Miguelwulf
On Friday morning last I received His Majesty's commission to rescue his youngest daughter, Princess Helen, from the grasp of Grandevil, a fierce flame-breathing monster, half man and half dragon. His majesty had also announced that whoever saved the princess back safely would marry the princess and, furthermore, would be proclaimed king immediately.
Without any hesitation, I set forth for Hisrot, the castle of Grandevil, at once. The building Hisrot lay behind a far, high hill, and over the hill shone a new star. Hurrying on my way, I ran across several shepherds. “Come !” cried the oldest of the shepherds, and all the shepherds looked at him with wonder and then together said, “It is true. It was an angel. The savior has come.” The oldest shepherd was very big, with a long gray beard hanging from his chin. He moved around very slowly as if every move he made was carefully thought about before he made it. I was offered food and wine by them. After a supper of black bread and boiled potatoes, herring cheese and hot tea, I started on my journey forthwith.
The wind was warm to blow. The star brightly began to show. The moon rose vivid and yellow. I took off my coat of mail and kept my fiery foil. The evil devil was not aware of my nearness. I silently slipped into the castle. It was dark in the castle. Stepping silently into the hall, I saw the moonlight streaming through the window. Right in the middle was a beautiful girl whose hands were tied behind her back with a massive lasso. Standing by the princess was a heavyset figure with human body and dragon head, Grandevil. From the huge pillar where I hid myself I saw a six-foot-long mirror. The reflection in the mirror stared back at Grandevil himself, tongue lolling like a panting beast. Red-rimmed eyes glared at him with insane hatred, ears, nose and chin elongated and pointed in a grotesque parody of the sharp features of human beings. No less disturbing was the long blade in his hand, covered to the hilt and dripping with blood.
