Free How to Slay a Dragon by Bill Allen Page A

way, but he’d have had more success dodging the bullet. The creature scrambled up his drab tunic to his shoulders and curled up behind his neck while Greg took to hopping about, screaming, “ GET IT OFF! ”
    “Relax,” said Lucky. “It’s just a shadowcat. It won’t hurt you.”
    “Are you sure?” Greg cried. If his neck had been more flexible, he might have seen the back of his own head. Instead he saw the man with the branch stroll toward him. Something about the fluid movement made Greg forget all about the snake-like tail draped across his chest.
    The man was thinner than Greg first thought, his muscles so sharply defined, Greg wondered if they were wrapped too tightly for the man’s skeleton to grow any larger. His features were soft, his eyes a warm blue, and Greg instantly liked him more than he ever liked anyone he’d met in a sea of lava before.
    He also noticed the man’s stick was not a branch but a staff, pale ash in color and worn smooth over time, like a piece of floating driftwood.
    “That’s rare,” the man said.
    “What is?” Greg said, as a tail flipped up and hit him in the nose.
    “Shadowcats seldom tolerate humans at all, let alone befriend them. Name’s Nathaniel Caine, by the way. Friends call me Nathan.”
    “Luke Day,” said Lucky, extending his hand. “My friends call me Lucky.”
    Nathan smiled and shook Lucky’s hand, then looked back to Greg.
    “Oh,” Greg said. “Greg Hart. People call me . . . well, around here, Greghart.”
    Nathan’s smile broadened. “ The Greghart? From the prophecy?”
    “You’ve heard of me too?” Greg had hoped his reputation might have at least escaped the notice of someone stuck alone in the middle of a sea of lava, days from civilization. The shadowcat risked a curious glance at Greg’s face, chattered nervously, and ducked behind his neck again.
    “Of course,” said Nathan. “Everyone’s heard of the Mighty Greghart. Right now you’re about the most famous man in all of Myrth.”
    “Boy, you mean. I’m just a boy.”
    “Nonsense,” said Nathan. “Would a mere boy be capable of slaying a dragon?”
    “That’s exactly what I’ve been saying.”
    Nathan offered a sympathetic look. “Ah. Having a few doubts about your role in upcoming events, are you?”
    Greg felt his stomach turn. “Don’t worry. Everyone’s been telling me how dangerous it is to doubt a prophecy, and that I have nothing to worry about.”
    Nathan’s expression flickered.
    “What?” asked Greg.
    “Nothing. It’s just . . . a little worry isn’t always a bad thing.” He looked up at the position of the sun. “It was nice meeting you boys. It’s time I moved on.”
    “Wait, what did you mean, about worry not being such a bad thing?”
    “Forgive me. I shouldn’t be adding to your fears. I’m sure King Peter has prepared you well for your meeting with the dragon.”
    “Prepared me well? No one has told me any—”
    Nathan turned as if to leave. “Fare well, young Greghart.”
    “No, don’t go!”
    Nathan paused. Lucky stared at Greg questioningly.
     
    “Come with us instead.” Greg told Nathan. “I’d like to hear what you know of the prophecy.”
    “Oh, I don’t know. Which way are you boys headed?”
    Greg was almost afraid to say. “Toward Witch Hazel’s?”
    Again Nathan’s expression flickered, but to Greg’s surprise he said, “Perhaps I could join you. After all, one direction is just as good as the next.”
    Lucky cleared his throat. “Well, whether you come or not, we should probably go soon.” The lava had crept its way over within six inches of his boot. He was right. This was no time to talk.
    “Stick close to Lucky, Mr. Caine,” Greg said. “He has a knack for hopping between paths just in the nick of time.”
    “You don’t need a knack to avoid the lava, Greghart,” said Nathan. “You just need to pay attention.” He pointed with his staff at one of the pools. “Watch the surface closely. You’ll