by Michael Rupp

Created on: October 05, 2008   Last Updated: November 27, 2008

SARAH THE SORCERESS

Sssssssshhhhhhhwwwhhack! Sarah dove to the ground just as the arrow sizzled over her head and slammed into the tree above her. Brown bark shattered and flew. It was no accident. Then she heard boy's laughter. They were squires, young knights in training. They were practicing with their bows. At fourteen years of age, she was a little younger than they were.

"Sarah," yelled the oldest squire. "A real sorceress would turn the arrow into a butterfly. Give up Sarah. Peasant girls should be sewing and washing, not studying magic. Casto was a fool to pick a girl for his student."

Sarah jumped up and ran the last few yards into the forest, out of sight of the squires. She stopped long enough to wipe the dirt off of her face and brown hair.

"One day," said Sarah to herself, "I'll get back at them." She was angry, but she knew she couldn't fight back. Casto, the great sorcerer, had warned her that it wouldn't be easy for her when he took her on as his apprentice.

She walked into the woods. Casto had sent her to find a fresh supply of the foxglove plant. The plant was pretty, with pink and white flowers. Legend said that foxes covered their feet with the flowers when they wanted to walk silently. As pretty as the plant was, it was also a deadly poison. When eaten accidentally, the plant caused stomach sickness. It could also blur the vision and slow the heart. Casto knew how to prepare foxglove carefully, and how to give it in small amounts. When used by an expert, foxglove made a weak heart beat more strongly.

Soon Sarah saw the white flowers. The plants looked healthy. She put on her gloves, and wasted no time filling her sack. It was almost full. When she reached down to get another plant, the beast came. She felt it before she saw it. A blast of wind from above pressed down on her back. A huge dark shadow passed over the Foxglove plants. Even before Sara could turn to look, she smelled it. It smelled like smoke blown on the wind, but stronger than any smoke from a fire. She saw its wings beat, and its long pointed snake like tail swish in the wind. It was a dragon, and it was flying toward the village.

Sarah ran back through the forest, dodging trees and pushing low branches aside. She had to warn the village. At the edge of the forest, she froze. In the clearing, the dragon was sitting on the ground. It had the squires. They were pinned against the grass under the dragon's green black wings. The dragon looked back and forth at the squires, its long

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>