Charlemagne the Dragon
by Louise Ulmer

CHAPTER ONE

Charlemagne Is Tempted

A light snow frosted the trees in the Great Misty Mountains.  In a cave near the top of the highest mountain, Charlemagne the dragon ate dry hay.  Nearby, Waldorf the Wizard looked through musty, aged books.  Now and when he went to his fire and stirred  something in a boiling pot.

    Charlemagne sighed and dust rose from the floor of the cave.  When it settled, Waldorf  saw the pickle-green dragon watching him with his glassy green eyes.

  "Sorry, old pal," said Waldorf to his pet, "Either I’ve lost my magic touch, or these wizard cookbooks are out of date."

Charlemagne rolled his eyes upward.

“I know," Waldorf said, "a vegetarian dragon can’t live on hay.  Well, we’re both in the same fix.   But any minute now I’ll get back my magic touch and we’ll both eat cake."

 Charlemagne opened his jaws and let out a  sighing noise that sounded like, "Sure you will."

Waldorf said to himself: Either I’m hearing things, or that dragon is starting to talk.  And he’s getting a very smart mouth.

Charlemagne closed his eyes and dreamed of green salad.  Charlemagne never ate meat, but there hadn’t been any green garden stuff on the Misty Mountain for so long he was thinking of eating something else.  He watched Waldorf stirring his mixtures.  No, thought Charlemagne, no matter how hungry I am I will never eat meat, especially not that piece.  I will eat stones first.

    Just then Waldorf looked up and saw Charlemagne studying him. "I know what you’re thinking," he said.  "But you don’t want to do it. I’d be tougher than old roots."  He sat down on a step.  "Not that I’d blame you, you understand.  It’s a sorry master who can’t feed his own pet. I’d go down to the village to look for food, but if the folk down there found out I’d lost my magic, there’s no telling what would become of us.  Certainly you can’t go.  If they found out what a lamb you are, they’d have you for breakfast.  No, I’ll have to think of another way."