Стража! Стража!

           "Well,wehaven’tbeenforages,"saidLadyRamkin."Thekingsgotthrownout,andjollygoodjobtoo.Theycouldbequitefrightful."

           "Butyou’re,well,fromapos-fromahigh-bornfamily,"hesaid."Ishouldhavethoughtyou’dbeallforkings."

           "Someofthemwerefearfuloiks,youknow,"shesaidairily."Wivesallovertheplace,andchoppingpeople’sheadsoff,fightingpointlesswars,eatingwiththeirknife,chuckinghalf-eatenchickenlegsovertheirshoulders,thatsortofthing.Notoursortofpeopleatall."

           Theplazawentquiet.Thedragonhadflappedslowlytothefarendandwasalmoststationaryintheair,apartfromtheslowbeatingofitswings.

           Vimesfeltsomethingclawgentlyathisback,andthenErrolwasonhisshoulder,grippingwithhishindclaws.Hisstubbywingswerebeatingintimewiththoseofthebiggerspecimen.Hewashissing.Hiseyeswerefixedonthehoveringbulk.

           Theboy’shorsejiggednervouslyontheplaza’sflagstonesashedismounted,flourishedtheswordandturnedtofacethedistantenemy.

           Hecertainlylooksconfident,Vimestoldhimself.Ontheotherhand,howdoestheabilitytoslaydragonsfityouforkingshipinthisdayandage?

           Itwascertainlyaveryshinysword.Youhadtoadmitthat.

           Andnowitwastwooftheclockthefollowingmorning.Andallwaswell,apartfromtherain.Itwasdrizzlingagain.

           Therearesometownsinthemultiversewhichthinktheyknowhowtohaveagoodtime.