Digory The Dragon Slayer

fixed that. By teatime he was hungry and tired but very pleased with his work. The last deed on the King’s list was to put a new handle on the muffin man’s bell, for which Digory was given a basket of muffins and currant buns to take on his way. But Digory could not leave without performing two more knightly duties. He found King Widget licking his fingers in the kitchen garden beneath a weatherbeaten sign saying Tigs’.

JUST ONE LAST THING...

    ‘Well done, Sir Knight,’ said the King gratefully when he heard that all the good deeds had been done. ‘Now what may I do for you in return?’
    ‘I don’t need anything, Sire, except some hay for my horse,’ replied Digory. ‘But first I must ask if you have any damsels in distress here that need to be saved?’ Digory crossed his fingers behind his back, hoping all the damsels in the land were happily having tea at that moment.
    But the King nodded. ‘Oh, yes, we’ve got hundreds of them here.’
    Digory couldn’t believe his ears.
    ‘They were all going to make jam, you see,’ the King continued. ‘But wait a minute...’ He stopped and looked at Digory suspiciously. ‘Your memory must be as bad as mine. The damsons were in distress until you chopped that tree down in the orchard. Don’t you see, you’ve already saved them, my friend!’ And he offered Digory a fig.
    Digory breathed a sigh of relief. He had been horrified at the idea of saving a hundred damsels in distress with jam! He decided not to mention damsels again, but there was still the little matter of marrying a princess.
    Digory had seen no sign at all of a princess in the castle of King Widget. No combs in the well, no lost silk slippers in the orchard. So he was certain he would soon be safely on his way with the basket of muffins.
    ‘I don’t suppose you have any daughters, Your Majesty?’ he said quietly from behind his fig, hoping the King wouldn’t even hear.
    ‘Oh dear, I thought you might ask that,’ sighed the King. ‘Yes, I have just one daughter. Her name is Enid.’
    Digory’s heart sank into his tin boots and his tummy rumbled loudly in protest.
    The King unpeeled another fig thoughtfully and beckoned Digory close.
    ‘I know you knights are always looking for a princess to marry but I’m afraid Enid is not the usual sort of princess,’ he explained in a low voice. ‘To be honest she’s quiet and plain and unusual , Sir Digory,’ he said. ‘She won’t sit in a tower all day combing her long, golden, um...’
    ‘Hair?’ suggested Digory.
    ‘Ah, yes, hair!’ the King smiled gratefully. ‘She won’t comb her long, golden hair all day like the other girls. The truth is, she doesn’t even have long, golden hair. It’s sort of mud brown and sticks up like... er...’ ‘Crested waves?’ Digory offered. ‘Angel’s curls?’
    The King made a snouty sort of face and wiggled his fingers about on top of his head.
    ‘Sticks up, Diggers, sticks up like a... a hodgepig, you see! And, I must tell you, she won’t stay in a tower either. She prefers to climb those twiggy things with leaves and play the crumhorn all day. In fact, she would

    much rather talk to badgers and squirrels than any bold, brave knight.’
    The King blushed uncomfortably. ‘Nevertheless we love her, you hear. For all we know, she may just be ahead of fashion with her hairstyle.’ He set his crown straight. ‘It was proper knightly of you to ask, Sir Digory. I know that’s what you chaps are supposed to do. But I don’t expect she’s the sort of princess you’re looking for.’
    The King took Digory’s arm and began to walk him back through the garden into the yard where Barley was tethered.
    ‘Maybe I could do you a good deal on a... you know, clip-clop-nosebag-whatsit,’ he said hopefully.
    ‘That sounds wonderful to me,’ said Digory. ‘Good, good,’ the King beamed. ‘What do you like? A great, gallumphing galloper or a pretty, piebald prancer?’
    ‘No, no!’ Digory jumped up and down. ‘The princess sounds wonderful to me...’ King Widget was so astonished to hear this that he stepped backwards and fell into the horse trough!

PRINCESS ENID

    As the stable boys pulled dripping King Widget on to his feet Digory explained.
    All the other princesses are so beautiful and grand, Your Highness, I never know what to say to them. You see, I’m a blacksmith’s son. I’ve never really wanted to meet a princess at all.’
    ‘Quite sensible, old chap,’ nodded the King,