by Thu Duong
15 June 2000
Sir Goodwyn the Magnificent stepped into the circular room. His chain armor and golden locks still shone after the long journey to and through the ancient caverns. The faceted crystal chamber glowed with the brilliant radience from a circular shaft of light pouring in from an opening in the ceiling. At the center of the room was a raised dais also made of the same crystal. Between the light and the dais was a silvery two handed blade as tall as a man that gave forth its own metallic aura. The sword was suspended point downward an inch off the dais.
The knight confidently approached the blade. His portly and drably clothed squire stepped into the room after him looking around nervously.
"Sir Goodwyn, don't you think that the entrance too easy? I mean that is supposed to be the Great Dragon Slayer."
"It was easy for me, Squire. I was destined to wield this blade. The old man at the pass said as much."
Up close, Goodwyn could see the flawless workmanship and the care that went into the forging of the weapon.
"Wait a moment, isn't that a strand of something attached to it?"
Goodwyn grasped the blade's hilt. The blade quickly ascended and carried the screaming knight with it up through the pool of light. At the sight of his master disappearing into the ceiling, he fled back down the hallway. After a while he stopped to get his bearings. He began walking quickly, huffing and puffing heavily.
"Someone must tell of Goodwyn's exploits. It's a squire's duty. It's only duty..."
He trailed off as he rounded a corner and saw a semicircluar niche in the wall about the beneath a shaft of light, illuminating a fist sized red transparent stone. The stone gave off a crimson light out of its many perfect facets.
"I should take back some proof with me tooOOOO..."
His voice rose as he rose up into the light, unable to let go of the stone.
At the top of the mountains above the ancient caverns are circular openings to tunnels lined with clear colorless crystal. The crystal shone and bathed a large crimson dragon in the reflected sunlight. The dragon was the size of an elephant, it was perched with its scaled wing folded on its back. In its foreclaws, it held a giant fishing rod, which began to move a bit. The pole bowed as the dragon began turning the reel. In excitement, the crimson dragon unfolded its wings and began to hover.
It turned its great saurian head over its right shoulder and yelled with a voice as loud as a score of bass drums, "Hey Earl, hiring the old man was was a great idea. I got a big one!"