Vicky. His imagination was running full flight and in front of him he could see a large creature curled up in the bowl asleep, its breath coming in loud, rasping wheezes.
“It’s the dragon,” he whispered to Vicky. As he did so he imagined the dragon stirring and he found himself staring back into a huge, black, dinner-plate-sized eye.
“It’s awake,” yelled Neil. “Stay behind me.” With that Vicky grabbed Neil’s waist and they crouched as the dragon reared its head upwards. They braced themselves as the first volley of fire swept over them but they were protected by a magic shield given to them by the wizard. The dragon then roared, rearing back and unfolding itself from its resting place. Great wings unfurled from the dragon’s back and a huge tail unwound itself from around the green scaly body until the dragon stood before them almost blotting out the sky.
“Run,” shouted Neil as he leapt forward to attack with his sword raised. Vicky looked around and saw an outcrop of rock near the lip of the bowl. She sprinted forward and dropped down behind the rocks to watch her brother who was now whirling his sword and using his speed to skip through the dragon’s defenses and strike the beast from below. She chuckled to herself. He always got so carried away.
Pushing herself up, Vicky skipped down the bowl to the pool in the middle. Slipping her trainers off, she jumped in, the cool water coming up to her shins. She looked all around for suitable treasure, and was just about to pick up a large empty seashell when she saw something glinting out of the corner of her eye. She turned her head and looked down to where the pool became quite deep. Large clumps of seaweed hid the bottom disappearing under a ledge of barnacle and limpet encrusted rock. She moved her head from side to side and sure enough, something was catching and reflecting the sunlight. She reached down and felt something cold and smooth in her fingers. She closed her hand and, after a few tugs, it came free and she pulled it out. Looking down she unclenched her fingers and there, sitting in the palm of her outstretched hand, was a small gold key.
“Wow,” she said to herself before turning excitedly and calling to her brother.
“Hey, look what I found.”
He stopped in mid-swing and looked over to her.
“You just interrupted my killing stroke. Now the dragon has seen my hesitation and caught me with a blast of fire turning my body to cinders of ash. This had better be good.”
He jumped across the rocks and came down to where she was standing.
“What is it?” he asked as she held it up towards him. He took it in his hands.
“Is it real gold?”
“Careful,” said Vicky as he turned the delicate looking key between his fingers.
“It’s got carvings on it,” he said holding it up to his face for closer examination.
“There’s an animal on one side, I think it’s a wolf,” he said before turning it around. “And a dagger or sword on the other side, and it looks like something on the shaft as well.”
“Let me look,” said Vicky taking it back quickly.
“Hey, don’t snatch.”
She didn’t acknowledge him as she studied the etchings on the key.
“I think it’s a snake. No, wait,” she looked closer, her brow furrowed as she focused totally on the object in her hand. “I think it’s a dragon.”
Neil stared back at her.
“It can’t be. That’s just your imagination.”
“No it isn’t, look,” Vicky insisted holding it up so that he could see.
“Real dragon’s treasure,” he murmured after a few moments. “Who would have expected that?”
“I wonder what it opens,” she whispered excitedly.
“Well, I think that’s one thing we’ll never find out,” said Neil sucking in a deep breath and looking around. “Anyway, I’m hungry and it’s nearly lunchtime. Let’s go back.”
“You really think we won’t find out?” she said to him as he jumped across onto the next rock.
“Find out what?” he called back to her.
“What it opens dummy.”
“Nope,” he replied sizing up the distance to the next rocks. Deciding he could make it, he took another leap forward. “It’s probably just a bit of jewelry someone lost. You should hand it in to the Police.”
Vicky began to follow him.
“Why would I hand it in? It’s mine now.”
Neil turned to wait for her. “Well, if I had lost it I would be happy to get it back. Anyway, on a different note, hurry