No, he told each and every one who offered, we know not of
each other, you reckon you are beguiled by me as I have
saved your life and your heart is full with gratitude and your
blood is singing, and it makes you act with haste. In the
clear light of day, when your heart has calmed, you will find
I am not as comely as excitement had clouded your mind to
believe, and you are not as fond of me as you thought. If you
desire to express your gratitude in some manner, kindly
endeavour not to be captured by dragons or evil warlords,
or ensnared in magical entrapments by crafty wizards and
witches in the future.
The clever ones understood, the foolish ones called him all
sorts of names before they tossed their hair around and
stalked off haughtily. His horse neighed in sympathy.
Maiden saved, marriage rejected; patting his horse, they set
off for home.
On the days he woke up with nothing in the corner of his
chamber, but a vermilion fiery dragon flying outside his
tower, striving to poke its stout into the loophole, he knew
the castle’s treasures were under imminent attack, and he
would ride his dragon to face the goblin or orc or dwarf
hordes greedy for the King’s gold. These usually provided
immense merriment and his dragon reveled in it too,
breathing fire merrily. After they took care of the treasure96