The Last Ten Yards of Water

Charging the dragon through the water was not a plan that most adventurers would have pursued. However, Anselm's belief that the water made the dragon vulnerable gave the attackers some hope. They did surprise the dragon. The beast had rested the long line of his body parallel the shore. So Fred, Astra, and Thomas were able to charge him from his right side, rather than head first. Fred was closest to the head, Astra to his belly, and Thomas toward his tail. Anselm and Simon were some distance away. There were ten yards of water to cover before they could close to attack.

The dragon turned his long, slinky head around quickly, and gazed right at Lord Fred. Fred was wading in water that was now waist-deep and getting deeper. The dragon opened his mouth, baring his teeth. Fred flinched! He brought up his forearm to his head, bracing himself ineffectively for the flume of flame that was the dragon's weapon of terror. But there was no flame. For a second, Fred thought that something had stopped the dragon. But in the next second, he sniffed the foulest stink that he had ever smelled. It was as if a hen house had not been cleaned, and hundreds of eggs had rotted. Fred coughed, and retched helplessly as he clutched his sword and pointed its tip into the mud, and leaned on its pommel, in the hope that he could rally. But it was no good. He needed clean air!

He turned toward his left. He saw Astra swimming toward the tail of the dragon, with her sabre encumbering her progress. Thomas, a little farther off, had tied a cloth around his mouth, but was actually closing on the tail end of the dragon. Fred saw the powerful tail start to whip around. A glint of Thomas's broad sword broke the surface of the pond. If Thomas were to be swept aside, he would have one clear strike at the back end of the dragon.

The Fred forced himself to turn his head back before plunging into the water to escape the foulness of that dragon's breath.

1. And then Anselm's report of the vulnerability of the dragon in water was bourne out.
2. The nuthatch, wondering the other bird was, called again. The catapulters, trained to follow orders, fired the shot.
3. Fred felt himself being pulled up. Was it the dragon - or someone else?

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