LEGEND OF NEVETSECNUAC- THE CAPITAL CHANNING - SECTION 6

LEGEND OF NEVETSECNUAC - THE CAPITAL CHANNING - SECTION 6

 It was announced throughout the Capital the next morning that the curfew that had been imposed on the citizens for several days had been finally lifted.  This unexpected news discernibly placed everyone in a good mood. 

01- CHANNING

Resigned as Fradel Rurik Korvald (Nevetsecnuac) was to be receiving the expected callers, nothing could have prepared him for the greatest influx (incursion) of guests, consequently, the public relations challenge/nightmare that was thrust upon him. He was suddenly cast amid the demanding posh (high-born) society’s elite with their unprecedented rigid rules and regulations, frivolous propriety (decorum) and antiquated (obsolete, archaic) protocols (etiquette), compelling him to juggle (manage) these with his academic onuses (obligations, responsibilities), all of it within the tiresome, whirlwind dance of aristocratic revelry. 

Zakhertan Yozdek had abolished the examination system around the time of the first of the intellectual purges.  Nepotism aside, for those seeking a new or better post in the government yet lacking in military prowess, social contacts have become an all-important, crucial (key, vital) source.  Their prospects were now perpetually reliant (dependent) on the personal recommendations from those officials who had already acquired power and distinction and were willing to tie their own futures to that of the candidates whom they recommended.

Deeming the esteemed scholar Fradel Rurik Korvald’s arrival as a good presage (omen, potent), the elite of Channing in their ostentatious carriages and litters, had descended in droves (multitudes) upon Zaur Stugr 's residence, all bearing rich and lavish gifts for the host and his guest, all same time hoping to satiate their curiosity about this promising, once elusive scholar.

As large as Minister of Ceremony Zaur Stugr’s residence was, its path was worn thin by this onslaught of sycophants.  Finally, Minister Zaur sought out the Prime Minister for his permission, consulted with Fradel Rurik Korvald then, taking matters into his own hands, graciously postponed all but the most important appointments until after Fradel Rurik Korvald’s audience with the Sovereign.

As this was most agreeable to many of the prudent nobility, (those wanting to see first, how the scholar would rank in favor with His Royal Highness Zakhertan Yozdek), the request was adopted without any qualm.

02-

Fradel Rurik Korvald (Nevetsecnuac) thus was spared from any more torment, from those slick-toured officials and nobles, who with their smiling faces and black hearts hid their ulterior motives poorly behind the facade of congeniality.

 In fact, every loaded word they sputtered, every covert gesture they made, every seemingly innocent remark with which they hoped to embroil scholars in their dark intrigues had taken their toll and had ground down Fradel’s (Nevetsecnuac’s) spirit despite his outward show of vigor (enthusiasm) and resilience.

This welcome respite had come none too soon, for it was followed the next morning at daybreak by an invitation from the Prime Minister requesting Fradel Rurik Korvald’s illustrious presence at an exclusive, nevertheless, an elaborate party to be given in his honor in nine days’ time.

                                                                             ~

 

 In the subsequent days, Minister of Ceremony Zaur Stugr proved to be a most attentive, congenial host, anticipating, and fulfilling with uncanny precision, his guest's every perceived desire and whim.

 Swayed somewhat by this solicitude, Fradel (Nevetsecnuac) found himself amending some of his first impressions of the junior Minister.  Only seven years Nevetsecnuac's senior, Zaur Stugr seemed overall to be a mild mannered, articulate and most obliging person.  Looking much younger than his age, fair in complexion, he sported only a thin mustache, and tapered beard.  Tall, thin, and strikingly handsome, with striking blue eyes, he did not need the extra adornments his peers affected to accentuate his winning features.  His lush, over the shoulder straight, raven (jet black) hair was always glistening clean and only sometimes was bound behind his neck by a simple leather band.  In contrast to his striking physique, however, he was moderate in his manners and speech and bore none of the pretentious airs associated with his office.  On numerous occasions Nevetsecnuac (Fradel Rurik Korvald) observed that this amiable persona allowed Zaur to place whomever he interacted with, regardless of their position, wealth, or power, at their ease.  Without them being aware of it, he was able to manipulate them into opening and laying bare even the most secretive thoughts that lay in the deep recesses of their hearts then sent them away contented with even more confidence and trust in this remarkable Junior Minister.

03- ZAUR STUGR   JP 20

When Zaur Stugr turned this charm on Fradel Rurik Korvald, it took most of Nevetsecnuac's discernment and perception to avoid being swept away by the tide of affable good will that Zaur Stugr bountifully projected.  Despite his reserve, Nevetsecnuac had gradually grown quite fond of the Junior Minister and his winning ways.  Yearning for the close bonds of companionship, Zaur Stugr seemed to be the most likely candidate on which to lay his trust and friendship, yet Nevetsecnuac held back, restrained by the stronger sensibility that had guided him ever since he had first encountered Zunrogo and the people from the Capital.

 Even though there was a complete absence of proof, there was this anomalous, nagging feeling that his charming host Zaur was leading a double life, one entirely different in character from the persona he projected every day.  This sense of duality insisted on caution, if not slight distrust, particularly when dealing with affable Minister Zaur Stugr.

 At any rate after all Nevetsecnuac had seen, heard, and lived through during these past months, the innocence and trust that had once been second nature to him had been supplanted, lost forever.  At present Nevetsecnuac's guard was perpetually up, leaving no room for the spark of familiarity or friendship to develop.

Fradel (Nevetsecnuac) was bit sad that, he frequently (habitually) now, felt prematurely aged (rather old) and hardened to the core.

As happened, this dilemma eventually resolved itself when his pessimistic apprehension was given further credibility by the successive events; however, as nothing much out of the ordinary or spectacular happened, this will not warrant any elaboration.

                                                                               ~

 On the seventh day Fradel Rurik Korvald (Nevetsecnuac) had spent the better part of the afternoon sightseeing few historic sites that the Capital Channing was famed for then afterward, both host and guest had enjoyed a sumptuous feast at the house of one of Zaur Stugr’s colleagues.

On their return to the Junior Minister's residence both felt reluctant to retire for the night and forgo the enjoyment of full moon; despite the lateness of the hour hence, they mutually decided to resume their conversation where they had left it in the Quiet Waters Pavilion, by the eastern end of the artificial (man-made) lake, that also had alongside it, a delightful, swimming pool where if they wished they could take a cool dip in private. 

04

The pleasant company, delightful warm breeze buffeting their sleeves, caressing their faces, and the fullness of the moon casting brilliant (rippled) reflection on the water all, had put Zaur in such a good mood that he had, without reservation, downed several more cups of wine, far exceeding his tolerance level.

Fradel (Nevetsecnuac), on the contrary, careful managing his intake of drink had of course emptied his cup discreetly, whenever he could, onto the ground. During the night as they partook (participated) in consuming still more variety of choice, vintage vines, Nevetsecnuac seizing an apt opportunity, subtly steered the conversation around to the subject of Kontu in the hope of extracting from the Minister Zaur Stugr, more indebt version and true accounts (pertaining to) concerning Sovereign Murong Di.

