Chapter 5
The Voice of the Dragon Lady
While rosy fingered dawn was in the process of lighting up their world, Godric and Philip were in the process of waking up.
“Good morning, Boss,” said Philip, hoping up to the highest polished limb on the perch, so that he could more easily look down at Godric, still on his mattress.
“Good morning, Bird,” replied the Prince. “What does this word ‘Boss’ that you keep using on me actually mean? I’m not sure I like it. It sounds kind of, I don’t know, kind of gruff and perhaps a touch insolent.”
“Not at all, your highness. I have a distant relative, a raven, actually, name’s Matthew, on an adventure in another story who uses it in reference to his guy-in-charge, the guy the other characters listen to. In our case, only me. You’re the decider after all. In a way it’s almost, no, it is a term of familiarity and affection. See, I like you, Boss.” Philip, somewhat embarrassed, gave himself a shake and picked some tiny creature, a tick, off a black feather and swallowed it.
Hearing movement outside their rocky room, the Prince got stiffly to his feet, pulled his fine leather boots on, smoothed down his maroon shirt and dark leather slacks and walked out of their bedroom into the main hall of the cave. Philip flew around him and settled on the floor next to a cloth covering upon which stood a tall clear pitcher of water, several mugs, and ceramic plates piled with various kinds of edibles, bunches of grapes, oranges, fresh brown bread, lightly toasted and buttered, it seemed, cheeses, and for the Prince a bowl of steaming cereal like oatmeal, plus a plate filled with strips of crisp hot meat. The Dragon Lady, Su Linn, stood behind the food, smiling at them, and gestured for the Prince to be seated. Philip had already plucked a grape and was busily pecking and eating.
“Good morning,” he said, bowing before the Dragon Lady and then folding himself down to the floor of the cave. “Thank you for this wonderful repast; it looks delicious.”
“You’re welcome, Prince Godric,” she replied returning his bow and then seating herself before a steaming bowl of similar substance. She picked up the spoon next to her bowl, dipped it into the cereal and then daintily ate it. “I won’t bother you with tiresome questions while you eat, but there is one I would like to ask, if I may.”
“Certainly,” the Prince replied, as he took a strip of the crisp meat and bit off a good portion.
“Then did the Princess Elesandra, whom you are seeking, by any chance have eyes that changed color, from blue to green and back?”
“I’m not sure. I think she did though at the time I thought it was a trick of the lighting. What do you know?”
“I know that women with the shifting eyes are usually women of unusual powers. She might not only be a Princess, the daughter of a powerful king; she could also be a supernatural being, a nymph or a fairy Princess. You don’t really know her. If you succeed, you must be careful to discover what and who she is and the nature of her intentions. Since you saw her, were immediately taken by her beauty and vowed to find her, she might even be a siren or a witch. That doesn’t mean she is evil, just that you must be certain of her nature and her intentions.”
“Wow!” Philip yelped. “What can we do?” The Prince looked from him to the Dragon Lady, shocked and speechless.
“Don’t be too alarmed. I have something that will help you.“ She gestured with her right hand. In a small crackling burst of light a black bag materialized in her hand. She stretched the cord at the top of the bag and shook out a gem stone, a black-veined orange crystal of translucent beauty. “It’s called a Wolfstone,” she said, holding the oblong gem in the palm of her hand. Its power is that it lets you see through illusions, particularly magical ones. If she is hiding behind magic or is not who she pretends to be, the crystal will reveal her true nature, good or evil. Take it and keep it with you at all times.” She put the gem back in the bag, drew the top closed and handed the bag to the Prince.
“Thank you.” He took it gingerly, stood, and put it into a side pocket in the pants he was wearing. “I appreciate the gift and your generosity and hospitality. Is there any way I can repay you?”
“No. My gifts have no strings, other than the cord on the bag,” she added smiling. “Be a good and just ruler, kind and compassionate when you come to take over the kingdom. Find a good woman who is your equal and who will support your reign.
“There is one further thing I can do,” she continued. “Your quest. There will be three obstacles.”
“Always in threes!” piped up Philip with his mouth full of food! “Tell us,” the Prince said, “if you are able.”
“Several miles down the road to Ardor, you will come to a bridge over a fast-moving stream. There is where the danger lies and you may have to fight your way across the bridge. If so, each obstacle will be more powerful than the one before it. Safety lies on the other side of the bridge for evil magical forces cannot cross the running water. It strips them of their power. So be alert. Go safely and well,” she added with a flourish and a swirl of her golden cloak. Behind her a golden light flashed; without moving a foot, the Dragon Lady disappeared into the light, leaving Godric and Philip alone in the cave. Only the food remained on the floor of the cave.
“Well,” said Godric, “let me pack up some of this food and we’ll be on our way. Anything special that you would like, Philip?”
Philip hopped to the side of the mat. “Those sesame seeds are really tasty, if you can find something to wrap them in. And how about those nuts over in that corner, and some grapes.”
Godric found a container on the mat that he could use. He put the seeds and nuts and a few grapes inside, then added some cheese and put the container inside his knapsack. “Ready,” he said. “Let’s go!”
Now, if you’re like me, you are probably wondering: when did Godric get a necessary bathroom break? He was in the cave all night, got up in the morning, ate breakfast, listened to the Dragon Lady, and only now is leaving the cave. When did he go?
Truth be told and I try never to lie, he went once or twice yesterday on the way to the hillside and cave. And, of course, he is going now, while I write. So, thus far, all is well, all is well, all manner of things are well, at least for the moment.
Image: Jonah under the castor bean plant, looking glum! That’s what happens when narrators or prophets are given a task they dislike. The text is good. There are 2 central characters, a city of thousands, a plant or bush, and finally a worm; and a self-effacing narrator, unlike myself!! Jonah is a real jerk! God, the author, or Author (?), is good! Nineveh is spared. Enjoy the real thing (NRSV).
1 But this [Nineveh repents; God saves them from destruction] was very displeasing to Jonah, and he became angry [like the elder brother in the prodigal son parable?] 2 He prayed to the LORD and said, “O LORD! Is not this what I said while I was still in my own country? That is why I fled to Tarshish at the beginning; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing. 3 And now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” 4 And the LORD said, “Is it right for you to be angry?” 5 Then Jonah went out of the city and sat down east of the city, and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, waiting to see what would become of the city. 6 The LORD God appointed a bush, [4] and made it come up over Jonah, to give shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort; so Jonah was very happy about the bush. 7 But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the bush, so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God prepared a sultry east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint and asked that he might die. He said, “It is better for me to die than to live.” 9 But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the bush?” And he said, “Yes, angry enough to die.” 10 Then the LORD said, “You are concerned about the bush, for which you did not labor and which you did not grow; it came into being in a night and perished in a night. 11 And should I not be concerned about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also many animals?”
