Dragon's Egg Read Online Free PDF Page A

return, and with more of my kind. Then every house here will be burned to the ground. No one will escape. Do you understand, little human thief?”
    Mella swallowed.
    â€œI’m not a thief,” she said. “And I understand.”
    The dragon lifted his tail. Mella ran.

Chapter Four
    â€œM ella Evasdaughter!”
    Mama stood with her hands on her hips, looking down at her younger child.
    â€œMama, listen—” Mella tried to say between gasps.
    She had run all the way back to the Inn, only to arrive breathless, with her braid undone, her skirt muddy, and her basket gone. Her mother had not been pleased.
    â€œWhere is the basket? Where are the herbs I sent you for? What have you been doing this long time? Well, girl?”
    â€œMama, there was—”
    â€œNever mind! I don’t want to hear it. Playingsome game in the woods, forgetting your errand, losing good food—you’re too old for such foolishness. Lilla can go to Cate’s this afternoon, and you can scrub every inch of the kitchen floor. Perhaps that’ll teach you not to be so careless.”
    â€œBut, Mama!”
    â€œ What, child?” Mama’s cheeks were bright red, her eyes narrow. And Mella’s words died on her tongue.
    If she said there was a dragon hidden in the woods, her mother would think it nothing but a fairy story, and Mella would only lose her supper as well as being forced to scrub the kitchen floor. And if, by some miracle, her mother believed her, what would she do but tell Damien, the dragon-slayer? Then every house here will be burned to the ground, the dragon had said. No one will escape.
    â€œNothing, Mama.”
    Mella’s mother let out her breath in a long sigh through tight lips. “Then get you into the kitchen and start scrubbing.”
    Mella had no chance even to slip upstairs to theattic and make sure the egg was safe under her bed, for Mama was shaping the risen bread dough into loaves while keeping an eye on Mella’s work. On her hands and knees, skirts tucked up, Mella scrubbed her way inch by inch across the stone floor and worried. Would the dragon wait? Would the egg grow too cold? The kitchen floor had never seemed so big. Surely it was miles across. If Mama would only finish with her baking, Mella could sneak out, seize the egg, and run. No matter what her punishment would be afterward.
    â€œThere now!” Mama set the loaves into the warming cupboard, built into the wall beside the chimney, to rise a second time. Mella put her head down and worked the brush industriously across the floor as Mama washed her hands, dried them on her apron, and left the kitchen.
    Now! Mella dropped the brush into the bucket and jumped up, just as Mama came back from the cold room with a cheese in her hands. Mella pretended to be stretching her back, and Mama, with a sniff, began to slice up the cheese.
    The brush rasped across the stones. The soapy water was cold and harsh on Mella’s hands. Mama would never be done slicing that cheese! But she finished at last and went up to the second floor. Mella crept to the foot of the stairs and stood listening. She heard Mama talking to Raya. They must be standing together on the second-floor landing. No hope that Mella could creep around them and fetch the egg.
    In desperation, Mella looked around the kitchen for an idea, and caught a glimpse of green ribbons in fair hair through the door to the common room.
    â€œLilla!” Mella whispered as loudly as she dared.
    â€œWhat is it?” Coming to the doorway, Lilla crossed her arms and looked unfriendly.
    â€œLilla, please,” Mella begged. “I need something from our room.”
    â€œGet it yourself.”
    â€œI’m meant to be scrubbing the floor. If Mama sees me…”
    Lilla sniffed. “Next time you want a favor from me, perhaps you’ll keep your tongue off me andJonas Evadson. I’m not putting myself out for you. ” She turned and