Zaur’s inhibitions by then having gradually eased (melted away) he, with his virtuoso narration, his gifted elaborations, and an uncanny knowledge of the smallest details, so competently (dazzlingly) painted such vivid pictures for Fradel (Nevetsecnuac) that, it made him feel as though he personally was in Kontu, hearing and experiencing it all firsthand. And so, that night listening to Zaur Stugr’s account, Nevetsecnuac came to learn all about (even filling in the blanks, the missing facts, when Nevetsecnuac had first learned about Kontu from Lord Asger Thuxur Marrog Zhon back at the mountain cabin,) how Hedenko had artfully risen in prominence and power while still purportedly a vassal, commanding the army of Sovereign Murong Di of Kontu. 

Nevetsecnuac could well understand Minister Zaur Stugr’s fascination of these historical facts for the whole thing unfolded more like a military textbook with, do and don’ts.

Despite the growing threat from Hedenko, King Murong Di had unwisely given precedence to the prevailing danger from the state of Icone instead.

 In his royal arrogance he had foolishly turned a deaf ear to the counsel of his able ministers that Hedenko should be summoned to court immediately, by force, if necessary, to give good and true account of his rebellious activities.  Unfortunately, by the time the King had awakened to the true danger that existed to his rule, internal strife, and corruption within his court itself had curtailed his ability to deal with Hedenko at all and had sealed his fate once and for all.  When his only other recourse, assassination, proved ineffective within the tight military control of Lord Deng Hedenko's lands, King Murong Di resorted to a ruse.  Extending his edict of general amnesty to include Hedenko, he let it be known that it was his Royal wish that they end the strained relationship between them.

 At the same time Sovereign Murong Di made the most generous proposal of marriage between Princess Teuquob and the Lord, knowing that Hedenko would not be able to resist the temptation to acquire the most enchanting beauty in the entire Kingdom.

Fradel (Nevetsecnuac) had previously speculated that the Sovereign Murong Di's offer had been solely for the purpose of luring Lord Hedenko to the Royal Court to procure the rebel's demise.  Zaur Stugr had reaffirmed this proposition when he outlined the King's plans to have Hedenko apprehended, charged with treason, and promptly executed once he left the safety of his fortified lair to fetch his bride and attend the matrimonial festivities.

"It’s an ingenious, but nevertheless effective stratagem." Zaur Stugr concurred in good humor.

"Unaware of the sinister plan lurking in the mind of the Monarch Murong Di, the Prime Minister at that time, Neru, had for some time attempted in vain to deter the King from such a move.  He recalled to his Sovereign, Hedenko's ruthless exploits, his lack of filial piety and his brutality towards women.  He had even grimly foretold, at the risk of incurring royal disfavor, that the Lord's ambition would not be satiated that easily and that Hedenko would not rest until he had seized total power and usurped the throne for himself.  This marriage would only whet (sharpen, hone) his appetite and lead to much graver consequences.”

Monarch Murong Di, grimacing coldly, had once more not heeded the sound advice and furthermore, had concealed his true aim for fear of spies in court. 

“That, in itself, his inability to trust anyone, was a prime cause of the King's subsequent downfall."  Zaur Stugr nodded thoughtfully.

05- HEDENKO 9JP

“Hedenko, his mind equally treacherous, had accepted this proposal without reserve not so much because of the tempting bait, but because it helped him advance his own sinister plan.  The Lord's aim paralleled Sovereign Murong Di's, it seemed.  To further disarm the Monarch, he even swore to surrender all his forces and land holdings to the King the moment he was made his son-in-law, giving substance to the rumors that he had planted, that Hedenko wanted most of all to prove his loyalty to Murong and assume his former position as the King's most loyal vassal.   He set his supporters to work to reinforce this pretense in the ear of the Monarch Murong Di with similar reports supposedly from various sources.”

"This marriage proposal", Deng Hedenko had ostensibly, duly professed upon receipt, "had been a great honor and had overwhelmed him."

“Touched by the wisdom, the insight and benevolence of the Sovereign, more specifically Murong's show of good faith, Hedenko had supposedly paced up and down “in a shrine before the Gods of his ancestors and sworn an oath of allegiance to live up to his Highness' expectations.  He'd vowed also to first disprove then permanently silence the slanderers of his good name.”

“Now,” Zaur chuckled. “This covert warning sent shock waves of fear among the opposition. (In the many days that ensued) Subsequently, many had tried to amend their mistakes, others had gone hiding and still others had taken flight under various pretexts, never to be heard from again.  Meanwhile, more hateful than ever of Monarch Murong, Hedenko had initiated his long-term plans and immediately began implementing his designs on the throne.  After all, he had just been handed a perfect opportunity on a silver platter.”

“Having received this go-ahead signal, his ardent supporters, courtiers, and military generals alike, underhandedly but aggressively began their campaign of support in the Capital, the last seat of power for Murong, attempting to drum up favorable support for Hedenko and paving the way for a total capitulation, or at least for an assured success with the least resistance from those unyielding loyalist Lords too powerful as yet to be quickly extinguished. “

“The plan was for Hedenko to make his entry into the Capital with his elite force of assassins disguised as servants bringing along the bride price, this in addition to the small number of guards accompanying him.  During the festivities Hedenko would personally seize Murong and assassinate him on the spot.  The Lord already had a dagger concealed in the hall where the ceremony was to take place, planted by one of his spies at Court.  After his consolidation of power throughout the land he would pass judgment on the only surviving member of the Royal Family, Princess Teuquob.  If she proved worthy of further attention, then she would be made his new wife.  Since, however, Hedenko believed in a clean sweep and no mercy, a policy he had adopted after every victory, it was clear that, following the birth of a son or two, depending on his whim, and then she would be made to forfeit her life as well.”

"But things took on a bizarre, rather unexpected turn." Zaur Stugr exhaled deeply with heightened zeal, "The Princess who was to be wed took flight just two weeks before all this was to happen and unfortunately perished in a storm at sea.  Of course, another (a distant royal cousin of marriable age) was quickly offered in her stead.  Hedenko, appearing most agreeable, went through with this wedding and, naturally, with his planned usurpation of the throne.  And at present, he has been the omnipotent ruler of Kontu for more than a decade."  Falling silent, Zaur reached to fill his cup.

06-NEVETSECNUAC  JP 19

Fradel (Nevetsecnuac) looked up thoughtfully for the first time and was about to inquire how Zaur Stugr was so exceptionally well informed about the internal politics of the Kontu Royal Court, when Zaur, surmising his question, held up his hand, then with some modesty exclaimed. "Perhaps I have neglected to inform you that I am an ardent student of political history.  Since childhood I have been intrigued by the process of how Kingdoms rose and fell.  In fact, I think it’s a curiosity I've inherited."  He threw Nevetsecnuac a whimsical smile.

