William barely saw the fight. It was so fast. One moment Aimu was there. Next she getting blasted with water. Then cartwheeling through the air she smacked the dragon with her tail.

“I really thought that blow to the head would knock her out.” Will shook his head, “Okey give me a weapon I’m going in.”

Mark offered a sword, and William took his truncheon. “I’m just going to hurt myself with a sword.”

“Oh. Mark. Hello.” Urial glared at the guard.

“Hello Urial. Your mother is very worried about you. You didn’t write.”

“Well... I’ve been busy...” Urial looked at her feet.

Mark patted her on the shoulder. “No worries. Just write sometimes.”

“Fine!” Urial groaned like a child caught in a lie.

Ignoring the exchanged Will strapped the shield to his arm. The wrong arm. Or the right arm, depending on how you looked at. He slowly approached the bubbling fountain. The fountain was starting to bubble and steam. “I hope Sapo isn’t getting boiled in there...”

“Hot hot hot.” the serpant rolled out of the fountain which exploded into a fountain of steam.

The larger dragon lashed violently at Aimujzon. The blasts of water were no longer being deflected. Sapo was returning them to the sender and following up with his own smaller blasts. Aimu grappled the dragon sliding along the length and rapidly approaching the razor sharp tail.

William saw a speck of white before he heard it.

“Will catch!” Wincing from sharp claws around his ears and a trickle of blood as Sapo grabbed the firey redhead.

“Sorry Sorry, I’ll be in your shirt.” Sapo apologized and ducked.

“He! Is! Mine!” The female dragon screamed lurching towards Will.

A calm voice directed Will.

He was compelled by the instructions. “Right foot forward. Shield up.”

William obeyed. Stomping his right foot into the ground and lifting the shield.

“Swing it wide. And smack with your left.” William swung the shield feeling resistance. Once the shield was out of the way Will could see the dragon. He brought the baton onto it’s head with a satisfying smack. The dragon’s head bounced in place for a moment and it’s eyes blinked intermitantly out of order

“Step back. Shield over you heart.” That was the last thing Will heard. The shield jumped up. Clipped his chin as he was flung by back the torrent of water from the dragon.