Atondido Stories
"Me?" the dragon said. "I'm only a poor harmless dragon.
They call me Sharkan. My brothers chained me here. They
would have freed me long ago but Vitazko killed them. Unchain
me, dear lady, and I will reward you richly."
He begged her and cajoled her until she was half minded to
do as he asked.
"You are very beautiful," Sharkan said. "If only I were free I
would make you my wife."
"Ah, but what would Vitazko say to that?" the woman asked.
"Vitazko?" repeated Sharkan. "Do you fear your own son? A
dutiful son he is, to give you the castle and then forbid you to
enter this room! If you were to marry me, we should soon get rid
of this Vitazko and then live here together in peace and merri-
ment."
The woman listened to these cajoling words until she was
completely won over.
"But how, dear Sharkan, shall I unchain you?"
He told her to go to the cellar and from a certain cask to draw
him a goblet of wine. Instantly he drank the wine, bang! the first
iron hoop burst asunder. He drank a second goblet, and the sec-
ond iron hoop fell from him. He drank a third goblet and, lo! he
was free.
Then in dismay at what she had done, the woman cried:
"Ah me, what will Vitazko say when he comes home!"
"I have thought out a plan," Sharkan said. "Listen: when he
comes home pretend you're sick and refuse to eat. When he begs
you to eat something, tell him that nothing can tempt you but a
suckling from the Earth Sow. He will at once go out and hunt
the Earth Sow and when he touches one of her sucklings, the
Sow will tear him to pieces."
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