Drake didn't see the king's soldier coming. He was busy digging in the onion patch. He pulled out a fat, white onion. A worm crawled on it. Drake didn't mind the worm. He was the son of a farmer. His family had been growing onions in the kingdom of Bracken forever. He would spend his life digging up onions, whether he wanted to or not.
Drake picked up the worm.
"Hello, little guy," he said. Then he put the worm back in the dirt.
"Are you Drake?" a loud voice asked behind him.
Drake jumped and turned around. One of the king's soldiers rode up on a black horse. He had a yellow beard. His shirt had a gold dragon sewn on it - the symbol of King Roland the Bold.
"Yes, I'm Drake," Drake said, his voice shaking. Soldiers never came to the fields. Not unless a farmer was in trouble.
The soldier rode up to Drake. He reached down and pulled him up onto his horse.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Drake yelled. The soldier didn't answer.
Drake's mother ran out of their hut.
"Wait! Where are you taking my boy?" she yelled.
"To King Roland," the soldier said.
Drake's heart jumped a little. He had always wanted to meet the king.
"But he's only eight!" his mother yelled. She marched up to the horse.
"The king has chosen him," the soldier said.
Chosen me for what? Drake wondered. He knew better than to ask the soldier questions. Peasants like Drake weren't allowed to speak unless spoken to.
"The king will take good care of him," the soldier said. Then he spurred on the horse, and sped off.
"Drake, do as the king says!" his mother called out.
Drake had never been on a horse before. He held on tight.
Drake's heart pumped fast as they raced through the village. They raced over the stone bridge. Finally, they stopped in front of King Roland's castle.
The soldier helped Drake climb down from the horse. He opened the castle door and gave Drake a shove. They passed paintings and statues and people in fancy clothes. The soldier stomped behind Drake as they walked through the halls. Drake wanted to look at everything, but the soldier gave him a push whenever he slowed down.
Then they came to some stairs. They walked down... down... down. The soldier stopped at a door.
“Where are we going？" Drake finally asked.
"We are not going anywhere," the soldier said. "Good luck." Then he ran back up the stairs.
"Hey! What do you mean?" Drake yelled. But he was all alone.
Drake looked at the big, stone door. He felt afraid. But more than that, he was curious. He pushed it open and saw ... the face of a giant, red dragon!
Drake blinked. He didn't believe his eyes. Then-whoosh! - the dragon shot a huge fireball from his mouth!