Free Double Dragon Trouble by Kate McMullan Page A

say yes.”
    Wiglaf knew it was no use arguing. Erica had made up her mind.
    â€œFollow Mordred everywhere,” Erica told them. “Don’t let him out of your sight. Ask questions. Find out how a former mud-wrestling champ became headmaster of DSA. Write a big, exciting story!”
    Wiglaf liked writing stories. He liked seeing his words in the DSA News . Maybe if he did an excellent job on the Mordred story, Erica would let him write his animal story for the next issue.
    Five minutes later Wiglaf and Angus were on their way to the headmaster’s office. Both lads carried clipboards, quills, and ink pots.
    â€œUncle Mordred won’t let me interview him,” complained Angus.
    â€œWhy not?” asked Wiglaf.
    â€œIf he sees me, he’ll make me polish his boots,” said Angus. “Or clean the grease spots off his tunic.” He sighed. “Uncle Mordred doesn’t like me much.”
    â€œBut you are his nephew,” said Wiglaf.
    â€œThat’s the problem,” said Angus. “My mother made Uncle Mordred take me.”
    They walked by the two suits of armor that stood on either side of the headmaster’s office door.
    Angus knocked on the door. “Maybe I’m not cut out to be a dragon slayer,” he said as he waited. “But I would like to do a bold, brave deed and become a hero. Then Uncle Mordred would see that I belong here.”
    Heavy footsteps sounded on the marble floor behind them.
    â€œIt’s Uncle Mordred!” cried Angus. “Quick! Hide!”
    Forgetting all about bold deeds, Angus lunged for the armor to the right of the door. He lifted off its top half and jumped into the boots and leg plates. He lowered the top half of the armor onto his own top half.
    â€œJump into the other suit!” he called to Wiglaf from inside the armor. “Hurry!”
    Wiglaf rushed to the armor. He put it on, just as Angus had done. He tried to hold very still.
    The footsteps grew louder. Then they stopped. Wiglaf heard a key turn in a lock. The office door opened and slammed shut. Wiglaf heard muffled bumps. Then some clicks. And then—CREEEAK!
    Soon he heard Mordred’s voice saying, “Sixty-two.”
    CLINK!
    â€œSixty-three.”
    CLINK!
    Wiglaf bet he knew what those sounds meant. Mordred had opened his safe. Now he was counting his gold.
    â€œSixty-four,” Mordred said.
    CLINK!
    â€œSixty-five.”
    CLINK!
    How could he write a big, exciting story about Mordred counting his gold? Boring! An animal story would be much more thrilling.
    Quick footsteps sounded from the entryway. Someone was running. Wiglaf heard shouting. He knew that voice. It was Mordred’s scout, Yorick.
    Yorick wore different disguises for different scouting jobs. Wiglaf peeked out from the armor. Today Yorick wore a brown furry suit with a fluffy tail. Was he supposed to be a squirrel? Or a strange sort of bear?
    â€œMy lord!” cried Yorick. “My lord!” He banged on Mordred’s door.
    â€œHold your horses, man!” cried Mordred from inside the office.
    Wiglaf heard coins clinking. A minute later, he heard the door open.
    â€œWhat is it, Yorick?” Mordred boomed.
    â€œThis has your name on it, my lord,” said Yorick. “I found it on the drawbridge, weighted down by a rock.”
    Wiglaf heard parchment rustling. Then silence.
    â€œBlazing King Ken’s britches!” shouted Mordred. “There’s been a kidnapping!”
    Wiglaf pressed his ear to the armor, hoping to hear more.
    â€œOh, no, Yorick!” cried Mordred. “A ransom note! From kidnappers! They want me to cough up my very own gold!” Then he burst into tears.

Chapter 2
    A kidnapping! Wiglaf’s heart began to thump. Who could have been kidnapped? A DSA student? Why else would Yorick bring the ransom note to Mordred? Now this was a news story!
    Wiglaf strained to hear what was going on inside the headmaster’s