Стража! Стража!

           "Whatd’youmean,it’snotgoingtowork?"saidVimes."Lookathimgo!Ithasn’thithimyet!"

           "Yes,buthisflamehastoucheditseveraltimes.Itdoesn’tseemtohaveanyeffect.It’snothotenough,Ithink.Oh,he’sdodgingwell.Buthe’sgottobeluckyeverytime.Ithasonlygottobeluckyonce."

           Themeaningofthissankin.

           "Youmean,"saidVimes,"allthisisjust-justshow?He’sjustdoingittoimpress?"

           "’S’nothisfault,"saidColon,materialisingbehindthem."It’slikedogs,innit?Doesn’treallydawnonthepoorlittlebuggerthathe’supagainstabigone.He’sjustreadyforascrap."

           Bothdragonsappearedtorealisethatthefightwasthewell-knownKlatchianstandoff.Withanothersmokeringandabillowofwhiteflametheypartedandretreatedafewhundredyards.

           Thekinghovered,flappingitswingsquickly.Height.Thatwasthething.Whendragonfoughtdragon,heightwasalwaysthething...

           Errolbalancedonhisflame.Heseemedtobethinking.

           Thenhenonchalantlykickedhisbacklegsoutasthoughhoveringonyourownstomachgaseswassomethingdragonshadmasteredovermillionsofyears,somersaulted,andfled.Foramomenthewasvisibleasasilverstreak,andthenhewasoutoverthecitywallsandgone.

           Agroanfollowedhim.Itcamefromtenthousandthroats.

           Vimesthrewuphishands.

           "Don’tyouworry,guv,"saidNobbyquickly."He’s-he’sprobablygoneto,tohaveadrink.Orsomething.Maybeit’stheendofroundone.Orsomething."