A Change In The Weather

Toadflax stood beside the great dome of the barrow and looked up at the deep sapphire of the cloudless sky. He felt more at home working by the light of the moon instead of the unnatural daylight that he’d spent much of his time in recently, and signaled to his cousins to start digging.

Twenty or so goblins appeared from the perimeter of the barrow, carrying tools and equipment to begin their excavation into the side of the mound. Sparing no thought for the barrow or its contents, they began to hack at the earth with pick-axes, shovels, axes and spears. With the amount of goblins working he estimated that it would take maybe fifteen minutes before the wall of the barrow would be breached.

In reality if took less than ten. As the earth broke inwards and part of the earthwork collapsed, Toadflax - eager to get inside - pushed his head through the loose earth, and then his body. Soon, he was completely inside the chamber.

Shaking the loose clods of earth from his head, he spat the gritty dirt from his mouth and blinked. At first his vision was impaired from the dust and dirt everywhere, but it didn’t take him long to realise that he was in very grave danger indeed.

Massive yellow reptilian eyes stared directly at him!

In an instant, he went cold. They’d told him that the dragon would not be there!

With a huge talon, it reached out and grabbed him, pulling him close to its huge dagger-like teeth. Toadflax saw the slick tongue lick its lips and felt the hot, moist breath of the dragon on his face.

‘What are little goblins doing breaking in to my home?’

The words boomed deeply around the chamber, and Toadflax could do nothing but squirm and stare with terror at the enormous reptile in awed silence.

‘No words little goblin?’ said the dragon.

Toadflax’s throat was dry. He tried to swallow, but couldn’t.

The dragon raised a leathery eyebrow ridge.

‘Very well.’

The dragon took a deep breath, which sounded like a turbine from an aircraft engine spooling up; a low deep roar that became progressively louder as more and more air was inhaled.

Toadflax put his arms out in front of his face and began to scream, knowing full well that within seconds he would cease to exist - nothing more than blackened ash. Continue Reading »