Many many years ago a kingdom stood in the land now called England. It was so long ago that there were no Saxons in the land, no Romans, only the Britons, the first people to inhabit that lonely island. In fact it was so long ago that even the light of Christianity had not yet come to the land. Many of the monsters and beasts you may think are make-believe were still roaming about the countryside. Fairies and dragons, sea monsters and selkies were all to be found on the borders of maps. England itself was a small faraway place back then, relegated to the far corners of even those few maps that were made. Many of the hills and valleys have now changed so that you would not recognize the land in which this story takes place. 

This small kingdom was one of many in the land. It was ruled by a mighty king named Celtas who was brave and gallant. He ruled his kingdom with justice and mercy and for many years the peasants and farmers lived in peace without the need to use a sword or ride a warhorse. 

During this great peace King Celtas was often absent from the Kingdom. He traveled far and wide seeking wisdom. Sometimes he even crossed the narrow sea. Once he was gone for a year, once for ten years. Sometimes he would send word back to his Kingdom with a message from the mighty talking Eagles of the continent. Other times there would be years of silence. But he always returned bringing new knowledge and wealth with him. He brought back treasures from the wide world: sayings of great sages from distant lands, fruits and seeds from faraway countries, jewels and feathers from beyond the edge of the world. 

Perhaps it was the softness of the men of the country, their peaceful ways, that made them a target. Or perhaps it was the absence of their king that caused the calamity. 

One day a great sign was seen in the eastern sky. In the morning the sun rose not bright and brilliant but darkened and blood-red as through thick smoke. The village people did not go out to the fields but stayed in their cottages afraid of the mysterious omen. The miller’s son was sitting at his front gate peering at the strange skies when a great roar was heard. A sound like a mighty wind overtook the town. The people all trembled in fear. Even the guard at the gate abandoned his post to hide in the cellar. 

Up on the hilltop the castle stood stark against the rusty sky. The roaring sound echoed through the castle walls and the sentries cowered. Suddenly from far away to the east a great twisting shadow was seen high up in the sky. A terrible worm hurtled over the hills spewing fire and smoke upon the green fields. Quickly it overtook the castle and the village, everywhere blackening stones and burning thatch roofs. 

The people fled the town screaming in terror. The miller’s son, Rodrick, took up a bow and fired a few weak arrows at the beast, but they fell short of their mark being only useful for hunting coneys. Rodrick was familiar with the surrounding woods and fields. “To Me!” he shouted and led the townspeople away to safety in the old forest beside the village. 

In the castle the guards busily ran back and forth. Some shouted orders, some fetched water to put out fires, some gathered arms to defend against the dragon. In the royal chambers the Queen and the princess gathered up a few precious belongings in a small bundle. One thing they took with them was a golden shining sword, left there by the King himself. Their attendants urged them to hurry. Suddenly the door flew open and the King’s Major-Domo, Stalmar rushed in. “Your Grace we must leave at once to seek shelter in the forest. The dragon will soon overrun the castle!” 

Stalmar led the Queen, Princess Epona, and their royal attendants out of the castle and across the fields toward the old forest. Overhead the dragon roared and writhed in red-tinted clouds of smoke. The small group crouched as they fled through the hedgerows, afraid to even look up at the terrible sight in the sky. Just as they neared the forest a great gust of hot wind knocked them down. The dragon had spotted them and its tremendous wingbeats buffeted them. Out of the roiling smoke and flame an awful claw descended. The castle guards tried to knock it away with their spears but it was of no use. The dragon was too big, its grasp too strong, and it's terrible will too irresistible. The claw reached out and grasped Princess Epona and carried her up into the glowering darkness and clouds. The guards could only watch in horror as did the townspeople cowering at the edge of the forest. 

Out deep into the forest the villagers gathered under the overhanging trees, clutching the few possessions they could carry. The people were downcast and sorrowful. Many had lost their homes and their livestock. Many had injuries from the dragon-fire. But most of all they mourned their beautiful princess who had been taken by the beast. The Queen tried to comfort them but her heart was broken. For many days the people stayed hidden in the forest, too afraid and too sorrowful to think of returning to their homes. Great roars were heard from time to time but steadily the days grew more wholesome, the smoke cleared and the sun could again be seen shining through the trees. 

After many weeks a council was called. Stalmar was chosen as the King’s emissary and Rodrick was chosen to represent the village-folk. A third representative was wanted, someone wise and knowledgeable, to ask the will of the spirits. From among the old and learned men of the village Druis was chosen. A bent old scholar who had studied much of the secret knowledge that King Celtas had brought from foreign shores. 

On a warm summer night the three speakers of the kingdom sat in a circle of firelight, beneath the spreading leaves and ripened berries. Many of the villagers had gone to sleep but a few of the men stayed up to hear the ruling of the council. Stalmar addressed them as such, “Men of the Kingdom, I speak to you with the authority of King Celtas. The dragon has gone away to the east. It has settled in the wasteland in the mountain where its red stormcloud can be seen on the horizon. Summer is getting along now and autumn will be coming and still our King is absent. He has sent no word either by man or eagle. Our storehouses are destroyed and we must return to the village and the castle and try to rebuild and harvest what we can before winter.” 

“Agreed,” said Rodrick, “The people must be allowed to return and rebuild their homes, take up what is left in their fields, and regather their stray cows and sheep. We will want to set the kingdom in order before the King returns from his journeys. When he returns he will know what to do.”

“I too agree” said Druis, “but we must not forget the Dragon. It will stay in those hills feasting on the livestock it has stolen. It will sleep and gather up its horde of spoils but it will not sleep forever. It will grow hungry again and its greed will desire more. It will return and trouble us further. We must pick a strong man among us to confront the beast and slay it in it’s den.” Only then can we be safe from its reign of terror.” 

Stalmar spoke up, “Can we not offer some tribute to the beast to satisfy it’s greed?” Perhaps a portion of the harvest and the young lambs can be sent to slake it’s thirst, and to keep it from returning?” Rodrick’s eyes darkened with anger at this, remembering the loss of the princess. But he did not speak up. 

Druis then spoke: “The tribute you speak of will keep the beast away for a time, but I warn you, it will desire greater and greater sacrifice until we have given it everything, and then it will turn and devour us too.” 

Rodrick stood and addressed the council, “I will go, I will confront the dragon in it’s lair and slay it, or I will die trying. For I am the strongest and most stout-hearted lad in the kingdom, and if I cannot do it no one can. I will rescue the princess too, by my life I promise it.” 

Just then the Queen emerged in the forest clearing. In her hand she held the glinting sword of King Celtas, firelight playing on its shining hilt. “My dear Rodrick, hero of the Kingdom.” She said, “Take with you this sword and the blessing of the royal family. You are our only hope, rescue my daughter and you shall have her hand in marriage.” Rodrick’s eyes grew wide as he heard the words of the Queen. He knelt before her and she laid the sword on each of his shoulders saying, “From now on you are a knight of the Kingdom. Rise, Sir Rodrick, and take this sword and my blessing. I will send with you my two best castle guards, Gimlet, and Eckbert; they will accompany you on your journey.”