[ WP ] You 've just been informed that your liege had told you to *slay* the dragon , not *lay* the dragon . That would 've been great to know earlier .

`` Are you sure?'' 
 
 Herman looked at the parchment quizzically, the weird little contraption of glass and steel he always balanced on his nose bobbing as his head wobbled slightly. `` Yes. Here. See that? Must've been smudged a bit when the mermaid's blood hit it.'' 
 
 `` And this is n't another `` cover the city'' deal either? I still have nightmares about all that tarp.'' 
 
 `` For the hundredth time, Sir, if you'd listened to the king instead of trusting the written instructions by his advisor, you would've known to conquer it.'' He looked a little exasperated. Herman's a good soul, really. He tries his best, he really does, but age got to him. His reading skill is getting worse, despite those round glass things. But I am titled head clerk of three kingdoms, so I've got to know this stuff better than he does, right? 
 
 Except I do n't read. I'm a hero. I have Herman for all that stuff, which is part of my problem. `` You are sure this time?'' 
 
 My eyes fell on the magnificent creature snoring softly on the huge pink cushion she seemed to prefer, the hot chocolate - with marshmallows! - next to her head, my copy of `` where's my cow'' tucked under a huge front paw. A hero needs to be prepared. 
 
 `` We just got her down. She's sleeping now. Are you really sure?'' 
 
 Herman squirmed, inching away from the dragon. `` Yes, slay. Not lay. You know...'', he mused, `` I had wondered what they meant by that anyway. Lay a beast. Never heard that. You?'' 
 
 `` Herman, I've never heard dozens of words, but I do n't let that stand in the way of a mission. If I have a quest to lay a dragon, I'll damn well lay a dragon no matter what that means.'' 
 
 It had taken ages. Talking to her, reassuring her that we were n't the killers she was waiting for. Granted, given my muscular build and the sword strapped to my back that was no easy task. A hard task, fit for a hero! And then the bedtime story. The chocolate. The soft cooing, until she felt comfortable. 
 
 I looked at her exposed neck, her peaceful expression, then at Herman, who just stood there, shoulders slumped. He had been very helpful with all the affection she needed. 
 
 A thought hit my brain. It happens sometimes, even to the best of us. I took a deep draught of my hip flask to prevent another one. `` Herman... was this the same clerk as last time?'' 
 
 He squinted at the paper. `` I believe so, Sir.'' 
 
 `` His name?'' 
 
 `` Umm... I really ca n't read this. Looks a bit like... Gedon?'' 
 
 `` Show me that, you oaf.'' I grabbed the parchment and looked at approximately the same place I'd seen him squint at. `` This? Says `` Dragon''. Ca n't you read?'' 
 
 He swallowed. After all, this was the fourth time I'd read something more correctly than he'd done. `` Um. Yes Sir. Sure. His name must be Dragon.'' 
 
 I turned, grinning, and hefted my sword. `` Oh well, no job's too hard for a true hero, would n't you agree?''
