Edgar and the Dragon 3

By Joseph Davis

Virgil the Magician has gone missing! In the ensuing crisis, brave young Edgar is forced to postpone his training for the upcoming Wingball tournament. Armed with a pouch full of magical talismans and a few Bible verses, he and his friends embark on a dangerous journey to the magician’s last known whereabouts: the mysterious Forbidden Cave. Will they get there in time to save Virgil – and the world – from the ancient evil imprisoned there?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Joseph Davis
• Release date: Sep 6, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463050651

Joseph Davis

I am an American fantasy author living in Sweden's most beautiful province. I enjoy writing stories in both Swedish and English for children, youth, and the young at heart. Check out my website trolyrien.com or facebook.com/trolyrien for more of my work in both languages.

Book preview

Edgar and the Dragon 3

By Joseph Davis

Copyright 2019 Joseph Davis

Cover Illustration by Therése Larsson

Scripture verses taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright ©

1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

I.

You know, I’m not even asleep yet, Edgar commented as the dragon came slithering in through his bedroom window. He put his book down on the nightstand and watched with some amusement as his scaly friend slid nimbly through the window, across the floor and over to his bedside. She closed the window behind her with the tip of her tail.

Who ever said that I had to come while you were asleep? the dragon hissed.

Well, I don’t know, Edgar said. Isn’t it more… magical that way or something? Anyway, I like it when you wake me up. It feels more adventurous somehow.

Well, it’s your own fault for staying up so late, the dragon said. What do you expect me to do? Fly back and forth outside your window until I see that you’ve turned out the light?

Now that’s an idea! Edgar said. Would you like to go out again so we can start this whole thing over from the beginning?

No, hissed the dragon.

Oh yes, we’re probably in a hurry, aren’t we, Edgar said, throwing off his covers and climbing out of bed. So what is it this time? The Fairy Queen? More shadow dragons? The sea monsters?

Well… The dragon turned away, suddenly engrossed in Edgar’s collection of stone arrowheads.

Come on, out with it, Edgar said, changing into some day clothes. What great and terrible danger does the Dragon King want me to come and rescue the citizens of Draconia from this time?

Well, terrible may not be quite the right word, the dragon said, still not meeting Edgar’s gaze. And danger may also be a bit inaccurate.

Oh, I see, Edgar said, finding his warm jersey on the floor and putting it on. So is this like the princess’s thirteenth birthday party, then? Is the prince skipping over ninety-two years and turning one hundred, and does the Dragon King need me to come and eat star cheese and make speeches while the Fairy Queen kidnaps him?

Well, not exactly, said the dragon. But I suppose this is kind of similar in a way…

Oh? said Edgar.

Finally, the dragon turned and met his gaze. Her gleaming yellow eyes looked tired and slightly worried. Look, she said, it’s the Dragon King who’s summoning you, not me. I’m just the messenger. So if you don’t like what I have to say, you’ve got to take it up with him, not me. All right?

Edgar laughed. What could you possibly have to say that I wouldn’t like, old friend? You know me better than that! I mean, sure, sometimes I give you a little bit of attitude, but it’s all in good fun. You know that deep down inside, I love it when you come to get me so we can have adventures in your world. Whether it’s a feast with the dragons or a battle with the sea monsters, I know it will be something special – something I would never get to experience here. Just tell me what it is.

I don’t want to upset you, the dragon said carefully.

Nothing you say could upset me, Edgar assured her. He picked up his backpack. Just tell me what it is so that I know what to pack.

The dragon sighed. The wingball tournament, she said finally.

Edgar dropped the backpack. A memory flashed through his mind. In his mind’s eye, he was running across a field with ridiculous false wings strapped to his back, bouncing a ball through the wrong hoop as his teammates cringed. He laughed nervously. "So the Dragon King wants me to come and watch the wingball tournament?" he said hopefully.

The dragon looked away again.

Edgar! Are you all right in there? Who are you talking to? Edgar froze. The voice belonged to his mother, and she was right outside the door.

It’s all right, Mom, he started to say, but she was already opening the door.

II.

What on earth! Edgar’s mother said, gaping in shock through the open door.

Mom! Edgar said, leaping in front of her. He waved his arms, trying to catch her eye and keep her from noticing the five meter long silver dragon curled up on his bedroom floor.

She refused to be distracted. Edgar, she said slowly, staring past him at the bedroom floor.

I can explain, Mom, he said. His mind raced, looking for an explanation. It’s a dream, he said, just a dream! You know that dragons aren’t real!

Dragons? his mother said, giving him a strange look. What do dragons have to do with you getting dressed and packing your bag in the middle of the night?

Huh? Edgar turned. The dragon was nowhere to be seen. His mother had been staring at his open backpack that lay in the middle of the floor.

