TWO YARDS OF DRAGON (from a story by Lyon Sprague de Camp)

EUDORIC DAMBERTSON, ESQUIRE, rode home from his courting of Lusina, daughter of the enchanter Baldonius, with a face as long as an olifant`s nose.
Eudoric`s sire, Sir Dambert, said:
"Well, how fared thy suit, boy? Ill, eh?"
"I-" began Eudoric.
"I told you `twas an asinine notion, eh? Was I not right? When Baron Emmerhard has more daughters than he can count, any one of which would fetch a pretty parcel of land with her, eh? Well, why answerest not?"
"I-" said Eudoric.
"Come on, lad, speak up!"
"How can he, when ye talk all the time?" said Eudoric`s mother, the Lady Aniset.
"Oh," said Sir Dambert. "Your pardon, son. Moreover and furthermore, as I`ve told you, an ye were Emmerhard`s son-in-law, he`d use his influence to get you your spurs. Here ye be, a strapping youth of three-and-twenty, not yet knighted. `Tis a disgrace to our lineage."
"There are no wars toward, to afford opportunity for deeds of knightly dought," said Eudoric.
"Aye, `tis true. Certes, we all hail the blessings of peace, which the wise governance of our sovran emperor hath given us for lo these thirteen years. Howsomever, to perform a knightly deed, our young men must needs waylay banditti, disperse rioters, and do suchlike fribbling feats."
As Sir Dambert paused, Eudoric interjected, "Sir, that problem now seems on its way to solution."
"How meanest thou?"
"If you`ll but hear me, Father! Doctor Baldonius has set me a task, ere he`ll bestow Lusina on me, which should fit me for knighthood in any jurisdiction."
"And that is?"
"He`s fain to have two square yards of dragon hide. Says he needs `em for his magical mummeries."
"But there have been no dragons in these parts for a century or more!"
"True; but, quoth Baldonius, the monstrous reptiles still abound far to eastward, in the lands of Pathenia and Pantorozia. Forsooth, he`s given me a letter of introduction to his colleague, Doctor Raspiudus, in Pathenia."
"What?" cried the Lady Aniset. "Thou, to set forth on some yearlong journey to parts unknown, where, `tis said, men hop on a single leg or have faces in their bellies? I`ll not have it! Besides, Baldonius may be privy wizard to Baron Emmerhard, but `tis not to be denied that he is of no gentle blood."
"Well," said Eudoric, "so who was gentle when the Divine Pair created the world?"
"Our forebears were, I`m sure, whate`er were the case with those of the learned Doctor Baldonius. You young people are always full of idealistic notions. Belike thou`lt fall into heretical delusions, for I hear that the Easterlings have not the true religion. They falsely believe that God is one, instead of two as we truly understand."
"Let`s not wander into the mazes of theology," said Sir Dambert, his chin in his fist. "To be sure, the paynim Southrons believe that God is three, an even more pernicious notion than that of the Easterlings."
"An I meet God in my travels, I`ll ask him the truth o`t," said Eudoric.
"Be not sacrilegious, thou impertinent whelp! Still and all and notwithstanding, Doctor Baldonius were a man of influence to have in the family, be his origin never so humble. Methinks I could prevail upon him to utter spells to cause my crops, my neat, and my villeins to thrive, whilst casting poxes and murrains on my enemies. Like that caitiff Rainmar, eh? What of the bad seasons we`ve had? The God and Goddess know we need all the supernatural help we can get to keep us from penury. Else we may some fine day awaken to find that we`ve lost the holding to some greasy tradesman with a purchased title, with pen for lance and tally sheet for shield."
"Then I have your leave, sire?" cried Eudoric, a broad grin splitting his square, bronzed young face.