!

S)ENE &%/E*T DA+

ater that day /!uit and U&U5 are in the to$n and !he ta'e! him to a !tall $hich !ell!

gla!!$are% &e e,amine! the gla!!e! and bo$l! enchanted by their beauty%

UT$UR

These are so beautiful% #here do you get them from9



:; The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

Stallholder!

We make them here% #ould you like to see9

UT,U-

3an #e9

ST(,4D+-

Please% come this #ay!!!

She lead! them into a $ooden hut behind the mar'et $here they find a clay oven% t i!

being !to'ed by a man holding a long thin rod% &e i! putting charcoal in the bottom of the

clay oven and a boy !it! be!ide it $ith bello$!%

.)SS8)K/5

,ello young man% your lady!!!

ST(,4D+-

The boy #anted to see ho# #e make the glass9

*(SS>(K+-

$ts easy making the glass% the boy there is blo#ing air

into the oven to get the coals superhot% $ have already

laid it #ith sand and broken glass!!!



:@ The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

UT,U-

Sand9

*(SS>(K+-

That&s right% #hen the coals are hot enough the sand

melts into a thick syrup% it&s very hot so be careful as $

dra# it out the oven! Then the magic begins!

&e open! the oven door and place! the thin rod into the oven% When he $ithdra$! it a $ad

of molten gla!! i! on the end $hich he begin! to !hape $ith a mat of damp reed!-%

UT$UR

That coal you are using% it looks like cinders from a

fire that&s burned already!

*(SS>(K+-

6 As he *anipulates the *olten glass) Well spotted% #e call it charcoal

because actual coal #ill smoke too much and doesn&t

get to the right temperature! The coal is heated until

all that&s left is the carbon% that&s #hat #e use% it&s the

same process for forging metals!

UT,U-



:A The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

.ron?e and the like!!!

*(SS>(K+-

That&s right% stand back and #atch!!!

&e ta'e! a deep breath and blo$! do$n the tube until the blob of gla!! become! a balloon%

hen he !hape! it $ith the $et reed! and eventually cut! the end until he 9u!t ha! a gla!!

radyA made% hi! he 'noc'! off the tube and leave! to cool do$n%

With different elements added to the sand #e get coloured

glass% the systems al#ays remains the same though%

heat the sand enough to melt its heart and then blo# it out!

UT,U-

(ma?ing! ou mentioned metals% ho# does this eCuate

#ith #hat comes from a dragon&s gut9

*(SS>(K+-

We use an oven% they use a dragon% and charcoal is

al#ays needed to heat the basic element to dra# out

#hat you need! )ot ust heat but air as #ell% hence

the bello#s! Without them the fire #ould not burn

hot enough! $f $ #as melting metals $&d dra# them

from the oven the same #ay and then beat them #ith

hammers rather than blo# them #ith a pole! >etals



:B The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

are hard and can take the punishment #hereas glass

is like a #oman% you have to treat it #ith kindness

and respect but #hen you do% she looks beautiful!!!

&e clic'! off a !mall drin'ing gla!! that loo'! li'e it $a! created from fine cry!tal% he boy

ta'e! it and loo'! at the light through the !ide! of the gla!!%

That is for you!!!

UT,U-

$ #ill remember this day for my #hole life and #hen

$ return home $ shall instruct my people to make glass from sand!

+SU$T

So you #ill be a glassmaker after you have been a racer9

Fery good% not all riders have long careers and it is

al#ays useful to have another talent to fall back on!!

*(SS>(K+-

( racer% #hat horse racing9

UT,U-

That&s right% $ am riding in this season&s great race!

( beautiful #hite stallion from (rabia/ $&m told my



; The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

chances are very good!

*(SS>(K+-

+ven though you are going against Gaspar and

The King&s horse! They have #on every race for

the past five seasons! ,o# confident are you of

beating them9

UT,U-

$ am very confident% $ have a good horse and $ have

all the skills to take the pri?e/ #hy% are you going to

place a #ager9

*(SS>(K+-

$ #as going to last time but as the king&s horse al#ays

#ins there&s not any point/ but if you say you are

going to provide real competition to them $&d

#ager on you! (fter all% the other riders appear to

let Gasper #in to gain favour #ith the king!

UT,U-

$ don&t #ant favour% ust the pot of gold% that #ill

enable me to get things done!!!

*(SS>(K+-



;1 The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

et me give you some advice boy! The race has ust

one ump and it&s at the end of every lap!

4nce the #all is broken do#n they do not rebuild

it so stay back for the first t#o laps and let the

others crash against it! 4nce they have flattened

the #all some #ill be too inured to continue #hile

you #ill be able to use the damage to get

faster in the later laps!

UT,U-

That&s good advice% $ #as told there #ere not umps

in the main race!!!

*(SS>(K+-

Strictly speaking you are right/ because once the #all is

destroyed the race is on the flat! .ut during the first

t#o laps the #all poses Cuite a threat to those

#ho do not kno#!

UT,U-

Thank you friend/ today you have taught me t#o great

lessons and $ #ill remember them both!

*(SS>(K+-




*ood luck% $ #ill see you on race day!

/SU and U&U5 head off and after $al'ing for a $hile in !ilence !he turn! to him and

$hi!per!%

E#UT

What Ethings& do you #ant to do #ith the #innings%

if you have them after the race9

UT,U-

$t&s a long story!!!

+SU$T

Please tell me% $ #ant to kno#% to understand

#hat drives you9

UT,U-

4kay% #ell!!!! .ack in my land my father #as a leader

of men! ,e organised them to #ork the land% raise

livestock and form a protective guard!!!

+SU$T

,e #as a king9



;' The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

UT,U-

$f that&s ho# you see it% he #as ust my father to

me! (ny#ay a great evil invaded our land and

>erlain took me a#ay so #e might get the po#er

to take this evil on and defeat it! $t #as to that $

#as referring!

+SU$T

ou are a very brave man% young UT,U-! $!!!!!!

Suddenly a loud roar echoe! through the city and they both loo' up to the hut! high on the

hill%%%

UT,U-

The dragon is noisy today!!!

+SU$T

They must be feeding him again% up there in

the Tagil!

UT,U-

The #hat9

+SU$T




The Tagil% or #e should say the Dragontagil% the

place of dragons! $n the same #ay #e ust visited

the *lasstagil% the place of glass!!!

UT,U-

ou are such a good teacher/ $ #ish you could come

#ith us #hen #e go!!

+SU$T

*o% but UT,U-% you have only ust arrived% #here #ould

you be thinking of going9

UT,U-

(fter the race #e #ill go further into this land% $ have

a dragon to catch!!!

+SU$T

4h!!!!

UT,U-

Gust no# you said you thought $ #as a brave young man!!!

+SU$T

es9



;: The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

UT,U-

Then you #ere going to say something else but

$ interrupted you! What #ere you going to say9

+SU$T

)othing master% $ #as about to say nothing!!!

S)ENE && E*T DA+

t*! the day of the race and a circuit ha! been laid out around the central !<uare% he great

bron7e bull on the centre i! !norting !team and hi! horn! are ri!ing and !tabbing the

midday air a! the King arrive! and i! placed upon a huge golden Dia7 !et in front of the

bull%

?ehind him t$o ubian !lave! carry a che!t of gold $hich i! placed on the Dia7 be!ide the

'ing% &e !tand! a! the cro$d roar their approval% n a !ide ally off the great !<uare the

rider! are getting prepared including U&U5- 8erlain and 8emet% U&U5 ha! not

mounted hi! ho!e yet and i! bu!y $atching a proce!!ion of bald $omen dre!!ed in long

$hite robe! a! they carry offering! of flo$er! and corn around the !<uare to the beating of

drum!% hey approach the bull and lay the offering! at hi! feet%

UT,U-

>emet% #ho are these strange #omen9

>+>+T

They are the keepers of the bull% they are the



;; The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

>agi! $t&s to do #ith these people&s religion!

(ll nonsense but #e cannot hold their beliefs

against them/ each to their o#n!!!

>+-($J)

$ #ould like to kno# ho# the bull is made to

dance like so% are they the people #ho service it!

>+>+T

The >agi are very dangerous >erlain% they #ork

at night #hen the people sleep so that no one is

killed by their spells and #itchcraft!

Please leave them alone if you kno# #hat&s

good for you!!!

8/5) i! intrigued by the leading 8agi $oman and a! !he lay! her offering before the

bull he notice! her glance in hi! direction% &er green eye! alarm him and he loo'! a$ay%

>+-($)

What an interesting looking female% her eyes

are beautiful!

>+>+T

She is their $psissimus! The #oman



;@ The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

may be beautiful but her looks cover a #ell of

destruction/ you must treat them #ith respect my

friend or suffer the conseCuences!

) !udden commotion behind them dra$! the trio*! attention% hey turn to !ee a large man

dre!!ed in blac' leather- holding a !hiny bron7e !$ord and attended by five helper! arrive%

&i! blac' hor!e i! big to hold the man but i! $eighed do$n by bron7e medal! $hich hand

from the hor!e! !trap!% Upon the rider*! head i! a laurel and corn cro$n made of beaten

gold%

This is your opposition UT,U-% my boy% its Gasbar

the King&s rider! See the cro#n he #ears! $t has been

#on by him for the last three races!

>+-($)

,e&s very fat for a fast rider!

>+>+T

Don&t let his si?e put you off% he is a skilled racer and

he uses his #eight to bully the other riders!

UT,U-

Does the horse race #ith all that bron?e #eight9

>+>+T



;A The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

+ach year more medals are added% no# the man is

a fool to think his #eight combined #ith the #eight

of the medals #ill not hinder him!

ou have a good chance to take that cro#n this

year% ust don&t let him frighten you!

>+-($)

What is happening no#9

>+>+T

(s the last #inner he does a round of the track #ith

his stable men in attendance! (fter sho#ing reverence

to the magi the rider must give up his cro#n and then

#e must line up #ith him #ith the horses rear

against the #all there!

8emet indicate! a high $all of bru!h$ood log! $hich ha! been built at an angle to the

'ing*! Dia7% he $atch Ea!bar ride pa!t them and into the !<uare $here the cro$d roar

their approval% With hi! men in attendance Ea!bar doe! a full circuit of the trac' and then

come! before the great bull and the magi% he leading prie!te!! !tand! firm $hile her

maiden! pro!trate them!elve! about her and Ea!bar ta'e! a !heaf of golden corn from hi!

cro$n and to!!e! it in her direction% he prie!te!! hold! the !heaf aloft and the cro$d roar!

before !he turn! and reverently place! the golden corn at the bull*! feet% he bull roar! and

!nort! hi! !teamy approval%



;B The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

Gasbar the turns his steed and faces the king! ,e removes his cro#n% holds for the cro#d to

scream their voices for and then hands it to one of his attendants #ho place the cro#n on a

red cushion! The attendant #alks up the Dia? and presents the cro#n and cushion to the king/

he smiles and instructs the attendant to place the cro#n and cushion upon the trunk of gold!

MEMET

-ight UT,U-% you must mount the <ueen% the race

is about to start!

UT,U-6(s he mounts the #hite stallion7

$ have been advised

to lay #ell in the rear for the first round so the others

destroy the #all! 4r do you think $ should $ lead from the start9

>+>+T

et them go% #hen you are ready ust #hisper in the

Cueen&s ear and she #on&t let you do#n!

Gust be careful of Gasbar&s #hip/ don&t let him frighten you!

>+-($)

*ood luck boy!!!!



@ The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

) horn !ound! and all the rider! leave the !ide alley and enter the trac' to the !cream! of

the cro$d% hey line their hor!e! up again!t the $all and the King nod! at the prie!te!!%

She lift! the golden corn !heaf and $ait! for the King*! in!truction!%

he hor!e! rear up $ith e,citement and Ea!bar u!e! the time to e,amine the other rider!-

hi! eye! fall upon U&U5- dre!!ed in hi! !oft chiffon tunic and leather riding helmet%

U&U5 thro$! hi! a $ide !mile a! the Bueen of )rabia rear! up% )t that moment the 'ing

nod! and the "rie!te!! drop! the corn% he hor!e! !tart to race%

U&U5 !tay! t$o or three rider! behind the lead and $atche! a! they race around the

!<uare- $ithin moment! the high thic'et $all approache! and he !ee! the fir!t three hor!e!

!ma!h into it thro$ing thic'et bu!hel! and log! in every direction% he fir!t hor!e i! in9ured

and thro$! it! rider a! U&U5 point! the <ueen at a ne$ly formed gap in the $all%

&e hear! another rider getting thro$n from hi! hor!e a! they 9ump the $all and race! into

!econd po!ition behind Ea!bar a! they !torm pa!t the bull for the fir!t time%

)n )rab riding a t$o tone !tallion i! beating at the <ueen*! heel! and U&U5 loo'!

around to !ee the rider*! e,pre!!ion of mad e,citement a! the t$o come !ide by !ide%

U&U5 loo'! up and !ee! the gap in the $all approaching again and point! the <ueen

through it a! the )rab and t$o tone !ma!h into a part of the $all $hich i! !till !trong and

both go !piralling over the earth trac'- a !econd hor!e and rider come! over the $all and

collide! $ith the pro!trate hor!e thro$ing both into the air a! the cro$d roar!%



@1 The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

U&U5 come! !ide by !ide $ith Ea!bar $ho !narl! at him and u!e! hi! long riding crop to

beat out at U&U5% &i! initial reaction i! to !lo$ and let Ea!bar lead $here he become!

out of reach%

>+>+T

Don&t let Gasbar bully you boy% beat him back!!!!

hey approach the $all again and Ea!bar flie! over it !$iftly follo$ed by U&U5% )! they

pa!! the bull for a third time! the boy! $hi!per! to the Bueen to ride li'e the $ind and pa!!

the blac' !teed before them%

hey come !ide by !ide and Ea!bar hit! out $ith hi! riding crop again $hich U&U5

catche! and both men pull it thi! $ay and that a! the $all approache!% )! both hor!e! leap

through the gap! U&U5 pull! Ea!bar*! crop and to!!e! it into the cro$d- he lead! a! the

bull i! pa!!ed for the final time and the cro$d get to their feet to !cream him home% )! he

9ump! the $all for a final time 8emet !cream! $ith 9oy and hug! and embarra!!ed

8erlain%

hey run onto the trac' and hold the Bueen*! head a! U&U5 di!mount! proudly% Ea!bar

pull! up behind him and !narl! a! hi! attendant! run to help him di!mount%

he 'ing i! ama7ed and happy about the young boy beating the favourite and pic0s #p the

cu!hion $ith the cro$n upon it a! the prie!te!! cro!!e! from $here !he ha! $atched the

race and 9oin! him%




U&U5 di!mount! and lead! hi! hor!e to the Dia7 a! the cro$d roar for him% he prie!te!!

hu!he! the cro$d and pic'! up the golden cro$n from the cu!hion before bo$ing lo$

before the 'ing% She turn! to face U&U5%%

(*)+SS 6The Priestess7

Tell me your name boy9

UT$UR

$ am UT,U- of the island of (lbion!

(*)+SS

UT,U- of (lbion% a stranger to this city and these shores/

today the >inator has blessed you #ith gold!!!!

he cro$d get to their feet and cheer loudly a! the 'ing !tand! be!ide )gne! and thro$! the

favourite- Ea!bar- a contemptuou! loo'%

>+-($) 6to >emet in the background7

They say fortune favours the young!!!

>+>+T

,e had done us both proud today!



@' The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

(*)+SS

Kneel before your King% UT,U- of (lbion% so $ may

cro#n you #ith his glory!

U&U5 'neel! before the prie!te!! and !he place! the golden cro$n of laurel and corn

upon hi! thic' mop of bro$n curly hair% &e loo'! up at the beautiful- bald and richly

dre!!ed 8agi a! the cro$d eagerly roar! their approval again%%%

)./SS !mile! at him and !tep! a!ide a! the King addre!!e! the cro$d%

K$)* Sin">uballit >$)4S

People of .abylon/ this year my pri?e has been

#on by a visitor to this city! )ot ust a visitor

but a young man #hose youth hides his skill

at horsemanship! $ kno# $ am not alone #hen $ say

this 6the king gives Gasbar a condescending glance7

you boy have surprised me greatly!

(nd% #e all love to be surprised!

he cro$d roar! and clap! a! Ea!bar trie! to !mile but manage! to !narl in!tead%

This being so% take this trunk of gold and glory

in your success! Today the city of .abylon is yours/

#e #elcome you and look for#ards to seeing you




spend in e8cess% party in e8cess and spread your

good fortune around our great city!!!

he cro$d roar! again a! Ea!bar loo'! about him and !niff!

+A#BAR

+noy your fortune today boy because tomorro#

you may have to pay for it #ith blood!

SC// 12 .&

U&U5- 8/8/- )D5US and 8/5) are in a room drin'ing and eating- the trun'

of gold i! open on the floor and 8emet 'eep! running hi! finger! through it%

>+>+T

$ #ill go to the coast and return #ith a hundred camels

ne8t time! (drius% my friend% you must ensure there is

room to store the goods $ bring so #e all turn the goods

into more gold! >erlain% you and the boy #ill be able to

buy your o#n camel train if you #ant but of course%

you&re #elcome to oin us!

>+-($)



@: The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

Thank you my friend% but $ and UT,U- #ill be leaving

.abylon in the morning!

UT,U-

What9

>+>+T

eaving% no% surely not9

>+-($)

We are travellers% yes% but not #ithout a goal! 4ur

mission has a purpose and that is to get #hat #e need

to return and set our people free! $f #e gro# fat and

comfortable here #e may lose sight of our goal and

that #ill be doing a dis"service to all those #ho have

died in our absence!

>+>+T

.ut the races% you #ill be e8pected to defend your

cro#n in the ne8t race/ #ho #ill ride the

<ueen to victory for us9

UT,U-

$ #ill!



@; The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

>+-($)

UT,U-% calm do#n!

UT,U-

)o% $ must speak! $f #e have to leave tomorro#

so be it but $ #ill do everything in my po#er to

return before the ne8t race!

(D-$US

$ think the boy&s resolve is as strong as his grip

on the reigns!

>+-($)

$ hear you UT,U- and $ #ill not stand in your

#ay if this is your true #ish! Short term goals are

al#ays necessary to give us focus in our day to day

lives/ but our long term goal must never change!

UT,U-

$ agree!

>+>+T

So% you #ill have to buy a strong o8 to carry your

share of the gold! $t is a dangerous land out there

beyond the city #alls! When $ return to the coast



@@ The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

$ #ill have to pay a small army to protect my investment

on the ourney or $ risk losing it all!

>+-($)

$ think #e can trust (drius to take care of our

share until #e pass through this city again!

(D-$US

$t #ill be safe here if that&s #hat you #ish!

>+-($)

ou have been a good host to us (drius/ you

#elcomed us into your home and fed and #atered us!

$n fact #ithout your hospitality $ doubt #e&d

even have #on this gold! $ #ill take ust enough to

keep us fed and leave the rest #ith you and >emet!

$f you invest it and the investment makes more

my decision #ill be ustified!

>+>+T

>erlain% you are a very special person% $ kne# it

#hen #e met outside 3arthage! $ s#ear on

The <ueen of (rabia&s life your gold #ill be



@A The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

safe here until your return!

(D-$US

$s there anything you #ant to take as security/ something

valuable of mine #hich you can redeem for your

investment on your return9

>+-($)

)o my friend% the lighter #e travel the safer #e #ill be!

UT,U-

,ang on% there is one thing $&d like to take/ as

you&ve offered!

(D-$US

(nything!

UT,U-

$ #ould like to take +suit #ith us!

(D-$US

+suit/ no# that is a valuable piece of security!

Tell me% young UT,U-% is there a particular

reason #hy you #ant to take my #ife&s slave a#ay #ith you9



@B The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

UT,U-

$ like her% she&s my age and #e get on #ell!

She kno#s the local language and this could be useful!

>+-($)

$ could learn the local language but $&m too old

to be a good companion to my young #ard!!!

>+>+T

our breasts are not as firm as he #ould like!!!

(D-$US

(nd your buttocks a little too tight!

hey all laugh

AD-$US

$ #ill have to speak to my #ife about this but

$&m sure she #ill have enough slaves to fill the gap!!!

UT,U-

$ am happy no#!!!!



A The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

S)ENE &' E*T DA+

he follo$ing day U&U5- 8/5) and /SU are riding a$ay from the city on three

camel!- a don'ey attached to U&U5*S camel carrie! their tent! and luggage% )! they

cro!! a high !and dune 8/5) glance! behind and get! one final glimp!e of the city in

the di!tance% hey do not !ee the group of men follo$ing them !ecretly%

)! the !un begin! to !in' belo$ the hori7on they come acro!! a group of men $or'ing in

an open ca!t mine% ?abylon*! men !tand over them $ith $hip! urging them to $or' fa!ter

a! they u!e bron7e tool! to dig out roc' and load it into $ooden cart!% U&U5 get! do$n

from hi! camel and pic'! up one of the chun'! of roc' and e,amine! it clo!ely%

UT,U-

+suit% #hat do they call this place9

+SU$T

This is *rentagil/ the place of *reen rock!

UT,U-

ou said this is #hat they feed to the dragon to get

it to give then one of the three elements that make

up bron?e/ it&s a strange rock!



A1 The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

>+-($)

$t has a green tinge to it yet you said the dragon #ill give

out a red metal #hen it fests upon this!

+SU$T

The red element is called copper! $t&s strange $ kno#!

The dragon eats a green rock and a red element

is produced by it/ Dragons are strange creatures!

UT,U-

$ kno# the other thing it needs to eat is the

charcoal the glassmaker employs but #hat about

the third rock% #hat colour is that9

+SU$T

They call that element Tin/ it cannot be found on

these shores and #e have men going to the far

corners of the kno#n #orld to discover it!

$n the past it #as taken from a mine bet#een

the t#o rivers but that mine is no# empty!

UT,U-

The dragon must consume so much to give up its treasure!

>+-($)




+ven if #e capture one $ don&t see #here #e #ill

get its food in (lbion/ perhaps #e should forget this notion!

UT,U-

)ever! $ kno# #e have more trees in our land than

#e #ould ever need should #e capture several

dragons and turn it all into charcoal! $&m sure #e

#ill find this rock there too if #e search hard enough!

+SU$T

$t&s true! Until they found a use for this rock no

one thought it had any value/ no# look at the

backs they break to get it out of the ground!

>+-($)

Slavery is a barbarous condition to keep men!

$ think that free men% men #ho are paid for their

labours% #ill #ork harder and be more loyal than

those kept in bondage!

+SU$T

ou are an enlightened man >erlain! The

.aby loans may seem educated and hospitable

but they treat some people #orse than pigs!

$ think it stains their #hole culture!



A' The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

$ #as treated so badly before my >aster (drius

saved me but he and his #ife are the e8ception!

>ost .abylon&s are cruel and #icked!

>+-($)

$f that is so then it is a stain #ell hidden from

visitors! et us take out animals a#ay from this

dusty place of misery before it gets too dark!

We must make camp and prepare a meal!

UT,U-

es% $ am hungry!

+SU$T

$ packed some good meat for us to eat tonight!

When #e find a suitable place to camp $ #ill

cook #hile you put out tent up!

>+-($)

What a good team! This ourney ust gets better every day!




S)ENE &1 N-HT E*T

hey !it be!ide the upright tent under a huge !'y full of !tar!% he animal! gra7e nearby a!

/SU ladle! a thic' !oup into bo$l! for them to eat% She hand the bo$l! to her male

companion! and then !it! bet$een them%

UT,U-

This is very good!

>+-($)

Fery spicy% #hat is the flavour $ taste% it is

marvellous9

+SU$T

We call it saffron% it is very e8pensive but $ gre# it

myself so the master #ill not miss it from his

kitchen! >r >erlain% can $ ask you something9

>+-($)

es% anything if $ can help!

+SU$T

ook above your head% can you see the four stars

that form a sCuare in the sky9



A: The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

>+-($)

es!

?oth he and U&U5 loo' up at the big dipper above them%

+SU$T

Do you see the three stars that come from the

eastern corner and lead out like a handle9

>+-($)

es% $ see it!

