The Pixilated Peeress by L. Sprague de Camp, Catherine Crook de Camp

horn.
     
                  They moved on to the next enclosure, in which lay a l arge, pallid reptile, like a long-legged crocodile, cov ered with short hairlike bristles. The animal sprawled immobile with closed eyes, only an occasional move ment of its rib cage indicating life.
     
                  "That," said Thorolf, "is the Helvetian mountain drago n. There are still a few up in the troll country."
     
                  For once Yvette said something other than "Yea, Ser geant." She replied: "Aye, Master Thorolf. The Em peror hath a similar beast from Pathenia in his menagerie in Sogambrium."
     
                  "How looked it, Countess?"
     
                  "Much like yon reptile, save without the bristles and of a darker hue. As with other reptiles, the sight thereof provides but a minimum of enchantment, as it lies all day without moving a whisker. Since the day wanes, should yo u not proceed to your inn? A repast were welcome."
     
                  "A splendiferous idea! The park will soon close any way. Let's back to the carriage."
     
                  As they turned away from the dragon's enclosure, Thorolf found himself confronting a group of men. There were seven , in the sober dress of traveling mer chants, but strapping fellows who bore themselves like soldiers. One stepped forward. "Sergeant Thorolf, me-thinks?"
     
                  Thorolf bristled; these were probably the men who had sought him at the Green Dragon and therefore henchmen of the Duke of Landai. "And what if I be?" he said, sliding a hand toward his hilt. As a soldier of his rank on active service, Thorolf was not required to immobilize his blade with peace wires.
     
                  "My good sir," said the man, "we have a proposal t hat, of a surety, will capture your interest." The man made a gesture. Two of the group skirted around Tho rolf and Yvette and leaped the low fence about the dragon's enclosure. Thorolf, fearing attack from be hind, whirled in time to see one of the twain wrench open the cage door, while the other whirled a sling he took from beneath his clothes.
     
                  "Ho there!" shouted Thorolf. "Are you mad?"
     
                  The leaden sling bullet struck the mountain dragon in the ribs with a solid thump. The big emerald eyes snapped ope n; up came the fanged head. The dragon lurched to its feet and started for the open door. From its gaping jaws came a long, groaning bellow. The two who had aroused it ran.
     
                  Other visitors shrieked and stampeded away from the dragon's cage. Behind him, Th orolf heard a scream in Yvette's familiar soprano. Turning again, he saw two other pseudo-merchants dragging her off. She struggled, but the men easily bore the slight woman away. Behind Thorolf, the dragon roared as it emerged.
     
                  As the spectators fled, k eepers converged on the site, shouting questions and demands. Two dragged up a large net, which they threw over the dragon's head and forequarters. Another struck one of the men dragging Yvette with a quarterstaff. Staggered, the abductor re leased Yvette ' s arm, whereupon the Countess kicked the other kidnapper in the crotch.
     
                  "She-devil!" yelled the man, clutching his affected parts.
     
                  Trying to hasten to Yvette with drawn sword, Thorolf found his way blocked by a cluster of zookeepers, one of whom cried: "Seize him! 'Tis he who enlarged the dragon!"
     
                  "Fools!" shouted Thorolf. "Yon runagates loosed the beast, to kidnap the lady — "
     
                  He tried to push past the keepers; but they closed ranks before him. When one grabbed him, he knocked the man down with his f ree hand; but another threw a net over him. It was smaller than the net in which the dragon now struggled,