How to Slay a Dragon by Bill Allen Read Free Book Online Page B

Greg had ever seen. “I guess so . . . no thanks to him.”
    “I said I was sorry,” Greg reminded him. “I was being chased by an ogre, after all.”
    “Big deal. My brother gets chased by ogres all the time, and he never thinks twice about it.”
    “Then you are Melvin Greatheart,” Lucky said.
    “Melvin?” said Greg. Perhaps, he realized afterward, he should have tried it without the snort.
    “Yeah,” the boy snapped, “what about it?”
    “Nothing,” Greg answered carefully. “It just doesn’t sound like the name of the brother of a great dragonslayer, that’s all.”
    “What would you know about it?” said Melvin. He struggled to his feet. “Wait’ll I tell Marvin what you said. Why, he’ll ride you out of here faster than a band of goblins.”
    “Your brother’s name is Marvin?”
    “Yeah, what of it?”
    “Nothing.” Greg didn’t really care what the dragonslayer’s name was, as long as he could convince everyone that it was Marvin who was destined to slay Ruuan. Greg tried to help Melvin to his feet, but the boy yanked his hand back and would accept help only from Lucky.
    “Well, if you’re all right,” Lucky told Melvin,” we need to be on our way.”
    “Wait,” blurted Greg. “It’s getting late, don’t you think? Maybe we should be looking for a place to stop for the night.” Lucky shot him a warning glance, but Greg looked quickly to Melvin. “Hey, how about we stay with you?”
    “That’s okay, Melvin,” said Lucky. “We’ve troubled you enough already. We’ll just stop at the next house we see.”
    Melvin frowned. “There aren’t any other houses in this part of the kingdom.”
    “Okay, then, we’ll camp here.”
    “By the edge of the Enchanted Forest? Were you planning on waking up in the morning? No, it’s not safe for fools to camp out here. I guess you better come home with me. My folks won’t mind.” He glowered at Greg and added, “Just watch where you’re going, okay?”
    Now Greg frowned. He’d already said he was sorry. What more could he do? He’d like to see what Melvin would have done if he’d been chased by an ogre.
    As the last of the day’s light faded, the three boys trudged up the path toward a small cabin in the woods. If Marvin Greatheart was as experienced at slaying dragons as Lucky said, apparently he wasn’t in it for the treasure. He lived in not a home but a hovel. Large holes dominated the thatch roof, and the rotted wood siding hung at odd angles.
    An older woman in a plain peasant’s dress stepped from the cabin as they approached. She dried her hands on an apron, placed them on her hips and squinted at the trio, frowning.
    “Melvin. Where on Myrth have you been?”
    “The Enchanted Forest,” said Melvin.
    “The Enchanted Forest! What have I told you about playing down there?”
    “I didn’t go inside, Mom. Just to the edge. I thought I heard an ogre.”
    “My word, you sound more like your brother every day. How many times have I told you you’re too young to play with ogres?”
    “I wasn’t playing with it. They were,” he said pointing at Greg and Lucky.
    His mother studied the pair disapprovingly. “And who might they be?”
    Lucky took off his cap and held it sheepishly before him. “Luke Day, ma’am, from Pendegrass Castle.”
    “ Lucky Day?” she said. “I’ve heard of you. King Peter considers you a close, personal friend.”
    “I suppose that’s true.”
    She peered at him as if questioning why this would be so. “Do you know my son Marvin?”
    “Yes, ma’am. I’ve seen him honored by the king on many occasion.”
    Mrs. Greatheart actually smiled at this remark, but her expression quickly dissolved when she regarded Greg. “And who is this?”
    Greg didn’t have a hat to take off, but he bowed just the same. “Greg Hart, ma’am. I’m . . . er . . . traveling with Lucky.”
    Melvin snapped his head Greg’s way, his expression darkening. The woman’s jaw dropped. She shifted her