A/N: I forgot to mention in the first chapter, but Jane and the Dragon does not belong to me. I just enjoy borrowing them for a while.
This particular story takes place during the events of "A Dragon's Tale". The beginning dialogue is taken directly from that episode. The rest takes place while Jane and Smithy are giving Dragon a "check-up".
Chapter 2: There's no "I" in team
The clatter of wooden swords smashing against one another rose from the practice yard of Kippernium Castle.
"Jane, how can I parry if you keep elbowing me?"
"So keep clear of my elbows!"
Jane and Gunther stood back to back, each facing their mentor. It was an exercise meant to teach them team fighting, a skill often necessary in battle. However all the two squires had done thus far was argue and trip over one another's feet.
"Maggots," muttered Jane after the strength of Sir Theodore's blow sent her and Gunther tumbling to the ground yet again.
"Very disappointing," murmured the captain of the King's Guard, shaking his head sadly.
"Jane tripped me," blamed Gunther. "I do better on my own."
Sir Ivon was quick to correct his squire. "Listen boy. In the arena you can fight for yourself. On the battlefield you fight for your colleagues."
"…and if your colleague is a cart horse," mumbled Jane.
"Enough!" snapped Theodore, his dark eyes flashing. "You must fight for each other as though your lives depend upon it… as one day they may."
The four warriors resumed their positions and began circling, the older knights searching for an opening to strike while the younger two attempted to work in harmony. For a few brief moments the squires seemed to finally be working together. That is until Jane caught sight of something large and green flying sluggishly towards the castle wall. When it landed on the battlements, hung his head, and groaned, Jane knew something was terribly wrong.
"Dragon!" She called anxiously, running out from under Sir Theodore's sword and tripping Gunther in the process.
"Bat Bladders! Jane!" Gunther exclaimed as he landed on his side, clearly irritated. The girl knight turned and shrugged her shoulders apologetically before running up the steps to take a closer look at her green, scaly friend.
Turning to Gunther, Theodore said gruffly, "Follow me."
The young man warily followed the older knight to his quarters. With each step he silently blamed the red-headed female who seemed to always be in his way and get him into trouble. When they had reached the upper level of the knight's quarters, Sir Theodore turned and motioned to the wall behind Gunther.
"What do you think of my fish, young knight?"
Gunther turned to admire, as he had done secretly so many times before, the huge fish that hung on the wall. It was easily the size of an 8 year old child and weighted at least twice that much. For a moment he simply stood in awe of the fine trophy.
"Most impressive," he answered truthfully.
"Impressive, yes," replied the knight, "but he also has a tale for those who have the ears to hear it."
The young man turned and gave his mentor a quizzical look
"I caught that fish while returning from a mission for Harun Al-Rashid. The journey had been long and hard, but extremely successful. Our caravan numbered less than a dozen, but together we had unearthed a great treasure. It took four of the horses hitched together to pull the item all the way from Babylon. From its rough, jagged edge I assumed that the stunning golden head had at one time been part of a much larger statue.
"The excitement of our find began to wear off as the return trip dragged on much longer than expected. Our treasure was slowing us down, but I refused to return to the king empty-handed. We were still nearly a week's journey from Bagdad when our supplies dwindled to nothing. Nerves wore thin and fights began to break out among the men over the littlest of things.
"Relief washed over us as we caught sight of the Qazvin Sea. We paused briefly to discuss our situation. The last of our money had been used to purchase supplies for the return trip. We had nothing to barter with that was not necessary to our survival. Several of the men proposed going down to the nearest town and taking what we needed by force.
"Duban spoke up to point out some of that plan's flaws. Duban was a doctor rich in knowledge, but whose logical unfeeling approach to life had won him few friends. When he mentioned that we were weakened from our journey and lack of supplies, Rasoul took offense. Rasoul was a man whose passions ebbed and flowed like the tide. He could be laughing with all his might one minute, then pin someone to the floor in anger the next. Easily the strongest man among us, his temper never failed to flair at the slightest hint that his strength might be waning. Marching up to the smaller man, he stated that the ever knowledgeable doctor could certainly stay behind and guard the camp if he did not feel up to attacking a city. Quickly I stepped between the two men. An earlier argument between them had almost come to blows. Retaking control of the situation, I announced that I had no desire to attack an unwary and possibly friendly city. Instead I proposed that we approach the town to see if we could find some other means of attaining supplies.
