"The Knight & the Dragon" is a brief narrative featured within Myths & Fables. George Mann is the author of this tale, with illustrations provided by Grant Griffin. Its publication date was August 6, 2019.
"As it had happened each previous evening, the dragon arrived as the suns descended – a massive and terrifying shape, silhouetted sharply against the sky as it turned red."
A settlement of Sand People located on Tatooine was terrorized by the immense dragon, Krayt. This dragon resided among the dunes surrounding their village.
Krayt would arrive at the village each evening, seizing their livestock and carrying it back to its lair to devour. On the fifth evening, the villagers made an attempt to scare the dragon away, but their efforts were unsuccessful. Eventually, after all the livestock were gone, the dragon chose to abduct a young boy from the village instead. The villagers then tried to conceal their children in holes dug in the sand, but the dragon was able to find them. The villagers then sent out a warrior, who was also consumed by the dragon.
In a desperate attempt to appease the dragon, the villagers resorted to kidnapping animals from a different tribe of desert dwellers. However, the dragon had developed a preference for the taste of people. Consequently, the villagers kidnapped seven humans and fed one to the dragon each evening. Once this strategy satisfied the dragon, the villagers then attacked the settlement and captured even more people.
However, this provoked the anger of an Old Knight, a formerly renowned hero who had given up his life of adventure and come to the desert planet to safeguard a treasure. The Old Knight felt compassion for the villagers, but he could not allow the sacrifices to go on. After intentionally allowing himself to be captured, The Old Knight freed the other hostages and, in doing so, became the dragon's next offering.
When the dragon appeared, the Old Knight broke free of his restraints and ignited his lightsaber to engage Krayt in combat. They fought for an hour, with neither gaining an advantage. The Old Knight grew weary, and the dragon descended, preparing to eat him. However, the Old Knight raised his hand and stopped the Dragon, using a spell to calm its mind.
As the villagers celebrated, The Old Knight assured the people that the Dragon was now under his control and would no longer consume the villagers. However, he warned that if the villagers continued their raids, he would return with the dragon and destroy the village. As a result, the villagers never again raided or took captives from the settlements, a practice that was unique among the tribes of Tatooine.