3 Penalties

CHAPTER 3

Penalties "I'd better go," said Clara. "Okay," Lucas said. "I'll see you later." Clara hurried out the kitchen door and down the steps. Lucas turned to Ruskin. "Get ready for another lecture," said Lucas.

Ruskin whimpered. The prince stroked his dragon's swept-back horns. The two of them had gotten into a lot of trouble lately, especially Ruskin. Ruskin had developed a fire-breathing problem. He breathed fire like most children like to blow bubbles. Poor Ruskin. He hadn't meant to cause any harm, but the damage had begun to add up.

Ruskin had scorched the castle walls inside and out. He had torched Queen Tasha's favorite tapestry of the royal family crest. He had charbroiled the royal swing set—not to mention the royal teeter-totter and tree fort. Not only that, Ruskin had set the royal apple orchard on fire. The king had lost four of his prized apple trees.

And now Ruskin had melted almost all the ice in the larder. Lucas heard footsteps in the hallway. Stefan, one of the king's men, entered the kitchen.

"Prince Lucas, the king will see you in the library," he said. Normally, Stefan didn't address Lucas in such a formal way. This is not a good sign, thought Lucas. "Come on, Ruskin," he said to his dragon. "Let's go." "Not so fast," said Stefan. "Ruskin must go straight to his lair." Then Stefan tied a rope around Ruskin's neck and led him away. Ruskin squawked and whined.