"As the men refilled their water skins at the town well, I found two fishermen who were willing to loan us their boats and nets for the evening. When I told my men, Rasoul grabbed a net and ran up to the nearest boat calling for the others to follow him. Duban loudly suggested watching the other fishermen for a while first to learn the best technique. The two men glared at each other. Before another fight could break out I determined that we would settle this once and for all. Rasoul and Duban were each to have a net and a boat to himself. At the end of an hour they would each return and we would count their fish to determine whose method was best.
"Rasoul immediately jumped into a boat and rowed out into the sea. He then began over and over to throw his net in and immediately pull it back up. Within ten minutes he let out a cheer that could be heard from land and held his first fish aloft
"Duban took his time. First he examined the boat and net carefully. Then he stood and watched the town's other fishermen. Half the allotted time had passed before he finally pushed his boat off shore. He rowed out to the spot several other fishermen had been frequenting, let down his net and waited nearly five minutes before pulling it up only to find he had caught more fish than he had the strength to lift. The doctor had to loosen the net and let most of the fish escape before he managed to pull up his load.
"While waiting for the two boats to return with our supper, I had ordered the remaining men to set up camp for the night. Once they were busy I grabbed one of the nets Rasoul had left on shore. As a boy, I had learned from my grandfather that fish like to hide in deep spots along the shore. I planned on putting that knowledge to good use. After making a few decent sized catches I waved in the two boats and threw my net out one more time. Suddenly I saw an exceptionally large shadow moving sluggishly through the water towards me. I sat as still as possible and watched with baited breath as it slowly swam into my trap. Letting out a cry of victory I pulled up the corners of the net and found the fish was heavier then I had even imagined.
"The two boats arrived on shore at nearly the same time. Duban was the first to see me struggling with my net. His call drew Rasoul's attention and together they ran to my side and helped me pull up the fish. The commotion we created brought several of the local fishermen over. One of them declared it was the largest fish he had seen caught in many years and begged me to let him mount it. When I worried that it would not be finished in time he confided that he had a secret concoction that would create the most perfect trophy of it overnight.
"We turned to unload the two boats and were surprised to find that each man had caught a mere five fish. Combined with the few I had caught earlier, this was barely enough for our troupe's evening meal much less provide for the rest of our journey home. I took the two rivals aside and told them they needed to learn to work as a team. I explained that while they each had amazing abilities, only when they combined their strengths could anything great truly be accomplished.
"It was not long afterwards that the two of them set out together in a boat. Duban guided the ship to the perfect spot and showed Rasoul how to throw the net and wait before drawing it up. On their first try the net was so full it took all of Rasoul's strength to pull it in. In half an hour their boat was filled and the two men had formed a bond that would last the rest of their lives."
Gunther looked up at the Sir Theodore, skepticism clear in his eyes. "You mean that two men, so opposite each other and who obviously disliked each other were able to become friends and work together?"
"Yes," began Sir Theodore, but the rest of his reply was cut off by a yell from below.
"Pigs!"
The old knight turned to look out his window in time to see Dragon run across the yard in a frenzy, his tail twisting into a tight spiral. An obvious case of curly tail if Theodore had ever seen one. With a slight smile he turned back to the squire.
"Gunther, go gather your things. I am sending you on a quest with Jane to the far side of the mountain. Dragon has curly tail and will need a plant called skyleaf to get well."
Gunther looked less than thrilled. "With Jane? Must I?"
"This is a test of teamwork, Gunther. See if you can learn to work with one who was once your rival. Work together combining her strengths with your own and you will both be the better for it. Meet me at the back gate in five minutes." As the squire turned to go, Theodore hoped that this quest would help the two young people finally learn to get along.
End Note: There are so many little details about this chapter I want to fill you in on…
There really is a fish hanging on Sir Theodore's wall. You can see it in the episode "Jester Justice". Upon first noticing it I thought… really…a knight with a mounted fish? Immediately I knew there had to be a story.
Duban is a character in one of the stories from 1001 Nights.
Rasoul Khadem is an Iranian wrestler who won the 1996 Olympic gold metal.
Qazvin Sea is an ancient name for the Caspian Sea.
Caspian Beluga Salmon are huge! Go see for yourself.
