PART TWO:

THE QUESTION, AND THE QUEST

Harold Parkor was the son of a poor fisherman named Meyrol, and was undoubtedly the last person you would expect to be in an adventure. He was a tall boy of about fifteen years of age with blond hair and bright blue eyes.

He was so poor, however, that his father could not send him to school, so he had to content himself with skinning fish. One grey and misty day, Harold stomped inside the house, looking rather harassed and tired, and slumped in his favorite armchair by the fire.

“Hiya, son,” his father called cheerfully. “Had a good day?”

Harold didn’t answer his father at once, but when he did, he said the very last thing his father would have guessed. “I am going to visit the king.”

The king, King Umphishire, was extremely corpulent and drank way too much. Aside from his weight, he was cruel. One would never guess such a fat king would have such an evil mind. As Harold entered the splendid hall, King Umphishire ordered his guards to surround him.

“Little fisher-boy, come closer.” the king sneered. “What do you wish?”

“I wish to have a quest. Will you allow me to have that?” he asked.

The king roared with laughter, and soon the whole room echoed with it. Harold blushed slightly. When the laughter ceased, the king turned his small black eyes on him, and said, “Boy, have you heard of the Dragon’s Egg?”

Harold nodded.

“Bring this to me and I shall reward you.” the king said.

As Harold left the palace, the castle rang out laughter once more. He would fetch the egg if it were the last thing he did.