Ah.
'…we, that is, all of us, we've been . . . odd, really, you feel so different, don't you, after summoning the dragon, sort of…'
'Cleaned out,' said Brother Plasterer helpfully.
'Yes, like it's sort of…' Brother Watchtower struggled with the serpents of self- expression,'..taking something out of you ...'
'Sucked dry,' said Brother Plasterer.
'Yes, like he said, and we ... well, it's maybe it's a bit risky ...'
'Like stuff's been dragged from your actual living brain by eldritch creatures from the Beyond,' said Brother Plasterer.
'I'd have said more like a bit of a sick headache, myself,' said Brother Watchtower helplessly. 'And we was wondering, you know, about all this stuff about cosmic balance and that, because, well, look what happened to poor old Dunnykin. Could be a bit of a judgement. Er.'
'It was just a maddened crocodile hidden in a flower bed,' said the Supreme Grand Master. 'It could have happened to anyone. I understand your feelings, however.'
'You do?' said Brother Watchtower.
'Oh, yes. They're only natural. All the greatest wizards feel a little ill-at-ease before undertaking a great work such as this.' The Brethren preened themselves. Great wizards. That's us. Yeah. 'But in a few hours it'll be over, and I am sure that the king will reward you handsomely. The future will be glorious.'
This normally did the trick. It didn't appear to be working this time.
'But the dragon…' Brother Watchtower began.
'There won't be any dragon! We won't need it. Look,' said the Supreme Grand Master, 'it's quite simple. The lad will have a marvellous sword. Everyone knows kings have marvellous swords-'
'This'd be the marvellous sword you've been telling us about, would it?' said Brother Plasterer.
'And when it touches the dragon,' said the Supreme Grand Master, 'it'll be . . . foom!'
'Yeah, they do that,' said Brother Doorkeeper. 'My uncle kicked a swamp dragon once. He found it eating his pumpkins. Damn thing nearly took his leg off.'
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