“He's withholding something pertinent.”  Nevetsecnuac studied Zie with an impassive silence.

"I regret that I have not had the opportunity to show you my extensive library on this subject but, if you like, we could visit it tomorrow.  It is mainly taken up with documents bearing historical accounts, original writs or copied replicas painstakingly compiled since the time of my grandfather.  I cannot take the credit for my own small contributions."  He pensively drank few more sips of wine.  "It escaped the destruction of the purges simply because the papers are totally unrelated to the history of Wenjenkun.”

“Those accounts you will not find it here or anywhere for that matter, unless you want to view the government archives which house the official, Imperial- sanctioned versions."  There was a hint of disdain in Zaur’s tone as he mumbled this last sentence as he pursed his lips and looked over the pond.

 

Nevetsecnuac discounted this pseudo frank disclaimer which he believed it to be, not entirely the truth and, he deliberately ignored the tiny hint of rebellious discontent in Zaur ‘tone, not wishing to take the bait.  What’s more, he strongly suspected this very resourceful Minister to be in possession of some forbidden material, well-hidden for posterity, if not here, then somewhere within the Minister’s reach.

Fradel’s lack of reaction, meanwhile, had disappointed Zaur Stugr.  Never had he failed in gaining a valuable insight or drawing out pertinent information from the intended recipient (addressee), by his seemingly casual remarks (word) or contacts; yet after seven days Fradel Rurik Korvald was still an absolute mystery to him; the scholar's intrinsic ideas had eluded all scrutiny, remaining as elusive as ever. He could only glean some abstract notions of what Fradel thought and, all Zaur had instead, was a moderate number of unusable impressions. 

Even now Zaur Stugr was not certain whether Fradel was genuinely interested in the history of Kontu or had been listening out of mere politeness. He threw a sidelong glance at his guest.  “How can I reach you?  How can I penetrate that invisible wall you've encased yourself in and tap those inner realms of your thoughts?” He mused sardonically.  “You're unlike anyone I've met, and you are certainly not like any other scholar.  There's no trace of the arrogance and frivolity of the usual unscrupulous literati about you.  Your brilliant mind is the only thing about you that I can be certain of.”

 

                                                                                             ~

 

Wiping the frown from his thoughts before it manifested (became apparent) on his face, Zaur Stugr reached for some morsels and, as he ate in thoughtful silence, he sized up Fradel Rurik Korvald from the corner of his eye.  Suddenly, unconsciously he chuckled.  “Surely, even you are not immune to lust.  No man is.  I simply haven't found the right lure (bait) to entice you with. Hmm, perhaps someone, like the fabled Princess Teuquob, if only she was still alive.”

 Meeting Nevetsecnuac's questioning gaze, he spoke in a soft, almost longing (pining) voice, "As I understand it, and this has been thoroughly verified by all, Princess Teuquob was a rare beauty."  He hesitated.

“Hmm… It would not do to reveal too much, the scope of his influence with the foreign spies and the local underground, no matter how harmless this Fradel Rurik Korvald seemed.”

“My wife is right; of late, I've been indulging in spirits far too much.” He silently admonished himself. 

“I can't afford this failing to get the better of me, not with what's at stake.”  He curtailed his speech and determined to take it easy on the wine yet, for a brief spell his disobedient mind had wandered and, he remembered how he had secretly commissioned his spies in Kontu to secure a portrait of the Princess Teuquob, filled with details taken from all the accounts of those who had known her and still lived.

It had taken great lengths to obtain it, just to satisfy his curiosity.  Expectedly, he had been delighted by the outcome. 

“As a matter of fact,” he reflected,” that had been my only eccentric act of late, until this one.”  

The predictability of his daily routine as a Minister of Ceremony had suffocated him somewhat so he had rushed to the chance to play host to the illustrious Fradel Rurik Korvald when the Prime Minister had brought up the subject of the scholar's lodging.

"I've been told this, of course, through the flattering descriptions of Princess Teuquob in the letters of the time." he quickly corrected himself.

"They describe Princess Teuquob as legendary in her beauty, with none, neither in Kontu nor in Wenjenkun able to equal her in charm or grace.  She would have been a worthy consort for any man, even our Emperor Zakhertan Yozdek."

 Listening to his own intonations, Zaur knew that he had betrayed that desire that had lain in his heart ever since he had viewed that portrait.  The beauties of Channing had paled horribly in comparison, and he had felt cheated somewhat.  After mumbling apologies at his indiscretion, he offered a lame excuse for it all and steered the topic of the conversation onto safer, more superficial concerns.  Subsequently he had played the fool, the antagonist, the diffident boor, the sincere friend, the provocative sophist and once more the wanton womanizer yet; Fradel Rurik Korvald had not taken any of the bait and had remained obstinately as elusive as ever.  He would have to try yet another (peculiar means) atypical angle to draw out Fradel Rurik Korvald.

Meanwhile, Nevetsecnuac had suppressed with remarkable iron will, his intense displeasure and extreme annoyance, rather rage at Zaur's tiresome deceits, his obvious, long-term infatuation and lust for Teuquob, his beloved wife.

07-LOVE AND KISSESS (15)_edited

 Nevetsecnuac fighting the urge to lash out at Zaur, distractedly at this point, had bent to retrieve a happily chirping cicada by his feet; just then however, quite unexpectedly the long-forgotten key that was kept in the inner pocket of this specific garment, fell to on the terrazzo (tiled flooring) with a loud thud.  Its same time had let off an unusual, curious glint as it caught the juxtaposed reflections of the brilliant moonlight and soft lamplight on its surface. 

Nevetsecnuac abandoned the cicada and quickly reached instead to retrieve the key, as the same time noted with curiosity, from the corner of his eye, Zaur’s fleeting reaction of shock and horror that was quickly replaced by an unemotional mask.

 

“He knows something”

 

 

(END OF SECTION 6)

                                                                                        ~

 THE FIERY DRAGON - THE HEART OF STONE AND THE HEART OF GOLD (Revised by BoSt 2025)

 

The adorable little Princess residing (since baby) in a high tower, always woke in her little white bed at crack of dawn when the starlings began to chatter in the pearl-gray morning. As soon as the (forest) woods were awake, she would excitedly throw off the warm quilt and sit upright,  and then (not bothering to don her slippers) with her little bare feet treading on the cold flagstones, she would run up the twisting turret-stairs; beaming in face she would stand on the top of the tower in her white bed-gown then, after an intake of a deep breath, she would kiss her hands to the sun. Subsequently, in her sweet melodious tone, she would greet the woods, the sleeping town below (whom she’d never ventured to) and the fresh new day: "Good morning world, I with joyful, grateful heart, greet you all!"

