At the moment the dragon flew off with Corin, Kate was saddling her horse. She threw on her armour, buckled her sword around her waist, and swung herself onto the saddle. "Yeehaa!" she yelled. And with that she galloped over the plains.
Back in his tower, Corin noticed a cloud of dust nearing the tower. Instinct (and a few tips from 'If You're Captured By A Dragon') told him that that was his rescuer. Corin leaned out the window and waved a violet scarf the just happened to be lying on the bed. "Help me, fair knight, help me!" he cried. With a last wave of the scarf, he drew back to watch the fight.
Kate stopped her horse as she approached the dozing dragon. "Release the prisoner or fight me, you vermin!" she yelled, waving her sword. The dragon opened one eye, nodded sleepily, and trundled off to get ready for the fight.
While she was waiting, Kate looked up and waved to Corin. 'Don't worry, I'll save you!" she called. Corin nodded, smiling gratefully, as a dragon's prisoner should.
A minute later the dragon came out, ready to fight. He opened his wings, opened his mouth, and…nothing came out.
Kate looked annoyed. Cupping her hands to her mouth, she yelled, "Try again! Narrow your nostrils and open your mouth wider!" The dragon grinned sheepishly and opened his mouth wide. Kate rolled her eyes. "Dragons these days," she complained to her horse. "They never get things right." Then she shifted her attention back to the dragon. "Get it right this time!" she shouted.
It nodded, and the fight started. The dragon opened his wings and blew hard at Kate. She wheeled her horse around, dodging the fire. The dragon reared up, and came down with a thud, roaring. He slashed at Kate, making sure he missed her, and she brought her sword swishing down to the dragon's neck. She, too, made sure she did not harm her opponent. "Surrender, you vile worm!" she yelled in the dragon's ear.
The dragon winced, and wiggled a claw in his ear. "Mercy," he croaked.
"Good," said Kate, nodding. "Now you stay here while I release the prisoner." Raising her sword, she knocked on the door of the tower. "You can come out now!" she called.
Corin ran down the steps daintily, flung open the door, and fell into Kate's arms.
"Oh, thank you, fair knight!" he gasped, and then fainted again, more gracefully than before. Kate raised her eyebrows, but did not comment.
"Mr. Dragon, sir," she said, addressing the dragon, who was watching everything with amusement. "I require you to go to King Arthur's court, and tell him that you have been defeated by Kate of Stonewall, daughter of Sir Peter. Sorry," she added in a whisper.
The dragon nodded at her kindly. "Not at all, I understand. Nice meeting you," he said sociably. He nodded at Corin, who had revived. "Nice meeting you, too," he added as he flew off.
Kate smiled at Corin, who fell in love with her at once. "Come on," she told him. "We've got to get to King Arthur's court. To be knighted, you know. At least, I want to be knighted." She placed Corin on the back of her saddle, and they were off.