+SU$T

$f you allo# your ga?e to follo# along these

three stars you #ill see a further star t#inkling

yonder almost on the hori?on!

>+-($)

es% $ see it!

+SU$T

Well% beneath that star% a very high and dark dune

rises in the east there!



A; The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

>+-($)

es% #hat about it9

+SU$T

Since #e left the city earlier today a group of men

have follo#ed us! $ believe they are on the top of

that dune no#% #atching us!

UT,U-

%$e begins to stand) What!!!

>+-($)

Stay #here you are% do not alert them to our

discovery/ ust act naturally!

UT,U-

4kay% +suit% are you sure about this9

+SU$T

$ thought $ sa# them earlier% at the mine% but

$ #as unsure! While you put the tent up and $

made the food $ caught sight of them looking

cautiously over the top of the dune!

They are definitely follo#ing us!



A@ The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

>+-($)

-obbers perhaps% thinking #e are carrying a

trunk of gold!

+SU$T

$f they intended to rob us $ think they #ill strike

as soon as the sun goes do#n! We #ill kno# their

intentions soon

UT,U-

$f they are not robbers% #ho then9

+SU$T

The King may have sent them to spy upon

you! ,e may have seemed happy #hen you #on

his gold but $ kno# those people% they did not #ant you

to take your #innings from the city!

They e8pected you to spend it all there so the gold stays

#ithin his reach! $f ever his treasury had a emergency

he #ould have come to take it back by force!

)o# you have left the city $ am sure he #ants to

kno# #here his gold has gone!

UT,U-

,is gold% it&s mine% $ #on it!



AA The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

+SU$T

(ll elements are eternal UT,U-! We humans come

and go! ou can be sure that #hen our bones are

stripped of flesh and are bleached by the sun this

gold #ill be as yello# and bright as the day you #on it!

Therefore no man ever o#ns it/ #e ust look after it

momentarily on behalf of the gods!

>+-($)

$t&s true% #ho can o#n a rock or a strip of land!

Who can o#n the air #e breathe or the #ater #e

drink! -ain drops from the sky% flo#s do#n from the

hills and each drop becomes a stream and then a

river! We get thirsty and Cuench our thirst turning the

#ater into piss! The piss is filtered by the earth and

eventually flo#s back into the stream!

$ agree +suit! ,umans can never lay o#nership over #hat

is given by the gods!

hey continue to eat and eventually the girl ri!e! to collect the empty bo$l!% )! !he lean!

do$n to ta'e U&U5*!- the girl !ecretly give! him a !ling%

U&U5 tuc'! it under hi! tunic and then pic'! up three medium !i7ed !tone! a!

8/5) !tand! and !tretche!( $hi!pering under hi! breath%%%



AB The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

UT,U-% in a moment make as if you are going

for a piss over yonder by the animals! $ #ill step into

the tent and collect the s#ord >emet gave me!

+SU$T

$ need the staff attached to my camel/ is it in the tent9

>+-($)

Do you mean the long piece of hard#ood that #as

tucked under your sleeping mat9

+SU$T

es% #here is it9

>+-($)

$ have leant it against the tent% ust there to the right

of the door#ay!

+SU$T

Then #e are ready for them!

>+-($)

Surely if they are spies #e #ill not have to fight them/

they should ust follo# our route and report back to



B The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

their master9

+SU$T

Perhaps% but as $ said! Some of these people are cruel

and #icked! They may #ant to take your gold and say

they lost you in the sand! isten% can you hear them

speaking9

>+-($)

Pretending to be crickets/ $ hear them!!!

UT,U-

$f they come +suit% please stay out of the #ay! et me

and >erlain handle them!

+SU$T

)ot if% #hen they come% #e #ill all need to defend this

camp! $f #e are all destined to be murdered #e all

have a responsibility to defend ourselves!

Suddenly they !ee a !hado$ approaching <uic'ly and U&U5 !tand- place! a roc' into hi!

!ling and !tart! to t$irl it above hi! head% )! 8erlain enter! the tent they !ee the !hado$

turn into the form of a ma!'ed man- illuminated by the firelight% U&U5 flic'! the !ling



B1 The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

and the !tone flie! through the air hitting the man bet$een hi! eye!% &e fall! a! another

come! from the dar'ne!! holding a long curved !$ord%

8erlain intercept! him and they !tart to fight a! U&U5 load! another !tone into the

!ling% &e !ee! another attac'er and flic'! the !pinning !ling to$ard! the man $ho duc'!

and thro$! him!elf at the boy% hey both roll acro!! the !and and he pin! U&U5 do$n% )

$ic'ed !mile cro!!e! the robber*! face a! a blade fla!he! in hi! hand% Suddenly he i!

polea,e and fall! to one !ide% U&U5 loo'! up and !ee! /SU !tanding behind him

armed $ith her !taff%

)nother attac'er 9ump! from the dar'ne!! armed $ith a !$ord and /!uit u!e! her !taff to

defend them both% U&U5 !tand! and u!e! hi! !ling to launch a roc' at another man

running from the !hado$!% he roc' hit! hi! head and he drop! a! /!uit turn! thi! $ay

and that u!ing the !taff !o !'ilfully that U&U5 i! ama7ed by her agility% She turn! and

upend! her opponent before !tri'ing him on the head $ith it! ba!e%

8erlain eventually di!arm! hi! attac'er $ho o !cream! and run! off into the dar'ne!!% he

three $atch him go%

UT,U-

Where did you learn to fight like that% $&ve never seen

any #oman be so deadly!!!

>+-($)

(nd only using a staff!!!




+SU$T

>y family are all great #arriors/ especially my father!

,e taught me ho# to kill men as soon as $ could #alk!

$n our land you may only have access to a piece of #ood

to defend yourself so this is #hat #e learn to use!

UT,U-

$ am impressed!

>+-($)

So am $! (ny#ay young people% $ don&t think #e #ill

be seeing any more of these people so you t#o go and

rest! $ #ill sit by the fire for a #hile!

UT,U-

$ am tired!

+SU$T

>e too!!!

>+-($)

Then go/ $ #ill see you both tomorro#!



B' The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

+SU$T

We should set off at sunrise% if #e continue heading north

#e #ill reach >edin by nightfall!

>+-($)

>edin% is it another city9

+SU$T

)o! $t is the place #here the >agi are inducted/

their spiritual home% a huge temple in the sand dunes!

$ have heard it is very beautiful and Cuiet!

UT,U-

,ave you ever been there9

+SU$T

)o% but $ have heard from those #ho have!

ou may even catch a dragon there/ $ have heard that

it is the place they learn ho# to tame them!

>+-($)

Then >edin it is% go sleep and tomorro# #e #ill

find this place of #onder!




S)ENE &2 E*T DA+

he trio ride acro!! the !and! the follo$ing day dragging the mule in their rear a! a du!'

!torm blo$!% )fter fighting the $ind! for mo!t of the day they come over one final dune

and in the di!tance they !ee a building made of green !tone- !hining li'e emerald in the

!unlight- ri!ing from the ground% n each corner thin- pointed to$er! point to$ard! the

heaven! and !mall $indo$! $ith coloured gla!! beam rainbo$! acro!! the !and in front of

it%

) huge double door i! !et into the facing $all $hich 8erlain pound! upon $ith the ba!e of

hi! !taff% Suddenly a !mall hatch open! and a thin faced- bald $oman loo'! out at them%

,-MAN

Who calls upon the >agi9

>+-($)

We do!

W4>()

(ll donations to the >agi must be made through

your city administrator!

>+-($)

We #ant shelter! 3an you open these doors and let us in9



B: The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

W4>()

4nly initiates and their guardians can enter here!

/!uit !tepped for$ard! and pulled her hood from her face%

+SU$T

$ am an initiate and these are my guardians!

he $oman loo'ed at /!uit and !miled before $ithdra$ing and clo!ing the hatch% )fter the

!ound of !everal bolt! being pulled bac' the double door! !ung $ide and the trio loo'ed

$ithin at the !cene unfolding%

)n open courtyard i! bathed in !unlight and around the edge! $omen dre!!ed in the long-

cotton tunic and head! and eye! cloa'ed by the cu!tomary $hite co$l hold !prig! of corn in

their hand!% n the centre of the court i! a rai!ed Dia7 $here a $oman- he "SSS)8US

dre!!ed in a grey co$l and tunic !tand!% She loo'! up and call! out to the vi!itor!-

$PS$SS(>US

Who is called to the life of the >agi9

)! the $oman !pea'! bolt! of lightning radiate from her and the !mell of !ulphur ri!e! in

the air% /SU !tep! for$ard! and 'neel!



B; The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

+SU$T

$ am% +suit of )ubia/ daughter of the Warrior King

otta! $ am called here!

$PS$SS(>US

(re these your guardians% +suit of )ubia9

+SU$T

They are!

$PS$SS(>US

(re you free of bondage% serfdom and slavery9

>+-($)

She is!

$PS$SS(>US

ou may spend one night here #ith your daughter/

but after you leave tomorro# at da#n you #ill say

goodbye to +suit of )ubia/ from then on she #ill

be kno#n as +suit of Sumeria% daughter of the >agi!

here i! a final fla!h of blinding blue lightening and $hen their vi!ion clear! the

"SSS)8US ha! gone and in her place i! 9u!t a !imple !prig of corn% he $omen around

the edge! lead a$ay until 9u!t one i! left- !he !tep! to$ard the trio%



B@ The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

W4>()

+suit% friends% if you follo# me $ #ill sho# you to

your rooms for your final evening together!

hey follo$ the $oman and a! they do 8/5) notice! behind the dai! i! a !pinning

drum over a !mall fire% Steam i! being thru!t from !mall !pout! on the !ide of the drum

and thi! provide! the thru!t to turn it% &e !ee! t$o thin $ire! the lead from the drum to the

Dia7 and $hat loo'! li'e a trapdoor in the top%

hey enter the building and are led through a long dar' hall of green !tone% he floor i!

tile! $ith large green tile! each decorated $ith !prig! of corn and $heat% U&U5 !ee!

through the !mall gla!! $indo$! $omen $or'ing in the open ne,t to charcoal fire!- !ome

are blo$ing gla!! $hile other! are beating copper into long thin $ire!%

8/5) !ee! a bull being con!tructed and under the bron7e !'in he !ee! $ooden cog!

and dial! $hich appear to be controlled by a $eight% hey are led into a !uite of room!

$hen a table i! laden $ith fruit and bread%

Please feel free to sleep and eat% but ust before da#n

$ shall return and you t#o must leave her here!

>+-($)

We understand!



BA The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

he $oman leave! and the three loo' around the !uit of room!%

+SU$T

$ have no intention of staying here% you understand

that don&t you9

>+-($)

4f course% but getting entry is the first step in understanding

the nature of the magic these people possess!

UT,U-% did you see that contraption behind the dais9

UT,U-

$ did% it looked as if the fire #as heating #ater in

the cylinder and the steam #as responsible for turning

it at great speed! What do you think it does9

>+-($)

$ #ant to find out before #e leave! Did you also see

the bull being constructed! $t appears all the movement

is created by means of cogs and #heels/

it&s nothing but a very dramatic illusion!

$ #ill lay gold on the fact that all #e have seen

here are other illusions!



BB The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

+SU$T

Then #e must look around this temple and

find ho# they are created!

UT,U-

Do you think!!!

>+-($)

What% come on boy% out #ith it9

UT,U-

The dragon% perhaps it&s an illusion too9 +suit%

have you ever seen one9

+SU$T

$ have not! .ut tell me% if they didn&t e8ist ho# is rock

turned into metal! The dragon must be real!

SC// 1> % ?)?;+ D);

Ea!bar i! berating hi! a!!a!!in! for allo$ing the trio to live% +nly t$o !urvivor! made their

$ay bac' to the city and he i! !houting at them in hi! room!%

G(S.(-




What is #rong #ith you people! (n old man and

t#o children% one of them a girl and you

have your ears beaten!

(SS(SS$)

.ut the girl #as an e8pert #arrior% sire!!

G(S.(-

,umbug% any man #ho is beaten by a #oman/ nay%

by a girl% is not #orthy of the title! >y father told

me that if ever $ needed something done properly

$ should do it myself and once again his #ords ring true!

)o# get out of my sight before $ have your

scrotums made into coin bags!

Useless% absolutely useless fools!!!!

S)ENE &! NT N-HT

8ean$hile bac' in 8edin the trio are ma'ing plan!%%%

>+-($)

+suit% check the doors #ill you/ ensure #e are not

locked in here!!!

+SU$T




The door is unlocked but $ see a room at the end

of the outside hall full of #omen!

UT,U-

What are they doing9

+SU$T

$&m not sure% they seem to be making leather strips!!!

>+-($)

There are many secrets to learn here! UT,U-% you and

+suit go and seek out the dragon #hile $ go and find

out ho# the priestess #as cloaked in lightening earlier!

+SU$T

.e careful friend% these people are kno#n to be dangerous!

he three go in t$o !eparate direction! and U&U5 and /!uit come acro!! a balcony

overloo'ing the !<uare they*d been greeted in earlier% hey !ee $omen pouring hot $ater

into the cylinder and then cor'ing it tightly% ?uilding a fire beneath the cylinder !team

gradually ri!e! from both of the oppo!ite pointing !po'e!% n turn thi! !team pre!!ure

ma'e! the cylinder !pin% hey !ee it turn! a cog over $hich a long loop of leather i! turned

and the other end i! rubbing again!t a copper tube e<uipped $ith thin copper $ire attached

to either end%




he fa!ter the cylinder !pin! the more friction i! cau!ed a! the leather loop rub! again!t

the copper tube% hen a $oman come! from the !ide and approache! the t$o other!%

,-MAN

$ have the chainmail tunic repaired do you #ant to test it9

W4>() 2

ou put it on and #e&ll ensure it doesn&t spark internally

again/ is the priestess okay9

W4>() 1

Gust a slight burn! ,er vest slipped up under the gusset and

the charge made a small contact #ith the small of her back!

W4>() '

The ob of priestess is dangerous/ the po#ers #e #ork #ith

can kill if they are not respected/ as #ell #e kno#!!!

W4>() 2

She died because the rain #as too heavy% $ told her not

to use the machine in #et #eather but she didn&t listen!

4h% no! She kne# #hat #as best and then #hat/ burned

to a char/ $ told her!!!!

W4>() 1




3an you stop going on about our dead sister! ou kno#

very #ell an important person #as here that day!

We need donations to do our #ork% to keep this

temple maintained and to feed the poor of this province!

,e #as e8pecting to see a display of our po#er and

if #e had said it #as off because of the #eather/ #e&d

look like fools! She had to #ear the chainmail/

rain or not! .ring it to me!!!

he thin copper $ire! !eemed to be !par'ing a little a! the !pinning cylinder created a

!ignificant !tatic charge to build up in the copper tube% W+8) 2 hold! up the chainmail

tunic and W+8) 1 pull! it on% )fter- W+8) 3 attache! one of the copper $ire! to the

bottom of the tunic and place! one of the $hite cotton robe! the other*! $ear over the top%

he $omen clear the Dia7 and the !econd copper $ire i! attached to it% U&U5 and

/SU !ee a thin copper ring encircle! the Dia7 they $atch a! the $omen !tep bac'%

,-MAN /

-each out #ith your left arm!

he $oman on the Dia7 doe! !o and a blue fla!h of lightening !trea'! acro!! the Dia7*!

and ma'e! contact $ith the ring encircling the Dia7%

,-MAN /

)o# #ith your right!




he $oman doe! a! in!tructed and another fla!h hit! the ring leaving 9u!t a !mo'ing blac'

gra7e in the copper%

)o# above your head!

he $oman on the Dia7 rai!e! both hand! and a fla!h pul!e! from her palm! before

!trea'ing up$ard! and onto a copper di!c high above her head

(re you okay9

W4>() 1

$ am fine% no sparks broke through this time

W4>() '

*ood% good% the repair seems to be holding! Stop the

engine and #e&ll put the tunic a#ay for our ne8t

visitor day!!!

S)ENE &3 NT N-HT




8/5) mean$hile i! on the other !ide of the temple $atching three $omen

con!tructing the internal $eight! and plie! that control the $or'ing of the automatic bull%

&e !ee*! !mo'e coming from a !mall hut in the ground! and lo$er! him!elf do$n through

a nearby tree% Keeping to the !hado$! he creep! up to the hut and loo'! through a $indo$%

n!ide t$o men and a boy are !urrounding a hearth% he boy i! pumping bello$! and the

men- dre!!ed in long leather apron!- are chec'ing a large pot in the centre of the hearth%

>() 1

,o# does the colour look!

>() 2

*ood% ust a fe# moments and the alloy #ill be

formed!

8/5) !ee! behind the men a crate of red roc' and a !maller crate of a $hite roc'

$ith !trip! through it.

>() 2

*et the mould ready% #e&re almost there!

he other man collect! a drum filled $ith fine !and and place! a clay tube in it! centre

before tapping the !and all around the drum to en!ure the clay tube i! held in place% &e

then get! a !et of tong! $ith four handle! and !tand! ne,t to hi! friend by the furnace%




>() 1

Keep pumping boy% #e&re nearly there!

?oth men the ta'e t$o handle! of the tong! each and hover it over the furnace% 8erlain i!

intrigued to !ee that they intend to ta'e the $hite hot pot from the centre of the furnace%

)o#% grab the Dragoon!

Upon thi! in!truction both men grab the pot $ith their tong! and lift it from the furnace%

he ta'e it to the !and filled drum and pour the $hite hot li<uid content! into the clay tube%

he room fill! $ith !team! and the noi!e of !pit! and !par'! fill the air%

>+-($)

6Under his breath smiling7 ( dragoon!!!

&e !ee! the men lift the clay tube from the !and and lo$er it in a buc'et of $ater filling the

room $ith !team and noi!e a! the clay bur!t! from around the metal core leaving a bron7e

!$ord $aiting to be beaten and !harpened% +ne of the men bang! the !$ord $ith a

hammer and laugh!%

MAN 2

ou see% bron?e alone is too soft but add ust the




right amount of tin and it&s as hard as rock!

4nce sharpened this s#ord #ill cut any other #ith ease!

>() 1

oad the dragoon #ith the same% three parts copper

and one part tin!

8/5) !nea'! a$ay and climb! the tree to go in!ide the temple again% )! he !nea'!

through the dar'ened corridor! on hi! $ay bac' to the gue!t room he !top! to peer

cautiou!ly around a corner before hearing a voice% urning he face! the "5/S/SS their

"SSS)8US%

P-$+ST+SSL$PS$SS(>US

3an $ help you9

>+-($)

4h% >adam! $ am sorry but #e #ere told not to leave

the confines of our room and yet $ needed to use the%

#ell% you kno#9

P-$+ST+SS

The guard robe9




>+-($)

$ndeed% the guard robe! $n our part of the #orld this

place has many names% and smells% but is seldom shared

#ith one of the farer se8!

P-$+ST+SS

The adept is still in your guest rooms9

>+-($)

$ndeed she is% #ith the boy! ou see ho# greatly #orried

$ #as about doing my business #ithin earshot of her

tender senses! (dults of our age are less perturbed about

such things but the #arrior princess has led a sheltered life

and such things can so easily cause offence!

P-$+ST+SS

ou have no need to e8plain% #e have similar beliefs in

our culture! Should a #oman #ant some privacy she may

#ithdra# #ith her sisters or mother!

( young male is less likely to #ant such privacy but #e

e8pect the m to act in a modest fashion and thus private

rooms are put aside for use by both se8es/ albeit alone!

>+-($)

$ am very pleased to hear that!




hey arrive by a thic' door $hich the $oman pu!he! open% 8erlain !ee! $ithin a bench

$ith a hole in it! centre%

P-$+ST+SS!

ou may take your leisure #ithin! When finished your rooms

are at the end of the hall!

>+-($)

Thank you! >ay $!!!!

P-$+ST+SS

es9

>+-($)

>ay $ be so bold as to ask for an private audience #ith

you! $f #e are e8pected to leave our #ard #ith you in the

morning $ #ould like to use #hat evening there is finding

out more about your interesting culture! $ couldn&t ask for

better% or more beautiful company!

P-$+ST+SS




Sir% this is a holy order and intercourse bet#een a man

and one of our adies is strictly forbidden!

>+-($)

Who said anything about intercourse/ $ envisaged only

oral pastimes/ although being a full bloodied man $ could

be persuaded to!!!

P-$+ST+SS

Don&t gallop before you can trot% Sir! $ #ill #ait here

until your bladder has been emptied and then #e can

spend some time in the public rooms!

$ feel $ need to keep my eye upon you!!!

>+-($)

(nd such a beautiful eye too!!!!

S)ENE &4 NT N-HT

8ean$hile /SU and U&U5 are !pying upon the $omen a! they place the chain@mail

tunic a$ay in a loc'er% When they open the door the couple !ee in!ide a beautiful gold and

!ilver !$ord $hich one of the $omen remove! from the loc'et to poli!h%

W4>() 1

This needs to be polished every #eek to prevent




tarnishing! $t must look it&s best #hen #e perform

for the ne8t visit by investors!

To get their money #e must put on the best sho#!

W4>() 2

ou&d never believe it #as crafted by illiterate peasants%

on the banks of the *anges -iver!

W4>() 1

Their skills #ere passed do#n through the generations

by #ord of mouth only! Since they have been able to

craft metals they have been making s#ords/ although

this s#ord has been beaten from a fallen star!

She #as presented #ith this ust before!!!!

W4>() 2

$ miss (ltia so much/ she #as the best $PS$SS(>US #e

have ever had/ it&s a shame she died so horribly!!!!

W4>() 1

Still% the order moves on/ change is inevitable! She

got this on her final pilgrimage to the mountain temples

of the +ast! $t #as a gift from +sa Khali (kbar!

The *oddess of the river!




UT,U-

+sa Khali (kbar/ ho# romantic!!!

W4>() 2

What #as that9

W4>() 1

What9

W4>() 2

$ thought $ heard something or someone! ( #hisper

coming from over there% in those shrubs!!!

W4>() 1

Wait here% place the s#ord a#ay!!!

he $oman cautiou!ly creep! up to the bu!he! and !uddenly pull! them to one !ide but

find! nothing% /SU )D U&U5 are already creeping bac' to their room! giggling%

SC// 1F G .&

8/5) come! from the .uardrobe and find! hi! ho!t !till $aiting for him% She !mile!

and lead! him do$n a long !tone hall decorated and lit on either $all by huge bron7e

burner! and !tone gremlin! $ho!e intricate e,pre!!ion! follo$ them in the t$ilight% She

open! a huge !et of double door! at the end of the hall and lead! him into a va!t room fitted




$ith plu!h !ofa! arranged around a bla7ing hearth% +ne of the bald adept! approach a! the

door! clo!e behind them%

(D+PT

>istress% #e #ere not e8pecting you!!!

P-$+ST+SS!

0etch a pitcher of #ine for my guest and $/

are you hungry9

>+-($)

$ #ill admit to having eaten Cuite a #hile ago!

P-$+ST+SS

-eturn #ith some food for us% fruit and cheeses!!!

(D+PT

es >istress!!!

P-$+ST+SS

3ome sit #ith me!!!,ere!

hey both !it on one of the !ofa! $hile the )dept goe! to fill her re<ue!t% n the fla!hing

light of the fire 8/5) e,amine! hi! ho!te!!( her eye! catch the light and !par'le- the

loo!e hood over her head !eem! to glo$ li'e a halo and he feel! attracted to her%%%




>+-($)

What shall $ call you% Priestess is a little bit formal9

P-$+ST+SS

>y name is (mber of Samaria/ $psissamus of the

Temple of >edin! >y (depts call me >istress in

respect of my *rade #ithin the 4rder!

What shall $ call you9

>+-($)

>y name is >erlain! (n honest traveller!

,o# long have you been in

charge here% they seem very obedient!

P-$+ST+SS

They have to be respectful% it is part of our training!

Women #ho choose to leave the order do so #ith a

full education% able to read and #rite% fight and take

care of themselves!

