Fred's Stroke Breaks the Dragon's Flame

A hope thundered through Fred's mind. "Got it!", thought Fred. "It's over!

The sword's tip broke through the dragon's neck. But only the length of the first joint of Fred's index finger! And no blood was drawn?"

Another thought flashed through Fred's mind. "I got it.", thought Fred. "It's over."

He cut down the side of the dragon's neck. The sword's tip slipped out of the puncture. A clear wound, but still no blood.

The dragon's head recoiled away from Fred. Probably a reflex. This bought Fred two breaths of life. In the first breath, he silently asked for forgiveness, and hoped that at least he would be found worthy in the afterlife. In his second breath, he determined that he would be found worthy if he could at least offer an exchange of lives. He would follow the dragon to the left, and charge the head. The eyes, the open mouth - these were places his sword could pierce.

The monster was shockingly agile. Fred could not reach its head. The bile rose in Fred's guts. Fred shouted a vulgarity as the dragon's head remained out of his reach. "Why isn't it trying to finish me off? I am ready to go!"

Fred's mind jerked with a flood of messages from the battlefield. The masseuse was now behind him, coughing water. The famed red mist of battle was not happening, but the torches sputtered and the ones near the dragon burned a greenish yellow. And the sweet, luxurious scent of cinnamon was now mixed with the reek of a stable. Tears flowed from Fred's eyes.

The dragon also closed its eyes. "It can't burn me! I cannot explain it, but it has something to do with the wound! Fred thought. Still plenty dangerous. The tears, the reek, this is all a test. Steady in!

Fred's heart skipped a beat and his belly sank as a claw grasped his leg and pulled him down into the pool. One good breath. Hold it. Splash. The sting and the reek were gone. He still grasped the sword. Fred thought, "Don't bother aiming. If it is the Lord's will, this will work. If not, it won't matter where I aim anyway. I am going to drown if I don't act soon." Pain shot from Fred's leg as the dragon's paw tightened its grip, but still the flamebane had not been breached.

Fred exhaled as he thrust his sword upward with the last of his power. The damned water didn't help. The dragon did. Its other front paw reached for Fred's chest to crush him at that instant. Fred's stoke plunged adjacent to the front paw, and the momentum of the dragon allowed the stoke to plunge deeply.

Fred released the sword, as he had no strength left.

Fred was so close to life, yet so far! He could breath air, however foul, if he could only rise. Did the dragon release its grip? Did the dragon collapse and pin Fred to the bottom of the pool? Or did Fred escape and rise?

1. Dragon retreats, Fred rises from the water.
2. Dragon collapses and its weight pins Fred to the bottom of the pool.

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