turned their heads toward Artie slightly.
Artie reached behind him and put Cleomede in Kayâs hand. Sheâd be happy for that when things sped back up.
He returned to the Girl of the Lake and asked, âWhat do I do now?â
âHold high the brand.â
âThe brand? What brand?â
Her hands slowly sank. She was going back under. Her smile was gone. Her last extended fingertip submerged. At the same moment she winked and whispered fiercely, âNow!â
The violence of the rocking boat nearly threw Artie overboard. He got a swift hit to the gut as he slammed against the gunwale.
Kay yelled, âWhat the?â
The dragon writhed above them. It gurgled a foul rumble deep in its throat.
Thumb screamed, very much to the point, âWhat did she tell you to do?â
âHow did Cleomedeââ Kay shrieked, more to herself than anyone in particular.
Artie yelled, answering Thumb, âShe said, âHold high the brandâ!â
âDo it then, boy!â
âWhatâs a brand?â
âThe firebrand! Excalibur! The sword !â
Of course! The sword!
He thrust Excalibur up high.
The dragon reared. A hot wind wafted from its underside like a punch in the face. It reminded Artie of getting hit by Finkelstein.
Curse that Frankie Finkelstein! Even now, at the height of peril, Artie couldnât shake him!
Then Excalibur shuddered. He looked up. The glasseye pommel of his new sword glowed white.
The dragon extended its neck at Artie. Black, crinkly smoke began to waft from its nostrils.
Then, just as the serpent gathered itself to strike, Artie understood. He thought of light. He thought of the sun, the moon, fireworks on the Fourth of July.
Light danced off the blade in a blinding blast. Artie shut his eyes, but he still saw the light through his lids.
The dragon squealed. This time it sounded afraid. It slithered in the air and retreated a hundred feet instantly. It cried again, and the noise echoed over the Lake.
Excalibur was alive. It released another pulse of blinding light before extinguishing itself.
Artie opened his eyes. The dragon was flying away. After a few moments it stopped, turned, and looked directly at Artie. It let out a small, defeated whimper that drifted down to them. Artie knew that the creature was disappointed.
Before they knew it, the beautiful monster was gone. The air calmed, and the sweet smell of the Lake and the woods returned.
They sat in the boat for several moments without speaking, just breathing, just trying to piece together what had happened.
Finally Kay asked, âHow did you move that fast, Artie?â
âWhat do you mean?â
Thumb said, âMy boy, you were like a blur.â
âI donât know. Everything was super slow-mo to me. I think the Girl of the Lake did it.â
âThe Girl , you say?â inquired Thumb.
âYeah, the Girl. She was only five or six.â
âMy goodness.â Thumb chuckled. âShe was much older than that, I assure you, lad.â
Kay let out a deep breath and cracked her neck. âWell, however it happened, that was pretty awesome, Your Highness.â
Artie was happy to hear Kay sound like her old self, but was also completely exhausted. He slumped in his seat. Heâd just scared off a dragon so big it could have nested on a football field. His eyes burned and his head hurt. But Artie had to agree. âYeah, it was pretty awesome, wasnât it, Sir Kay?â
âLetâs get back to shore,â Thumb said as he wrangled Vorpal, who was still raring for a fight, into the bottom of the canoe. âI think weâve had enough excitement for today. Kay, help me paddle. Artie can rest.â
Kay felt that her brother was totally whipped. âGood idea, Tommy. Take a load off, Art. Weâll get you home.â
âOkay. Thanks, guys.â
They paddled, and the sun warmed their backs. After a while the trees around the Lake
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