They can then choose either to marry or stay alone and

run some mercantile business if they #ish!

4r they can stay #ithin the order and gradually #ork

their #ay up/ one day anyone of them can become

$psissamus!




To ans#er your second Cuestion! 4nly a fe# months%

our last $psissamus #as killed during one of our ceremonies!

We burned her mortal remains on the last full moon/

it #as a beautiful ceremony and #e #ere all moved greatly

by her loss and transition to the ne8t level of e8istence!

>+-($)

)e8t level9

P-$+ST+SS

We are taught that all life and death are merely ourneys through

time/ that our mortal bodies age and die but that spark

that makes us #ho #e are% #ell #e believe that never dies!

We are all immortal!

>+-($)

What a beautiful thought/ it&s a shame it can&t be proven!

P-$+ST+SS

4h but it can% #e see the cycles of death and rebirth

every day% in the rise

and setting of the sun% the birth and death of the moon!

The cycles of that moon and it&s relation to the

coming and going seasons remind us!




+ven the ebb and flo# of the tides teaches that

life goes on! )o#% tell me about the place you come

from/ #hat is it called9

>+-($ )

We come from and the $sland of (lbion! ( place blessed

#ith high cliffs and sandy coves around it&s edges sitting

in the cool )orthern #aters!

$t has fine% clean rivers filled #ith succulent fish and

other food!

$t has forests of huge trees of every species and many

differing native #ildlife/ beautiful meado#land #here

the earth if fertile and green!

Domesticated horses and sheep #ander unmolested through

the #ide open spaces!

Some parts of the island have magnificent lakes and

mountains #here spring #aters shoot from the earth to give

us nourishment and overhead a vast blue sky protects us

from the #orst e8cesses of the sun!

P-$+ST+SS

This island% (lbion! ,o# long and #ide is it9

>+-($)




Well% not that $&ve done it myself of course but they say

to ride a horse from our tiny corner to the other takes over

four full moons! et to cross the middle of the island is only

a t#o day ride!

$t is certainly a beautiful place/ a e#el set in a silver sea!

P-$+ST+SS

et you have chosen to leave it/ ho# strange9

he girl return! and lay! a tray of $ine and food before her mi!tre!!% She bo$! and leave!

again% he prie!te!! fill! to goblet! $ith $in and place! a !election of food on a platter for

her gue!t $hich !he hand! to him% hey finger! touch lightly a! he ta'e! it and their eye!

meet%

>+-($)

With a heavy heart (mber/ $&m afraid! ou see our

beautiful little corner has been invaded by savages

armed #ith #eapons #e #ere unable to defend against!

>y charge% young UT,U-% is the son of the King of our

land and so $ #as asked to take him a#ay until a solution

to our predicament could be found!

(>.+-

,o# sad/ are you any closer to a solution9




>+-($)

Do you kno#% #e are! We #ere seeking a dragon to

catch but tonight $ found out dragons are fictitious

and that #e really should be seeking a pot called a

dragoon!

( dragoon and the secrets of metal#orking!

(>.+-

They propagate the story of dragons to hid their metal #orking

Skills/ but no# you kno# the truth you may as #ell learn everything!

Would you like to earn the secrets of metal9

>+-($)

es $ #ould! With this kno#ledge $ #ill be able to

Take the boy home and free our people!

(>.+-

$f you have gold $ #ill sell you a dragoon% #e have many

here% but if you #ant to learn ho# to #ork the metal

you #ill have to stay a #hile/ are you in a rush9

>+-($)

Well% #e have to return to .abylon before the ne8t

full moon/ my #ard is racing the follo#ing day and




$ think the King #ould like a chance to #in back

some of his gold!

(>.+-

Do you mean to say you beat Gasbar at last9

>+-($)

)ot me% UT,U-! ,e took the laurel cro#n and

the trunk of gold!

(>.+-

.ut you #ere not carrying a trunk last night/ unless it

#as a very small trunk!

>+-($)

We left our #innings back in .abylon #ith a friend/

but #e have this to go on #ith!

&e ta'e! a pur!e from under hi! robe and pour! gold coin! onto the !ofa%

Would this be enough to learn ho# to #ork metal here%

in the short time #e have9

(>.+-




4f course/ you make me very happy >erlain of (lbion/

very happy indeed!

S)ENE $% NT5 N-HT

8erlain return! to the room! and find! /SU and U&U5 !itting upon one of the bed!

fully dre!!ed and loo'ing eager to leave%

UT,U-

$ am so glad to see you again!!!

+SU$T

<uick% let us tell you #hat #e sa# before #e leave!!!

>+-($)

3alm do#n young people/ $ need to speak first!

4ur plans have changed slightly!

+SU$TLUT,U-

What9

UT,U-

.ut ho# can they% #e have to return to >emet in .abylon9




>+-($)

es% but only before the ne8t full moon!

+SU$T

$ can&t stay here% they #ill #ant to shave my head and

enslave me once again/

$&d rather die than be mistreated so!

>+-($) 6aughing7

Please% trust me% no one intends to shave your

pretty head and you #ill only stay here if you #ant to!

)o one is here under duress!

UT,U-

So #hat plans have you made9

>+-($)

The lady in charge% the $psissamus% has invited us

to stay and learn ho# to craft metal! $ have said #e #ill!

UT,U-

They have a dragon for us9

>+-($)




)ot e8actly% but they have the ne8t best thing!!!

SC// 21 /: D);

/SU- U&U5 8/5) and )8?/5 are in the courtyard $atching t$o $oman

practicing their o$n brand of martial art!% U!ing !taff! li'e !$ord! they try to di!arm each

other or trip the other up% Suddenly /SU can !tand it no longer%

+SU$T

What&s #rong #ith these #omen/ don&t they kno# ho#

to fight properly9

(>.+-

They seem to be doing okay/ our previous leader used

to teach them but since #e lost her #e have been muddling

through/ $ thought they #ere doing fine!

+SU$T

The tall one is leaving her left side unguarded/ a real

opponent #ould see this instantly! The smaller one is

fast but she is clumsy! ook% there% $ #ould have killed

her in that instant!

>+-($)




$f you think you can teach these #omen +suit% feel free

to sho# us all! $&m sure (mber #ould not mind!

(>.+-

We do not usually allo# adepts into to fight until they

have learned the basics but $ #ill bo# to your greater

kno#ledge! *ive us a display of your skills!

+SU$T

4kay% $ #ill!

She remove! her cloa' and !tep! into the !<uare a! the t$o $oman !top% hey loo' to$ard!

)mber $ith annoyance and !ee their leader e,pre!!ion inform! them to humour the

ne$comer%

,ave you an opponent #ho is #orthy of my

e8perience9

(>.+-

3all (star/ she is our best staff fighter!

+ne of the $omen leave! and return! !hortly after $ith a huge- bald $oman mar'ed $ith

deep !car! acro!! her face% )S)5 grimace! and grunt! a! a !taff are thro$n into her

hand!%




This should be interesting!

/SU readie! her!elf a! )S)5 loo'! to$ard! )8?/5 $aiting for the !ignal to begin%

Upon a !light nod !he launche! her!elf at /SU and a fierce battle begin!% )S)5 u!e!

her immen!e !i7e and $eight of bully and intimidate /SU but !he hold! her ground%

hen /SU i! lifted by the $oman*! !taff and launched through the air to roll acro!! the

du!ty ground% )S)5 !narl! and ru!he! over to deliver the 'noc'out blo$ only to be

tripped by /SU*! $eapon% She cra!he! to the floor in a cloud of dry du!t%

/SU 9ump! to her feet and prepare! to fight again%

(>.+-

our opponent is do#n% get her no#% #hile you can!

+SU$T

$ do not strike #hen an opponent is do#n! $t is not honourable!

A S)5 !tand! and $ipe! blood from her mouth before !narling at /!uit again

(ST(-

That #ill be your last mistake!

he t$o cla!h again and the !taff $eapon! !plinter under the force of their blo$! before

/SU turn! and u!e! the end of her !taff to up end )S)5*S feet and trap! them in a




!ophi!ticated face do$n hold% /SU then place! one foot acro!! the free end of her !taff

and !mile! at her audience $hile )S)5 pant!- holler! and !truggle! in a $a!ted attempt

to e!cape

UT,U-

.rilliant% #ell done!

(>.+-

$ thought you #ere bragging but $ should have kno#n%

you #ere too confident to be lying! $ am convinced

no# that the grade of (dept #ould be #asted up you!

+SU$T

-eally9

(>.+-

4nly our greenest recruits are inducted as adepts! $f%

like you% #e have inductees #ho sho# #ell grounded

skills in a certain discipline our rules can be varied!

$ think you should enter the order as a (deptus >aor!

This is three grades up from the (dept and ust one

under the grade of >aster/ our teaching grade!

+SU$T

$ am flattered but $ am sorry% $ have a confession to make!!!




(>.+-

-eally% a confession% ho# mysterious!

+SU$T

es% $&m afraid!!!!

>+-($)

What my dear friend #ishes to say% ere!!!

(>.+-

es9

>+-($)

What my friend #ishes to say is that after careful

discussion last night she has decided to return to

.abylon #ith us #hen #e leave!!!

(>.+-

)o% really9

+SU$T

4nly until after the race!!!!

>+-($)




es% she #ishes to support young UT,U- in his

battle #ith Gasbar before committing her life

to the order here!

(>.+-

$s this true +suit9

+SU$T

$t is/ $ don&t think $ could have settled do#n until

after the race!!!!

UT,U-

(nd $ needed her support #ith the horses! There

is no"one Cuite so Cualified to handle my horses

as +suit!

Without her $ may lose and that #ould be a disaster!

(>.+-

Then it is decided! When do you intend to leave9

>+-($)

.abylon is three days ride or so #e should go no

later than the ne8t phase of the moon!




(>.+-

Then it is decided% $ shall come too! $ have not seen

my sister% the $psissamus of .abylon% for many seasons no#

and #e have adepts in .abylon #ho #ould benefit

from my council! $f this fits in #ith your plans

>erlain/ $ #ouldn&t like to be a hindrance!

>+-($)

$ couldn&t imagine anything better!!!!

S)ENE $$ NT N-HT

8/5) and )8?/5 are !itting in a long !par!e room by a panoramic $indo$

overloo'ing the valley beyond% here i! a $all of !tar! over the hori7on and a !oft bree7e

billo$! the long chiffon curtain $hich drape! half the $indo$% She ta'e! a drin' from a

blue gla!! and loo'! at him from under her hood intently%

(>.+-

$ love this room% the vie# at night makes me feel

part of the cosmos/ connected to the stars that veil

the heavens! $t gives me the feeling that #e are all

part of it someho#% that #e are made of stardust!




>+-($)

.ut are you happy9

(>.+-

What9

>+-($)

$sn&t it a little sad% all these strong #omen shut a#ay

in this building #ith only the stars for company!

Women% like men% need the comfort and intimacy of another!

So% are you truly happy here9

(>.+-

>erlain/ do you #ant the diplomatic ans#er or the truth!

ou see if $ #ere diplomatic $ #ould say #e are an

ancient and mystical order #orking in this building to

teach ho# to manipulate magical forces for the

good of mankind!

>+-($)

(nd the truth9

(>.+-

That is not so romantic! ou see% in this age% in this part




of the #orld a #oman&s role is never a happy one!

She is born to be someone&s servant daughter% or a helpful sister

then #e are married off for money% a do#ry% and become a

servant #ife and mother!

$n the end #e are cast aside as useless old #ido#s #ith

no recourse upon our former husband&s fortune!

This passes do#n to his eldest son or to the state leaving

us destitute and seeking a Cuick and painless death!

>+-($)

Surely this is a #oman&s lot in any age and in any corner

of the #orld9 $t is for them to carve out a life from their

service to their families!

>any #omen&s lives are blessed in this #ay% they receive the

gift of their children and the love and protection of their men folk!

$sn&t this the natural #ay9

(>.+-

es% .ut #hat if the daughter is abused by the father

#ho should be protecting her% beaten by her brothers and

married off to another brute #ho uses her for vile pleasures

and beats her for good measure!

What if she is starved and shamed and forced to eat

from a cup of abominations ust to survive/

is this the natural #ay of #hich you talk9



1'1 The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

>+-($)

4f course not9

(>.+-

Well here% in this place and during this age% many

#oman have only that to look for#ards to!

This temple #as established to give girls and #omen

a place of refuge far from the rule of man/ some#here for them to

escape #hen they need to steal a#ay!

We create a mystical legend of #itchcraft and sorcery

to frighten the peasant locals and those #ho seek their

missing #ives and slaves

into leaving us alone!

$n this #e have become so successful! -ich men travel

from the four corners of the earth here and give

us gold to #in the blessing of our po#erful spells!

We use this to feed and clothe our sisters%

to teach ne#comers to

read and #rite and other skills #ith #hich they

may make their o#n money should they ever choose

to leave here! The remainder is used to feed the

poor #ido#s of this realm! +ven the king believes #e

are po#erful #itches able to foretell the future and




change bad luck into good fortune! $t is a falsehood $ am

proud to have maintained!

>+-($)

What a #onderful person you are% $ am shamed by my

gender and more so by my ignorance!

(>.+-

Don&t feel bad% We too dislike having to fraudulently

deceive those that pry here"about too heartily/

but #hile our legend is strong the order can continue

doing its #ork!

$f our illusions are seen for #hat they are% cheap

tricks% #e may as #ell thro# ourselves from the top of the

nearest cliff"edge!

>+-($)

What $ sa# on our first night here #as spectacular%

$ #ould never describe it as cheap! $ #as ama?ed!

,o# is it done9

(>.+-

$t is something our previous leader developed!

She sa# that friction bet#een t#o divergent materials

creates a small spark! The same sort of spark #e have



1'' The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

all seen #hen flint and hard stone is smashed together!

Using a metal tube appears to allo# the sparks to collect

and #e then feed these do#n thin copper #ires into a chain

mail tunic #here the spark can be discharged in the #ay

you sa#!

Fery dramatic but Cuite easy to achieve/ #e have no real

understanding of the principles at #ork but it does the trick

and that is all that matters!

>+-($)

What of the spinning cylinder #ith the steam funnels/

ho# does this #ork9

(>.+-

Surely you have seen hot #ater in a pot #ith as lid

upon it! The steam pushes up the lid and makes it rattle9

>+-($)

es9

(>.+-

Well #e build a fire under the pot and the steam forced

out the funnels causes it to spin! $t is attached to a long

leather belt and this in turn is #rapped around a copper cylinder!

The faster the cylinder spins the more friction created




and thus more sparks are collected in the tube!

>+-($)

0ascinating! When #e eventually return to (lbion $ intend

to use this illusion to frighten those #ho have subugated

our land and forced our people into slavery!

(>.+-

es% let them believe you have become a great #i?ard!

>ost people are so superstitious they run #hen confronted

by something their eyes do not understand!

We have other illusions #hich may interest you!

>+-($)

(nd you are #illing to share your secrets #ith us% #ith me9

(>.+-

$ can see in your eyes the goodness lurking in your soul%

my dear friend! $ #ould be happy to help you chase bullies

from your land! $ kno# this #ould benefit all the people

of (lbion/ not ust you and your young #ard!

>+-($)

Thank you% ho# could $ ever repay your kindness9



1': The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

(>.+-

There is one thing you could do for me!

>+-($)

(nything!

She reache! out and touche! hi! finger tip! very !oftly and their eye! meet again!t the

bac'drop of !tar!% )8?/5 lean! for$ard! and her hood cover! her eye! for a !econd%

8erlain !ee! only her pale $hite chin and ro!e red lip!%

(>.+-

et me be a #oman again/ if only for one night!

&e !ee! a !mall tear roll do$n her pale $hite !'in and collect a! a gla!! bead upon her

chin% hi! i! all he need! to !lo$ly pu!h her hood bac' and face the !en!itive and

pa!!ionate $oman cloa'ed beneath it% ) !hort crop of dar' hair frame! her face and her

blue eye! !tair at hi! intently a! their lip! gently bru!h again!t one another%

SC// 23 .&

8ean$hile on the other !ide of the temple U&U5 and /SU are !itting $atching the

moon cra$l acro!! the !'y%

UT,U-

$ love your skin colour/ in our land black people

are unkno#n! 4f course #e kno# they e8ist but



1'; The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

none have ever travelled through!

+SU$T

,o# do you kno# they e8ist then9

UT,U-

$&ve heard stories from those #ho have travelled far!

They say there are lands #here #hite people are

considered strange and unusual/ that #hite faces

scare the children and horses!

+SU$T

$t&s true% but only because the sight of a #hite faces

normally means death or slavery!

That&s #hy the children get scared and #hy my

father taught me to fight as if $ #ere his son!

UT,U-

When your skin is hot and #et it looks like the

finest et from the cliffs of our coves!

our teeth and eyes are so bright that

$ #as startled #hen you first held me in your ga?e/

$ kne# that day that you #ere going to be either a

loyal friend or a deadly enemy/ there is no indecision



1'@ The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

in that ga?e! $t is pure determination/ $ like that!

+SU$T

,ave you decided yet9

UT,U-

$ decided the first night #e looked over the city

together! Under that veil of stars $ kne# then you

#ould be #ith me for the rest of my life! )ot as a slave%

but as a loyal friend!

+SU$T

(nd lover% perhaps9

UT,U-

$ hoped so/ but that is up to you!

She !tand! and let! her robe !lip from her !houlder! and onto the !tone floor% U&U5

loo'! at her na'ed body and become! ba!hful%

+SU$T

Don&t be shy/ in my village girls are married younger

then both of us! ,o# do you find my body/ does it e8cite

you UT,U- of (lbion9



1'A The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

UT,U-

ou have no idea!!!

+SU$T

*ive me your hand!!!

&e doe! a! !he a!'! and /!uit ta'e! hi! finger! on a 9ourney acro!! her che!t and do$n to

her crutch%

ou may only be a boy but are you ready to become a man9

(-T,$-

$ am not ready for such things! Sorry% perhaps #hen my heart

is older% but not today!

She !igh! and goe! to bed alone%

SC// 2= /: D);

?ac' in )lbion the !lave! are $or'ing under the $hip digging roc'! from an open ca!t

mine% We find U) a little older di!cu!!ing tho!e guarding them%

ULAN

When the time is right #e shall collect the s#ords #e



1'B The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

have hidden and cut their throats! ,ave you noticed that

every night at dusk only t#o men guard us9

0+$) 6another slave7

$ have% that #ould be the best time to strike% and then #e

should make for the forest and get others to oin us!

We&re not the only ones forced to crush these rocks all

day/ help is out there% #e only need to sho# them the #ay!

U()

ou&re a good man 0ein% everyday tons of these rocks

are put into boats and sent off to lands over the seas%

#hat on earth are they doing #ith it9

0+$)

$&ve heard it&s used to feed a dragon!!!

U()

.haaa% #hat nonsense!!

0+$)

$ kno#% $ kno#! Dragons are a myth but seriously%

$ have heard them talking of feeding one #ith this rock!

U()




What% a fire breathing% #inged monster! -ubbish% if

dragons e8ist and they ate this shit they&d fly over the

sea and come themselves! )ot send these bastards to

get it for them!

0+$)

$t&s only #hat $&ve heard!!

U()

3rooked #hispers and plain lies! $ don&t kno# #hy they

value this stuff so readily that they kill for it but $ bet it&s

far more important than ust food for a mythical creature!

4ne day #e&ll find out!!!

) guard !ee! them tal'ing and crac'! hi! $hip%

*U(-D

ou t#o% stop gossiping or you&ll both feel the heat of

this on your b ack!

&e !ha'e! hi! $hip to$ard! them% ?oth me !tart to $or' again a! Ulan $hi!per! to hi!

friend%

U()

Soon% my friend!!!Soon!




S)ENE $2 NT DA+

he !un ri!e! over the temple of 8edin and the $omen a$a'e to do their daily chore!%

8erlain and )mber are in a large bed ! a cool bree7e blo$! the cotton fabric over the

$indo$ again!t the ray! of the !un%

>+-($)

$ #ish #e could lie like this forever!

(>.+-

Unfortunately% the lives of #omen in this

place are bound by rules and darkness!

This intimacy #ould have me buried to my neck

and stoned to death if any should hear of before it is atoned in la#!

>+-($)

Then no"one better hear!

&e lean! for$ard! and 'i!!e! her before lifting him!elf from the bed and dre!!ing%

$ kno# no# that you #ere a maid before our meeting%

Why give yourself to me% a stranger from these part and




not someone of your o#n kin9

(>.+-

,ere in this temple% $ s#ore an oath to keep my body

as a child for all my life! $f my o#n people felt this

oath #as taken #ithout faith% they #ould surely have

another reason to stone me to death! When $ sa# you for

the first time $ kne# #e #ere ust passing ships in the

night and that $ could e8plore that land of passion%

#ith you% #ithout fear of retribution or death in my

heart! $ have used you/ $&m afraid!

>+-($)

$f only $ #ere used like that more often!!!!

(>.+-

Tell me% you are a man of e8perience and years% have

you no #ife #aiting beside a #icker fence for your return!

$s there no one grieving you9

>+-($)

There #as someone% once! We met at the beginning

of a beautifully hot spring"time! ,er hair #as bedecked

#ith fine petals and the scent of stra#berry/ that fine




cotton shift she #ore almost translucent in the summer sun!

We had a passionate romance among the long% dry

grass of summer and shared each other&s bodies in the

forest meado# beside the village brook!

,er shrill laughter sang in the tree tops #ith the song of

sparro#s and other s#eet birds! >y blessed >arion%

$ loved her so!

(>.+-

Does >arion not miss you during your e8tended absence/

or did she break your heart like young lovers often do9

>+-($)

(s #inter approached a foul and pernicious evil invaded

our pretty island! $t initially struck in the +ast and then%

as ne#s of its malevolence spread among the people of

our tribe% the first #ere struck do#n by its terror!

(s the first crop of #inter sno# fell on our green and

pleasant land% >arion became ill and slo#ly #ithered%

#ith the leafs on the bough and the flo#ers in the fields!




She lost her breath on the last day of the #inter moon ust

as the ice fro?e the rivers and the great lakes became

hard as rock!

$ collected #hat #ood $ could and laid her fair body

in a simple sheath upon the top of the pyre!

$n the mid"#inter eCuino8 nightfall her body #as raised

up to the gods upon the sparks of that great fire/

all night $ sat and #atched it burn!

+ach faggot of thicket creating such sparks and small

beads! 0ire"flies that lifted themselves from the bla?e and

rose into the brooding night sky!

+ventually they became stars there% above my head/

no# my >arion is but a constellation for me to ponder

in the cold months of #inter!

Since that short and passionate period of life $ have had not

the heart to follo# romance/ to think of love!

)ot even the s#eet scent of a #oman in her pure state

aroused #ithin me a single #ish to roll in the hay/

not until $ met you/ that is!

(>.+-

Then #e have both fed only for the sake of our




physical selves! et this be our secret9

>+-($)

$ promise!

(>.+-

*ood% let me dress $ have something $ #ish to

sho# you!

S)ENE $! E*T DA+

We find U&U5- /SU- )8?/5 and 8/5) in a !mall green field behind the

temple% ) bald $oman i! arranging a !mall mound of blac' po$der upon a roc' and once

thi! ha! been do$n !he !tand! bac' and light! it $ith a long candle% he blac' po$der

flair! up into a cloud of thic' blac' !mo'e%

E#UT

(ma?ing% #hat is this substance that burns so

fiercely9

(>.+-




We call it Dragon&s breath% it&s creation #as taught

to us by a traveller from the far east! Watch #hat happens

#hen small flakes of the red metal are added to it!

he $oman create! another !mall pile on the !tone and then !prin'le! a !mall amount of

copper onto the blac' po$der% She !tand! bac' and once again !et! it abla7e $ith the long

candle% t immediately flare! up in a ma!! of greenred !mo'e%

>+-($)

That is astounding% it&s the same as the flash of green

smoke #hich hid your disappearance though the

trap door on our first night here!

$ kne# it #as a good illusion and no# $ am even

more impressed/ is there no end to your talents!

