Chapter 1 Episode 3

     Calebth was beside himself with joy. At sunup tomorrow, he’d be leaving Raintown, the only home he’d ever known, in the company of the greatest Ranger of all times. He couldn’t believe his luck.

     Never mind that Owen had only consented to let him accompany them after he blurted out that he knew a shortcut to the dragon’s lair that would let them get there before any of the other bounty hunters arrived.

     “You can go with us that far and no farther.”

     “But–”

     “No buts. Take it or leave it.” And that was the end of that.

     But Calebth had a plan. He’d make himself so useful that Owen would see he couldn’t get along without him. And once that happened, he’d figure out a way to talk Owen into training him to use the sword.

     When he went to bed that night, he couldn’t sleep a wink. And no wonder! Every time he thought about what tomorrow would bring, his heart began to pound, and his stomach quivered with anticipation.

     “No, Ma’am.”

     “You’d better not. They’ll be leaving first thing in the morning and good riddance. Things can get back to normal.”

     “Yes, Grannie.” He didn’t want to get into an argument with her. Especially since this would be their last evening together for who knows how long.

     He jumped out of bed and ran to the window. His heart sank when he saw Owen and his companions leaving without him! How could he do such a thing? He’d promised that Calebth could go with them as far as the cave. And rangers never lied.

     When Calebth didn’t put in an appearance, Owen must have thought he’d changed his mind. He dressed in a hurry, slinging his knapsack over his shoulder and pulling his grandfather’s sword from under the mattress. He crept downstairs, grabbed a couple loaves of day-old bread, fruit, and sausage, and left a note on the table to Grannie, telling her that he loved her and not to worry about him before running out the door and down the road.

     Never mind that Owen had only consented to let him accompany them after he blurted out that he knew a shortcut to the dragon’s lair that would let them get there before any of the other bounty hunters arrived.

     “You can go with us that far and no farther.”

     “But–”

     “No buts. Take it or leave it.” And that was the end of that.

     But Calebth had a plan. He’d make himself so useful that Owen would see he couldn’t get along without him. And once that happened, he’d figure out a way to talk Owen into training him to use the sword.

     When he went to bed that night, he couldn’t sleep a wink. And no wonder! Every time he thought about what tomorrow would bring, his heart began to pound, and his stomach quivered with anticipation.

     At supper, his Grannie had noticed. “What’s wrong with you? You’re as jumpy as a hog during butchering season. You haven’t let those rangers fill your head with nonsense, have you?”

     “No, Ma’am.”

     “You’d better not. They’ll be leaving first thing in the morning and good riddance. Things can get back to normal.”

     “Yes, Grannie.” He didn’t want to get into an argument with her. Especially since this would be their last evening together for who knows how long.

    Calebth finally fell into a deep sleep just before dawn, waking with a start at the sound of a goat bleating.

     He jumped out of bed and ran to the window. His heart sank when he saw Owen and his companions leaving without him! How could he do such a thing? He’d promised that Calebth could go with them as far as the cave. And rangers never lied.

     When Calebth didn’t put in an appearance, Owen must have thought he’d changed his mind. He dressed in a hurry, slinging his knapsack over his shoulder and pulling his grandfather’s sword from under the mattress. He crept downstairs, grabbed a couple loaves of day-old bread, fruit, and sausage, and left a note on the table to Grannie, telling her that he loved her and not to worry about him before running out the door and down the road.

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Chapter 2 – Episode 1

 

    Miles away in his lava castle on top of a volcano, the evil mage, Morogon, sat on his throne in his chamber brooding.  He had sent for the goblin brothers and was waiting for them to appear.

     After a loud bang and the sound of something falling, the massive double doors opened, and three goblins stumbled inside, shaking in their boots. They were sure they were in some kind of trouble. They’d been arguing over which of them was to blame all the way to the mage’s chambers.

      Ollie, the oldest of the three, puffed up his chest with false bravado. “Whatever it is, Lord Morogon, we are innocent. We had nothing to do with it.”

     Lleroy, the goblin in the middle, pointed to his brother. “He spoke the truth, my lord.”

     The youngest, Lleon, nodded rapidly. “Aye that he did, that he did.”

     The mage sighed and pressed his fingers to his forehead, wondering if this was such a good idea after all. “My sources tell me you’ve been spending a lot of time down at the tavern, bragging to anyone who will listen that you are dragon trackers. Is that true?”

     “Umm—something like that, Lord Morogon. Hard to recall my exact words.” Ollie swallowed and hung his head. “We’ve been drinking a lot of ale since we lost our jobs at the quarry.”

     “Did you or did you not claim to be the best when it came to finding and killing the beasts?”

     “Oh. Well. Umm—I may have said something like that.”

     Lleroy jabbed Lleon with his elbow and muttered out of the side of his mouth.  “What he meant was we’re the only dragon trackers around.”

    “Aye that we are. That we are.”

     Lord Morogon held up his hand, and the brothers fell silent. “Be that as it may, I have a job for the three of you.”

     Ollie gulped. “At your service, my lord.”