Стража! Стража!

           Helookedpersonableenough,notexactlyagreatthinker,butdefinitelythekindofprofileyouwouldn’tmindseeingonyoursmallchange.Mindyou,afterkillingthedragonhecouldhavebeenacross-eyedgoblinforallthatitmattered.ThemobhadbornehimintriumphtothePatrician’spalace.

           LordVetinarihadbeenlockedupinhisowndungeons.Hehadn’tputupmuchfight,apparently.Justsmiledateveryoneandwentquietly.

           Whatahappycoincidenceforthecitythat,justwhenitneededachampiontokillthedragon,akingcameforth.

           Vimesturnedthisthoughtoverforawhile.Thenheturneditbacktofront.Hepickedupthequillandwrote:

           Itym:Whatahappychanceitbe,foraladthatwouldbeKinge,thattherebeaDraggontosloetoprovebeyonddoubthishoneyfiddes.

           Itwasalotbetterthanbirthmarksandswords,thatwasforsure.Hetwiddledthequillforawhile,andthendoodled:

           Itym:ThedraggonwasnotaMechanicaldevise,yettesuretynowizzardhasthepowertocreateabeasteofthatmag.magg.maggnyt.Size.

           Itym:Whye,inthePinche,coulditnotFlame?

           Itym:Wherediditcomefrom?

           Itym:Wherediditgoe?

           Therainpoundedharderonthewindow.Thesoundsofcelebrationbecamedistinctlydamp,andthenfadedcompletely.Therewasamurmurofthunder.

           Vimesunderlinedgoeseveraltimes.Afterfurtherconsiderationheaddedtwomorequestionmarks:??

           Afterstaringattheeffectforsometimeherolledthepaperintoaballandthrewitintothefireplace,whereitwasfieldedandswallowedbyErrol.

           Therehadbeenacrime.