(>.+-

$&ve only sho#n this to you all because $ kno#

#hy you have had to leave your land and #e have

discovered something about this substance that my

prove useful to you should you choose to return and fight!

UT,U-




The day #ill come% $ s#ear it! (ny assistance you

can give #ill be taken #ith the thanks of all our

people back in our stricken land!

(>.+-

Sho# them!

he $oman placed !ome of the po$der into a !mall clay pot and !cre$ed on a tight lid%

"rotruding through the lid i! a long piece of candle $ic' $hich the $oman light! and !tep!

bac' from $ith ha!t%

) !en!e of ten!ion ripple! through tho!e a!!embled a! the $ic' !lo$ly burn! do$n% hen a

!udden e,plo!ion roc'! them a! the pot di!integrate! $ith an almighty bang !ending

!hard! of clay@pottery in every direction% U&U5 and 8/5) ga!p- they !tep for$ard!

and e,amine the crater left $here the !mall pot had been( U&U5 loo'! up and !ee! a

!hard of pot !tuc' into a nearby tree a! if banged there by a hammer%

MERLAN

That is shocking/ $&ve never seen or heard such

percussive force before! ,o# is this possible9

UT,U-

look here% this piece of pot has been forced into

this tree three inches deep!




(>.+-

We&re not sure ho# it #orks! $ #as told that

perhaps so much smoke is created that the pot

fills until it can contain the pressure no

longer% then bang! Well! you see the result !

>+-($)

What is this po#der/ you must tell us #here

you mine it!

(>.+-

$t&s not mined/ #e make it from a recipe/ like a cake!

UT,U-

Surely not9

+SU$T

This #ould make a #eapon that #ould fill our

enemies #ith fear and have them running for their lives!

UT,U-

4r cut them to shreds #ith the shards of pottery!

(>.+-




We kne# it #as dangerous but never conceived

it as a #eapon/ ust a party trick!

>agic to astound guests and glean donations!

.ut no# you mention it $ can see the potential of

these pots on a battle field!

>+-($)

$ #ould pay a king&s ransom for the recipe/ if

you #ould entrust us #ith it!

(>.+-

>erlain% $ #ill sho# you ho# to make this

po#der/ perhaps you can use it to get your

land and property back #hen you go home!

>+-($)

es/ thank you/ but #e are not leaving for a #hile!

+specially #hen $ have so much to keep me here!

(>.+-

Then you #on&t mind me travelling #ith you and

your party #hen you leave for the races in three #eeks9




>+-($)

$ could not imagine anything better!

(>.+-

*ood/ $ #ill send a message to my sister (gnes to

be e8pecting us!

SC// 2A /: D);

&5// W//KS )/5

he hor!e! are !addled and ready to leave% )8?/5 and 8/5) ride ne,t to each other

a! /SU and U&U5 tether a mule to their hor!e% +ne of the 8edin !i!ter! bring! the

ceremonial !$ord from the temple and !tep! to$ard! )mber%

W4>()

Do you #ish to carry the gift from the lady of the

lake #ith you!



1:1 The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

(>.+-

UT,U-% is there room on your mule for this

s#ord9 $t is very precious and $ #ould hate to lose it!

>+-($)

$f it is so precious #hy take it to .abylon at all/

it #ould be safer to keep it here!

(>.+-

$ have promised it to my sister% (gnes%

the $psissamus of .abylon!

$ feel my present company is #ell eCuipped

to protect both the s#ord and my person on

this ourney! $f you have doubts that this is so

>erlain% please say no#! $ #ouldn&t #ant to

burden you #ith the responsibility if you felt you

#ere not up to the challenge!

+SU$T

We #ill get you and the s#ord there safely!

(>.+-

>erlain9

>+-($)




>y friend speaks the truth! $f #e cannot guarantee

your safety/ no one could!

(>.+-

That&s all $ needed to hear! (re #e all ready9

UT,U-

%cli*bing on his horse) $ am ready!

+SU$T

$ am ready!

>+-($)

(fter you!

&e !mile! to$ard! )mber and the four !et off at a gallop $ith the mule !tomping at the

rear tethered to U&U5*! hor!e%

SC// 2 /: .&

E)S?)5 i! loo'ing over a map in the middle of hi! camp !ite in the $ood!% &e 'no$! that

the party ha! left 8edin and are travelling through the fore!t he currently hide! $ithin%

oo'ing over the map he !ee! that all the path! to ?abylon cro!! at a point a little further

ahead and !mile! $ic'edly% &e tap! the map $ith hi! leather clad finger and !pea'! to hi!

deputy- a thic' !et- bald 'iller caller 5arp%



1:' The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

G(S.(-

This is the place #e shall take them/ here!

0ar from prying eyes and so deep #ithin the

forest their screams for mercy #ith fade upon

the #ind!

-arp% take ten men and cover the north side of

this path% $ shall take the other ten and

cover the south!

-(-P

$ have a man ten miles ahead on the south path

looking for them/ once they are spotted he #ill

ride to us so #e can be prepared in advance!

G(S.(-

What about the north path9

-(-P

( man #aits there also! (s this is not the usual

route from >edin to .abylon $ have told him to

come to us if he sees nothing for t#o days!

G(S.(-




*ood% #hen they enter our trap% spears and arro#s

#ill cut them do#n from either side!

ou must ensure they cannot run back by

closing the path behind them!

$ #ill block their progress so they #ill have no

choice but suffer the indignity of death from

unseen assailants!

They #ill #ither like dogs under a storm

of barbed death!

S)ENE $. E*T DUS6

he party are entering a !mall fore!ted area on their 9ourney and /SU ride! along!ide

U&U5 behind 8/5) and )8?/5

+SU$T

,e likes her!

UT,U-

>erlain is a friendly man/ people are generally

dra#n to him!

+SU$T



1:: The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

)o% $ mean he really L!E# her.

UT,U-

What are you saying/ that he #ants to form a

romantic attachment #ith this #oman/ this priestess9

/SU !mile! coyly and !ha'e! her head !lo$ly%

$&ve kno#n >erlain all my life and $ kno# that

he had ust one love!

Since that person died he has s#orn an oath

of celibacy!

,e #ould chase no #oman/ particularly one

#ho is committed to a temple/

you must be mistaken!

+SU$T

$ may not kno# everything% but $ kno#

#hen a man is interested in a #oman and

#hen a #oman is interested in a man!

UT,U-

What9



1:; The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

&e loo'! at the couple riding ahead of them- they did loo' comfortable in each other*!

company and !he did have the !ort of e,pre!!ion he recogni!ed from other $omen $ho

$ere in the mid!t of a bla7ing romance% ?ut- he thought- thi! $a! 8erlain% &i! friend(

U&U5 Hput the thought to the bac' of hi! mind 9u!t a! 8erlain glanced behind%

>+-($)

$ think our t#o young #ards are talking about us!

(>.+-

et them talk% as long as #e give them no

reason to kno#/ our secret #ill be safe!

$ love this part of the country/ no# the sea

of sand is behind us and the shade from these

trees gives a little relief from the afternoon sun!

>+-($)

We came a different #ay on our ourney to >edin/

$ don&t remember travelling though a #ooded region!

(>.+-

ou probably took the direct route% this #ay is

a little longer but so much prettier!

These seCuoia trees are said to be over five

hundred summers old!

Sometimes% #hen the brush#ood becomes thick



1:@ The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

underfoot and the rain has held off for

some time the #hole region catches fire!

$ have seen each one of these trees so blackened

by fire% #ith every branch and leaf burnt to a crisp%

that you&d believe they&d fall and the sand #ould

envelope this land!

ocking it in a tomb of shifting yello#!

et the follo#ing season the buds return to the

branches and the old% blackened bark is shed!

4nce again these great men recover from the trauma

of death and burst into life again!

$t reminds us all that death is no end and that life returns!

>+-($)

$s that #hat you believe% that life goes on after death9

(>.+-

4f course% don&t you9

>+-($)

$ am open to all arguments! $t #as comforting to think

that >arion had not left me but had instead become a

star above my head/ guarding me!

ooking do#n and keeping me safe!



1:A The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

(>.+-

4ne day even you #ill see the cycles of life

in the ebb and flo# of the tides!

$n the #a8ing and #aning of the moon%

the coming and going of the seasons! ou&ll understand that%

the year dies during the short #inter eCuino8%

but it is born again in the spring/

that our spirits are the same!

We are born in the springtime of our youth%

#e gro# and become adults in the summer of life

and during the long #alk to autumn

our bodies become frail and gro# old!

$n the #inter #e die but all is not lost!

4ur souls leave the decaying shell that once

contained us and before the spring finds another

body to inhabit!

4ver the ages #e learn to be men and #omen%

kings and paupers% bro#n"eyed and blue!

+ventually% #hen our desire to be everything has

been Cuenched #e move on!!!

>+-($)

>ove on% #here9



1:B The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

(>.+-

We believe that >inos% the great bull% lets us sit bet#een

his great horns and he takes us up to the stars!

Whenever there is a crescent moon in the sky #e

believe someone is riding the bull to become a star or

constellation of stars!

Perhaps your >arion #as a fully developed spirit

#ho only needed to e8perience the passion of kno#ing

you before she #as ready to leave this #orld and

move on to the realm above!

>+-($)

$ see #hy you lead these people/ you really

have deep insight into life and death!

The more time $ spend #ith you the more $ find

out about myself! $ am in a#e/ you are a very special person!!

+SU$T

Did you see that9

UT,U-

What% did $ see %#hat9

+SU$T




That bird there!!!

She loo'! up at !parro$ flying above their head!- her !en!e! become heightened and !he

hear! the call of other !parro$! on the $ind- the di!tant baying of $olve! and the faint

!ound of dog! in the valley beyond%

UT,U-

What +suit% #hat did you see9

+SU$T

<uiet!

Suddenly !he gallop! for$ard! and 9oin! 8erlain ahead of them- U&U5 gallop! behind

her but i! !lo$ed by the mule.

$ am not sure but $ sense danger ahead!

>+-($)

(re you sure% the #ay looks Cuite enough!

(>.+-

This forest is not kno#n for robbers! Why do you fear

something9

+SU$T



1;1 The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

$&m not sure! Gust be prepared! $ am going to go

around and #ill meet you all yonder!!!

She gallop! into the tree! and i! !$iftly hidden by the den!e gro$th% U&U5- 8erlain and

)mber $atch her go%

UT,U-

What is ahead there9

(>.+-

This path oins another that comes from the south

and the sea of sand! The crossroads ahead combine

into the road to .abylon!

The forest becomes less dense after the crossroads

and eventually opens into a #ide open plane/

$ fear your friend #orries for nothing!

>+-($)

We&ll see% #e&ll see!

hey continue a little further- a little more cautiou!ly- $hen 8erlain !ee! a floc' of bird!

emerge from the tree top!% &e grip! the hilt of hi! !$ord and loo'! around to$ard!

U&U5 9u!t a! a !pear land! by the mule*! hoove!%

<uick% into the trees!




&e pull! hi! hor!e and the one that )8?/5 ride! by the reign! and into the thic0 gro7th

of trees, +nce there he di!mount! and drag! )mber from her hor!e pu!hing her do$n into

the cover of a !hallo$ ditch- U&U5 9ump! from hi! hor!e and 9oin! them a! a cloud of

arro$! and !pear! come from the tree! and land! around them%

Uthur pull! hi! bo$ from hi! !houlder! and place! an arro$ on the cord% &e !ee!

movement acro!! the path and !hoot!( a hooded man fall! from the cover of the tree!%

(>.+-

UT,U-% can you grab that saddle bag from the mule9

UT,U-

$ may be able to!

&e reache! up and manage! to pull the !addle bag! from the mule before it trot! off totally

obliviou! to the danger around it% U&U5 pa!!e! the bag to )mber and fire! another

arro$ off to$ard! the tree line% +nce again a hooded man fall! from the tree! into the path%

8ore !pear! and arro$! land about them a! )mber open! the !addle bag and remove! a

round pot $hich ha! a $ic' protruding from the top% She !mile! at 8erlain%

(>.+-

$ like to be prepared/ tell me% have you a flint!



1;' The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

>+-($)

To light the #ick9

(>.+-

4f course/ there is black po#der in this #ick so it

#ill catch #ith only the smallest spark from a flint!

UT,U-

,ere!

&e thro$! them both a flint he had carried to light fire! on the $ay- it i! $rapped in a

!mall dry amount of tinder@$ool% 8erlain !tri'e! the flint! together and a !par' light! the

tinder $ool% )mber light! the $ic' and it !tart! to burn vigorou!ly.

(>.+-

Wait until it is almost at the rim of the pot% #ait% #ait!

)o#=

She to!!e! the clay pot to$ard! the tree! acro!! the path and an almighty e,plo!ion blo$!

three other ma!'ed men into the path( !uddenly another come! from in front of them

holding a broad !$ord% 8erlain !tand! and the t$o begin to fight a! the flint and tinder fly

acro!! the path% )8?/5 cra$l! to$ard! it a! another man come! from the tree! and !tart!

fighting $ith U&U5%%




)8?/5 grab! the flint and tinder and cra$l! bac' to her bag a! the t$o men fight around

her- !he ta'e! another clay pot out and light! the fu!e 9u!t a! four more men run from the

tree! and approach% She thro$! the pot and all four are to!!ed into the air% he man

8erlain i! fighting $ith i! !o !hoc'ed by the e,plo!ion he loo'! a$ay and 8erlain i! able

to cut hi! head from hi! !houlder%

>+-($)

Pay attention laddie!!!

UT,U-

.ehind you=

8erlain turn! a! another man armed $ith an a,e i! about to !tri'e him acro!! the head%

8erlain u!e! hi! !$ord to bloc' the blo$% )mber loo'! through her bag for another clay

pot and accidentally trip! U&U5 up% &e !pra$l! acro!! the path and lo!e! hi! !$ord in

the proce!!% &i! opponent !mile! $ic'edly and lift! hi! !$ord above hi! head to !tri'e

Uthur do$n%

)8?/5 reache! into the bag and $ithdra$! the ceremonial !$ord they $ere tran!porting%

U&U5 glance! to$ard! her a! the !un catche! the blade and a fla!h of bright light beam!

into hi! opponent*! eye!% )mber thro$! the !$ord to$ard! U&U5 and he bloc'! the

man*! !$ooping do$n$ard !$ord blo$%

8erlain*! !$ord i! cut in t$o by hi! opponent*! a,e and he bac'! into a thic' tree% he

man lift! hi! a,e above hi! head a! )mber !cream!% hen a tric'le of blood come! from the



1;: The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

corner of the man*! mouth and he fall! fore$ord!% 8erlain and )mber !ee a !pear buried

in the a,e man*! bac' and /!uit !tanding proudly behind him%

U&U5 !$oop! $ith hi! !$ord and a! it cla!he! $ith hi! opponent*! !par'! fill the air% he

man loo'! and !ee! U&U5*! !$ord ha! cut a deep nic' into the blade of hi!% &e drop! hi!

u!ele!! !$ord and run! into the tree!% )mber laugh! and !tart! to clap loudly.

(>.+-

What heroes% $ have never seen such bravery from a

person so young UT,U-!

That s#ord #as almost made for you!

&e 9oin! her and 8erlain a! they !tep on the path $atching a! /!uit come! through the

tree! to$ard! them%

UT,U-

$t is a fine #eapon/ #hat is it made from/

not bron?e surely9

(>.+-

$ #as told a rock fell from heaven and it #as

beaten into this blade!

)o"one kno#s #hat metal it is% but its purity cannot

be doubted! $t #ill cut through any other material



1;; The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

and rarely needs sharpening!

>+-($)

( fine tool!6 $e glances around) +suit= $ o#e you my life!

She 9oin! them having pulled her !pear from the bac' of the a,e@man%

(>.+-

es% #e all o#n you a debt! Without your fine senses

#e may all #ould be dead by no#!

+SU$T

The danger is not over/ #e must find our horses

and out of this forest!

UT,U-

The horses #on&t be far!

(>.+-

Surely the robbers have been seen off and

#e can rela8 no#!

UT,U-

Perhaps% let me call for our mares and make hast!



1;@ The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

>+-($)

*o% Cuickly boy!

(>.+-

-ela8% they #on&t bother us again!

She !mile! and thro$! her arm! around 8erlain% &e !igh! and hug! her tightly%

M +-($)

$ suppose you are right!!!

&e feel! her ten!e up and then rela,e! a! her head !ag! upon hi! !houlder% 8erlain lift!

the palm of hi! right hand and !ee! it !tained $ith blood )n arro$ i! protruding from

)mber*! bac' over her heart%

)4=

/!uit and U&U5 turn- $eapon! in hand- !eeing a hooded man on hor!ebac' in the

di!tance% &e lo$er! hi! bo$ a! hi! hor!e rear! up and he gallop! into the di!tance( to$ard!

their de!tination( ?abylon% )fter he ride! out of the group*! !ight

Ea!bar pull! off hi! hood and place! the bo$ over hi! !houlder%

?ac' at the cro!!road! 8erlain ha! pulled the arro$ out and lo$ered )mber onto her

bac'% &e cradle! her head upon her lap and bru!he! the hair from her eye!% /!uit and

U&U5 !tand bac' $atching the !cene in !ilence%



1;A The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

Don&t #orry my love/ you are safe #ith me no#!

(>.+-

Take my hand% please!

8erlain ta'e! the $oman*! hand and feel! her grip it hard%

$ kne# from the first moment #e met that $ #ould

spend the rest of my life #ith you!

$t has been shorter than e8pected but nevertheless/

still%a life full of passion and adventure!

We have crammed so much love in the short time

#e&ve been together others #ould have to live a

thousand years to compare!

>+-($)

True! <uite no#% my lady! Save your strength!

(>.+-

When you ne8t see the crescent moon% imagine it is $%

riding to the stars% bet#een the horns of >inos!

Say you #ill remember!!!

&e feel! her grip tighten%



1;B The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

>+-($)

$ #ill remember!

(>.+-

$ #ill be #aiting there for you!!!

>+-($)

$ kno#% my dear% s#eet lady!

(>.+-

$f you feel small drops of rain% on the #ind in (lbion%

in the midst of a bleak #inter&s night!

They #ill be my tears mourning the short time

#e had together!!!

>+-($)

,ush no#% my lady! Please!

(>.+-

The thunder in the distance #ill be my heart beating

for you% the cool bree?e% ust the last of my breath against

your skin!

When you close your eyes on your loneliest nights




$ #ill be there% #aiting!!!

>+-($)

$ kno#/ dearest lady!!!

(>.+-

0or you!!!

hen the la!t breath leave! her body and her eye! gla7e over% ) bree7e ruffle! the tree! and

!mall leave! fall around them%%

>+-($)

)4=

/!uit put! her arm around U&U5 a! 8erlain*! voice echoe! through the tree! 9u!t a! the

!un !et!%

SC// 30 D);

)D5US and 8/8/ are !itting in the garden of )driu!* villa $hen !uddenly S)5)&

enter! follo$ed by 8/5)- U&U5 and /SU

S(-(,

ook% everyone% look #ho has returned!!!



1@1 The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

>+>+T

>y 0riends!!!!

&e !tand! and run! to$ard! the t$o men thro$ing hi! arm! $ide he hug! them both%

$t is good to see you both again! $ #as #orried you #ould

miss the coming race!

(D-$US

es% UT,U-% you have a victory lap o#ed to you!

>+>+T

(nd another trunk of gold to #in! What #ould $

have done if the lady of (rabia had no rider/ these

terrors have stolen my sleep recently!!!

(D-$US

Sarah% get #ine! ( celebration is in order!

S(-(,

es% of course! +suit% go to the kitchen and fetch

some #ine goblets!!!

UT,U-

)o% she remains here #ith me!




)n a$'$ard !ilence fall! acro!! the room a! )driu! and hi! $ife !tare to$ard! their former

sla8e

E#UT

Sorry% $ #ill go!

UT,U-

)o% stay here!

>+-($)

+8cuse my young friend&s bullishness but a lot has

happened since #e last met!

S(-(,

$t has9

>+-($)

es% to be honest% #e o#e our lives to this young girl!

(D-$US

ou do9



1@' The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

S(-(,

,o# so +suit/ tell us about your adventure9

+SU$T

$t #as nothing!

>+-($)

She is being particularly modest! T#ice robbers tried

to kill us and t#ice she saved the day!

This girl has some very special skills/ too many for

ust a servant and skills #asted on a slave!

S(-(,

So you have raised her to the level of #hat%

( bodyguard% perhaps9

She and her hu!band begin to giggle $hich cau!e! 8emet to lo!e hi! ten!e face and laugh

along $ith them both%

>+>+T

es% bodyguard% ho# funny!

UT,U-

We are being serious! We o#e our lives to this girl%

not once% but t#ice/ do not mock her!




&e place! hi! hand over the hilt of the ceremonial !$ord that i! hung from hi! $ai!t and

!tep! bet$een )driu! and /!uit%

)driu! notice! the boy*! ten!ion and !top! laughing%

.eside% did you not give her to me% as a gift9

(D-$US

So #e did% come and sit% the three of you! $ can see you

are all tired! Sarah% you go to the kitchen and bring

our #ine! )o#=

Sarah !niff! and doe! a! !he i! told .

(nd you are right% she #as a% err% gift! 4f course you

are free to make her an eCual if this is your desire!

So tell me% robbed t#ice% on the road bet#een .abylon

and >edin9

$ don&t believe it% high#ay robbery is unheard of in

these parts!



1@: The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

There is little% if no% poverty and people are superstitious

to the point of stupidity!

They believe that all actions have an opposite reaction

but threefold!

$f you give love% it is returned threefold! The people

believe that robbing someone #ill lead to they

themselves being robbed/ but robbed threefold!

$t is unthinkable for the locals to counter such a thing!

>+-($)

Then perhaps the robbers #ere not locals!

$t&s good that they have left us something that may

uncover their identity!

&e pull! from hi! cloa' a bron7e arro$ head !till !tained $ith )mber*! blood% &e had

removed it from her body and the arro$*! !haft after her death% 8erlain placed it on a

!mall table !ituated bet$een )driu! and 8emet%

he t$o men loo' over the bron7e arro$ head and pic' it up to e,amine it clo!er%

(D-$US

( fine #eapon!



1@; The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

>+>+T

+8ceedingly sharp/

(D-$US

The #orkmanship is perfect! This is an e8pensive

#eapon and% unlike a spear% made for one shot/

so this #as made for someone important/ someone #ealthy!

>+>+T

( soldier #ould use a sharpened hard#ood or flint

for their arro#"heads!

Dipped in poisons or puss to kill slo#ly/

they #ould make hundreds and over#helm their

target #ith an avalanche of arro#s!!

(D-$US

.ut this killer/ he is like a snake! ,e creeps up on

his prey% silently% biding his time and #atching patiently!

Then% #hen he cannot miss% this #eapon is deployed

and strikes home killing instantly!

>+-($)



1@@ The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

Where #ould such a #eapon be manufactured/

or is this impossible to say9

(D-$US

There is only one city in this land #here smiths

create #eapons of such high standards!

>+-($)

Where% #here is this place9

(D-$US

,ere of course/ .abylon!

>+-($)

,ere9

(D-$US

es% and $ think $ could take you to a man #ho

#ould kno# #ho made this tool!

Where did you get it from9

UT,U-

,e pulled it from the heart of

The $psissamus of >edin!



1@A The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

>+-($)

4ur #ould be robbers murdered her!

S(-(, %returning (ith a tra1 containing a tall co0ntainer 'illed (ith red

(ine and 5 glasses)

>urdered her/ murdered (mber9 The *ods #eep

at such ne#s!

UT,U-

es% it&s true/ did you kno# her9

S(-(,

What terrible ne#s% of course #e kne# here

She gre# here in .abylon and #ent to >edin as a teen!

,o# tragic% has anyone told (gnes9

>+-($)

We have told no"one about this evil act

S(-(,

,er body/ #hat have you done #ith her body9

+SU$T

She is across the mule #e arrived #ith!



