Dragon's Egg Read Online Free PDF

walked away just as Mella heard footsteps coming down the stairs. When Mama came in she was scrubbing again.
    Mama went to the cold room once more and came back. To the stables and came back. To the common room and came back. Mella could have wept with frustration. But when Mama went out on the porch to talk to Da, she saw another chance.
    She had scrubbed her way over to the common room door, and in the other room she heard a whistled tune. A plan formed in her mind.
    â€œRoger!” she called softly.
    The squire, a small book in his hand, stopped and lifted his eyebrows as he looked at her. Mella was sorry now that she’d been so short with him before, but there was no help for it.
    â€œPlease, ” she whispered at him. “I need you.”
    Knights had to help when they were asked, didn’t they? And squires too. Mella thought so. After a moment, Roger came over to the doorway.
    Mella wasted no time. “Up in the attic. Thestairs over there.” She pointed with her chin. “There’s a basket wrapped up in a shawl under the bed. Bring it to me.”
    Roger stared down at her, puzzled. “But what is it? Why do you need it?”
    â€œJust go now,” Mella insisted. She hated to grovel like this, on her knees before him. But she would, if it could save the egg and the Inn. “Please,” she begged. “I’ve no one else to ask.”
    Roger hesitated for a moment. Then, tucking his book into a pocket, he crossed the kitchen and disappeared up the stairs just as Mama came back from the porch.
    Roger had the sense not to come down until Mama had left the room again. But the instant she was gone he hurried into the kitchen with the basket in one hand. “What is it?” he demanded. “It’s heavy as a rock!”
    â€œ Careful with it!” Tugging her gloves on, Mella anxiously lifted the egg from the basket. It was definitely less hot than it had been earlier, but she was relieved still to feel some warmth throughthe dragonhide. “Make a place in the coals for it,” she ordered Roger.
    The look on Roger’s face told her that he would not do much more for her without an explanation. But he picked up the poker and dug a hole in the red and black coals in the hearth. Gingerly Mella tucked the egg down into its fiery nest and raked coals over it so that it was hidden.
    â€œWhat is it?” Roger asked again. “It felt like a stone, but so hot! What keeps heat like that?”
    â€œI can’t tell you.” Mella knew how churlish she must seem. He had helped her, when all she’d been was rude to him. But he was the dragon-slayer’s squire. How could she tell him he had just helped to save a dragon’s egg?
    And suddenly it occurred to her that he could help with something else as well. “Where’s your master?” she asked.
    â€œDamien? He went out. He heard something in the woods—well, you were there, you heard it too. And what do you mean, you can’t tell me? I helped you!”
    Mella could hardly blame Roger for being exasperated. But at least the egg was warm again. Now, if only the dragon had the sense to stay hidden, so that Damien wouldn’t find him…
    â€œListen,” Roger began, but something stopped him.
    It was the sound of Lilla screaming.
    Mella, with Roger on her heels, raced out into the Inn’s yard. Her heart pounding, she looked up, scanning the skies for the dragon. It must have become tired of waiting for her or decided that she was not trustworthy and come to take its egg for itself.
    But there was nothing in the air. She brought her gaze down and saw the chestnut horse turning in from the road.
    Damien was slumped over his steed’s neck. Roger was beside him now and caught him, or tried to, as his master tumbled from the saddle. But they both would have ended up in a heap on the ground if Mella’s father hadn’t run to help. “Lilla! Fetch a healer,”