Next, she would run down the cold stone steps and dress herself in her short skirt and her cap and apron and begin the day's work. She would tidy-up, sweep the rooms spotlessly clean, and then hasten to make breakfast (from available rations) for two, for herself and for her Nurse; afterwards, she would wash the dishes and scour the pans, then with the mourning chores done, she would sit by her old faithful nurse (for of all who should have served her, only one remained faithful ) and listen in rapt attention to her reminiscences of the past, the golden era when her parents were still alive, and she was just a baby. This world she had never truly known, a wonderous world of bygone era, nevertheless, with her fertile imagination, still thrilled and palpitated her heart with special warmth.

Her old nurse, bound by loyalty of the heart, had willingly endured this solitary existence, where both had been virtually held captive in the tower, to present time. And now that the nurse was in her advanced years and rather feeble and had gray streaks adorned most of her hair, the princess had taken on all the responsibilities of menial housework and necessary chores, completing them without grievance and with a smile, while the Nurse sat still and did the sewing, because this was a real Princess with skin like milk and hair like flax and a heart like gold.

The little princess Sabrinetta’s grandmother Sabra had married to St. George, a legendary figure, who had rid the country of the terrible, fierce dragon that had once terrorized the people and beasts. He had ruled the land wisely for many years after that. The country should have by rights, through her(royal) lineage, belonged to Sabrinetta: the woods that stretched away to the mountains, the downs that sloped down to the sea, the pretty fields of corn and maize and rye, the olive orchards and the vineyards, and the little town itself—with its towers and its turrets, its steep roofs and strange windows—that nestled in the hollow between the sea, where the whirlpool was, and the mountains, white with snow and rosy with sunrise.

But when Sabrinetta’s Royal father and mother had died quite unexpectedly because of a hunting accident and left her ambitious cousin to take care of the kingdom, at least, till she grew up he, being ambitious and evil, took everything away from her, and all the courtiers (ministers and imp. People) followed him, and now nothing was left to her, save for the great dragon proof tower that her grandfather, St. George, had built during his reign. And of all who should have been her servants only the good nurse remained by her side. This arrangement of her confinement suited him fine, so he let it be.

As she resided in this tall tower, this was why Sabrinetta was the first person in all the land to get a glimpse of the wonder. This morning again rising at first daylight, while all the majority townspeople were fast asleep, she ran up the turret-steps and looked out over the field, and at the other side of the field there was a green, ferny ditch and a rose-thorny hedge, and then came the wood. And as Sabrinetta stood on her tower she saw a shaking and a twisting of the rose-thorny hedge, and then something very bright and shining wriggled out through it into the ferny ditch and back again. It only came out for a minute, but she saw it quite plainly, and she said to herself: "Dear me, what a curious, shiny, bright-looking creature! If it were bigger, and if I didn't know that there have been no fabulous monsters for quite a long time now, I should almost think it was a dragon."

The thing, whatever it was, did look rather like a dragon—but then it was too small; and it looked rather like a lizard—only then it was too big. It was about as long as a hearthrug.

"I wish it had not been in such a hurry to get back into the wood," said Sabrinetta. "Of course, it's quite safe for me, in my dragon proof tower; but if it is a dragon, it's quite big enough to eat people, and today's the first of May, and the children go out to pick flowers in the wood."

When Sabrinetta had done the housework (she did not leave so much as a speck of dust anywhere, even in the farthest corner of the winding stair) she put on her milk white, silky gown with the moon-daisies worked on it and went up to the top of her tower again.

Across the fields troops of children were going out to gather the may (whitethorn, English hawthorn), and the sound of their laughter and singing came up to the top of the tower.

02- CHILDREN GATHERING FLOWERS IN A FIELD JP

"I do hope it wasn't a dragon," said Sabrinetta, recalling all the terrible tales the Nurse had enumerated (tallied) one stormy night, when they had little else to do, about the of dragon’s horrible temper, his wrath, the time the dragon’s peace had been disturbed.

The children went by twos and by threes and by tens and by twenties, and the red and blue and yellow and white of their frocks were scattered on the green of the field.

"It's like a green silk mantle worked with flowers," exclaimed the Princess, marvelling at nature’s exquisite tapestry and smiled.

Then by twos and by threes, by tens and by twenties, the children vanished into the wood, till the mantle of the field was left plain green once more.

"Most of the embroidery is unpicked," said the Princess, sighing. The sun shone, and the sky was blue, and the fields were quite green, the few remaining clusters of flowers at the edges of the field were very bright indeed, because it was May Day.

Then quite suddenly a cloud passed over the sun, and the silence was broken by shrieks from far off; and, like a many-colored torrent, all the children burst from the woods (forest) and rushed, a red and blue and yellow and white wave, across the field, screaming as they ran. Their voices came up to the Princess on her tower, and she heard the words threaded on their screams like beads on sharp needles: "The dragon, the dragon, the dragon! Open the gates! The dragon is coming! The fiery dragon!"

And they swept across the field and into the gate of the town, and the Princess heard the gate bang, and the children were out of sight—but on the other side of the field the rose-thorns crackled and smashed in the hedge, and something very large and glaring and horrible trampled the ferns in the ditch for one moment before it hid itself again in the covert of the wood.

The Princess went down and told her nurse, but the nurse, instead, at once locked the great door of the tower and put the key in her pocket.

"Let them take care of themselves," she said, when the Princess begged to be allowed to go outside and assist the children to safety. "My business is to take care of you, my precious, and I'm going to do it. Old as I am, I can turn a key still."

So Sabrinetta went up again to the top of her tower and there with a burdened (worried) heart shed some tears, as well, prayed that the children, despite the seeming danger, got to their home in safety. For she knew, of course, that the gates of the town were not dragon proof, and that the dragon could just walk in whenever he liked. In her heart of hearts, she hoped that the dragon would not be too angry and instead, be more tolerant of the disturbance, as children were naturally rambunctious.

The children, meanwhile, had first ran straight to the palace, where the prince (the reigning King) was cracking his hunting whip down at the kennels, and told him what had happened.

03- CHILDREN ARE FRIGHTENED BY DRAGON

"Good sport," said the prince, and he ordered out his pack of hippopotamuses at once. It was his custom to hunt big game with hippopotamuses, and people would not have minded that so much—but he would swagger about in the streets of the town with his pack yelping and gamboling at his heels, and when he did that, the green-grocer, who had his stall in the marketplace, always regretted it; and the crockery merchant, who spread his wares on the pavement, was ruined for life every time the Prince chose to show off his pack.

The prince rode out of the town with his hippopotamuses trotting and frisking behind him, and people got inside their houses as quickly as they could when they heard the voices of his pack and the blowing of his horn. The pack squeezed through the town gates and off across country to hunt the dragon. Few of you who had not seen a pack of hippopotamuses in full cry will be able to imagine at all what the hunt was like. To begin with, hippopotamuses do not bay like hounds: They grunt like pigs, and their grunt is very big and fierce. Then, of course, no one expects hippopotamuses to jump. They just crash through the hedges and lumber through the standing corn, doing serious injury to the crops, and annoying the farmers very much. All the hippopotamuses had collars with their name and address on, but when the farmers called at the palace to complain of the injury to their standing crops, the prince always said it served them right for leaving their crops standing about in people's way, and he never paid anything at all.