1@B The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

(D-$US

Sarah% go Cuickly and get a man to move her into

the cool room! +nsure she is draped in a shroud

fitting her high status #hile #e discuss ho# #e should

inform (gnes and the others!

>+-($)

So you see #hy it is important to find out #ho

made this arro# head!

Who is the man you mentioned9

(D-$US

,e is the King&s o#n metal smith! ,is shop trains

all the metal #orkers in this city and he #ould

kno# #ho has the skills necessary to make such a

#eapon!

We must go to his shop no#!

UT,U-

)o#9

(D-$US




$ understand you may be tired% it is a long ourney

from >edin and you have all had a traumatic e8perience!

.ut if you are to shift any suspicion that you three

#ere responsible for the $psissimus& death then

you must find out #ho really is!

>+>+T

4h% $ can see my sleep being stolen again!

(ny restful slumber #ill be forsaken!

-eplaced #ith nights of #orry and terror/ #hat am $ to do9

>+-($)

Worry not% dear friend% before the sun rises tomorro#

#e #ill kno# #ho should be blamed for this terrible

crime!

>+>+T

$ hope so% $ truly do!

S)ENE '& NT N-HT

8/5)- U&U5- /SU and )D5US- have entered the dar'ened metal !hop% )

furnace of coal! burn! fiercely in one corner bathing the room in a flic'ering red and

Iyello$ light% ) !mall child !it! be!ide a !et of bello$! $hich he $or'! $ith hi! blac'ened

feet% n the centre of the room- !urrounded by hanging implement!- tongue!- hammer!-

grip! and other heavy tool!- !tand! a huge !tone anvil%



1A1 The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

U&U5 i! the la!t to enter and he clo!e! the door behind them% &e loo'! at the dirty !mall

boy $or'ing the bello$! and then hi! attention i! caught by a large blac' cro$ $hich !it!

upon a blac'ened perch( it cro$! loudly%

BLAC!#MT$

Who is there9

hrough a door$ay ne,t to $here the boy !it! a huge- giant of a man- dre!!ed in a dirty-

ripped $oollen !hirt and pant! $hich are hidden behind a calf length leather apron deeply

!tained $ith coal du!t and dirt- enter!% &i! $ild blac' hair hang! do$n to hi! !houlder!

and only a pair of inten!e green eye! can be !een through the ma!! of hair $hich ma'e!

hi! bro$! and bu!h@li'e beard%

Speak up% #ho comes to my #orkplace so late

after the sun has set9

&e !top! in hi! trac'! upon recogni7ing )driu! and then !urvey! the three other! $ho

accompany him%

(drius% #hat brings you to this part of the city!

)ormally if you #ant to see me you call me to visit you at home!

(D-$US

This isn&t a nor*al enCuiry!




.(3KS>$T,

-eally/ #hat can $ do for you9

>+-($)

This matter is of the gravest importance! Do you

s#ear to keep #hat goes on here to yourself/

to breath nor utter a single #ord of it beyond this room9

.(3KS>$T,

$s this #hat you #ant% (drius9

(D-$US

$t is=

.(3KS>$T,

Then $ s#ear!

UT,U-

What about the boy9

&e nod! to$ard! the !mall boy !itting in !ilence $atching the !cene unfold about him% he

blac'!mith loo'! to$ard! the boy and !niff! loudly before nodding to$ard! the blac' empty

!pace beyond the door$ay through $hich the giant had entered% he boy !crambled up

and di!appeared into the dar'ne!!% he blac'!mith turned to face hi! four vi!itor!%



1A' The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

BLAC!#MT$

We are alone no#/ so% #hat is the problem9

(D-$US

We #ant to find out #ho made this=

8erlain open! hi! cloa' and ta'e! the arro$ head from hi! belt% &e place! it do$n onto the

anvil% he blac'!mith !<uint! before leaning for$ard! and e,amining the $eapon

carefully% &e then lift! it up and hold! it in the light- running hi! thic' finger! again!t the

barbed point and up and do$n the grip $here the arro$ !haft $ould be held%

>+-($)

Tell us% can you identify this #eapon&s maker9

.(3KS>$T,

$ can!

UT,U-

,o# sure can you be9

.(3KS>$T,

$ kno# #ithout a doubt!

(D-$US




$ kne# you&d be able to help us!

>+-($)

Tell us% #ho made this tool!

.(3KS>$T,!

$ did! $ recognised my #ork at once! $&d kno# it

any#here% this particular arro#head #as one of an

order placed Cuite recently!

$t is part of that order/ #ithout a doubt!

(D-$US

Who paid you for this order9

>+-($)

We have to kno#% tell us/ #ho9

he blac'!mith !ighed and $iped hi! bro$% a'ing the arro$head in hi! palm he !tepped

bac' and !at upon a !tool $hich re!ted be!ide the furnace before loo'ing at the three men

and /!uit he!itantly% he cro$ brea'! the !ilence $ith it! loud call!%

.(3KS>$T,

$s this blood $ see dried on the head!

$s it human blood9



1A: The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

(D-$US

$t is!

.(3KS>$T,

Then $ am in a very a#k#ard position!

$n this land murder is taken very seriously and if

it #ere kno#n that $ #as involved in one my

business #ould suffer! $ may even loose the

allegiance of the royal court!

$t does depend though!!!

UT,U-

Depend% upon #hat9

.(3KS>$T,

$t depends upon the circumstances of the death!

$n #ar murder is perfectly ustified but as far as

$ kno# this land has no #ar #ith any other ust yet!

$f one is being robbed you can claim ustifiable

murder in the eyes of the la# and most #ould agree

that it #as a righteous act!

(ny other time the legality of the act may reCuire

further investigation!

3an $ ask #ho #as killed9



1A; The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

(D-$US

ou can ask but for the time being #e cannot tell you!

.(3KS>$T,

Why9

>+-($)

The person&s family has not yet been found and told

so #e are delaying the ne#s until #e kno# #ho #as

responsible for the deed/ for the family&s sake!

.(3KS>$T,

$ see!!!

UT,U-

3ome man% #ho placed the order and paid you

for this arro#head9

.(3KS>$T,

$ need to think/ come back tomorro# and

$ #ill tell you then!

(D-$US

Tomorro#% #hat can change overnight that



1A@ The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

you #ould have us come back9

>+-($)

$ fear #e are being tricked here!!!

+SU$T

,e is protecting the person!

U&U5 $ithdra$! hi! !$ord and place! it at the ?)CKS8&*S throat%

UT,U-

$f you value your life you #ill tell us no#!

.(3KS>$T,

*o on% kill me! ou may as #ell because once

you kno# #ho ordered this tool $ #ill be dead

any#ay!

So go on% slice my throat! $ care not!

(D-$US

Put your s#ord a#ay young UT,U-!

ou #ant to have some time to think9



1AA The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

.(3KS>$T,

$ must have time!

(D-$US

Then #e #ill return before the moon crosses the sky!

We #ill e8pect to have the ans#er then!

3ome% let us leave him to his thoughts!

he four leave the ?lac'!mith*! forge and $al' into the !treet out!ide% ) !hort di!tance

from the building )D5US turn! and $hi!per! to U&U5%

3an #e trust you to hide yourself out of sight9

UT,U-

4f course!

(D-$US

Then keep an eye on the forge% see #hat the Smith

does in the coming moments!

$f he leaves follo# him and see to #ho he speaks!

We #ill return before the sun rises!

+SU$T

$ #ill stay #ith you UT,U-!



1AB The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

UT,U-

$ can manage/ you go #ith >erlain!

>+-($)

)o% she is right! ou #ill both need to stay to ensure

#e get a clear picture of #ho this #orm is protecting!

(drius and $ #ill go to see (gnes!

(D-$US

We #ill come to this spot before the night is out!

.e alert friends and keep each other safe!

S)ENE '$ NT N-HT

n the emple of 8ino! !ituated be!ide the great bull in the city centre the $omen are bu!y

preparing for the coming race!% hey have to $eave their cotton tunic! and dye the $oven

cotton in the deep red boiled from !mall !ea creature!% +ther! beat gold foil and roll it into

$heat and corn !heaf*! to carry during their proce!!ion round the race trac'%

he city temple*! leader- )./SS- i! in her private <uarter! loo'ing at the temple*!

account! for the previou! !ea!on% Suddenly her attention i! dra$n by the !ound of the

great gong at the temple*! entrance being !truc'% Since the public rarely enter the temple




and never u!ually at nightfall )gne! leave! her de!' and goe! to the $indo$ $hich

overloo'! the entrance% She !ee! t$o men about to bang the gong once more%

+ne of the temple adept! approache! the temple door and open! a hatch !et in the thic'

oa'% She !ee! the t$o men $ho loo' bac' at her glumly%

(D+PT

Why do you disturb the sleep of >inos/

don&t you kno# the temple is closed9

(D-$US

We kno# the temple is closed

but #e have to see (gnes/

#e have ne#s she must be informed of!

(D+PT

(ny delegation can come to the temple

during the daylight!

(gnes #ill see people then if she is not

involved in the #orship of the city&s deity

or other #ork #ithin the temple!

>+-($)

This ne#s cannot #ait until sunrise/



1B1 The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

get your mistress and allo# us to enter!

he adept huff! and !ha'e! her head before clo!ing the hatch and pulling open the bolt in

the great door% She open! it !lightly and the t$o men barge pa!t her into the temple*! hall%

(D+PT

you cannot ust barge your #ay in here/

this is sacred ground% protected by the King!

(D-$US

We must see (gnes no#% tell her #e are here!

(D+PT

$ have said already% >en are only allo#ed

in the temple during the day and any ne#s

you have can be delivered then!

>+-($)

(nd #e have said already% our ne#s cannot #ait!

(D+PT

Please% step outside or $ shall go and

call the King&s guard!

(D-$US




(re you deaf of something #oman!!!

(D+PT

,o# dare you!!!!

(*)+SS

Stop this commotion!

he )dept turn! and !eeing )gne! on the !tair$ay- fall! to her 'nee! and lo$er! her head%

)gne! ha! pulled up her thin $hite cotton hood and put on the golden cro$n of her office-

!he !tand! on the !tair$ell draped in $hite and blood red robe! $hich trail behind her up

the !tair! from the direction !he had come% he bla7ing oil lamp! behind her ma'e her

!himmer in their flic'ering light and !he !urvey! the !cene $ith all the ma9e!ty of !omeone

$ith royal blood%

(dept% #ho are these men9

(D+PT

They say they have ne#s #hich cannot #ait until da#n!

(D-$US

We are sorry to disturbed the temple&s #ork

but #e have information of the highest importance

and felt you should be informed as soon as possible!



1B' The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

>+-($)

$f you #ould grant us private audience you #ill

understand #hy #e could not #ait!

(*)+SS

(rmed men are not #elcome in this place

especially in the moon light!

(D-$US

Then #e #ill leave our arms

at the door to the temple!

he t$o men ta'e off their !$ord belt! and lay them in the temple*! door$ay% )driu!

remove! a dagger from hi! !hirt and 8erlain ta'e! one from hi! boot% hu! di!armed the

t$o men follo$ )gne! through the temple in !ilence a! a )dept carrying a bright oil lamp

light! their $ay% hey follo$ her through a deep !et $ooden door into a brightly painted

room overloo'ing the central garden% he adept light a !et of oil lamp! and then leave! the

t$o men $ith her mi!tre!! $ho !tand! framed by the $indo$ overloo'ing the garden and

e,amine! her vi!itor!%

(*)+SS

Well% #hat ne#s could not #ait for morning9

(D-$US

Would you like to sit/ #hat #e have to say




is rather shocking!!!

(*)+SS

3an you introduce yourselves first/

$ like to kno# #ith #hom $ am conversing/

especially if they come #ith shocking ne#s!

(D-$US

es% forgive me! $ am (drius Seronius% a merchant of this city!

>+-($)

(nd $ am >erlain of (lbion/ a visitor to these lands!

(*)+SS

>erlain of (lbion! $ have been told that you #ould

be visiting me but #ith me sister!

The $psissimus of >edin #rote a short #hile ago

to say she #ould be travelling to this temple and

that you #ould be her guardian on the ourney!

>+-($)

She #as correct #hen she relayed this ne#s

although $ have failed her!

We #ere set upon during the ourney and your sister

#as killed/



1B: The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

#e did all #e could to protect her but unfortunately

#e #ere unsuccessful!

(*)+SS

She is dead9

(D-$US

We are so sorry!

(*)+SS

$ see! Where no# is my sister&s body9

(D-$US

We have laid her in my home for the time being!

What #ould you ask us do #ith her9

(*)+SS

our home is in the city you say9

(D-$US

$t is!

(*)+SS

$ #ill order my adept to go #ith you and she #ill



1B; The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

collect my sister&s body!

,o# long has her life been gone9

>+-($)

This is the second night since her death!

(*)+SS

$ see! 4ur traditions dictate that she must be

burned before the ne8t full moon!

That is this forthcoming race day so% #e do not have

much time left!

4nce she is prepared the time #ill have elapsed!

So #hen the sun goes do#n ne8t $ #ill have her

carried into the great sCuare before >inos

and set bet#een his horns!

>erlain/ $ #ill thank you no# for returning our sister to us!

>+-($)

She #as carrying some things #hich she #anted

to give to you% #hat shall $ do #ith them9

(*)+SS

ou #ill give them to the adept #ho collect our sister!

They shall be burned!

)othing of my sister #ill remain in this city after



1B@ The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

the flames have done their #ork!

S)ENE '' E*T N-HT

8/5) and )D5US are follo$ed bac' to )D5US* hou!e by the )D/" $ho opened

the temple door- !he i! dragging a !leigh to carry )mber*! body a$ay upon% )! they go

through the dar'ened !treet! 8erlain $hi!per! in Jhi! friend! ear%

>+-($)

Did you notice anything strange in the

manner of the high priestess9

(D-$US

$ have given up trying to interpret these #itches&

actions!

+verything they do is clouded #ith magic and enigma!

>+-($)

.ut for someone #ho claims to love her sister!

$ did not see much e8pression of grief #hen she

learned of #hat happened to her/

she didn&t even ask ho# or #hy!

Doesn&t that strike you as strange9

(D-$US



1BA The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

$f #e #ere talking of real #omen then yes%

but these are a different breed!

They do not have the same emotions as #omen

as #e kno# them!

They give their life to the #orship of >inos and he

takes their virtue!

$n vie# if this $&m not sure ho# you #ould

e8pect her to react!

>+-($)

es% perhaps you are right! et us get the body moved

and then back to our friends%

$ #ant to make sure they are all right!

S)ENE '1 E*T N-HT

U&U5 and /SU <uietly $ait and $atch the forge% Shortly after 8erlain and )driu!

leave they !ee the ?lac'!mith*! boy run from the forge and da!h through the !treet!% hey

!lo$ly follo$ him% Keeping to the !hado$! and noc'! and crannie! they follo$ him do$n

thi! !treet and up that ally% /ventually he approache! a large hou!e $hich i! protected by a

large outer $all% Situated in the $all i! a $ooden door% )fter pulling on a bell pull the door

i! opened the boy enter!% Soon he leave! and return! to the forge% Clo!ely follo$ed by /!uit

and U&U5%



1BB The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

hey return 9u!t in time to meet up $ith )driu! and 8erlain% he moon i! about to !et and

the fir!t ray! of the !un !trea' from the hori7on bathing the !cene in a blood red da$ning

light%

>+-($)

,ave #e missed anything9

UT,U-

The boy #as sent on an errand% he visited a house

on the far side of the city!

We sa# him enter but not to #hom he spoke!

The boy has ust returned to the forge!

(D-$US

Then so shall #e% come!

he four go and enter the building%

SC// 3> .&

he forge i! dar'er a! the furnace ha! burned do$n lo$ and 9u!t give! a !mall orange

glo$ in one corner of the room% he cro$ call! loudly and a! U&U5 clo!e! the door

behind them the !hado$ of the blac'!mith fill! the door on the far !ide of the room%

.(3KS>$T,




So% you have returned!

(D-$US

(s #e said #e #ould!! ,ave you decided #hat

you are going to do9

.(3KS>$T,

$ have!!!!!

Eu!t then a group of hooded men $ith !$ord! !tep from the !hado$! and !urround the

four% hey di!arm U&U5- 8erlain /!uit and )driu! <uic'ly before one !tep! for$ard!%

&e pull! bac' hi! hood and they !ee he i! one of the King*! guard%

(D-$US

What is the meaning of this9

*U(-D

<uiet% you #ill have a chance to plead your

mitigation later% at your trial!

>+-($)

Trial #hat do you mean by that% #e have done

nothing #rong!




*U(-D

Silence!

(D-$US

$f you are to take us at least let us kno# #hat #e

are accused of doing!

*U(-D

ou are all under arrest% for the murder of

The $psissamus of >edin% guard% and take them a#ay!

UT$UR slips his hand oer the hilt o' his s(ord be'ore stopping (hen a &ni'e is held to his

throat.

.(3KS>$T,

*o on% boy% give me the e8cuse to cut your

treasonous throat!

S)ENE '! NT N-HT

U&U5- 8/5)- /SU and )D5US are in a ba!ement cell $ith only a barred

$indo$ giving !ome light% t overloo'! the !treet level of the great !<uare% hey !it in

!ilence $hen a !ound attract! their attention% oo'ing up to the $indo$ they !ee 8/8/

peering in%




>+>+T

What are you doing to my nerves% ust t#o moons before

the race and here you are confined for murder/ >urder no less!!!

(D-$US

Thank >inos that you have found us!

>+>+T

We only kno# because guards came to the house and searched!

)o#% $ have not much time because this area is patrolled regularly!

What #ere they looking for9

UT,U-

Probably this!

$e pull! from hi! clothing the arro$head they had !ho$n the !mith earlier%

>emet% take this and find out #ho it #as made for!

This #ill lead us to the real killer/ but be careful #ho

you sho# it too!

>+-($)

*o and see (gnes% she may be of some help!

(D-$US




Tell Sarah to speak to the King% he must kno# there is

a conspiracy at #ork here and that #e have nothing to

do #ith it!

>+>+T

$t may be difficult to see (gnes they are% as #e speak% building

the pyre for her sister! These #omen are a private breed at most

times but #hen they are mourning/ #ell% it may be harder then

you think!

>+-($)

Try% she kno#s everything that happens in this city and #hen

#e spoke to her before she seemed friendly to our cause!

>+>+T

$ #ill try! .ut #hatever happens you must be freed

before the race in t#o moons! $ #ill make it happen

even if $ have to pay the sisters to cast a spell/ that&s if

you don&t mind me breaking into your gold!!!

UT,U-

Spread as much gold around as you need% ust find

the o#ner of this arro#head!

S)ENE '3 NT N-HT




8/8/ goe! from the $indo$! to the great !tatue of 8ino! $hich i! being decorated by

the 8agi for their !i!ter*! burning on the follo$ing evening% hey are !treaming in and out

of the temple carrying !$eet !melling cedar $ood and !andal$ood for the pyre% +ther! are

decorating the bull !tature in ribbon! and bron7e charm!% &e manage! to !lip pa!t them

and into the temple%

8emet 'no$! )gne! ha! room! on the !econd floor and !lip! up the !tair! to$ard! them%

Eu!t a! he approache! the door! to her private apartment a !i!ter challenge! him%

S$ST+-

What are you doing in the temple after nightfall%

don&t you kno# this is blasphemy!

>+>+T

Sorry my blessed sister but $ have to see (gnes%

it is a matter of life of death!

S$ST+-

This #ould be impossible in times of oy and happiness%

but no#! (s #e prepare the cold body of our great

$psisimus for her ourney to the stars/

no#% it is #icked for you to even ask!

et alone sneak into this holy place like




a thief/ get out at once!

>+>+T

)ot until $ speak to (gnes% $ come regarding the death

of your great sister and shall not be thro#n out until

she has heard me!

he door to )gne!* room open! and )gne! !tand! in the door$ay $earing a floor length

$hite robe- her face covered by a thin red chiffon veil%

(*)+SS

What is this intolerable noise!

S$ST+-

$ caught this man creeping through the temple Sister/

$ #as ust sho#ing him the door!

>+>+T

$ #ill not leave until #e have spoken/ $ have come directly

from (drius and >erlain #ith #hom you spoke earlier/

they are in great danger and #ant you to help them!

(*)+SS

$ am unsure #hat% if anything% $ can do! .ut come%




tell me your ne#s!

S$ST+-

.ut!!!

(*)+SS

Please #ait here sister% to sho# the gentleman out%

once #e have spoken!

S$ST+-

$ understand!

She lead! 8emet into her private <uarter! and turn! to face him once the door ha! been

clo!ed%

(*)+SS

Well9

>+>+T

They have been arrested for the murder of your sister/

a #holly unfounded and deceitful lie!

$ kno# they #ere very close to her and that she trusted

them enough as to place her care in their hands on the

ourney from >edin! $t can only be some trickery at #ork

that sees them as #e speak prisoners belo# the




Palace sCuare!

(*)+SS

ou believe their arrest has been conceived to thro# suspicion

from the real culprit9

>+>+T

ady% $ can and do% most heartily!!!

(*)+SS

What do you think $ can do to clear these muddy #aters/

$ have a sister to care for and so my time is limited but $

#ill say this! our friends seemed sincere #hen

$ spake to them earlier/ her passing aggrieved

them as much as $ and this #ould surely not be

the case if they had killed her!

>+>+T

True! They #ere in the process of finding the o#ner

of this obect #hen the tide turned against them and

they still believe this #ill bring truth to light!

4nce its original o#ner has been located!

&e open! a rag and ta'e! the arro$head to !ho$ her% )gne! loo'! at the ob9ect and

!hudder!%




$ am sorry ady to sho# you the obect that #as

embedded in your sister&s heart!

Do you recognise it9

(*)+SS

$t is an arro#head% a bron?e arro#head of particularly

fine proportion!

>+>+T

$t is% have you seen anything similar in this city prior

to tonight9

(*)+SS

$ need to ask you to come back here tomorro# #hen

the sun is high% let me think about #hat has happened

and pray to >inos for guidance!

Will you be able to return% not too late in the day as

$ #ill be busy later!

>+>+T

>idday you say9

(*)+SS




es% come alone! $ feel sure $ #ill be able to help you then!

>+>+T

$ #on&t be able to leave this obect #ith you% you understand9

(*)+SS

Take it% $ have seen all $ need to see! *oodbye! Till tomorro#!

>+>+T

Till midday% tomorro#!

S)ENE '4 E*T N-HT

We !ee !cene! of the funeral pyre and burning of the p!i!!amu! of 8edin inter!per!ed

$ith !cene! of the upri!ing of !lave! bac' in )lbion%

Cro$d! of people are !tanding around the edge! of the great !<uare loo'ing to$ard! a tall

funeral pyre built in front of the bron7e bull% t i! a !till and !ilent night and only the King-

!et upon hi! Dia7 $ith it! garland! and tape!trie!- move! to !tart the ceremony% &e rai!e! a

hand and all the horn player! arranged high upon the city $all!- begin to play a long and

harmoniou! drone%

hi! i! the !ignal for the temple door! to open- flooding the !pace before the bull in light-

and )gne! to !tep into the !<uare leading her group of temple adept!% She i! dre!!ed in a

long $hite billo$ing dre!! of chiffon- a thin $hite veil over $hich !he $ear! her cro$n of




golden laurel% n her right hand )gne! carrie! a flaming torch% ?ehind her- emerging !ide

by !ide- are her follo$er!- each dre!!ed in !imilar go$n! and veil! but $ithout her cro$n

and they too carry flaming torche!%

)! the droning horn! fill the air !he lead! them from the temple and the people !tand on tip

toe! a! the body of )mber emerge! carried on a $ooden bench painted gold% She i! dre!!ed

in a pure $hite go$n and her hooded face i! cro$ned by a 'not of fre!h flo$er!% ?et$een

her finger! they !ee a !heaf of golden $heat% he four corner! of the bench are held aloft

by follo$er! of the temple and together they march to$ard! the funeral pyre% ?ehind them

come more $omen holding flaming torche! and $hen they reach the pyre the horn! !top

playing%

n Albion a g#ard at the gates of the sla8e encampment rela(es as he 7atches a comet in

the blac0 star filled s0y abo8e his head He does not hear the so#nd of someone creeping

#p stealthily behind and only groans a little as his throat is c#t The g#ard9s body falls to

the dirt and his m#rderer p#lls the body into a nearby b#sh

The man is :oined by another and together they #se their bron;e daggers <stolen of

bartered from their corr#pt g#ards= to hac0 thro#gh the ropes that tie the gates closed

) drum beat! a !lo$ monotonou! beat a! )mber*! body i! laid on top of the pyre and her

go$n draped over the !ide!% he $omen of the temple form a circle around the pyre

holding they flaming torche! in front of their veiled face! $hile )gne! circle! the pyre

three time! before approaching the bron7e bull%




(*)+SS

4h *reat >inos% our 0ather and 3reator of all things!

