The quiet acorn 6/9

Abigail had run along to the guardroom as soon as she heard that her apprentice was in trouble. She arrived in time to hear Jennifer Jane explaining about Sir George and the distance that the dragon could flame.

“Obviously someone has made him far too powerful for his own good,” said Abigail, “come to that I don’t remember hearing of a dragon living that close to us before. Why he must be in Tornak’s territory!”

“Well if Sir George can’t get near enough to do anything, certainly none of the locals will be able to. Can’t we do something about him using magic?”

“Not supposed to interfere with everyday life,” replied Abigail, “although I must admit I’m tempted. Someone has been fiddling about with magic that’s for sure, but unless we know who it was we can’t do anything about it!”

Jennifer Jane went home to tell her dad about her latest escape and have a good rest to get over the shock. Later that evening she went up to his room to help him write some notes about her latest adventure, before she forgot the details.

“The funny thing is that it seems that he wanted to kill you,” said dad, “after all he only frightened George away, yet as soon as you convinced him who you were, he flamed straight at you and only your safety spell saved you from being roasted alive.”

“He did say one strange thing that I’ve just remembered, he said if it really was me he’d get a bonus! What does that mean?”

“Now that explains a lot! It sounds as if someone has made him very powerful just to try and get rid of you. If he succeeds then he’d get some sort of extra reward. Have you made any enemies lately?”

“None that I know about. The last one was Malcolm’s sister, but now they’re both working at the Witches’ Home and Abigail made them lose all memories of me and took away their magic powers, so it can’t be them”

“Well in that case the only thing you can do is try and think how to fight him yourself. At least you know you won’t get killed trying!”

Dad suddenly grinned, “If I was going to fight a fire breathing monster, then I think I’d like to have a very powerful hose handy to put out the flame. Can’t you ask Abigail if she can teach you a spell to do that? I know none of the full time witches are allowed to interfere, but this looks more like a personal problem which can only be solved by you.”

Jennifer Jane went to bed that night in a very thoughtful mood. She couldn’t think of any way of getting near enough, other than to have a stream of water that would reach even further than the dragon could flame. As soon as she could find the time from her lessons, she’d ask Abigail if there was a suitable spell that she’d be allowed to use.