Posting Test

In sixth century Britain, to create the dragon that King Arthur demands, Merlin tells Arthur that the skull of a lake monster is required. From a batch of new recruits to Arthur's army Gawain selects an Irishman named Mael mac Ronan and a Dane named Starkad after Mael defeats Lancelot in a demonstration duel in front of the recruits. Arthur sends Mael to Ireland to retrieve the skull and keeps Mael's friend Starkad as hostage to ensure his return. In Ireland, Mael is escorted to a road where he meets Veleda, a pagan witch who foresaw Mael's coming. The two travel together for three days and arrive at Lough Ree where a pagan shrine has been converted to chapel manned by a priest and a large, mentally-retarded student, Fergus. During the night Mael steals the monster skull which was on display in the chapel but Fergus catches him. The ensuing fight spills out onto the lake pier that breaks apart as Fergus fights with a mace. Veleda helps Mael back to land but Fergus drowns and a lake monster drags the priest away. On their way back to Britain, Mael and Veleda are attacked on a ship but escape as Veleda summons a purple fire that burns their attackers.

With the skull Merlin creates a small dragon which he hopes to grow and teach to be obedient. Mael is re-united with Starkad and they consider whether to stay in Arthur's camp. Veleda has a vision and implores they to retrieve the spear and sword of the Saxon Biargram Ironhand. Telling Arthur that Starkad that he just heard that Biargram has come to Britian and he must go settle a feud with him, Starkad and Mael leave but keeps Veleda as insurance of their return. They are escorted to the Saxon territories where they walk to a village where desperate villager as attempting a human sacrifice. Mael and Starkad interrupt and kidnap the sacrificial girl. They flee to a house where an old woman, a witch, was expecting them. The sacrificial girl cuts Starkad legs in the night escapes. Mael continues on without Starkad and meets Biargram's son who throws Mael into Biargram's crypt. A curse was placed on Biargram, who recently died, that makes him return to life every night. Mael fights off the re-animated corpse and is saved by Starkad who interrupts grave-robbers.

Once back at Arthur's camp Mael and Starkad are placed in a squadron of reinforcements and marched northwards to the walled town of Leicester. They spend the night there, meet with a wounded Dane veteran and defeat two Herulians after they killed a family while pillaging. The next day at the battle front they are positioned against Ælla of Deira’s forces. The Saxon forces ford the Dubglas River and attack the Britons who slow the Saxon advance using archers. In the midst of battle Ælla nearly defeats a dismount and club-footed Arthur but Mael throws Biargram's spear which kills Ælla. Arthur sends Mael and Starkad immediately back to tell Merlin to release his dragon. Merlin trapped the dragon in a cave but had lost control of it. Veleda insists that dragon must be killed because it is too powerful and uncontrollable. In battle with the dragon Starkad gets a clean shot with his ax to the dragon's head and they are able to kill it. The three flee in fear of Arthur's retribution for killing his dragon