4ur teacher and bringer of light in the darkness/

take pity upon your suffering sisters this evening!

0or #e have lost a friend% a dearly loved >other%

Daughter and Sister to us all!

We give her body to you no# so that you may take

her to your sanctuary% rise her spirit to the

stars upon your great horns and sho# her the peace

and beauty of your love!

With this fire #e give her mortal remains to you

as a sacrifice and hope that you #ill look do#n

from your realm and bring destruction upon those

responsible for taking her from us so early in this/

her divine life!

he people trembled a! the!e $ord! brought forth a great !norting and groaning from the

bull*! no!tril! and it! head ri!e! up and do$n thru!ting it! horn! angrily into the air%

)gne! then turn! and thro$! her torch onto the pyre% )! it !tri'e! the top of the !tructure

all the other! thro$ their! creating a great fire in their mi!t!%

$n (lbion the gates are pulled aside and a large group of men emerge carrying stolen bron?e

s#ords! ( party of guards encounter them and they start fighting #hile others behind them

take torches and burn the slave encampment! (s the flames burn brightly the slaves overcome




their guards and run for the forest and the cover of darkness leaving a pile of dead bodies and

the burnt out encampment behind them!

n ?abylon the King !tep! from hi! Dia7 and approache! the flaming pyre% he circle of

veiled $omen !$eep! a!ide and allo$! him to enter% &e ta'e! hi! golden cro$n and thro$!

it into the flame! before turning and returning to the palace% /ach of hi! !ub9ect! then

approach the pyre and to!! flo$er! into the flame! and bo$ before the adept! and )gne!

$ho !tand before the bull in !ilence a! their !i!ter i! con!umed by flame!% When )mber*!

body i! lo!t in a fierce !ea of flame one of the $omen thro$! her belonging! onto the pyre(

it i! at that point that )gne! !ee! !omeone in the cro$d%

She loo'! about her to en!ure that !he i! not being ob!erved before !tepping up to the dar'

figure $ho !tand! in !ilence $atching the !cene unfold! around him% &e !ee! her approach

and lift! hi! face to$ard! her%

(*)+SS

We need to talk about something of great importance/

be at my Cuarters #ithin the temple and midday tomorro#!

She did not need to !ay another $ord and !lipped bac' into the !hado$! before re9oining

her !i!ter! in front of the bull a! the pyre burned inten!ely% )gne! loo'ed above the flame!

and a! !mall !par'! left from the top of the bla7ing inferno !he !a$ them lifted into the




heaven! by the heat% here- $ithin the belt of +rion- !he !a$ a comet flying and 'ne$ that

it $a! an omen for thing! that $ere to follo$%

SCENE '. NT DA+

he follo$ing day 8emet i! let into )gne!* apartment! on the !econd floor of the temple%

)! the door clo!e! behind him )gne! emerge! and hold! her inde, finger to her lip! and

!he $al'! to$ard! him dre!!ed in a clean $hite chiffon dre!!% &e !ee! that !he loo'! tired

and a little !tre!!ed but under!tand! that !he $ant! him to remain !ilent%

She lead! him acro!! the room and place! him in an alcove behind a thic' curtain near the

$indo$ a! a tap came from the door%

(*)+SS

6Whispering7 Do not say a #ord!

She turned to the door%

3ome!

8/8/ hear! the door open and !omeone !tep into the room% he !ound of footfall!

alerted him that !omeone had cro!!ed the room to$ard! her a! the door clo!ed% &e then

heard the !ound of a man*! voice%

ou #anted to see me9




(*)+SS

es/ $ #as surprised to see you there last night!

>()

Were you9

(*)+SS

es% considering!!!

) thic' !ilence befell the room and 8emet could almo!t feel the ri!ing ten!ion from behind

the curtain%

MAN

3onsidering #hat9

(*)+SS!

et&s not be coy% $ kno# that it #as guilt that brought

you there! Perhaps you #ere #aiting for the spirit of

my sister to rise up and forgive you for your actions!

4nly the living can forgive% you #ill have #ait until

you oin her to hear her voice announcing your

rehabilitation/ in this life forgiveness can only be

earned through penance! (re you ready to repent9

>()




( pennant you say/ should $ kneel before the bull and #eep9

(*)+SS

ou should kno# that the spirits talk to me and

$ kno# that #hich you think is hidden! $ Kno#!!!!

>()

Then you #ill kno# that #hat $ did #as done for love!

$f $ have anything to regret it is that $ allo#ed the person

$ #anted to spend my life #ith to get a#ay!

$ sa# you #orking here% in this city #aiting for a time

#hen you could rise up and take your place at the head

of this order of maids!

Kno#ing that #hile she lived you #ould be condemned

to spend your life here% second best to the role you #ere

destined to play!

That of $psissamus of the 4rder!

( role that #ould allo# you to take a partner if

you #ished! Then $ #ould% perhaps% have my opportunity

to have you once more!

(*)+SS

This is your motive for taking the life of my sister9

ou did this for me/ for us9




>()

4f course!

(*)+SS

$ loved someone once! >any seasons ago #hen $ #as

in the first flush of youth!

,e #as a tall and handsome young man% #ell spoken

#ith the cool confidence of the educated and a certain

#ild side that made him enigmatic and attractive!

$ #atched him gro#! 4ur t#o families #ere close and as #e

both matured into young adults $ found myself #allo#ing

in his clear blue eyes% laying in my bed dreaming for his

flushed red lips and hoping one day that our fingers

#ould ent#ine and #e&d find love together!

>()

$t sounds familiar! What happened to your love9

(*)+SS

$t turned out to be a dream! 0or as $ got closer to that boy%

that man% $ sa# beyond his good looks and confident manner!

That behind these shallo# signs a mind lurked that #as

full of #ickedness and terror!

$ sa# a beautiful youth become a cruel and #icked man%




#hose thoughts #ere full of hatred and bile even his colourful

clothing and smart language could not cover his evilness for long!

+ventually everyone #ould become a#are of his conceit and

hard"heart! Seeing the brute he had become!

.efore that happened $ took myself a#ay from the #orld!

$ hid myself a#ay in this order to ensure that never again

#ould my senses be blinded by the love of a man!

>()

Do $ kno# this person% your th#arted lover9

(*)+SS

ou should do/ it #as you Gasbar!

G(S.(-

What% and you never thought to tell me ho# you felt9

(*)+SS

$ #as thoughtful enough to see ho# you developed

before thro#ing myself to your feet and s#earing undying

love/ no# $ kno# that $ #as right to #alk a#ay and

bring myself here!

G(S.(-




.ut imagine #hat else you #ill have once you become leader

of this band of #itches/ #ith me at your side #e #ill have

the po#er to take on anyone!

(*)+SS

What makes you so conceited that% even after ackno#ledging

the murder of my beautiful sister% you&d still believe that

$ #ould #ant to spend my life in your shado#9

G(S.(-

3ome no#% she #as a #itch and as such deserved to die!

ou did not see her in the mist of the fight invoking

daemons to rise from the tips of her fingers!

They then e8ploded in tiny sharp fragments and tore

my men into ribbons/ killing them all!

$ sa# it all% she had to die before anyone else #as killed

#ith her demonic spells!

(*)+SS

So you #ere the leader of an ambush/ it gets #orse!

,o# many of your men lay in #ait to set upon my sister9

G(S.(-

$t #asn&t like that/ #e #ere #aiting for the old man and the

boy/ it #as they #ho #e #anted! She ust presented an




easy target!

Suddenly the curtain pulled to one !ide and 8/8/ !tood pointing hi! !$ord at E)S?)5%

>+>+T

ou #ill die for your crimes!

G(S.(-

4h (gnes% you should have said you had guests!!!!!

>+>+T

$ heard it all% no# Gasbar $ shall go to the king and tell him

#hat $ heard! ,e no doubt #ill order your arrest and free

my companions!

G(S.(-

ou #ish! $ have kno#n the king since he #as a small

boy and his father before that!

What makes you think he #ill take the #ord of some

greasy% little (rab against that of his longest friend9

(*)+SS

$ #ill make sure he does!




G(S.(-

4h dear little (gnes% #hat plans $ had for you! $ guess

you #ill have to do as you #ish/ even though $ kno# he

#on&t believe you! What proof do you have beside the

#ord and of this greasy interloper9

(*)+SS

We have the arro# that you used to pierce my sister&s heart!

(n arro# forged in this city% at your reCuest!

G(S.(-

$ kno# of this so called arro#head/ one of thousands made

every season! et the man #ho can prove it be

very sure of his #ords because $ shall hold him

to account if he is not believed!

>+>+T

ou think you are so clever% don&t you9 3ome let us go

to the king and see #hat his udgement decides!

S)ENE 1% NT DA+

)t the palace the 'ing i! !urrounded by hi! court- he !tand! in the middle of a group of

men trying to get hi! attention and intere!t in their individual plan! and idea!% &e loo'!




bored and <uite relieved $hen a group of guard! approach% he courtier*! !tep a!ide a! the

leading guard addre!!e! the 'ing%

"UAR3

our royal highness% there is a party #ho #ish to speak

privately to you9

K$)*

$ am very busy today #hat #ith ord Games& plans to build

a house% the matter of a falling bridge% erm!!!

3,()3+4-

!!Don&t forget the funding of the #ido#s!!!!

K$)*

es% the #ido#s and #hatnot% no# #hat does this party

#ant and ho# long #ill it take9

*U(-D

$t is (gnes% the high priestess of the temple and #ith

her Gasbar% your royal subect!

K$)*

(gnes% to see me! Well sho# her in!!!!




*U(-D

She has asked for a private audience sir!!!

K$)*

)onsense% sho# her in at once!!!!

he guard! go and return moment! later being follo$ed by )gne!% n her $a'e $al'

8/8/ and E)S?)5- all three bo$ lo$ a! the 'ing !it! upon hi! throne%

K$)*

(gnes% ho# very nice to see you again% the very sad

occasion of our last meeting #as only made bearable

by your presence! $ trust the temple is getting back to its

former self no# that your sister has been risen up to >inos!

(*)+SS

$t is about my sister that $ trouble you today% Sir!!!

K$)*

Trouble% never! )o# #hat can $ do for you!!!!Speak up!

(*)+SS

(t this very moment you have four friends of this land

in the palace cells/ condemned to die!




K$)*

-eally% if they are friends #hy are they condemned

to die! We do not usually kill friends% do #e9

3,()3+4-

Perhaps in the time of your father% Sir! .ut not recently!

K$)*

There you are% $ thought not!!!

(*)+SS

They are condemned to die for the savage murder of

my sister% (mber% the $psissamus of >edin!

K$)*

-eally% and you consider them friends still9

(*)+SS

$ do% Sir!

K$)*

(nd #hy #ould that be9




(*)+SS

.ecause they #ere not responsible for my sister&s

brutal slaying!

They are the victims of a devious plot and the real

murderer is free amongst us!!!

K$)*

-eally% the victims of a plot% you say!

(*)+SS

$ do!

K$)*

(nd the real murderer is free amongst us9

(*)+SS

,e is!

K$)*

3ome no#% #e do not usually make such mistakes%

do #e9

3,()3+4-

Perhaps in your father&s time% my lord!!!!




K$)*

There you are% so #hat makes you think a mistake

has happened in this instance9

(*+)SS

The real murderer has confessed his sin to my sir!

K$)*

-eally9

(*)+SS

es% sir!

K$)*

3onfessed% to you9

(*)+SS

es Sir% today!!!

G(S.(-

So this #oman claims% but $ have a different version

of events% sir!!!




>+>+T

Don&t listen to this vagabond/ he is a liar% sir!!!

K$)*

+8cuse me% do $ kno# this person9

(*)+SS

,e is my #itness% Sir! ,e overheard the confession

of the murderer of my sister The $psisssamus of >edin!

G(S.(-

That is a do#nright lie!

>+>+T

$t is not a lie% $ heard% #ith my o#n ears!!!!

K$)*

,o# very confusing! Tell me Sister% #hat is this man

confessing to9

(*)+SS

)ot he% Sire! ,e is here to bear #itness against

Gasbar!




0or it is he #ho murdered my dear Sister!

G(S.(-

$+S=

>+>+T

)o% it is the truth! $ heard him confess no less

than a fe# moments before #e came here!!!

K$)*

3onfess9

>+>+T

es Sir!

K$)*

To the murder of your sister9

>+>+T

$ndeed!

K$)*

Well% this is very serious% err%

#hat do #e do in such cases9




3,()3+4-

$f $ may interect your -oyal ,ighness!!!

K$)*

Please do!

3,()3+4-

our father #ould ask both parties to e8plain

themselves and then seek further evidence if

the case is still unclear!

K$)*

Then that is #hat $ shall do% err% have you further evidence

that my loyal subect Gasbar is responsible for the

murder of our dear sister/ beside the #ord of this% err%

visitor to my realm9

(*)+SS

We do!

K$)*

(h=




) !tifled groan filled the room a! tho!e pre!ent pu!hed for$ard! to hear better $hat $a!

being !aid%

>+>+T

%Ta&ing the arro(head 'ro* his poc&et and presenting it to the !ing)

,ere Sir% the very tool of murder% taken from the heart

of the victim follo#ing her demise! $t #as made in this

city by the very smith #ho provides Gasbar #ith his arro#s!

K$)*

$s this true9

G(S.(-

$t may look like the kind of arro#head $ use but surely

there are thousands of these in the city/ anyone could

have used it to murder the girl!

K$)*

True!!!

(*)+SS

.ut today this man confessed that he had killed the

lady so that $ may take her place!

Saying that he did it for me% for us% so #e may run the




order together in some corruption of the role!

G(S.(-

ies% all lies! This #oman considers herself above all

others if she thinks that men% or a man% me for instance/

#ould kill for her hand!

The suggestion is ridiculous!

(*)+SS

$ have no reason to lie! The people in your cells have no

relation to me and $ am motivated only by a sense of ustice

to#ards my dearly departed sister!

K$)*

(nd #hat of you% #hat are you prepared to come before

me and s#ear against this man!

>+>+T

$ do it because one of those accused is my rider! $ am the

o#ner of the (rabian colt #ho #on last month&s race!

Gasbar lost his cro#n that day and it is surely this

that motivates him against my friend!

K$)*

Then it is decided! We shall let >inos udge them both in




battle! $ decree that both Gasbar and your rider #ill meet

tomorro# on the track! $nstead of gold they #ill race for

their freedom and #hoever #ins #ill #alk free!

The looser #ill die a murderer&s death/ have you any doubts

about such a contest9

>+>+T

)one Sir% not only is my rider more skilled but he has the

#inds of ustice blo#ing behind him!

$ #ould #ager my entire fortune on a favourable outcome!

K$)*

(nd you Gasbar9

G(S.(-

Well!!!$ #ill race and $ #ill #in! This man is a fool if he thinks

this% this boy can beat me again!

The last time #e met $ #as too confident! $ did not try hard

enough/ tomorro# $ #ill have >inos pushing me!

The outcome is a foregone conclusion!

K$)*

Then >inos #ill decide! .ut (rab% kno# this! $f the boy

looses $ #ill have title over his life and over that of the




horse! ou agree to this!

>+>+T

Without doubt/ let >inos decide!

S)ENE 1& E*T DA+

he cro$d! are thic' around the race trac' a! the 'ing $ave! from hi! Dia7% he $omen

!urround the bron7e bull holding flaming torche! a! trumpet! !ound% Suddenly a hu!h

fall! acro!! the cro$d and the $omen lo$er their torche! a! )./SS !tep! onto the trac'

carrying red velvet cu!hion% She $al'! !teadily to$ard! the Dia7 and 'neel! before the

'ing%

) deep drone !$eep! acro!! the !cene a! E)S?)5 enter! upon hi! blac' hor!e no longer

adorned in heavy bron7e medal!% &e doe! a circuit an come! to a halt in front of the 'ing%

hen another drone announce! the arrival of U&U5- $earing hi! golden cro$n of

laurel% he cro$d cheer a! he too doe! a circuit before pulling up be!ide E)S?)5%

&e ta'e! off the laurel cro$n and place! it upon the velvet cu!hion $hich )./SS pa!!e!

to the 'ing*! valet% he 'ing !tand! and addre!!e! the cro$d%

!N"

People% today these riders race not for glory% not for gold!

)ot even the love of you% our #onderful population!

Today they race for their freedom!



2'' The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

n the cro$d- by the trac'*! entrance 8/8/ turn! to )D5US and !narl!%

>+>+T

(ll this hot air% let them race% look at my dear (rabia%

she is raring to get on #ith it!

(D-$US

Patience% my friend! $t #ill be the time soon!

K$)*

>inos the bull #ill spur his hero home! 0or #hoever

#ins the laurel cro#n #ill #alk from this place a free man%

the looser #ill suffer a murder&s death! (re you both ready!

?oth rider! nod a! the 'ing i! handed a $hite cloth% hey line up in front of the bull and

the horn! !ound% he 'ing rai!e! the cloth and a! the horn! !top- !ilence erupt!%

he cloth drop! and the race begin!%

With ! !nort and puff both hor!e! bur!t into motion a! the cro$d !tart to !cream% he dry

earth turn! to a cloud of du!t a! eight hoof! !tamp into it% )pproaching the fir!t bend

U&U5 turn! to !ee E)S?)5 !narling li'e a mad ban!hee a! hi! free hand thra!he! hi!

!teed*! rump%




)pproaching the !tart line U&U5 i! 9u!t in the lead a! both hor!e! dig into the !oil for

grip a! they thunder around the bend- pa!t the great bron7e !tatue of 8ino! and onto the

!traight% +ut of the corner of hi! eye U&U5 !ee! four of E)S?)5*! minion! !tanding on

either !ide of the trac'% E)S?)5 thro$! him a $ic'ed !narl a! the blac' hor!e !lip! by in a

ha7e of dry du!t% ?efore he could react )&U5 !ee! t$o of the minion! holding a long thin

cord $hich cro!!e! the trac' and i! held on the other !ide by t$o other!%

he )rabic hor!e 9ump! the cord but it*! bac' hoof catche! the cord ma'ing it !tumble a

little% hi! $a! all E)S?)5 needed to pu!h him!elf for$ard! until a $hole hor!e! length

!eparated them%

UT,U-

3ome on girl% you can do it!

U&U5 $hi!per! to hi! hor!e a! they approach the !tart line once again% ?oth hor!e!

!tamped around the bend in another cloud of dry du!t% U&U5 loo'! at E)S?)5*! rear

and dig! hi! heel! in to urge hi! ride on$ard

he men on either !ide of the trac' ready them!elve! again a! both rider approach- $aiting

for E)S?)5 to pa!! they pull the cord hard trying to trip U&U5 again% he $hite )rabic

9ump! the cord $ith no difficulty and U&U5 manage! to grab the cord and pull all four

of the men into a !pra$ling heap acro!! the trac'% he cord catche! the inner $all and

hang! limply a! the four men run bac' into the cro$d%



2': The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

hey approach the !tart line again a! the cro$d !tand! in rapture!- e,cited but the drama

unfolding before them% 8/8/ !cream! from the !ide a! the t$o ride pa!t in a cloud of

du!t- a! they thunder do$n the !traight again E)S?)5 turn! to !ee ho$ far U&U5 i!

behind him%

&e laugh! manically !eeing a hor!e! length bet$een them both and only turn! bac' to !ee

the !tray cord in hi! $ay at the la!t moment% &i! hor!e trie! to 9ump but it! rear hoof

catche! the cord and both E)S?)5 and the blac' hor!e go !pra$ling acro!! the trac'%

U&U5 cannot believe hi! luc' a! he thunder! by and i! galloping alone to$ard the fini!h

line% )./SS 9ump! for 9oy a! !he !ee! the du!t !ettle and out of it U&U5 and the $hite

)rabic hor!e bur!t through the line% he cro$d roar their approval a! U&U5 come! to a

halt ne,t to the Dia7% &e di!mount! a! )./SS run! to greet him%

hey both loo' behind to !ee E)S?)5 leading hi! in9ured hor!e to the fini!h line

!urrounded by the K.*! men at !pear point%%

he 'ing !tand! and approache! )./SS and U&U5 follo$ed by the valet carrying the

red cu!hion upon $hich !it! the gold cro$n of laurel%

K$)*

>inos has spoken!



2'; The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

he cro$d erupt $ith applau!e a! the King pic'! up the cro$n and place! it upon

U&U5! head% 8/8/- )D5US and /SU run from the cro$d and 9oin U&U5

oung UT,U-% you have #on your freedom!

&e turn! to loo' at E)S?)5 and !ha'e! hi! head%

Take this murderer a#ay!

SC// =2 D);

U&U5- 8/5) )D5US )D /SU are !tanding by )D5US villa% he hor!e! are

being loaded $ith good! and they are preparing to leave%

(D-$US

,ave a good ourney my friends! UT,U-% >erlain%

it #as a pleasure meeting you both!

>+-($)

The pleasure #as ours% thank you for your help/ there #ill

al#ays be a place for you at our table%



2'@ The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

UT,U-

$ #ill take good care of +SU$T for you& thank you

for gifting her to us!

(D-$US

$&m sure she can take care of herself! ook (fter him%

+SU$T

$ #ill! Thank you for my freedom!

(D-$US

ou have earned it!

Eu!t then )./SS come! from the villa and approache! 8/5)% Sarah !tep! to )driu!

!ide and grip! hi! hand%

(*)+SS

Take this% please >erlain% #henever you see it in the

future think of me and my dear sister% she #ould

have #anted you to have this!

She hand! over a long parcel $rapped in paper and !tring%



2'A The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

>+-($)

$ #ill think of you and your sisters each time $ see

the moon shine brightly in a summer sky!

The scent of you #ill forever be #aiting in a #oodland

glade!

This gift #ill be cherished forever!

SC// =3 /: .&

Under a de!ert !'y the four- U&U5- /SU- 8/) and 8/8/ are camped around

a !mall fire- the hor!e! re!ting behind them%

>+>+T

So many stars% $t&s as if the heavens go on forever!

+SU$T

ook% a shooting star% Cuickly% make a #ish! $t&s said a

shooting star #ill al#ays make a #ish come true!

UT,U-



2'B The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

What did you #ish for9

+SU$T

$ don&t kno#% $ suppose that my mother is happy%

#here ever she is! es% that&s #hat $ #ish! What about you9

UT,U-

This land seems so happy% there is no poverty here%

no starving children! +veryone seems like they are

industrious and live #ell through their efforts!

$ #ish it #as so in our land!

>+-($)

These people are enoying the fruits of peace! When

there is peace people can get on and enoy life/

#ar causes everyone to suffer!

UT,U-

.ut #hy are our people suffering% #hy9

>+>+T

$t seems to me that the army that has invaded your land

are there for something% Something they cannot get in

their o#n land% something #hich they did not #ant to

pay for!




Perhaps your land has something they covert

UT,U-

When $ get home $ #ill purge them from the island%

drive them into the sea! Then $ #ill find out #hat they

#anted to steal from us and sell it to them!

Then our people #ill live like these people do!

$n comfort% #ithout #ant%! $ #ill see to it!

>+-($)

The young al#ays #ant to change things for the better!

$t is ust the greed of bitter old men #ho take those

dreams and sCuander them!

