Short Story Part 3

You know what all of my favorite trilogies have in common?  They all have three books, or three parts, whatever you want to call them.  And usually, the third part is the most intense part, because that's when the hour will be darkest.  That's when the heroes will have their victory over the evil baddies.  That's when all that's been set up in the two previous books will finally be resolved.

That's when the story ends.  If you're like a certain character from a TV show, you tear out the final pages of a book/story because you don't like endings.  You don't want the story to end.  But endings are, in their own way, good.  Maybe you love the story.  Maybe you don't want to end the trilogy and leave those characters behind.  

But the thing about endings is that you have a chance to begin again.  Maybe you'll begin a new series and get attached to totally new characters.  Or maybe you'll reread the same series and get attached to the same characters all over again.

Except this time while you're reading the series, you'll know how it ends.  You'll know that no matter how dark the tunnel gets, no matter how dark the night seems, the light will come again.

(Unless it's an utterly depressing story where evil wins... that would be weird.)

Now, after all that, we'll move on with the short story part three.  WHOOOO.

The Short Story Consisting of Words in Which a Dragon Who Cannot Tell a Single Lie Gets Hit in the Head With a Boulder Part Three

(I actually didn't look back at previous posts to see if I got that title right, soooo... hopefully I did XD)

Vaidd Marius Verinicus VII was not a happy camper.  

He usually wasn't, but this was one of his bad days.  As in he was throwing things as soon as he woke up, screaming at the top of his lungs.  It had been two days since Thezin had left to search for some way to get the dragon to talk.  Two whole days!

"That should be enough," Vaidd roared, veins in his neck bulging.  "Where is he?"

A servant opened the door to his chambers, carrying breakfast.  The platter was rattling because the man's hands were shaking uncontrollably.  None of the servants wished to be near Vaidd when he was having a good day, so, naturally, a bad day was far worse.

"I would bet," the servant stammered, "that Thezin has found a way to do just that and is returning even as we speak."

Vaudd grunted, straightening his pajamas.  "He's a slow brute.  I should have sent someone more efficient."

"He promised he'd be back within a fortnight," the servant said.  "We shouldn't rush him, milord.  Mayhaps he's taking his time to find just the right--"

"Don't take his side unless you want to take his place," Vaidd growled.  "And pour me something to drink."

As the emperor crunched on some toast, the servant cautiously poured some creamy milk from a jug into an elegant goblet and handed the cup to Vaidd.  "As you requested, milord."

Vaidd grunted as he snatched the goblet from the servant and drank it in one go.  Looking at the rest of the platter, which the servant was still required to hold, he waved his hand dismissively and said, "See to my son."

Relieved, the servant bowed and exited the bedroom, heading down the hall and into the room of the emperor's son.  The boy was awake and sitting up in bed and jumped slightly as the servant entered, carrying the food tray.

The servant bowed apologetically.  "I'm sorry, young master," he stammered.  "I did not mean to startle you."

"What's Father going on about?" Junior asked as the servant respectfully approached.

"Thezin has taken more than a day, master," the servant replied, "and so milord is upset.  I tried to tell him that Thezin is just--" The servant paused for a moment, and then said, "I'm sorry.  It's not my place."

As Junior ate, he gestured for the servant to put the platter down on the side table next to the bed.  Glancing around cautiously, as if afraid of getting caught being lazy, the servant did so.

"What's your name?" Junior asked.

"You needn't know my name, young master," the servant replied. "It is of little value."

"Your name," Junior insisted kindly.

Looking at the emperor's son, the servant saw only kindness and said, "As you wish, master.  Ges."

"Now now," Junior chided, chuckling.  "I'm no good at guessing games."

"No," the servant hastily replied.  "My name is Ges."

Junior's eyes widened. "Oh.  I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize to me, master," Ges said, raising his hands.  "I'm sorry for confusing you."

"Ges," Junior said slowly.  "Can I ... tell you a secret?"

Ges looked shocked.  No one had ever made a request like this.  He had been asked to deliver meals, clean the stables, train the horses, clean the toilets... but never to keep a secret.  Hesitantly, he said, "I can, sir."

Junior nodded slightly, licking his dry lips.  "Could you pour me some milk, please?"

As Ges did so, Junior continued, saying, "I think holding Marius here is a mistake."

Handing Junior a goblet (smaller than the one the emperor received but no less intricate), Ges looked shocked.  "The ... the dragon, sir?"

Junior nodded.  "The other dragons will come for him, I'm sure.  Father said that the dragon attacked long ago was unprovoked, but I have reason to believe otherwise."

"I am sure that milord wouldn't lie to you," Ges said.  "The dragons must have attacked unprovoked."

"Marius the dragon believes that my father isn't lying.  At least that he thinks he isn't."

"How can that be so?"  Ges asked.

As Junior explained what Marius the dragon had told him, neither he nor Ges realized that Emperor Vaidd Marius Verinicus VII was listening just outside Junior's door.

-------------

So, it's not quite a trilogy.  It'll be a little longer than that.  As always, I hope you enjoy and that you'll continue reading when the next installment comes out.  

Myth: the "Panda With a Pencil"