"Is this true Flash?" asked the king softly.
"I don't know for sure, Sire, but I suspect it is. All I really know, is that if not for Yoyo, then I would have died a long time ago, without anyone being any the wiser."
"I see," said the king." Then I suppose you better tell me what's so important."
As Peter, Tank and Gee Tee listened from behind the balcony, Flash began to reel off his adventure in Antarctica, describing everything down to the finest detail, interrupted only occasionally by the searing pain that racked his fatally wounded body. Yoyo stood by, listening to the story along with the king, doing his best to support Flash, casting mantra after mantra, trying his best to relieve the pain when the naga inflicted wound flared up. Some parts of Flash's story sounded like complete and utter fiction to Peter, while others were so sad it made him want to cry. Of course he couldn't, otherwise it might well have given away the fact that the king, Flash and Yoyo weren't alone. When he heard about the prisoners and the conditions of their incarceration, trapped below the ice, it was all he could do to stifle a sob. On the other hand, the king reacted in quite a different way. Up until now, he'd let Flash get on with his story, not once interrupting or asking a question, but while Peter thought his interest may lie in the naga leader himself, he was in fact more interested in the other dragon prisoners, particularly the one who had helped Flash escape. Listening carefully, Peter heard Flash mention a birthmark on the prisoner's chest, the mention of which caused the king to take a deep breath and shake uncontrollably. Reluctantly, he let it go. Continuing on, Flash failed to notice the reigned in look of thunder smothered across the king's face as talk turned to the memories that had leaked into him from the dying naga. At the mere mention of what had happened, Peter felt physically sick. Surely stealing magic from a dying being was wrong... wasn't it? But the revelation of a corrupt councillor and the existence of some kind of plot that involved nagas disguising themselves as humans across the world, made him forget about any scruples he may have had.
After a few more questions and another painful episode for Flash, the story moved on. Everyone listened intently, marvelling at the Crimson Guard's bravery and ingenuity. With the defeat of the naga disguised as a human at Perth hospital, Flash ended his tale and slumped down hard on the stone plinth. Yoyo took a good look at him while the king stood and watched.
For Peter the compulsion was just too great, and much to the surprise of his two cohorts, he poked his head above the railing and sneaked a peek down at the stone plinth. Luckily for him, Flash and Yoyo were facing the other way, and the king, although looking almost straight at him, didn't flinch at all. The sight of Flash lying on the stone tablet was almost too much for him to bear. Never before in his life had a seen a dragon in such a sorry state. Even from as far away as he was, he could tell just how much pain and despair the brave dragon was suffering. Following Peter's lead, Tank snuck a quick look, while Gee Tee's giant, scaly head slowly rose above the rail, much like a submarine surfacing.
Nothing Yoyo did seemed to make any difference to the pain searing throughout Flash's body which writhed and flailed about, longing to embrace death now that he'd delivered his information to the king. With one last effort, Flash turned his head towards the king and whispered,
"I'm sorry Majesty. I've failed you."
Lowering himself so that he could look directly into Flash's steely blue eyes, the king spoke from his heart.
"On the contrary Flash, it seems that I've failed you. But perhaps all is not quite lost." An expression that suggested he was very sorry for what he was about to do took hold of the king's face, as he got to his feet and craned his neck, all the time shaking his head.
"Master Mantra Maker! I need your help once again," he shouted as loud as he could, startling Yoyo and even the semi lucid Flash.
Standing up to their full height, revealing their presence to all down below, Peter, Tank and Gee Tee all made their way around to the staircase that led down towards the unexpected scene of tragedy. Yoyo wondered what was going on, while Flash just continued to wriggle about on the plinth, muttering gibberish as he did so.
Following in Gee Tee's footsteps as they wove their way down the spiral stairs, Tank and Peter finally stopped in front of the king.
"Can you help him?" the king asked Gee Tee.
With the scroll still firmly tucked beneath his wing, the master mantra maker stepped over to the plinth and began examining Flash. Everyone else looked on.
"Beg your pardon Majesty, but I've done everything that I can to help him. I really don't think any more can be done," prompted Yoyo, quietly.
From beside Flash, Gee Tee scoffed and snorted on hearing the healer's words. Ignoring the shopkeeper, the king replied.
"Your work in getting him here is beyond comparison, and I will try to reward your efforts when an opportunity arises. Until then, there may be... other ways. The bravery of this particular Crimson Guard has helped keep our domain safe from many a threat more times than I care to remember. I think if there's anything, anything at all that can be done to save him, then we should at least try it, don't you?"
"Of course, Sire," replied Yoyo, bowing.
Everyone stood back, watching Gee Tee examine Flash.
"Well, Master Mantra Maker?" asked the king.
Gee Tee straightened up, a thoughtful expression crossing his scaly face.
"There's something that just might work, but... it's dangerous, very dangerous in fact."
"Then do it," ordered the king. "I will take full responsibility."
"Not so quickly. There's the small matter of my... fee," added the old shopkeeper, looking down at the scroll he hadn't let go of since finding it.
Peter stood aghast at what Gee Tee had just said, watching as the king's face turned purple with rage.
"You dare say that to me, here in this place?"
Gee Tee didn't look phased at all, quite the opposite in fact.
"Yes I dare," he announced, his eyes glinting mischievously through the square plastic glasses that sat on his leathery old nose. "As we've already discussed, I've helped to save your life on numerous occasions, and exactly how have you ever repaid me? Stopped the visits from the Guards that bitter old Councillor Rosebloom sends on a regular basis... ? No! Given my shop back its royal licence, so that maybe I might win back the custom of just a few of those customers that I lost when Rosebloom stabbed me in the back for not getting that job... ? No! Have I ever received payment of any sort, monetary or otherwise for all the potions, mantras and artefacts that I provided you with, on all your knightly adventures... ? No! That's not to mention the knowledge and advice I freely gave. During everything, you had this," the master mantra maker withdrew the scroll from within his wing and waved it in the air, "and all this time you knew that I've spent centuries looking for it. You didn't have the decency to tell me that you had it, but wouldn't give it to me. Well, it all stops here. If you want my help once again, then here's your price," he spluttered, repeatedly waving the scroll above his head. "And let me guess what's next. You can't possibly let a brave dragon die. You're the one chance he's got to live. Yes, I know all these things, but the price for my help is the scroll, full stop!"
There and then, Peter wanted to leave. None of this was supposed to be happening. This was supposed to be such a special day, meeting the king with both his friends, having a great time learning some more about his grandfather and finding out exactly what had been left with the king for safe keeping. This just wasn't supposed to happen, he kept telling himself over and over in his mind.