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<p class="MsoNormal"><u>This Chapter could be entitled, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Dragon Feast. </i>The captor seems dedicated to that description. I
liked the way you’ve described how the creature was divided<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>up and prepared.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Some sentences could be simplified and/or
broken up into smaller ones.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The paragraph
separations and quotation spacing is much better.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I think that when the story is completed, you
could benefit<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>by reading the whole story
from beginning to end. You’ll probably find a lot to edit and re-write. That’s
just the way it goes.</u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sitting Duck, a visually impaired fowl who finds it
difficult to do duck like things because of her poor sight, befriended a
cripple grasshopper on her way walking south for the winter.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Somehow, she and her grasshopper friend wondered into a
strange world where trolls, avains, Halflings, humans, elves, fairies, dwarves,
and undead all live together in one kingdom made up of provinces of a single
race.</p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in"><u>The
duck’s province is not a single race.</u></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The rulers of the individual provinces elect one to be
monarch of the Kingdom.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Unfortunately, Sitting and her grasshopper friend have
wondered into the land at a time when they are at war with a stronger evil
kingdom bent on their destruction.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The enemy kingdom has a pattern of starting to destroy which
ever province is ruled by the kingdom's monarch.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The rulers have elected Sitting to be their monarch figuring
that if she and her province are destroyed, it will be no big loss.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sitting must prove herself a worthy monarch by finding a way
out of the situation.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Part Four: A stuffed Duck</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Don't worry, you will be fine. We have all been new at this
the first time. The tools of this land are smart. You can ask them anything.
Also, feel free to call on me and Regis if there is something you don't
understand. I'm sure Sir Dragon will also be willing to help as soon as he gets
his own province back in order.” </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“What is the grey area on the globe?” asked grasshopper.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“That is land that has been captured by our warriors. It
will be added to our kingdom. The province that captured it will receive food
and taxes produced by the peasants on the new land. If you capture supplies, as
in the recent battle, you will receive any food, gold, and supplies the army
you defeated had.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">"Would you like to try and send a message, now?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They heard a buzzing and turned around to see some bees
behind them.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Please pardon the interruption, my liege,“ said one of the
bees. "Sir Regis has the dragon on the bank and wants to know what you
want done with it.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I think we need to have a meeting. Can I send a message to
everyone in the kingdom?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“What is your message?” asked the crystal ball.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sitting stared at the ball, then looked up at Dark Merlin.
He nodded. “You got it,” he said with a grin.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sitting turned back to the ball. “Everyone meet on the bank
of the crystal pond ASAP.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Are you ready to send it?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Yes.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Message sent.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sitting felt numb and like things were out of control as she
got up and her and Merlin </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">followed the swarm of bees down to the crystal pond.</p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><u>Shouldn’t
that be (she) and Merlyn?</u></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Regis and the others had the dragon stretched out along the
bank. A tusk as long as she was tall protruded from the mouth of the only head
she could see. The body of the beast stretched away from the castle.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Wow!” said Grasshopper. "its tail spike is as tall as
a tree.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Regis walked up. “We can cut into the vein from a spot
behind the ear and drain the blood into some barrels.” He stood looking at her.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sitting stared back at him, her mind whirling with fear and
confusion. “Um, I wonder if the hide could be made into suits of mail that
would fit a thirty foot warrior.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I could do that for you,” announced Dog Breath. “I could
use those tusks and tail spikes if you don't want them.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sitting took a deep breath, a plan forming in her mind. “It
would be nice to have a trophy of this experience. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I thought about the heads mounted on the walls in the
receiving room, but I see they are too big.”</p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><u>This
should be a quote.</u></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I think one of the heads along with the shoulders could be
mounted on top of the castle,” said Regis. “I'm going to have to lift it up by
the tail to drain all the blood. I could just drop it on the castle, if you
like.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After some discussion and negotiation, a joyous Regis ended
up with 200 barrels of dragon blood, Dog breath took the tusks of all but one
of the dragon heads, and the three tail spikes. Dark Merlin helped Regis mount
the dragon so that it looked like one of the heads was peering down from the
castle, the front claws gripped the edge of the roof, and the wings stretched out
above like it was just about to pounce on anyone approaching the castle. Dark
Merlin took a supply of the fire wine from the spoils from the army Sitting had
defeated. Dog Breath made up 200 suits of mail from the dragon hide.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The dragon meat was cut into stakes for the trolls, the
smaller parts into squares for shish kebabs for the fairies, avian, and
Halflings, the shoulders and hind quarters made some nice roasts for the
dwarves, humans, and elves. Everyone was invited to the feast of barbeque
dragon with all the trimmings and all you could drink.</p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><u>Dragon
tastes best when grilled, and dragon feet are good in soup.</u></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">While they feasted, Sitting talked with the other rulers.
She learned it was possible to hire the dragons in the land to attack another
kingdom; the kingdom gained or lost gold, goods, and land depending on the
outcome of battles; some creatures in the land were professional thieves,
sorcerers, or warriors; and that they all worked together to help each other to
defend and advance their kingdom. Her job as monarch was to lead the kingdom,
and negotiate with other kingdom rulers and monarchs.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“How much will it take and how do we hire a dragon?” asked
Sitting.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“The Overloards have set the price for our kingdom at 18
million gold coins. Our kingdom gets the gold together, decide what kind of
dragon we want, and then hire the dragon,” said Lady Doom of the Scarlet Witch.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“What kind of dragons are there?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“There are ruby, emerald, Sapphire, and gold dragons. I
don't remember which does what,” said Dark Merlin.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“All dragons will attack and devour soldiers and peasants,
but some dragons have additional powers. Emerald dragons have an aura
that mystifies their prey. Sapphire dragons block magic spells. Gold dragons
burn crops and buildings. Ruby dragons only toast and eat living creatures,”
said Sir Dragon. “I considered sending one when I first took over as monarch.”
But, I didn't have the money to fund it, and I feared Silent Enigma wouldn't
accept the peace offer if we sent a dragon.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All ate and drank to the fullness of their capacity, </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The ant colony from the rear of the castle showed up in full
force to clear away all the crumbs left over from the celebration.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By the time the party was over, Sitting’s gizzard was fuller
than she could ever remember it being, she understood more about the land she
had wondered into, made friends among its residents, and her barns were filled
to the brim with supplies to last for a month or more. She was particularly
happy about the dragon meat. Fruits and grain was fine for the rest of her
subjects, but the dragon meat was more to her taste. She bad all her new
friends goodbye and a weary sitting waddled her way up the stairs to one of the
bedrooms in the castle. Grasshopper hopped off her head and together they
crawled under the bed and went to sleep.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Next morning, Sitting was awakened by an urgent buzzing. “My
liege, My liege,” Queen bee was saying.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“What?” asked a sleepy Sitting.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I am so sorry to wake you, but I have urgent news.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">To be continued</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
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