04- EVIL PRINCE WITH HIPOPOTAMUS - JP

So now, when he and his pack went out, several people in the town whispered, "I wish the dragon would eat him"—which was very wrong of them, no doubt, but then he was such a very nasty Prince.

They hunted through the field and hunted through the forest; but the pack drew blank; this dragon, contrary to belief, was not innately nasty (confrontational), and even though they had evaded his space, had elected not to show himself.

But just as the prince was beginning to think there was no dragon at all, but only a cock and bull story, his favourite old hippopotamus gave tongue. The prince blew his horn and shouted: "Tally ho! Hark forward! Tantivy!" and the whole pack charged downhill toward the hollow by the wood, prince thinking only of future fame and glory, to annihilate the dragon and destroy his refuge. Forced into defending mode, the Dragon confronted them; however, he did so in manifest form as big as a barge, glowing like a furnace, and spitting fire and showing razor sharp teeth.

05- FIERCE, FIRE BREATHING DRAGON- JP

"The hunt is up!" the prince, drunk with power, bellowed his order. “Charge! “And they all surged (rushed) forward.

Meanwhile, the brave young dragon—instead of behaving as a sensible quarry (target, game) should and running away—ran straight at the pack and the prince perched on his elephant. The prince was mortified now, shocked, seeing his prize pack swallowed up one by one in the twinkling of an eye, by the dragon they had come out to hunt. The dragon’s fury unleashed, he’d swallowed all the unsavory hippopotamuses, just as a dog swallow’s bits of meat. It was a shocking sight. Of the whole of the pack that had come out sporting so merrily to the music of the horn, now not even a puppy-hippopotamus was left, and the dragon was looking anxiously around to see if he’d missed anything. And true enough, he had! 

The real culprit, the once arrogant prince thinking only of his salvation, had in fact slipped off his elephant on the other side, and cowardly ran into the thickest part of the wood. He hoped the dragon could not break through the bushes there, since they were very strong and close. He went crawling on his hands and knees in a most un-Prince-like way, and at last, finding a hollow tree, he crept into it. The woods were soon very still—no crashing of branches and no smell of burning came to alarm the prince. He drained the contents of silver hunting bottle slung from his shoulder and stretched his legs in the hollow tree. He never shed a single tear for his poor tame hippopotamuses who had eaten from his hand and followed him faithfully in all the pleasures of the chase for so many years. For he was a false Prince, with a skin like leather and hair like hearth brushes and a heart like a stone. He never shed a tear, but he just went to sleep.

When he awoke it was dark. He crept out of the tree and rubbed his eyes. The wood was black about him, but there was a red glow in a dell close by. It was a fire of sticks, and beside it sat a ragged youth with long, yellow hair; all around lay sleeping forms which breathed heavily.

"Who are you?" said the prince.

"I'm Elfin, the pig keeper," said the ragged youth. "And who are you?"

"I'm Tiresome, the Prince, your Sovereign." declared the other in an arrogant tone. “You should bow your head to me.”

Elfin nodded slightly, obliging the haughty prince. "And what reason takes you out of your safe palace, your Grace, at this time of night?" then asked the pig keeper, deferentially.

"I've been hunting," said the prince.

The pig keeper laughed. "Oh, it was you I saw, then? A good hunt, wasn't it? My pigs and I were looking on."

All the sleeping forms grunted and snored, and the prince saw that they were pigs: He knew it by their manners.

"If you had known as much as I do," Elfin went on, "you might have saved your pack."

"What do you mean?" asked Tiresome curiously, forgetting his ready scoff (deride).

"Why, the dragon," said Elfin. "You went out at the wrong time of day. The dragon should be hunted at night."

"And I imagined that you were going to say something intelligent." said the prince, mockingly. “Dragons are not nocturnal and besides, a daylight hunt is quite good enough for me, you silly pig keeper."

"Oh, well," said Elfin and shrugged. "Do as you please, Your Grace; however, I feel that I should warn you, that the dragon will surely come and hunt you tomorrow, as likely as not. You have after all, trespassed on his domain, which incidentally he’d quietly existed all this time, without giving anyone least cause for fear or harm. You have disrespected him and caused him to be violent, for that ruin (violation, harm), he will carry a lasting grudge against you."

"You're spouting nonsense," said Tiresome. “Dragons are abomination; they are to be hunted down and terminated (eliminated) without hesitation. Furthermore, you a pig keeper, how dare you try sermon (lecture, admonish) your betters! I should have your head for this breach (infraction), this outrage! “

"I am only being truthful; but my counsel falls on deaf ears." said Elfin shrugging, more to himself. He’d with admirable control, had stopped his tongue from uttering, ‘daft’ (silly, stupid) ears.

06- HANDSOME BOY ELFIN  WITH PIGS

"Well, tell me the truth, then. What is it that, if I had known as much as you do about, I shouldn't have lost my hippopotamuses?"

"You don't speak very good English," said Elfin. "But come, what will you give me if I tell you?"

"If you tell me what?" said the tiresome Prince.

"What you want to know."

"I don't want to know anything," said Prince Tiresome.

Elfin stifled a laugh, “Then you're more eccentric,” He said, instead of the word, ‘daft’, “even than I thought." again, with admirable constraint. "Don't you want to know how to settle the score with the dragon before he settles with you? But first, you must promise that he will just be contained, not destroyed."

" It might be as well; also, another treasure to keep. Oh well, why not.”  The prince somberly, outwardly acquiesced; inwardly meanwhile, he gloated. “Hah, I will have more time to think of ways to torment the captive dragon”

“Well, what are you waiting for, do tell.”

" All right, I will impart the knowledge, as I need some sleep tonight." Elfin reluctantly nodded, not entirely trusting the prince." However, this ancient knowledge, whom I was lucky to be privy to, should not be given freely; hence, what will you give me for it?"

"Half my kingdom," said the prince, "and my cousin's hand in marriage."

"Done," said the pig keeper. "Here goes! The celestial dragon grows small at night! That’s when he is most vulnerable. He sleeps under the root of this tree. He is not aggressive; in fact, when asked politely, he will even oblige one with a spark of light for a campfire. “This said, Elfin fell silent and looked away, thinking of a time in the dead of night, when once he was in dire straits and the dragon had saved his life, with that life giving fire. He hoped, he was not, by his action now, being ungrateful wretch.

“Take me there now; I want to see this for myself.” The prince ordered. And, sure enough, there under the tree was the dragon on a nest of scorched moss, and he was about as long as your finger.

"How can I capture, I mean, contain him?" asked the prince eagerly.

"I suppose there is one sure way," said Elfin, " you can take him away if you've brought anything to put him in. That bottle of yours would do."

So, between them they managed, with bits of stick and by singeing their fingers a little, to poke and shove the dragon till they made it creep into the silver hunting bottle, and then the prince screwed on the top tight.

