When Garreth had flown down among Chester's flock it hadn't been, as one might have supposed, to plunder, but rather to administer one final test. When the shepherd had not run from the dragon, but had rather placed himself between the dragon and the flock, Chester had, unknowingly, sealed his own fate. With a cry of triumph Garreth had swooped up the man and flown back to his island, where he had made it clear what new duties he expected the young man to perform. A dark shadow had been growing, and the mother of his son had gone missing. His numerous trips away from the island searching for his mate and food for the growing offspring she had left behind put his beloved hoard at risk of being discovered and pilfered. Garreth was in need of a guardian, both loyal and brave. And so day after day, year after year, Chester had stood guard over Garreth's treasures. Memories of home and family, and the girl he had secretly cared for, dimmed with time, but the heart of a steadfast shepherd remained. Used to solitude, but a friendly sort by nature, Chester missed human companionship and gradually forgot how to be social. It was a significant day for him when the fairies had been blown onto the island. Gradually, and with much patience, King Jakin had gotten the man to open up to him and the two had become fast friends.

Then Garreth had brought a new treasure to the island to add to his hoard and for the first time in many long years Chester had found himself once again caring for a living creature. Unlike the sheep he had tended, however, Hope was very independent and self-willed. Still he had done his best, seeing that she was fed, housed, and kept safe from danger. But the red dragon had been silently growing in size and strength. It had been only a matter of time until the young dragon ventured out of its cave and learned he was not alone on the island. Once the beast discovered their existence and took possession of his father's mound of riches Chester found himself with nothing left to care for but Hope. It was only natural that the old man should feel responsible for her welfare. After all, she was all that remained of Garreth's treasure. But Chester, who was not as young as he had once been, had begun to feel his age. Whittle's arrival had been welcome in that he now had someone else who could aid him in his task. Someone who, Chester suspected, Hope cared a great deal for. Hadn't he seen her slip away from the others to gaze up at the cave where Whittle was being held by the red dragon? Hadn't he seen the silent tears that slid down her face as she listened to the faint sound of the flute the lad had been forced to play for the dragon's amusement? Thanks to the supply of fresh fish which he caught daily, there was now plenty of food, but Hope had little appetite and her cheeks had become sunken and her slender frame had grown gaunt.

"Enough is enough!" Chester muttered one morning as Alanna and Julian were arguing over how best to spin a spell that might mend the balloon. Being raised by common folk who had relied on their own wits and hard work to survive, Chester had little confidence in magic. "No harm in trying the glue on a spot or two and seeing what happens," he told himself, and taking up his pail of fresh made fish-glue he set out to fulfill his duty.

Even before he looked into the dark opening where they had hidden the balloon Chester knew something was amiss by the limbs that had been pushed or knocked aside and lay in lose array on the ground. A quick look into the interior confirmed his suspicions. The airship was missing.

Chester sat the glue bucket down and considered. If the dragon had discovered the hidden balloon and its basket, the limbs would have been torn apart as it fought to get at the treasure inside the shelter. That the balloon was nowhere to be seen meant that it had been carried off.

Chester had not spent his earlier years looking for lost sheep without learning a thing or two about tracking. It wasn't hard for him to locate the broken twigs and crushed grass where the basket had been dragged across the ground.

For a moment he hesitated, wondering if he should go back and tell the others what had happened. But if the person responsible for the balloon's disappearance was the one he suspected, he felt he had little time to lose. The balloon and the man who had taken it must be located before the villain mended the tears and filled the vessel with hot air.

Chester looked skyward to make sure the balloon wasn't already airborne, and then he plunged into the woods, hot on the trail of the missing balloon and the thief who had made off with it.

Chester was old but he knew the island well. Once he had followed the trial for awhile he thought he knew where his quarry was heading.

"He be going to the marsh where Hope hid that old cow of hers," he muttered, for of course Chester knew everything Hope did and everywhere she went. The thought crossed his mind that Hope might have taken the balloon and not Clayton. But for what purpose? To fill it with the hot air from Dagu's old lamp? But surely she would have waited until the dragon had flown away for the night? Only a fool would try and leave the island while the dragon was still about.

"It's Clayton all right!" he decided and quickened his step.

Shortly before he reached the marsh the trail took an unexpected turn. "He's going to the honeycomb!" Chester deduced. "That sly old fox! What better place to hide than the red dragon's old nest! I'll wager the beast hasn't been back since he moved into Garreth's cave."

Moving more slowly, not only because he was winded, but also to avoid detection, Chester approached the precipice that housed a maze of hidden caves, all interconnected, where Garreth and his mate had lived and reared their offsprings.

"What's that horrid stench?" Chester muttered under his breath as a rancid smell whiffed up from one of the openings.

He moved toward the hole, holding his nose as he went. The sight that met his eyes as he stepped into the dim light rose the heat to his face.

"The blasted villain!" he exploded as he gazed at the rotting flesh and stripped bones.

"The poor creature didn't have no chance. Hope had the little thing so tamed it probably went willingly along with Clayton and got her throat cut for her effort!"

The sound of a rolling stone alerted Chester to the danger he had placed himself in. Too late he turned and saw Clayton advancing, his upraised hand clutching a large rock.

"I'll not go down as easily as Hope's pet!" he snarled and charged his enemy.

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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