Friendly Fire

By Cynthia Wilfert

“No, no.”  The High Wizard flicked his hand as if a royal command was a mere annoyance. “I must stay here. If you fail, I’ll need to protect the castle.”

Brandt scowled. He might be the youngest son, but that made him no less a prince. He expected compliance. But High Wizard Eldred acted as if he had a throne of his own.

“The king wants this dragon eliminated. I’m not facing it without magic on my side,” Brandt insisted.

“Of course not.” Eldred smirked. “My apprentice will go.”

A man standing nearby fumbled his stirring spoon and dropped it into a foul-smelling pot.

“Not you, Wimbly; don’t have a fit. Hadwyn!”

Footsteps pounded down the stairs. A gangly boy skidded into the room.

“Pack a bag, lad. You’re going with Prince Hildebrandt.”

Hadwyn’s eyes lit up. “Yes, sir!” He pelted away.

Brandt gaped. “How old is he?”

“Thirteen.” Eldred tucked his hands into his sleeves. “Hadwyn is uniquely skilled for this task, I assure you.”

“He’s a child!”

“A nonthreatening boy,” Eldred agreed. “I would advise you to take him alone. An entourage of knights would spook the dragon; she could roast you before you even come close.”

Brandt grimaced. But Eldred was a renowned counselor as well as magician, and his advice often proved prophetic. Ignoring his directives would be foolhardy.

Thus, Brandt found himself traveling up a mountain toward a dragon’s lair with only a scrawny apprentice for company.

Hadwyn bounded along beside him. “Thanks for choosing me, Your Highness!”

Brandt huffed. “I didn’t. Thank Eldred.”

“Oh, I did. Isn’t he grand?”

Brandt remained silent.

Hadwyn kept talking. “What did this dragon do, exactly?”

“It burned the town of Dungee to the ground.”

Hadwyn cringed. “It killed everyone?”

“It set fire to a barn, and the flames spread. Thankfully the people were able to reach safety. They hid in the woods until the dragon left.”

“So, our dragon is more vandal than killer.”

“Dragons like destruction,” Brandt said. He and his siblings had been drilled on this danger. When their grandfather was king, he’d fought a bloody campaign to drive dragons from the realm. “They’re nothing to sneeze at. Have your best offensive spells at the ready.”

“Oh. Um…” Hadwyn faltered. “I don’t know many offensive spells.”

Brandt frowned. “Then what sort of magic do you know?”

“I’m quite adept at healing.”

Brandt stared at the boy. “That’s a terrific vote of confidence. Does Eldred expect me to lose a limb?”

Hadwyn’s eyes went wide. “That sounds like advanced healing. I’ve only been training for three months.”

“Then what will you do, talk it to death?”

“I don’t know, exactly. But Eldred always seems to be right… I just assumed I’d know when we got there.”

“Right.” Brandt sighed. “Just… try not to die.” He stalked forward, Hadwyn hustling to keep up. Was that the idea? Perhaps Hadwyn was sent because he was expendable.

Perhaps Brandt, a distant fifth in line for succession, was here for the same reason.

He stomped through the trees, stewing. He entered a clearing and had practically walked into the creek—his mind on his problems, not his feet—when a massive, scaly head rose from the water where it had been drinking.

Brandt spun to push Hadwyn back under cover. Too late. A pair of golden eyes gleamed at them.

There wasn’t time to draw his sword. The dragon opened its mouth. Brandt shielded Hadwyn and braced himself.

“Hello. I’m Frida. Are you friends?” The nasally voice was distinctly feminine, almost childlike. It emanated from a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth.

Brandt stared. He hadn’t realized dragons could speak.

“Hello!” Hadwyn piped up. He peeked over Brandt’s shoulder. “I’m Hadwyn, magician’s assistant. This is Prince Hildebrandt.”

“Quiet!” Brandt hissed, keeping his eyes on the dragon. “You can’t introduce us like we’ve come to court! Dragons are not friends.”

“But this one wants to be.”

“Or she wants a more agreeable meal.”

“Oh! I don’t eat people!” Frida sounded offended.

Brandt stepped forward boldly. “You just destroy towns, then?”

“That was an accident. I only wanted to barter for food. But I have this cold, you see.” Frida sniffled miserably. “And I’ve difficulty controlling my flames when I sneeze.”

Brandt eyed her suspiciously. “Most dragons stay out of our kingdom.”

“Yes, Eldred warned me. But I needed his help.”

“You know Eldred?” Brandt glanced at Hadwyn. The boy looked as surprised as Brandt felt.

“Eldred took care of me when I was a hatchling.” Frida brought her head closer to peer at them. “Do you know where he is?”

He’ll be in the dungeon after we report this encounter. The king did not tolerate dragon sympathizers. “He sent us.”

Frida’s eyes lit up. “You’re here to help me, then?”

“Sure!” Hadwyn skipped forward.

A funny look crossed Frida’s face. She turned away, her head bobbing. “Ahh—”

Brandt grabbed Hadwyn and yanked him back. Frida’s sneeze lit the empty air with a burst of flame.

Hadwyn blinked. “Wow.”

“Sorry.” Frida pawed at her snout. “Eldred taught me about different plants. But they’re so tiny—I can’t tell them apart.”

“Healing herbs. My specialty!” Hadwyn looked to Brandt.

Brandt still scrutinized the dragon, but he removed his hand from his sword. This creature seemed more overgrown puppy than monster. “Go on,” he said.

Hadwyn skittered away. He returned shortly with bunches of plants. He pounded herbs and sang a spell to mix the healing potion, and Frida bobbed her head in time with his tune.

“Good of Eldred to send you a healer,” Brandt observed.

“And an honorable prince,” Frida added.

Brandt blinked. His father would not think him honorable for defying orders.

But… maybe there was honor in compassion?

Within the hour, Frida had lapped up the potion and was drawing in full breaths. She sighed in contentment.

But then… hiccup.

Smoke curled up from her nostrils.

Brandt glared at Hadwyn. “Are hiccups covered in advanced healing?”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cynthia Wilfert is a graphic designer by day. She enjoys photography, nature and animals, especially her beloved, spoiled dachshund. She named him Pippin, after the hobbit in The Lord of the Rings. She has enjoyed a life-long love of stories that progressed from Nancy Drew to classics like The Chronicles of Narnia and an eclectic mix of newer tales. With a particular fondness for mysteries and fantasy, she’s now sharing some stories of her own.

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