"Now we've got him," said Elfin. "Remember your promise! You are not to hurt him any. Gently take him home and put Solomon's seal on the mouth of the bottle, and then he'll be contained and be safe enough for you. Later tonight, after I had some shuteye, I shall call on the palace to reclaim my reward. At least this way, I shall have some money (means) with which to buy fine attire and so, be presentable when I meet the princess."

“Sure, you will… In a pig’s eye!” Prince inwardly sneered, looking away to hide his contempt. True enough, the wicked Prince had made promises he had no intention of ever keeping. Returning to the palace, darkness still blanketing the earth that night, the prince summoned the Prime Minister secretly, at once, to his private chambers.

The Prime Minister was urgently awakened from deep sleep, still groggy, he hastily dressed in his garbs and rushed compliantly to the prince’s private chambers. He was briefly informed of the facts, told of the dragon’s capture, then set to task of finishing the job.

Subsequently, the P.M. had obligingly, solemnly put Solomon's seal on the mouth of the bottle, and the bottle was then carried off to be put in the Treasury, which was the impenetrable, strongest building in the palace. For it was made of solid copper, with walls as thick as Waterloo Bridge.                     

                                                                                         ~

Later still that night, Elfin had innocently shown up but was barred entry to the palace by the rude, hostile armed guards. "Go on, be off with you! What do you mean?" They bellowed at him. “You have the goal to show your face here at this ungodly hour and demand to see the prince; just who do you think you are!”

The prince did not even deign to deny or give excuses when two of the guards came forth to report Elfin’s claim, as well, give reasons for the sure ruckus (disturbance) created at the town’s main gate.

"I alone found and captured the dragon. Imagine, a nobody like him having the audacity to spread such lies, such vicious, disrespectful claims.” The prince indignantly complained to his two trusted ministers that happened to be by his side at the time.”  However, as I am benevolent and merciful ruler, otherwise, I would surely claim his head for this bold, brazen audacity…” Then turning to the guards, he ordered: “Clearly, he is insane, so just drive him away, and if he dared to show his face at the gate again, tell him he will be executed on the spot."

"All right," said Elfin, shrugging his shoulders. "I'm better off than he is, anyhow."

"What do you mean?" one of the guards scowled (glowered) at him incredulously.

"Prince has got a kingdom (and a dragon), but I've got clean hands (and five and seventy fine black pigs)." His reaction was duly reported to the prince, who sneered (jeered, scoffed), but outwardly said nothing.

In small hours, few hours before daybreak, not the usual time at noon, at the assembled court, his Parliament, the Prince with some flare and elaboration recounted to his captive, sleepy audience, how clever and brave he had been in finding the fierce dragon and imprisoning it, even though it had cost him his entire hunting party and his longtime pet hippopotamuses and the riding elephants.

Noting his lack of remorse (sorrow), some ministers suspected the prince (their present Sovereign), of duplicity (deceit, lying), however, none dared to voice this; instead, they in unison said: "You are indeed brave and clever, your Majesty." For they knew what happened to people with whom the prince was not pleased.

08- PRIME MINISTER PLACES THE IMPRISONED DRAGON IN BOTTLE, IN TREASURY

Back at the Treasury, the bottle had been securely placed (stored) among the sacks of gold, and the junior secretary to the junior clerk of the last Lord of the Treasury had been duly appointed to sit up rest of the night with it and see if anything happened. The junior secretary had never seen a dragon, and what was more, he did not believe the prince had ever seen a dragon either. The prince had never been a truthful boy, and it would have been just like him to bring home a bottle with nothing in it and then to pretend that there was a dragon inside. So, the junior secretary did not at all minded being left to guard it. They had entrusted him the key, and when everyone in the palace had gone back to bed, he (smuggled in) let in some of the junior secretaries from other Government departments, and together they had a jolly game of hide-and-seek among the sacks of gold and played marbles with the diamonds and rubies and pearls in the big ivory chests. In this care-free manner they had enjoyed themselves very much, but by-and-by the copper treasury began to get warmer, and suddenly the junior secretary cried out, "Look at the bottle!"

All heads turned to look where’d he pointed, and they saw the bottle sealed with Solomon's seal had swollen to three times its proper size and seemed to be pulsating, and furthermore, was blazing red hot. The air, same time had gotten intolerably warmer as the bottle  grew bigger and bigger, till all the junior secretaries agreed that the place was too hot to hold them, and out they went, tumbling over each other in their haste, and just as the last got out and locked the door the bottle burst, and out came the dragon, very fiery, and swelling more and more every minute, and he began to eat the sacks of gold and crunch up the pearls and diamonds and rubies as if they were sugar.

By breakfast-time he had devoured the whole of the prince’s treasures, and when the prince came along, his feet nearing the treasury building, around the bend, he came face to face with the dragon coming out of the broken door of the Treasury, with molten gold still dripping from his jaws.

09- DRAGON HAS EATEN HIS FILL OF THE TREASURY GOLD

The terror-struck  Prince hastily turned and ran for his life, and as he ran, naturally towards the only safe place, the dragon proof tower, the Princess who had awoken early, happened to see him coming, and she ran down at once and quickly unlocked the door to let him in. She had slammed the dragon proof door in a nick of time, right in the fiery face of the dragon, who, instead of being furious, quietly sat down at outside and morosely (sullenly, grumpily petulantly) grumbled, because he really wanted to get back at the despicable Prince.

The Princess, unaware of the committed wrongdoing, ushered Prince Tiresome into the best room, and laid the cloth, and gave him cream and eggs and white grapes and honey and bread, with many other things, yellow and white and good to eat, and she served him just as kindly as she would have done if he had been anyone else instead of the bad Prince who had taken away her kingdom and kept it for himself—because she was a true Princess and had a heart of gold.

When he had eaten and drunk, he asked the Princess to show him how to lock and unlock the main door to the tower. The nurse was asleep, so there was no one to tell the Princess not to, and she did.

"You turn the key like this," she said, "and the door keeps shut. But turn it nine times around the wrong way, and the door flies open."

And so, it did. And the moment it opened, the prince showed (pushed) the Princess out of the main door and cast her outside of her safe abode, just as he had pushed her out of her kingdom, then quickly, heartlessly bolted the door behind her. For he wanted to have the tower all for himself. And there she was, left stranded (forsaken, left )and vulnerable in an open street, and across (on the other side of the way) the assumed, fierce dragon which happened to be sitting, presently, intently  gazing at her. Other than this, however, he did not stir, nor try to eat her; for beknows (unknown) to all citizens, celestial dragons could not do harm or eat innocent Princesses with hearts of gold.

As the dragon initiated no hostile action towards her, the Princess’s fears were allayed (dispelled); however, knowing it would be most improper of her to walk through the streets of the town in her milky-silky gown with the daisies on it, and with no hat and no gloves, she naturally turned the other way, intending to ran out across the meadows, toward the woods.

