Hello there, Story Club members.

I'm Ivy, your ghostly host with the most and keeper of the strangest,

spookiest tales on earth.

Today is another Ivy's chilling tale.

This scaly tale story club members might make you stay out of dragon caves.

It's one I call Dragon's Eye.

Malcolm entered the mouth of the Dragon's Cave. He gripped his steel sword tighter and held his shield,

which was so shiny he could see his own reflection,

closer toward his chainmail armored body.

As he slid into the murky gloom of the cavern and lit a torch to light his way to the

treasure, he wondered why he was doing this.

It was all a stupid dare after all.

The other boys in his village, the same age as him, 12, were all considered men.

They were all leaving town to become knights to seek their fortunes, searching for glory.

Malcolm wasn't so bold.

He didn't long for what the other boys longed for.

He wanted to stay in the village and attend to his sick mother.

Was that so bad? You'll make a squire at best, Malcolm. The other village boys would laugh. Or maybe a stable boy.

Our stable boy when we're knights. You will feed and water our horses after we return from grand adventures and exotic lands.

Malcolm refused to believe their bullying.

I'll be more than that, much more, he would tell the boys.

Prove it, they said.

...