>+>+T

The young are a tide that come to #ash the old a#ay! Some

do it #ith a #ord others do it #ith a s#ord!

S#ords are all that some bitter old men understand!

UT,U-

When #e left our home #e #ere using stone tools%

stone arro# head and blunt rocks for hammers!

Seeing the technology in this land has sho#n me ust

ho# back#ard #e are compared to the rest of the #orld!

$f #e #ant to change% this technology% must come to our




land and $ intend to take it there!

The reason #e #ere forced into slavery #as because our

enemies had metal s#ords and against them our tools

turned to dust! $ #ant to go back and sho# my people

ho# to make metal% s#ords and knives%

chisels and hammers% pots and pans!

$ #ant us to come into the modern age%

$ #ant to bring civilisation home!

>+-($)

We have much #ork to do if that&s the case!

+SU$T

ou #ill have to find fit men #illing to train and learn

ho# to fight! ou #ill have to seek out those #ho are

#illing to trust their lives to you% to follo# you into the

pit of battle and slay your oppressors!

Do these people e8ist in your land or have they #ithered

into the night!

UT,U-

We are a strong race% #e #ere let do#n by our technology%

nothing more !




.ut $&m sure that as $ speak% some #ill be hiding a#ay in

the forest and hills% #aiting for the call to arms!

)ot all have been made slaves% (s you are my udge%

they a#ait the da#n #hen the sun #ill rise in our enemy&s

eyes and blood #ill soak the land!

They are #aiting for a leader to follo#!

+SU$T

(re you this leader they a#ait% or are you ust

a bag of hot air9

UT,U-

>ock me if you #ant% but $ am being serious!

$ am ready to go back and find my army%

$ am ready to train them and make them the soldiers #e

need to free the land% are you #ith me!

+SU$T

4f course% #herever you go% #hatever it takes!

UT,U-

>erlain% #hat about you9

>+-($)




ou do not even have to ask my young friend!

>+>+T

*ood luck to you% $ cannot oin you unfortunately

because $ have a business here to run and my animals

are dependent upon me making it a success!

UT,U-

ou don&t have to e8plain my dearest friend!

$t is partly due to you that #e have found #hat #e

need to defeat those #ho chase us a#ay in the first place!

4ne day $ #ill invite you over to my table and let you

see #hat your efforts have achieved!

>+>+T

$ #ill look for#ards to that day! et&s drink to the

future! (h% another shooting star% it&s an omen of good!

The gods are behind you young man/ see that% they

are blessing you #ith their lights!

U&U5 loo'! acro!! at 8/5) and !ee! him holding the parcel )./SS gave him

earlier that day%

UT,U-




What is that9 $ sa# her hand it to you back in the city

and #ondered #hat it #as!

&e $atche! a! 8/5) un$rap! the parcel% Suddenly the light from the fire catche!

!hiny metal%

$t&s (mber&s s#ord% $ thought they #ere supposed to

burn all her belongings!

>+>+T

That glorious piece of the smith&s art #ould not have

burnt% tarnished perhaps% but never burnt!

$t is a magnificent #eapon% #hy did she give it to you9

>+-($)

+sa Kali (kbar% the #oman of the #ater!

$ believe she gave it to UT,U-!

UT,U-

To me% but #hy9

>+-($)

Why anyone #ould be given a s#ord/ to smite thy

enemies of course! 3ome% take it from me!




UT,U-

(re you sure9

>+-($)

$f you are to lead our people from slavery you #ill

need to have something they #ould #ant to follo#!

With this in your hands they #ill kno#%

#ithout any doubt% that you #ill #in victory for them!

$t is not ust a s#ord% it is a symbol of your po#er%

take it and be proud! 0ate has delivered this to you%

use it #ell!

&e ta'e! the !$ord and e,amine! it clo!ely% ?efore &olding it above hi! head%

UT,U-

This s#ord is the #arrant $ have sought to lead my people%

#hen they see it in my hand they #ill kno# that $ have

come to set them free!

That the gods have ordained this!

$ s#ear% under this desert sky% that $ shall take this blade

back to my troubled land an use it to lead my people

from slavery!

That this edge of steel #ith cut through the necks of my

enemies and make them Cuell at my feet!




+SU$T

*et you!

>+>+T

eave the boy alone% he&s taking on a brave role%

to do this thing you need to% at first% talk yourself

into it/ eh UT,U-!9

>+-($)

This boy #as born to take the role of leader of his

people! They are #aiting for him to return and help

them rise up/ if he needs to practice some rhetoric to do

this effectively then so be it!

ou carry on UT,U-% they are not mocking you% they

are supporting you!

UT,U-

$t&s too late no#% $&ve lost the thread $ #as follo#ing!

)ever mind% on the day $ guess it #ill all come to me!

+SU$T

So #ho are they9

>+-($)




Who9

+SU$T

These men #ho have taken your land% #ho are they%

#hat do they #ant9

>+-($)

(ll $ kno# is that they come from >iddle +urope%

the .lack 0orest!

+ric The .oneless leads them% a foul% gross giant of a

man!

So bloated by his gluttony that he has to be carried

upon a sleigh!

(s to #hat he #ants!

What does any pig #ant9

,e #ants more=

UT,U-

,e #ants it all! Well $ am ready no# to give it to him%

right through the heart!

SC// == /: .&




?ac' in )lbion armoured !oldier! guard heavy cart! full of oar% Slave! pull the cart!

through a thic'ly $ooded glade and are $hipped $henever they !lo$% Suddenly e,pertly

aimed !ling! !hoot heavy !tone! through the air and the!e 'noc' the front hor!emen from

their !teed!% ) volley of arro$! follo$ and the !oldier! fall% he !lave! pic' up heavy piece!

of oar and attac' the fallen !oldier!% hey are 9oined by men $ho come from the tree!

armed $ith !tone tool! to !laughter the fallen hor!emen ta'ing their !$ord! and armour%

U()

.ring this one #ith us!

SC// => .&

Deep $ithin the fore!t the captured !oldier i! !trung to a frame and beaten% ) cro$d of

men and $omen $atch in the light of torche!- their face! dirty are ten!e $ith anger a! the

man i! <ue!tioned by one of U)*! men%

W4-T

Tell us% #hy are you making us dig this rock for you/

#hat value has it9

>()

$&ve said! $t is dragon feed!

W4-T

-ubbish% $ s#ear you #ill die tonight unless you start




telling us the truth% #hat value has this rock!

Why is it #orth more than our blood% Tell me=

U()

These #eapons you use against us% ho# are they made9

>()

The dragon!!!!

W4-T

ies=

&e !ma!he! the man in the face.

>()

$t&s true% the dragon dra#s the s#ords from this stone!

The rock goes in and s#ords come out% $ lie not!!!

U()

$ say this% if any man can dra# a s#ord from this%

a pile of dusty stone/ surely he #ould be a

king amongst us!

hree !tranger! $ho have !tood in !ilence at the bac' of the tent pull bac' their hood! and

!tep for$ard!%




UT,U-

$ am such a man!

he a!!embled pull !$ord! on the three $ho form a defen!ive triangle ta'ing their o$n

!$ord! out in re!pon!e- U) !ee! he $ho !po'e i! armed $ith the mo!t elaborate $eapon

ever !een !tep! for$ard to loo' clo!er%

U()

What% #ho speaks there9

>+-($)

$t is young UT,U-% he has returned to lead you!

U) !tep! to$ard! the young man and loo'! into hi! eye!- hi! face !tony and ten!e% &e

then loo'! to$ard! 8/5) and !ha'e! hi! head before brea'ing into a !mile%

U()

UT,U-% it is you! $ #as told you #ere dead but no%

my eyes do not deceive% here you are% gro#n into a

strapping young man #ith >erlain beside you!

.y the *ods/ $ am ama?ed!

ook everyone% it&s the old King&s young son% returned

a man! .ring out the mead/ this is a time to celebrate

after our years of torment!




S)ENE 12 E*T N-HT

)fter a period of celebration U) ta'e! U&U5 to one !ide and a!'! him to $al' for a

moment%

U()

,o# did you find our encampment9

UT,U-

ou forget $ used to play in these trees as a child!

>y father al#ays said this is #here $ should hide

should anything happen to him/ #e&ve spent a fe#

nights looking for fires in the trees% it #asn&t too hard!

U()

What you said earlier% about dra#ing s#ords from the stone%

is it true! ,ave you a dragon in your bag9

3an you dra# a s#ord from stone9

UT,U-

$t&s not magic my friend! >erlain and $ have learnt so

much since #e have been a#ay!

$ have discovered that these invaders are here to take

this stone% oar they call it% and steal it from us!

0or it is the essence of their po#er!




Something they have not in their land and rather than

barter for it they have used their superior kno#ledge to

enslave us and steal it a#ay!

$ never sa# it before% Ulan% #hen $ #as a child! .ut since

#e have returned $ see it every#here!

This #hole peninsular is rich #ith elements scarce in

other parts!

This dry grey rock they mine is the very substance of

.ron?e% my friend!

U()

.ron?e9

UT,U-

ou are familiar #ith the gold that #e find from time

to time in the rivers!

$t&s a valuable element #hich

people covert and use for barter!

U()

es% but it&s useless for tools or #eapons!

UT,U-



2:' The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

Well gold comes from the rocks high in the nearby

mountains and it is #ashed do#nstream #henever there

is a storm!

$t is a soft metal!

.ron?e is a similar% but made from t#o such metal

elements%

Tin and copper!

$ have so much to sho# you and our people!

With this kno#ledge #e shall rise up against those

that enslave us! We #ill free our land and lead our people

out of poverty!

The key to this po#er is kno#ledge/ my friend!

$ have seen% only a fe# miles from here% a copper pit

#ith enough ra# element to last a thousand years!

)e8t to it #as the biggest tin mine $ have ever seen%

as #e speak +rick forces our people to dig these elements

from the earth! Then% using his superior kno#ledge% he

combines them into bron?e!

.ron?e is #hat their s#ords are beaten from%

it is hard and sharp and can forged into many other things%

armour and shields

and so much else!

$t is #hole ne# technology Ulan% and #ith it #e can force

these bastards back into the sea!




U()

.ut #e have captured +rick&s men and tortured them!

They have spoken% as you% that the s#ords are dra#n from

stone% but also that dragons help them!

$ have seen a shed in their camp #ith fire and sparks

and noise so frightening that $ feared to approach it!

$t&s said there they keep a dragon there/ is this true9

UT,U-

$t&s true 6he giggles) $ too have brought a dragon back

#ith me% #ould you like to see it9

U()

ou lie9

UT,U-

(ll #ill be clear to you eventually my dear Ulan!

.efore you meet the dragon #e need to make charcoal!

U()

3harcoal9



2:: The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

UT,U-

*et your men to gather #ood! The dragon #ill need food!

SC// = /: D);

We !ee a montage of U&U5 directing the fore!t people to build a !ealed charcoal fire-

then $hen the coal i! ready- !ma!hing the oar! and ma'ing them ready% hen they

!laughter goat! and ma'e bello$! from the !'in!%

UT,U-

)o# you #ill see our dragon!

&e pull! a a!be!to! pot from a bag and hold! it up for U) and hi! men to !ee% hey

$atch a! he place! it in the centre of the charcoal and put! oar in!ide before putting a lid

on top%

Pump the bello#s men% the coals need to get plenty of air!

he bello$! are pumped by t$o !trong men and the flame! !eep around the pot%

U()

What is that in the pot9

>+-($)

( critical amount of tin to copper rock!



2:; The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

2 percent tin to copper% this is crucial if you

#ant a good% hard edge!

+SU$T

Use my s#ord as a mould! ,ere!

She hand! her !$ord to 8erlain $ho ta'e! a tray of damp fine !and and pre!!e! the blade

of her !$ord into it leaving a deep thin trough%

UT,U-

Keep pumping the air into the fire men% #e #ant

to get to the heat of the sun into the dragoon!

>()

This is hard #ork!

>+-($)

4nce you see the result of your labours you #ill

be happy #ith the effort!

U()

To think% this #hole land is nothing but vast pits

of these t#o stones/ no #onder #e have been invaded!

UT,U-



2:@ The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

Don&t #orry friend! This kno#ledge is going to propel

our land into the future! We #ill become the

most important and #ealthy of all lands!

4nce #e rid ourselves of +rick and his men #e #ill

sell this rock across the seas #here copper is plentiful

but tin is rare and make our fortune! 3ome boys% it&s nearly glo#ing #hite hot!

8erlain ta'e! a !et of tongue! and lift! the lid of the pot%

>+-($)

$t&s ready% stand back!

&e u!e! the tongue! to lift the pot carefully from the fire and !tart! to pour the molten

metal into the mould% he a!!embled ga!p at the beauty of it%

U()

So that&s ho# you dra# a s#ord from a stone%

it&s miraculous!

>+-($)

)o% not a miracle% ust science my friend!

)othing but science!

We !ee another montage of the !$ord being beaten- !harpened and poli!hed before a hilt i!

tapped home and a pommel attached% U&U5 pre!ent! it to U)%



2:A The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

UT,U-

,ere% a token of our friendship!

U) drop! to one 'nee and bo$! hi! head% U&U5 tap! the !$ord on the man*!

!houlder! and announce!%

UT,U-

(rise% knight! Take this #eapon and use it #ell!

U()

Thank you% my King! $ dedicate myself to you in the

fight to come!

With this #eapon $ #ill defend the realm% the people

and your court!

UT,U-

Thank you% friend! Well% fill the dragoon to its brim%

#e have #ork to do!

>+-($)

+suit9



2:B The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

+SU$T

es9

>+-($)

*et them to melt some tin for me%

$ need to make something!!!!

SC// =A /: D);

U&U5 $atche! from an open tent a! /SU !ho$! a group of men ho$ to u!e their

$eapon!% She ta'e! each one through a group of e,erci!e! and end! up di!arming them

all% )fter a $hile !he $ipe! the !$eat from her bro$n and 9oin! U&U5%

+SU$T

$t&s impossible% these men are useless!

UT,U-

*ive them time% any ne# technology takes time to

master and at least they&re enthusiastic!

+SU$T




Soon +rick #ill hear #e are forming an army to meet

him in battle% time #ill run out and $

don&t think #e #ill be ready!

She !it! be!ide him and ta'e! a drin' from a flagon of $ater%

Why did you not say% #hen #e first met% that you #ere

the rightful king of this land9

UT,U-

$t didn&t seem that important/ #hat is a king if his

land is taken any#ay! $ needed to ready myself Mand

in time% return as #e have% #ith the skills necessary

to combat my enemy!

So any#ay9

+SU$T

(ny#ay9 What=

UT,U-

)o# you kno# #e both have -oyal .lood in

our veins/

do you think

#e&d make a good marriage9




+SU$T

$s that a proposal9

UT,U-

4f all the #omen $ have ever met% only you

have ever e8cited me! $ #ill need someone at

my side #hen $ take my throne back and $ couldn&t

imagine anyone else $&d rather have!

+SU$T

>erlain told me you #ere betrothed so someone else%

that a love match #as made #hen you #ere a child!

What of her9

UT,U-

She must be dead! ou are speaking of Ulan&s daughter!

$f she #as a live she #ould be #ith him no#!

(s she is not $ must assume she #as killed in the years

$ have been gone!

+SU$T

Why don&t you ask him/ assumptions are never a good




substitute for the truth!

UT,U-

-ight no#% $ only have eyes for one! What #as arranged

#hen $ #as a child is gone% history!

(ll that matters is no#%

and right no# $ #ant you!

She ta'e! him into the tent and clo!e! the flap% U&U5 !it! on a bed made from cu!hion!

and !mile! a! !he remove! her armour% When !he !tand! na'ed he call! her to$ard! him%

ou have to most beautiful body a man could #ish for%

et me take you in my arms and feel you

become a #oman/ my #oman!

+SU$T

$ have al#ays been your #oman!

hey 'i!! and roll under the blan'et!%

S)ENE 14 NT DA+



2;' The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

8ean$hile in the protected confine! of the fortre!!- $here /ric' ha! made hi!

head<uarter! a Woman i! brought and forced to 'neel before him

+-$3K

$ have heard a story about you!

*W+)

This land has many stories!

+-$3K

This story is very interesting! $t is about t#o po#erful

families #ho feud over their o#n separate kingdoms!

4ne day% the heads of these families come together under

a flag of truce and decide to put their differences to one side!

They arrange a #edding bet#een the daughter of one

and the son of the other! J

( love match that #ould unite both kingdoms into one

great realm/ $ hear even a flag #as devised that consisted

of both king&s symbols and that% on the day the t#o are

oined% the flag #ould be raised to represent the coming

together of both houses! What do you kno# of this9

*W+)

( fanciful story% probably told to children




like other fairy stories!

+-$3K

$ have also heard that you #ere part of this intended

love match/ that you% yes you% are the daughter of one

of this $slands great families!

The heir to a throne/ ho# you say to that9

*W+)

ook at me% do $ look like $ come from a great family%

my hair is unkempt% my clothes torn!

Surely if this #as true $&d look like a princess%

not a beggar9

+-$3K

$Nm not sure!

&e clap! and a !oldier !tep! for$ard!%

Take this #ench and #ash her! Tell my ladies to dress

her in silk #ith ribbons in her hair as if she is a princess!

Then bring her back! $ #ill make my mind up then!

She i! dragged a$ay by the guard and $hen !he i! gone /ric' addre!!e! hi! court%



2;: The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

These revolutionaries in the forest cannot be caught or

killed #ith s#ords!

$&ve been trying to get rid of them for too long and still

they raid my mines and kill my men!

So% $ kno# their leader is this man% Ulan and $ believe this

is his daughter! So if s#ords #ill not bring him before me

to kneel/ perhaps marriage #ill!

(ny#ay% if she shares my bed and #e have a child%

that child #ill have a legitimate right to rule this land/

under my direction of course!

Then #ho cares about those rebels in the #oods%

they can stay there if they #ant/ forever

SC// =F /: D);

We find a !mall clearing in the tree! decorated $ith flo$er!- U&U5 !tand! before

8/5) dre!!ed in hi! Druid co!tume /SU i! lead through a !mall congregation

dre!!ed in flo$er! and a !il' veil by U)% &e place! her hand in U&U5*! and a

marriage ceremony begin!%

n the fortre!! before a flaming alter /5CK i! !eated% .W/ i! led through a !mall

congregation of armed men and forced to 'neel before /5CK% ) !ooth!ayer thro$! dry

bone! acro!! the altar before ta'ing a !tring of bead! and looping them around .W/*!

$ri!t% he he tie! the other and around /5CK! and rai!e! a 'nife above hi! head% he

!ooth!ayer ta'e! a !mall bird and !lit! it*! throat ma'ing the blood drip acro!! the bead!



2;; The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

and the ma'e! a mar' in blood on .W/! forehead% he )58/D men cheer and /5CK

drag! hi! bride to$ard! a bed behind the altar% .W/ !cream! a! !he i! forced to lay do$n

and a curtain i! pulled acro!!- only her !cream! indicate $hat i! happening beyond%

SC// >0 /: D);

U&U5 ride! a $hite hor!e and addre!!e! a large cro$d of people from a nearby to$n% &e

i! !urrounded by hi! men no$ dre!!ed in armour and carrying bron7e !$ord!% ) flag

flutter! in the $ind carrying hi! ne$ cre!tG a tuft of feather! overlaid by a !ilver !$ord

UT,U-

$ 3( ( >+) 40 T,+S+ P(-TS T4 G4$) > (->%

T,+-+ $S ( F$+ 3-+(TU-+ 4)D+-

W,4 S++KS )4T,$)* >4-+ T,() T4 +)S(F+ US (

()D T(K+ T,$S -+(>S -$3,+S (S ,$S 4W)!

T44 4)* ,(F+ 4U- 3,$D-+) *4)+ ,U)*-

W,$+ ,$S 0(T .+ SW++D%

T44 4)* ,(F+ 4U- W4>+) S+PT (4)+

W$T, 4) ( .44D+D >+>4- 40 4F+D 4)+S

T4 *+T T,+> T,-4U*, T,+ 4)* )$*,T!

$ >( 4) ,(F+ T,+ .4D 40 ( 4U)* >()

.UT $ ,(F+ T,+ ,+(-T 40 ( K$)*

()D ( K$)* 40 (.$4) (T T,(T!

$ ,(F+ SW4-) () 4(T, T,(T $ W$ )4T -+ST



2;@ The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

U)T$ T,$S S4 3(+D DUK+ 40 34-)W+

$S D-$F+) $)T4 T,+ S+(!

$ ,(F+ .++) (DF$S+D . S4>+ T4 )4T -$SK

> $0+ $) PUSU$T 40 GUST$3+

.UT T4 +T 4T,+-S S,+D T,+$- .44D $) > )(>+%

T4 .+ 0+(-0U ()D ,$D+!

$ S( T,$S% +T T-()TS ,$D+%

$ (> )4T ,+-+ 04- SP4-T 4- -+3-+(T$4)!

$ 34>+ T4 D4 .(TT+ ()D W$ 0$*,T 4- D$+

04- T,+ S(K+ 40 T,$S 34U)T- ()D > P+4P+!

$ 3())4T P-4>$S+ 4U *4D 4- P(

.UT $0 4U W4UD 34>+ ()D G4$) > (->

$ P-4>$S+ 4U T,$S!

W,+) T,+ T-()T S++S 4U- D+T+->$)(T$4)

()D S+0 -$*,T*$4U)+SS

,+ W$ TU-) ,$S ,+(D T4W(-DS T,+ S+(

()D W$S, ,+ ,(D )+F+- D(-+D -$+ UP 4U- .44D!

T,+) W$ 4U 34>+ 0$*,T 04-

T,$S K$)*D4>%

04- 0-++D4> ()D GUST$3+



2;A The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

()D 04- T,+ -$*,T T4 $F+ (S 0-++ >+)

$) ( P-4SP+-4US ()D 40 P+)T! $0 S4

( D4W) 4U- 0(-> T44S%

34>+ G4$) >+ ()D T,+S+ >+)%

> T-UST+D K)$*,TS/

04- T,+ S(K+ 40 4U- W$0+S%

4U- 3,$D-+) ()D

T,+ S(K+ 40 4U- 34U)T-!

T4*+T,+- W+ S,( >(K+ ( *-+(T F$3T4-

4F+- 4U- +)+>$+S ()D

4) T,+ W4-D 40 ( K$)*%

4U- F(4U- ()D .-(F+- W$ .+

-+W(-D+D 04U-04D!

W$ 4U 34>+% -$S+ UP ()D 0$*,T

3-4WD

es

UT,U-

T,+) *(T,+- .+,$)D > 0(* ()D

+T US *4 4)D+- T4 T,+ )+OT T4W)!

4U- G4U-)+ ST(-TS ,+-+ T4D(

.UT $) T,+ >4--4W $T W$ +)D



2;B The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

W$T, 4U- +)+>$+S .44D S4(K$)*

4U- 0$+DS%

W+ S,( >(K+ ( 3-4P 40 ,$S >+)

()D US+ 4U- ,4+S ()D S,+(-+S T4

3UT T,+$- ,+(DS $K+ T,+ +(-S 40

34-)/ (-+ 4U -+(D 04- T,+ 0$*,T9

T,+) 044W >+!

SC// >1 .&

/5CK i! !eated in a huge hall lit by torche!% &i! table i! overflo$ing $ith meat! and

$ine!% ?e!ide him !it! .W/ loo'ing bored and unhappy% he drun'en Du'e begin! a

!ong but !oon hu!he! $hen a guard $hi!per! in hi! ear% &e !it! up and !narl!%

+-$3K

,ave you all heard this% have you9

*W+)

Shut up% you&re drunk!

+-$3 K

,o# dare you speak to me like that/ $ could have

your head cut off and placed upon a spike/

,4W W4UD 4U $K+ T,(T9

*W+)




Do it if that&s #hat you #ant% $ couldn&t be any

more unhappy! Keeping me here as your prisoner%

taking me to your foul bed!

Perhaps if you didn&t drink so much you may

have been able to consummate our marriage!

(t least $ have that to be thankful for!