As it were, she had never been out of her tower before, so, stopping briefly at the perimeter of the fields, she had first bent down and swiftly removed her silk slippers; subsequently, her bare feet had tread (glided) over the plush soft grass, like silk-grass of Paradise it was, an experience  she most immensely enjoyed.

She, without thought, had simply ran right into the thickest part of the dense forest; perhaps, it was to fulfill her yearning secret desire for any adventure; or perhaps it was fate, leading her steps towards what she was meant to go.  And lo and behold, there in a dell she suddenly came upon Elfin and his five and seventy fine pigs. He was idly sitting by, playing his flute, and around him the pigs were dancing cheerfully on their hind legs.

"Oh, dear me," said the Princess rushing towards her perceived rescuer, "please do take care of me. I am so lost and ever so frightened."

"I will," said Elfin, putting his arms around her. "Now you are quite safe. What were you frightened of?"

"The dragon of course," she, with a slight quaking (trembling) in her voice, responded. “The Celestial being may still change his mind and come after me!”

"So, it's gotten out of the bottle," said Elfin. "I hope it's eaten the notorious prince."

"No," said Sabrinetta. "But why would you say that?"

Elfin then briefly told her of the mean trick that the prince had played on him.

"And he promised me half his kingdom and the hand of his cousin the Princess," said Elfin.

"Oh, dear, how brashly inappropriate, the ruling prince can be!" said Sabrinetta with her face flushed crimson, she then strove to gently get out of Elfin’s protective embrace. "How dare he make promises he had no business doing? Doesn’t she get a say in this?"

"What's the matter?" Elfin asked, holding on to her still tighter, reluctant to let her go. "It was of course inappropriate, a shame, or at least I thought so. But now he may keep his kingdom, half and whole, if I may just keep what I have."

"What's that?" in a nervous, shy voice asked the Princess.

"Why, you—my beautiful fairy." said Elfin coyly, noting her flushed face just then, and unable to resist his harmless teasing of her. “And as for the Princess, his cousin—forgive me, dearest heart, but when I asked for her, I hadn't seen the real Princess, which my eyes now behold, and the only one I will ever love, till the end of my existence."

"Are you in earnest with your declaration of ….?" Sabrinetta blushed crimson.

"Of course?" he asked.

"Yes, but five minutes ago you hadn't seen me!"

"Five minutes ago, I was a pig keeper—now I've held you in my arms I'm a Prince, though I should have to keep tending pigs to the end of my days."

"You proclaim that I’ve captivated your heart and that you’ve chosen me; but aren’t you also being brazenly presumptions akin (similar, like) the prince, in deciding my fate?" said the pouting, Princess.

"You asked me to take care of you," said Elfin, feigning being cross, "and I will—all my life long."

Sabrinetta regretting hurting his feelings, moreover, she could not dispute his sound reasoning, nor did she want to, and for the first time taking a long hard look at his features, she noted the genuine sincerity in his eyes, and something more, a hint of vulnerability, also, how captivatingly handsome he truly was.

Sharing the certain kinship of the heart, they sat close but not touching, and then they began to talk of important things, such as the dragon and the prince, and all the time Elfin did not know that this was the Princess. Listening to her concerns however, about the dragon, and the welfare of the common folk, he knew that she had a heart of gold, and in his heart the spark of attraction, perhaps it was true affection, which had ignited into a flame, growing by degrees, till it made him rather uncomfortable, and he rose, to supposedly go check on his pigs.

He returned to her side more composed, "The mistake," then said Elfin, "was in not having a dragon proof bottle. I see that now. I could have long ago, utilizing such, to gently relocate the unfortunate dragon to a safer place. I owed him that much."

"I’m glad you feel the same way as I do and do not blame the dragon for his innate nature, for which he is now unfortunately more feared and hated, more so after the terrible destruction and the burdensome the costs he’d incurred by his decimating the treasury, this on top of the losses of the hunting group, though in every instance he was the victim of his circumstances?" said the Princess.

"Nevertheless, we can try mending some of the harm; I can easily get you one of those flagons (bottles, flasks)—because everything in my tower is dragon proof. We can contain the dragon and transport (deliver) him to safety, and in doing so, prevent any inadvertent (accidental) future harm to any meek and vulnerable beings or creatures (animals)." For she still believed what she had been told all her life, that dragons when hungry fed indiscriminately, whether it be any kind of wild animal, herd (sheep, pack, flock, steer) or the little children.

So, at dawn subsequent morning, she quietly rose and headed towards the town, (started off) to acquire such a bottle; and when he awoke with a start sensing her absence and rushed after her, catching up with her in no time, she still adamantly refused to let Elfin accompany her to town.

"If what you say is true," she stressed, "if you are sure that I have a heart of gold, the dragon won't hurt me, and somebody must stay with the pigs."

Elfin was quite sure (of her golden heart), so he let her go.

She found the door of her tower wide open. The dragon had patiently waited all day long for the prince, and the moment he opened the door thinking he was safe and came out—though he was only out for an instant to post a letter to his Prime Minister saying where he was and asking them to send the fire brigade to deal with the fiery dragon—the dragon ate him. Then the dragon after that had quietly retreated back to the wood, for rest and solitude after the unusually hectic, perhaps exuberant day. Furthermore, having just escaped a near disaster, he did not wish to be found in town when the night fell, and then in his small form be rendered vulnerable and fall prey (a sure target, a victim) to the evil designs of any conniving and powerful men.

Sabrinetta quickly entered the tower and went straight to check in on her nurse; she lovingly caressed her hand and planted a soft kiss in the palm to gently awaken her. By the time the nurse had completed (finished) washing up, Sabrinetta had returned, this time holding a tray of steaming cup of tea and some hot breakfast pastries and sliced fruit tidbits the nurse usually partook every morning.  She set quietly by her side and patiently watched and waited till the nurse completed her routine breakfast; then in a calm, composed manner, explained what had transpired during the night while the nurse had slept, and her careful plans for the future to assure security and well being (welfare) of all. She assured the nurse that since she had a heart of gold, the dragon hadn’t harmed her and would never eat her; the nurse noted that the Princess was quite safe and so, kissed her on the cheek and with prayers on her lips, simply let her go.

Sabrinetta without delay secured the small dragon proof bottle made of burnished brass in her pocket and ran back to the woods and to the dell, finding Elfin sitting among his sleek black pigs, impatiently and with obvious trepidation, waiting for her return.

11- ELFIN  THOUGHT HE'D NEVER SEE HER AGAIN

"I thought you were never coming back," he said as he rushed forward with his extended arms wide open to at once fiercely embrace her. "You have been away for so long, a year, at least."

“Silly boy, “The Princess smiling chided, as her affectionate (loving) gaze held his for a moment or two. She sat down beside him among the pigs, and they held each other's hands, talking till darkness encroached on them. They went then to find the dragon, trailing the scorched ground, each bent, charred blade of grass or branch or moss, followed key identifiable marks carelessly left by the dragon as it had crawled, getting smaller by degrees, till he had reached his favorite place, he then exhausted, had simply curled up under the root of the tree and instantly fallen asleep.