You’re not… running away from home, are you? Edgar’s mother walked past him and picked up the backpack. You’ve packed your clothes, she said, and your scout knife… and so many tennis balls… Are you all right, dear?

Where is the dragon? Edgar wondered. But then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a flash of silver sticking out from under his bed – the tip of her tail.

Edgar, tell me what’s going on, his mother was saying.

Edgar hurried around to the other side of the room so that his mother would have to look away from the bed to look at him. I’m fine, Mom, he said. I’m not running away from home, I’m just… Sleepwalking! Yes, that’s right, I’m sleepwalking! Like I said, this is all just a dream!

His mother’s eyes narrowed. Well, you did say something about dragons, she said after a long moment. And that does sound a bit like a dream. And if you really were running away, you probably wouldn’t pack quite so many tennis balls… Yes, you must be sleepwalking. Okay, then, let’s get you back to bed and you can go back to doing some regular sleeping. Do you need me to help you change back into your pajamas?

No, I’m fine, Mom, Edgar said quickly. After all, I managed to get changed in my sleep once already. I’ll be fine.

Edgar’s mother gave him a long look. All right, then, she said. Just call me if you need me. She turned around, but then she caught sight of something on the floor by his bed and stooped down to take a closer look.

Edgar froze.

Edgar, his Mom said, standing up again and tossing a pair of socks into his laundry basket. The next time you’re awake, we’re going to have another talk about you leaving your clothes all over the floor.

Edgar breathed a sigh of relief. All right, Mom, he said. Next time I’m awake.

His Mom turned and left the room, closing the door behind her. Edgar quietly counted to thirty.

All right, he whispered, you can come out now. But let’s be as quiet as we can.

The dragon slithered out from under his bed. She seems nice, she whispered.

Yes, she’s the nicest Mom I have, Edgar agreed. He finished packing quickly and quietly and climbed onto the dragon’s back. All right, he said, let’s get going.

What, you’re not going to argue or drag your feet about this? the dragon said. "I know that you don’t like wingball."

Well, you should have told that to the Dragon King, Edgar muttered. But I can argue and drag my feet once we’re too far away for my Mom to hear.

All right, the dragon said. With that, she slithered out through the window and up onto the roof.

It was a cool night, and the moon was full. Edgar was glad that he had changed into his warm jersey. Last chance to say no, the dragon said, unfurling her great, bat-like wings.

Can I really say no? Edgar asked.

Sure, why not? the dragon said. "You have your own free will – you can say whatever you’d like. I mean, I’m still going to bring you to the Dragon Kingdom to compete in the wingball tournament, because that’s what my king has ordered me to do – but you can say whatever you’d like."

"What do you mean, tournament? said Edgar. And compete?"

The Great Tournament, the dragon said. The tournament that comes every ten years, to decide if Draconia can keep being the capital city of the Dragon Kingdom and whether the Dragon King can keep being king. He has especially chosen you to be on the team.

Edgar began to feel a bit faint. Is the future of Draconia and the Dragon King really riding on my wingball skills? he thought. But okay, let’s not panic about this – I’m probably just going to be an extra player, someone who sits on the sidelines and doesn’t see a lot of action.

Sorry, said the dragon, "to say that you’re on the team is not entirely accurate."

Edgar breathed a sigh of relief.

No, the dragon continued, "creating would really be a better word than on. You’re supposed to create the team."

Create the team? Edgar choked.

Yes, said the dragon. Recruit them and train them – that’s your job as team captain.

Team captain? said Edgar. But his words were lost in the rush of wind and the beating of wings as the dragon leaped off of the roof.

III.

The throne room of the Dragon King was exactly as Edgar had remembered it – except without the throne.

Edgar! said the Dragon King, rising from his pile of straw as Edgar walked in through the double doors, escorted by two royal guards.

Your Majesty, Edgar said, bowing. I see you’ve, um… rearranged the furniture.

The Dragon King laughed, a deep, hearty chuckle. Oh Edgar, he said. You always have been such a joker. My throne has been moved to the Great Arena –Alarusthrastoganuthromianaga must have told you about the tournament. The throne is the prize. But in two weeks you’ll win it back for me.

Two weeks! cried Edgar. He shook his head. Speaking of jokes, Your Majesty… I was told that you wanted me to be the captain of the team. But surely you never meant that I… He hesitated.

The Dragon King gave him an expectant look with his gleaming yellow eyes. Yes?

Well, it’s just… Your Majesty, did you watch the wingball match at your daughter’s birthday party?

Oh yes, said the Dragon King. A match worthy of the history books. The way that Gurunarahirudarakar scored those five and a half points in the sixth plud of round four… Have you ever seen such a performance?

"Never, Your