"What does it mean?" he asked himself. "Perhaps it means nothing, but what am I do if it does?"

In his heart Whittle knew the answer to his troubling dream. But knowing the answer in one's heart, and admitting it in one's own mind are two totally different matters. His heart longed to fly away with the beautiful princess of Lark and return her to her own land where all would declare him a hero and she would be safe from dragons. He wanted to confront this Alexander who her father had betrothed her to and force him to break the engagement. That the princess might have some role in his future beyond that never entered Whittle's mind. He was a peasant, and she a princess. Whittle knew his place and intended to keep it.

But what would happen to the dragon once he left? Without his music and companionship what would the creature do? If he were to fly off and abandon it, the dragon might become so disillusioned and lonely that it would be easy prey for an evil force out to destroy and conquer the world. Even now he wouldn't put a name to the man riding the dragon. But his heart knew, nonetheless. That man had been the evil wizard, Avery. The same man who Cedric had wanted him to lead them in battle against.

Whittle put his head in his hands and moaned. What was he to do, he asked himself. Whatever was he to do?

"It's too dangerous!" Alanna exclaimed. "And what will the others say when they find out what I've done?"

"They say, 'Thank you, Alanna, for getting us off stinking island,'" Tid-Bit said with confidence. "Alanna understands ways of wizards. She must know balloon have magic build into it by Dagu."

"But what if it doesn't?" the girl wailed. "What if we try to fill the balloon and it doesn't work? The dragon will see us for sure, and that will be the end of it. He'll destroy the balloon and likely be so angry he'll kill every living creature on this island."

"Alanna not hear what Tid-Bit tell her?" the king asked patiently. "Dragon not kill anyone. Dragon be asleep."

"The only sleep I'll trust him not to awake from is the sleep of death," the girl said with a shiver. "You heard what Clayton said. Magic doesn't work on dragons."

"Whittle's music not magic, is gift young man has. When Obil return from our country with sleeping powder Alanna see. Whittle's music and pixies' special dust put dragon to sleep for many long hours. Give us plenty time to get away."

"When will Obil return, do you think? We can't wait long. You said so yourself."

"No one know better than King Jakin that must leave before storms make it impossible to cross big water safely. Obil fly as fast as he can and be back within five days, maybe less if wind be at his back."

"That seems so long," Alanna signed.

"Not so long," Tid-Bit said. "Obil be sent two days ago now. Alanna not miss him?"

"No," the girl admitted, "I haven't. Nor has anyone else as far as I know."

"That be good. Less questions asked."

"Can't we at least tell Julian what you're planning?" she asked, for it went against her nature to keep secrets, especially from her friends.

"No," Tid-Bit said firmly. "Young master Julian too hot-headed. He may get angry and say something to Chester."

"Why shouldn't he?" the girl asked. "I thought Chester was your friend."

"Chester fine man. Tid-Bit think very highly of. But Chester shepherd. He not understand about wizards and their ways. He not believe balloon will fix self when filled with air from Dagu's lamp. Chester want to build big fire and fill balloon quickly. Could be big mistake."

"Here you are, Alanna," Hope announced coming upon the two conspirators, "Julian has been looking all over for you."

"I guess I'd better go and see what he wants," the girl muttered, and without looking at Hope she hurried off.

"Well!" Hope placed her hands on her hips and spoke sternly, "You two are up to something, aren't you? You might as well tell me what it is, for I'll find out sooner or later anyway."

Tid-Bit considered. The fewer that knew about a plan, the more likely it was to succeed, had always been his philosophy. Yet Hope was level headed, and understood dragons better than anyone else on the island, except for Whittle. As he thought of the young man and his situation Tid-Bit changed his mind about sharing their plans with Hope. Hope might be level headed, but she was also, whether she knew it or not, in love with the young man in the cave, and therefore her decisions might be clouded with emotion rather than logic.

"Just reminding Alanna to make sure Dagu's lamp not go out," he answered her question with a half truth, for he had indeed warned the girl to keep a close eye on the lamp.

"All right, keep your secrets!" Hope was not so easily deceived, but at the moment she had other matters on her mind. "I was actually looking for Chester when I came across you and Alanna," she admitted. "Have you seen him, by any chance?"

"Maybe he be fishing," Tid-Bit suggested, though it was mid-afternoon and not a good time for fish to be biting.

"I checked by the water, but he wasn't there."

"What that old fool up to now?" Tid-Bit muttered under his breath. "Maybe he trying to fix balloon with fish concoction," he muttered, more to himself than Hope.

"He wouldn't do that without talking to me first," Hope said, but recalling how insistent the old man had been that they should try a 'natural' way of mending the balloon and not rely on magic, she began to wonder if Tid-Bit might not be correct in his speculations.

As Tid-Bit flew off Hope followed. She soon lost the pixie in the woods, but it didn't matter. She knew where he was headed.

She found King Jakin standing on top of the logs where they had hidden the balloon and its basket. Chester's glue pot was on the ground nearby, but there was nary a sign of the old shepherd, or the basket, or of the balloon.

Dragon's Claw Book One
Price $12.95  
    by Charles M. Clark
(Browser Readable E-Book on CD-ROM contains Music & No Sound Options)

FROM THE BOOK STORE

Prince Adam returns home to find his father, the King, gravely ill, some say dying. Feeling unprepared for the duties of kingship, and unhappy about a proposed marriage between himself and a rather plain princess, Adam makes a plea to the Powers that be for guidance and help. Adam then falls into a deep sleep and awakes in an unfamiliar land full of sinister foes and wild men. Yet it is one of these wild men that takes Adam under his wing and teaches the young prince what it takes to be a real leader. Charles M. Clark has written this book for older children and teens, but older folks enjoy it as well. All Antelope Publishing's fantasy books are browser readable and come on CD-ROM. The CD-ROM contains TWO books. One book with music and special electronic enhancements, and one book without, for times when a quieter read is desired. For more information about browser readable e-books CLICK HERE

The Making of a King
Price $9.95  
    by Charles M. Clark
(Browser Readable E-Book on CD-ROM contains Music & No Sound Options)

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