For seven years the dragons burned the villages and grain. The king assembled valiant knights to end their fiery reign. They saved the farms, they slew the beasts, they earned each royal cheer. And swore they'd put their swords away when skies were free of fear. Slay the dragon! Quench the flame! Guard the realm in honor's name! Until the last great beast is gone, Our noble Order marches on! A young knight rode into the hall: "One dragon left!" he cried. The captains cheered; the treasurer turned pale and nearly died. "No dragons means no royal grants! No castles, land, or pay!" The Master then set down his cup: "Then one must get away." Watch the dragon! Flee the flame! The Order needs a foe to blame! For if all children sleep at night, Who pays our knights to stand and fight? A barn burned down one stormy night. "A dragon!" cried the men. "But lightning struck the roof," they said. "A cunning dragon, then!" A wizard made a ward of light that turned the beasts away. The Order cried, "It needs more tests!" and filed it all away. That night his workshop burned to dust, his notes and crystals gone. The Order blamed the dragon's wrath and raised the tax at dawn. Long live the dragon! Feed the flame! The Order needs a foe to name! They swore to end the people's fright— Then feared the day they slept at night! One midnight by the eastern keep, the young knight heard a roar. He watched the elders loose the beast and open wide the door. "You swore to end this!" cried the lad. "Indeed," the Master said. "But who will pay to guard their homes if every dragon's dead?" The dragon tore toward sleeping farms; the young knight drew his blade. "Stand down!" the elders roared at him. He charged on, unafraid. At dawn the beast lay dead at last. The townsfolk cheered the deed. The master fell upon his face: "You've killed the thing we need!" The Jester watched the mournful knights, their banners drooping red. "Beware the man whose daily bread depends on what you dread. You formed to end the dragon's reign, and nobly fought it through— Until the day you needed it as the dragon needed you."