+-$3K

Shut up% S,UT UP% .itch! We&ll you might be

glad to hear that your father has oined up #ith

some prince or another!

$&m told that they are being advised by a great #i?ard

and even no# as #e speak their army dra#s near!

et them come% my s#ord needs blood to keep it sharp

and #hat better blood then that of a prince!

*W+)

What prince9 Tell me% #ho do you speak of9

+-$3 K

So% that got your attention! Who cares #hat prince/

anyone #ho dares confront my army has only death

to look for#ards too/ hear that% D+(T,

*W+)




,opefully it&s your death!

+-$3K

Shut your mouth .$T3,% you&re lucky $ don&t!!!

*W+)

Stop threatening me% Gust do it% if that&s #hat you #ant%

,ere%

She thro$! a !harp 'nife to$ard him

Take this blade and slit my throat% nothing could be

#orse than having to sit here every night listening to

you eat and talk and drink and all those other things

you make so disgusting!

ou call yourself a man% #ell go on% slit my throat

and be done #ith itL

+-$3K

$n time% .$T3,% in time! 0irst you #ill see U()&s

head on my platter and feel the beating heart of my

child in your #omb!

*W+)




$f $ carried a child of yours $&d slit my o#n throat!

+-$3K

S,UT 4U- >4UT, .$T3,! *uards% $ am tired

of this #ench% take her to my bed and have her #arm it

for me!

)4W% before $ get angry!

*W+)

,ear that% $&d slit my o#n throat rather than carry

any child of yours!

SC// >2 /: DUSK

U&U5- U)- 8/5) and /SU are meeting in a tent a! the !un !et!%

UT,U-

This is it% +-$3Ks army a#aits in the yonder valley

and the time for battle has come! (re #e ready9

+SU$T

$ don&t understand #hy you #ant the attack to start at

nightfall% surely it #ould be better to confront them at da#n!

>+-($)



2@' The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

We are dealing #ith superstitious peasants! They may

be armed but they remain peasants under their armour!

$ have been bre#ing a plan that #ill terrify them and

hopefully most of them #ill turn and run before a

single arro# is shot!

U()

$s that the contraption $ have seen you building% the silver

drum #ith the funnels that make it spin9 $ #ondered #hat

it #as% #hen the steam comes from those funnels that thing

turns so fast my eyes get di??y! What is its purpose9

>+-($)

ou&ll see% tonight you&ll see!

U()

Well all $ need is my s#ord% lance and horse! With these

three things $ feel invincible%

+SU$T

$&ve seen you on that horse% you are very good and

you like to use that lance a lot!

UT,U-




That&s #hat $ #ill call you from no# on my friend!

U()

What% Sir $nvincible9

UT,U-

)o% not Sir $nvincible% but Sir ancelot!

U()

4h% very funny!

>+-($)

et&s put our est aside% #e have a fight to start!

UT,U-

(nd to #in/ you% my friend% shall set the scene!

>+-()

$ #ill need my engine under a small fire close to the

enemies camp% the copper leads $ have fashioned are

only five hundred metres long and that&s the furthest

$ can be from my engine!

U()

(nd #hat pray is an engine9



2@: The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

UT,U-

>ore science! .ut those *ermanic barbarians #ill think

lightening has fallen from the sky! They #ill run for the sea!!!

+SU$T

et&s hope so!!!

UT,U-

+suit9 Why you are dressed for battle% $ thought!!!!

+SU$T

ou thought $&d stay back #ith the #omen and children%

huddle in terror #hile the you and the men% men $ have

trained/ go and die= ou have kno#n me long enough

to kno# that $ #ill lead from the front% by your side!

UT,U-

.ut $ #ill spend the #hole time looking out for you%

$ #ould not be able to concentrate on the deed at

hand kno#ing that some#here in the fray you may

need my hand!



2@; The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

+SU$T

$ can look after myself/ ust #orry about your

o#n skin husband!

>+-($)

She&s right% you kno# she is!

he other! leave the t$o alone and /SU !tep! to her hu!band and pa!!e! him hi! !$ord%

+SU$T

.rothers in arms9

UT,U-

.rothers in arms!

SC// >3 .&- /5CKS C)8"

he !o called Du'e of Corn$all ha! left hi! $ooden fort and gathered hi! men in a

clearing near to $here hi! !pie! have told him U&U5*! army a$ait!% &e i! being

attended to by hi! !ervant! $hen a !trange droning !ound fill! the night air% Suddenly a

guard call! out to him%

.U)5D

>aster% come% see this!

+-$3K



2@@ The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

What is that infernal noise9

*U(-D

<uickly master! (n apparition in the trees!

/5CK follo$! the guard and together $ith a group of hi! !oldier! they loo' to$ard! a

!mall hill $here the noi!e i! coming from% Suddenly bright light! illuminate the hill top

and the men ga!p at it! beauty%

+-$3K

What is this9

hey !ee a !hrouded figure dre!!ed in long $hite robe! and a deep hood appear in the

light!% he figure point! do$n to$ard! /5CK and a voice boom! out acro!! the land%

>+-($)

$ call here those #ho serve the devil named +rick/ let

you hear these #ords and kno# the truth!

*U(-D

$t&s the sorcerer >erlin% $&ve heard ,e&s very po#erful!

+-$3K

-ubbish!



2@A The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

>+-($)

The gods of this place have s#orn to protect

the rightful heir to this land! and you no# invade!

$ am here to give ust one #arning to those of you

#ho are righteous and of blessed virtue!

Turn a#ay from the devil and go back home%

only death a#aits tonight/

to greet the vein% the greedy and the #eak!

*o% go no# and save yourself!

+-$3K

ou men% Cuickly! *o up that hill and kill that man!

*U(-D

Who% us9

+-$3K

Stop shaking and go% you there

6he point! at a group of four other!6

!!!!go #ith this man and help him!



2@B The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

he five grab their !$ord! and !tart to climb the hill% +n the other !ide- U&U5 and a

couple of other! hold !hiny tin mirror! behind the engine a! it !pin! ca!ting the light from

the flic'ering fire up the hill and illuminating 8/5)% ) long leather !trap i! being

turned again!t a copper tube and $ire! lead from thi! up to$ard! the illuminated figure%

UT,U-

What&s happening9

>+-($) 6in a #hisper7

<uiet% they&re coming!

he five !$ord! men approach and a! /5CK! army loo'! on from the valley belo$ the

fir!t point! hi! !$ord to$ard! 8erlain% he old man ge!ture! to$ard! the !$ord!man and

the hidden copper $ire !ecreted under hi! long !leeve let! out a bur!t of !tatic electricity

that fire! acro!! the hill and contact! the man*! bron7e !$ord% &e !cream! and the !$ord

goe! flying into the dar'ne!!% he man drop!- !tunned by the charge%

/5CK! men ga!p in horror !eeing the !econd !$ord!man approach- hi! $eapon held

tightly in front% J)gain 8/5) ge!ture! and a bolt of blue !tatic electricity !hoot! from

hi! finger! and into the man*! !$ord- thi! time the man !par'! and !ha'e! and begin! to

!cream before thro$ing hi! !$ord and running from the hill

+-$3K

,hat is this sorcer1L




)nother !$ord!man approache! and he too i! !hoc'ed into thro$ing hi! !$ord before

turning and running a$ay% he t$o other! turn in terror and follo$ him%

+-$3K

What are you doing% don&t run! *o back!

he terrified men run pa!t him and a$ay through the camp- clo!ely follo$ed by many

more%

3ome back you co#ards!

>+-($)

The gods of this land are angry% go or only death

a#aits!

+-$3K

es% your death!

Suddenly a hail of arro$! fall on /5CK! camp and many other! fall fatally in9ured%

/5CK call! to another guard%

<uick% bring my armour% the fight is on!

)! the!e $ord! leave hi! lip! an arro$ !tri'e! the guard and he fall! dead%




.ahhh!

/5CK goe! and dre!!e! him!elf before calling for a hor!e% )! one i! led to him he hear!

the !ound of thunder coming from the tree!%

What no#!

hey loo' to$ard! the !ound and !uddenly a hundred men on hor!ebac' appear from the

tree! riding through the cro$d and !licing do$n anyone $ho move!% &undred! of /5CKS

men !cream and run a$ay% U)- $ ho i! leading the hor!emen thro$! hi! lance at

/5CK and it pierce! the ground near hi! feet% )ttached to the lance i! U&U5S cre!t%

)! /5CK! men armour up the !ee a thic' line of armed me coming to$ard! them from

either end of their encampment% he men carry long !hield! adorned $ith U&U5*! cre!t

and bet$een each !hield a long a long barbed lance protrude! $hich !pear /5CK! men

a! they try to form their fighting unit!%

/5CK can !ee hi! men falling li'e blo!!om from a !pring tree and a! he peer! through

the dar'ne!! notice! Uthur- re!plendent in gold coloured armour- plumbed helmet and

rai!ed !$ord directing the battle from the hill 8erlain had announced the fight from%

Who is this #arrior king9 This isn&t the stone age

savage $ have come to e8pect in this land% #ho $S ,+=

/5C K ride! among hi! men and !cream!




( thousand gold coins to the man #ho brings

me that #arrior&s head!

&earing thi! a group of men mount their hor!e! and brea' a$ay- they approach the hill

to$ard! U&U5 $ho !tand! hi! ground- )! they approach the cre!t they !ee a line of

archer! $hich a !econd line behind and yet a third line behind them% )! the hor!emen

approach

U&U5 brea'! through a gap in hi! men and the lo$er line of archer! fire- a! they !tart

to !et their bo$! the !econd ro$ fire and a! they re!et the third ro$ fire by $hich time the

fir!t ro$ fire aging and the pattern i! repeated cau!ing an impenetrable $all or arro$! to

cut the rider! do$n% he archer! then move for$ard! and begin firing do$n onto /5CK!

camp%

Ia! hi! line of men get! thinner and thinner and U&U5! men !tart to trample the bodie!

of the dead underfoot /5CK !ee! the battle lo!t

.ack to the fort men% fall back to the fort!

) trumpet !ound! and /5C KS men !tart to retreat

he re!t of /5CK! men follo$ hi! hor!e through the night to$ard! the fort% hey are cut

do$n on the $ay by U&U5! hor!emen and eventually the fort*! door! are clo!ed again!t

a hail of arro$!-



2A' The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

*U(-D

>aster% #e have lost the supplies and #ater! $f it is

a siege they #ant #e #ill only last for a #eek!

+-$3K

That&s not #hat $ #ant to hear% get the #alls protected

and tell my generals to come to my Cuarters!

SC// >= .&

U&U5! camp-

UT,U-

The plan #ent e8actly to the letter!

U()

)o# #e have this rat #here #e #ant him it only

remains to put part t#o of our plan into action!

SC// >> /: D);

)! the !un ri!e! acro!! the !ea and $ave! cra!h over the roc'! belo$ the $ooden fort

/5CK! remaining men loo' over the parapet nervou!ly% ?e!ide a cro$ !inging loudly




above their head! the !cene i! eerily <uiet% hey do not !ee /SU and another of

U&U5! men !tealthily climbing the roc'! from the !hore to$ard! the rear of the fort%

hey carry bag! of !mall bron7e ball! filled $ith blac' po$der and a flint to light their

fu!e!% +nce 9u!t under the fort! e,ternal $all they hun'er do$n and u!e the fern! and

bu!he! to hide until the time $a! right%

/5CK! men !ee a du!t cloud ri!ing up in the di!tance and !train their eye! to ma'e out a

heavy cart being pulled by eight o,en +n the cart !tand! 8/5) and behind him a

large $ooden bo,% When the cart i! clo!e enough for tho!e in the fort to hear 8/5)

!hout the cart grind! to a halt%

+ne of /5CK! men u!e! a long bo$ to fire an arro$ to$ard! the cart but it fall! !hort

8/5) had previou!ly $or'ed out the geometry bet$een the fort and the di!tance and

$here the cart !topped% 8/5) un@tethered the cart and the o,en !trolled a$ay in the

direction from $hich they came%

8/5)

ou there% #ith the bo#! Tell your fat master to stop

Cuivering from fear and come to speak to me!

he archer loo'! behind and /5CK pu!he! him to one !ide%

+-$3K

$ live in fear of no man% sorcerer! What do you #ant9



2A: The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

>+-($)

$ have been sent by the true and only King of this

realm #ith a message!

+-$3K

4h yes9

>+-($)

,e offers you your life under the condition you leave

this realm before the end of this day!

+-$3K

,e does% does he9

>+-($)

es% and to make this offer business"like

he #ill allo# you to take this #ith you!

8/5) open! the top of the bo, and /5CK !ee! it i! filled to the top $ith gold coin!%

This gold #ill enable you to go back to your land a

victor% rich enough to build your o#n castle and live

the rest of your life at ease #ith the #orld!



2A; The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

+-$3K

The mines of this land earn gold every day of the #eek!

>+-($)

True% but to accumulate this much gold ho# many

backs have to be broken under the #hip/ ho# many

lives enslaved9 ,ere is the offer% #hat you say9

+-$3K

ook here sorcerer! $ am comfortable #here $ am%

$ have food and #ater and could stay here in

this place for many months #ithout

venturing outside these #alls!

$ shall have to think about this for a #hile!

$ #ill give you my ans#er tomorro#!

>+-($)

Tomorro# the offer #ill be gone/ it&s today or death!

+-$3K

Death9 ou can&t touch me here! )ot even your magic

can scale these #alls/ go and tell your master that

$ #ill give him an ans#er tomorro#!



2A@ The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

>+-($)

ou are #rong!

&e reache! do$n and pull! a horn from beneath hi! cloa'%

$ have already told you/ the true and rightful king

of this realm is protected by the spirits of the land!

They are po#erful devils and you are not safe any#here

from their touch/ not even behind these #alls!

+-$3K

ies= $ don&t believe in your magic and $ don&t believe in you!

>+-($)

$ only have to blo# this horn to bring thunder from the

clouds and the finger of death #ill strike your men/

#herever they hide!

+-$3K

$+S=

(-3,+-

Don&t provoke him master! ou have seen ho#

po#erful he is!



2AA The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

+-$3K

.ahh= ies% all lies!

8/5) place! the horn to hi! lip! and a long lo$ note echoe! through the hill!% /SU

upon hearing thi! ignite! one of the grenade fu!e! and thro$! it high above the $all! and

it e,plode! $ith a thundering bang level $ith one of the guard to$er!% he men in the

to$er fall dead $ith deep $ound! cau!ed by the grenade*! !hrapnel%

(-3,+-

ook sire% they have been struck dead by the spirits!

+-$3K

,o# does he do that9

>+-($)

Shall $ kill more of your men or #ill you take this

generous offer9

&e place! the horn to hi! lip! again and blo$! another long lo$ note% /SU again thro$!

a grenade and it e,plode! be!ide another to$er 'illing tho!e men in!ide%

+-$3K

Stop=




>+-($)

Why should he fight you #hen $ could kill you all #ithout

even moving from this place9

+-$3K

( co#ards choice/ no% tell him to come and fight me

like a man! 4r do the spirits of this place not go that far to

protect him9

) hor!e approache! and Uthur !top! be!ide hi! friend before removing hi! bron7e helmet%

$s this your master% this thin boy! $s this the so called

rightful King #e have all heard about9

UT,U-

ou can laugh% but $ have heard your challenge and

come to meet it% here% no#! 3ome do#n and fight me

if that is your #ish! $ shall be happy to sever your head

this day!

>+-($)

Uthur% there&s no need for this! We have him already!




UT,U-

<uiet friend! $ can take him!

&e loo'! up to $here /5CK !tand!

$ have my #eapon% this s#ord is all $ need !

&e ta'e! the !$ord )8?/5 had given them and hold! it up in the !unlight%

/5CK !mir'! and leave! the top of the $all% n a fe$ moment! the gate! of the fort are

opened and he !tep! into the !unlit area bet$een the fort and the cart%

+-$3K

3all your sorcerer dog off/ this fight is bet#een you

and $ boy!

>+-($)

Uthur% please!

UT,U-

$t&s okay% $ have to do this! 0or the sake of my people% my

land and for the sake of my father!

&e turn! to face /5CK and di!mount! thro$ing hi! helmet to 8/5)%




$ have #aited a long time for this moment!

+-$3K

So ,ave $!

he !ound of hor!e! alert! them and both loo' bac' to !ee U) coming upon them% &e

!top! hi! hor!e by 8/5) and loo'! to$ard! U&U5

U()

Shall $ kill him no#9

UT,U-

Stop #here you are! $ am going to do this myself!

Suddenly a !cream ring! out and they all loo' to$ard! the fort to !ee .$en being held by a

guard%

*W+)

0ather% help me!

U()

*#en% it can&t be!

+-$3K

,o# Cuant% a family reunion! To think that $ #as under



2B' The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

the impression that it #as you #ho #as leading the enemy

army! What a oke% all this time and it #as him% this boy!

*W+)

0ather=

/SU 9oined U) and hi! men and they dra$ their !$ord!% /5CKS men do al!o and

U&U5 addre!!e! them%

UT,U-

+asy no#!

+-$3K

3all your dogs off boy% #e had a deal remember!

U()

$ should kill you no#!

UT,U-

+asy!

+-$3K

Tell them% tell them #e had a deal!

U()




What is this pig talking about9

+-$3K

T+ T,+>=

*W+)

0ather% save me!!!!

UT,U-

$ promised him a fair fight!

U()

0or #hat Uthur% for #hat9

+-$3K

0or your loyalty% tell him!

U()

Uthur9

UT,U-

$t&s true% $ said if he #ins it #ill all be his% everything!

U()

$ #ill never be his slave% $&d rather die first!



2B: The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

UT,U-

$t #on&t come to that% trust me!

+-$3K

3onfident! )o#% do #e still have a deal or are #e

all going to die% including her and believe me% that

bitch #ill be the first!

U()

Uthur9

UT,U-

Put your s#ords a#ay% trust me! Gust once! 4ur deal

remains% #hoever #alks from this fight takes the land

our blood #ill seed!

U()

Sire! $ al#ays trust in you!

hey put their !$ord! a$ay and ma'e !pace%



2B; The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

/5CK remove! hi! tunic and fle,e! hi! bicep! before !ha'ing hi! belly fat to$ard the boy%

+-$3K

ou think you can take me% boy9

UT,U-

ou may have si?e but $ have agility on my side/ come on

big man% let&s do this!

hey circle each other !$ord! held out then /5CK cut! and thru!t! to te!t hi! opponent!

!$ord!man!hip% &e thru!t! for$ard! u!ing hi! !houlder to pu!h U&U5 acro!! the !andy

!oil% /SU ga!p! a! /5CK !$ipe! do$n but U&U5 roll! out the $ay%

&e !tand! and thru!t! and cut!- hi! great !$ord glinting in the mid afternoon light-

!uddenly he i! grabbed by /5CK $ho u!e! hi! forearm to !trangle the boy% U&U5

!tamp! do$n upon the thug! foot and hi! !tirrup cut! /5CK! !hin% &e thro$! the boy

a!ide $ith a !cream%

+-$3K

That&s cheating!

UT,U-

So is trying to strangle me%



2B@ The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

hey meet again and their !$ord! cla!h- a deep ga!h appear! on U&U5! arm and thi!

give! /5CK the confidence to thru!t for$ard! pu!hing the boy to the ground- hi! !$ord

flie! through the air and land! by /SU! feet%

+-$3K

)o# $ have you!

&e !tand! over the boy and rai!e! hi! !$ord above hi! head ready to !$eep it do$n into

U&U5% he boy loo'! up to !ee hi! !$ord- flung by /SU fly through the air and land

in hi! grip- &e thru!t! up !traight into /5CK! gut- pu!hing the !$ord in to the hilt%

he big man loo'! do$n and drop! hi! !$ord $ith a loo' of ama7ement on hi! face- then

li'e a great tree he fall! acro!! the dirt in a great du!ty heap%

he .uard $ho $a! holding .W/ let! her go and !he run! into the arm! of her father-

they embrace%

*W+)

$ thought $&d never see you again!

U()

4h% my darling daughter% ho# $ have missed you!

*W+)

$s this young Uthur% my true love% back to save me9



2BA The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

UT,U-

( lot has happened since #e last sa# each other!

/SU e,amine! the body language and !ee! the great attraction bet$een both Uthur and

.$en% She !<uint! and peer! bac' to$ard! the body of /5CK 9u!t in time to !ee him

thro$ing a long bladed 'nife to$ard! the group $ith hi! dying breath% She 9ump! in front

of .W/ and protect! her from the flying blade- t imbed! it!elf into /SU! heart% She

drop! a! U&U5 !cream!% &e run! to her and clutche! her in hi! arm!%

+suit% my dearest +suit% #hy9

+SU$T

( #arrior must die a #arrior&s death!

UT,U-

.ut #e had so little time together and $ #anted to sho# you my

land and its people!

+SU$T

$f they are all as brave and noble as you $ #ill be surprised!

UT,U-



2BB The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

ou have been the best friend% the bravest fighter and the

loyalist lover $ have even kno#n/ $ #ill miss you #ith every

breath!

+SU$T

.e happy% my friend!

With that !he die! and Uthur !cream! in grief% &i! voice echoe! among the $ood! and

hedgero$!- the valley! and mar!he! and through every !mall hamlet of hi! nation%

SC// > /: D);

) large cro$d of people !tand in front of a !tage $hich ha! been a!!embled in a field near

the fortre!!% Upon the !tage U&U5 addre!!e! the people bac'ed by .W/- 8/5)

U) and !everal other!% o$ard! the rear of the cro$d an old cro$ !tand! on tip toe!

trying to get a better vie$ of $hat*! going on% She tug! on the !leeve of a tall man !tanding

be!ide her%

4D W4>()

+8cuse me% $ can&t see very #ell and my hearing is poor!

What&s going on9

T( >()

See the old man #ith the beard9




4D W4>()

es!

T(>()

,e&s ust introducing our ne# King!

4D W4>()

4h!!!

>+-($)

)o#% to address you all%

the one and only rightful heir to this kingdom%

Uthur!

4D W4>()

What did he say9

T( >()

The ne# king% his name&s (rthur!

4D W4>()

4h% very noble!




UT,U-

0riends% $ bid you all #elcome! .y the blade of this s#ord

#hich fate has given me!

4nce a gift from the ady across the Waters%

+sa Kali (kbar!!!!

4D W4>()

What&s he saying9

T( >()

,e said the s#ord came from a lady in a lake or something

and he&s calling it +8calibur!

4D W4>()

4h% ho# romantic!!

UT,U-

!!!and the tool of this land&s liberation!

$t #ill be a symbol of our freedom forevermore!

)o# #e have learned the secret of metal making from the

dragoon

$ #ill take the name Uthur Pendragon

and this place #ill forever be kno#n Tintagil%

the place of tin!




4D W4>()

What #as thatL

T( >()

,e said his name is (rthur Pendragon and he&s going to call

his castle Tintagil or something!

4D W4>()

4h% ho# #onderful!

UT,U-

>y friend Ulan% #ho likes to use his lance a lot% #ill be my

first minister beside my beautiful #ife *#en!

4D W4>()

What #as that9

T( >()

,e said the big guy is his first minister% ancelot and that

pretty lady is his #ife *#en!

4D W4>()

4h% ho# lovely% it&s like a fairy story isn&t it9



'' The Dogbreaths Publishing Uthur and the Secret of the Dragon David William Kirby

UT,U-

Together #e bring democracy and peace

to this -oyal Throne of Kings!

This realm% this land/ our (lbion!

Where all shall prosper by his labours

(nd live free% happy and healthy lives!

3ome% oin me no#% in a feast to celebrate our

)e#"found freedom and

#e #ill march into our future

a free people!

( prosperous nation and

a happy family of men% #omen and their issue!

4D W4>()

What #as that he said9

T( >()

They&re putting on a free spread%

ots of boo?e and food for everyone!

ou&d better go first% old girl/

come% $&ll look after you!

4D W4>()



'5

Uther and the Secret of the Dragon

Documents

Transcript of Uther and the Secret of the Dragon