"Now then," said Elfin, "you hold the bottle." Then he poked and prodded the dragon with bits of stick till it crawled into the dragon proof bottle. But there was no stopper. In her haste, she’d neglected to obtain one.

"Never mind," said Elfin. "I'll put my finger in for a stopper."

"No, let me," said the Princess. But of course, Elfin would not let her. He stuffed his finger into the top of the bottle, and the Princess cried out: "The sea—the sea—run for the cliffs!" And off they went, with the five and seventy pigs trotting steadily after them in a long black procession.

The bottle got hotter and hotter in Elfin's hands, because the dragon inside was puffing fire and smoke with all his might—hotter and hotter and hotter—but Elfin held on till they came to the cliff edge, and there was the dark blue sea, and the whirlpool going around and around.

Elfin lifted the bottle high above his head and hurled it out between the stars and the sea, and it fell in the middle of the whirlpool.

11B- DRAGON TRANSFORMS IN THE WHIRLPOOL

The dragon being a celestial being, naturally did not expire; Heaven taking pity on him, transformed the dragon into another form, which he could then, in his new form, shot upwards, to permanently disappear in the clouds.

"The dragon is free now, free to live his life in Heavens, “rejoiced the princess. “You've saved the dragon, all the earthly creatures, all the little children!” But then suddenly noting the (flicker) spasm of pain, which he could not hide, registering in his face, her heart now palpitating with dread, she urgently asked: “Show me your hands."

"I can't," said Elfin, his eyes pricked with tears. “I don’t want to frighten you; but regretfully, I shall never as before, be able to hold your dear hands again. My hands are badly scorched and scarred."

“What?” She screamed and reached for his hands, and sadly, she saw how charred and badly marred his hands were.

The Princess gingerly (cautiously) placed her hands underneath his, if only for support and, despite his stoic words and assurances, her heart in tatters, she could not help but shed copious (profuse) inconsolable tears. Then getting a grip on her senses, she tore pieces of her silky-milky gown to gently cover the worst parts, for no herbal medicine, no poultice of any kind would hell the dragon breath burns. And the two, walking side by side, shoulders barely touching, went back to the tower and told the nurse of all that had happened. And the pigs hearing this, sat outside and mournfully shed tears.

"He is the bravest man in the world," with a heavy heart, whimpered Sabrinetta. "With his heroic deed, he has saved everyone at a terrible cost to him. Why is fate so cruel to allow this? Now, his beautiful hands are scorched, marred forever—My poor, dear, darling, how can I make things better for you!"

Just then, the door of the room was pushed open ajar, and the oldest of the five and seventy pigs came in. It went up to Elfin and rubbed itself against him with little loving grunts.

"See the dear creature," said the nurse, wiping away a tear. "It knows, it knows!"

Sabrinetta stroked the pig, because Elfin’s hands were too painful for stroking or for anything else.

"The only cure for a dragon burn," said the old nurse, "is pig's fat, and well that faithful creature knows it——"

"I wouldn't for a kingdom," cried Elfin, stroking the pig as best he could with his elbow.

"Is there no other cure?" asked the Princess.

Here another pig put its black nose in at the door, and then another and another, till the room was full of pigs, a surging mass of rounded blackness, pushing and struggling to get at Elfin, and grunting softly in the language of true affection.

"There is one other," said the nurse. "The dear, affectionate beasts—they all want to die for you."

"What is the other cure?" said Sabrinetta anxiously.

"If a man is burnt by a dragon," said the nurse, "and a certain number of people are willing to die for him, it is enough if each should kiss the burn and wish it well in the depths of his loving heart."

"The number! The number!" cried Sabrinetta.

"Seventy-seven," said the nurse.

"We have only seventy-five pigs," said the Princess, "and with me that's seventy-six!"

"It must be seventy-seven—and I really can't die for him, so nothing can be done," said the nurse, sadly. "He must have cork hands."

"I knew about the seventy-seven loving people," said Elfin. "But I never thought my dear pigs loved me so much as all this, and my dear too—and, of course, that only makes it more impossible. There's one other charm that cures dragon burns, though; but I'd rather endure life without the use of my hands or be burnt black all over, than marry anyone but you, my dear, my pretty."

"Why, who must you marry to cure your dragon burns?" asked Sabrinetta.

"A Princess. That's how St. George cured his burns."

"There now! Think of that!" aghast, said the nurse. "And I never heard tell of that cure, old as I am."

12- HAPPINESS AT LAST

But Sabrinetta threw her arms round Elfin's neck and held him as though she would never let him go.

"Then it's all right, my dear, brave, precious Elfin," she cried, "for I am a Princess, and you shall be my Prince. Come along, Nurse—don't wait to put on your bonnet. We'll go and be married at the basilica (cathedral, church), this very moment."

So they went, and the pigs came after, moving in stately blackness, two by two. And, the minute he was married to the Princess, Elfin's hands miraculously got repaired. And the people, who were weary of Prince Tiresome and his hippopotamuses, hailed Sabrinetta and her husband as rightful Sovereigns of the land.

Next morning the Prince and Princess along with key religious affiliates, went out to the cliff top by the seashore and after the solemn ceremony, all eyes looking up, loudly apologized to the Celestial dragon, for all the past prejudices, misdeeds and sins of men, still a good lesson had been learned, one they will never forget. Afterwards they expressed their hopeful desire that the dragon will be happy and at peace at long last and living joyful existence among his own kind in Heaven.  For surely, they knew, where he must be.

They could see nothing, not a trace of the celestial dragon; but when they looked out toward the whirlpool, they saw a remanent cloud of steam descending from the clouds to join the whirlpool. The dragon was so moved, he pardoned the humanity for their past transgressions; furthermore, he conveyed (imparted) on that region, one final gift. The local fishermen reported later on that the water there for miles around was hot enough to shave with! And as the water is hot and maintained its therapeutic benefits to present day, along the shoreline sprung up countless hostels (inns and clinics) that prospered, treating and curing all manner of impossible ailments. Meanwhile, citizens of the region remained permanently grateful to the benevolent dragon that had once existed, though reticently (guardedly, evasively), among them.

*⁠*⁠*⁠*⁠*

The Prince and Princess since their happy union, ruled the land well and wisely. The nurse lived with them, and did nothing but fine sewing and narrate stories, chiefly about the benevolent dragon, delighting in the eager, wide-eyed children’s faces as they listened to her accounts, with such innocent, rapt attention. The prince kept no hippopotamuses, and consequently, remained very popular. The five and seventy devoted pigs lived in white marble sties with brass knockers and Pig on the doorplate, and were washed twice a day with Turkish sponges and soap scented with violets, and no one objected to their following the Prince when he walked abroad, for they behave beautifully, and always kept to the footpath, and obey the notices about not walking on the grass. The Princess fed them every day with her own hands, and her first edict on coming to the throne had been that the word pork should never be uttered on pain of death, and should, besides, be scratched out of all the dictionaries.

Fin