Often at shows, people will ask about the name Drakestail, and where it came from. It comes from a charming French folk tale about a clever little duck who gets the best of a greedy king. Below is that story. Enjoy!
Drakestail
Once upon a time, there was a little duck named Drakestail. He was very clever and hard-working, and in time earned himself a small fortune. The king of the land even noticed that Drakestail had quite the fortune, and asked for a loan. What an honour, thought Drakestail, and happily loaned the king some money.
Years passed, and the king still had not repaid his loan. Eventually, Drakestail decided to visit the king and ask that he repay the loan. He packed a few things in a sack and set off down the road, singing to himself, “Quack quack quack, when shall I get my money back?”
As he walked down the road to the castle, he met a ladder, leaning against an apple tree.
“Where are you going?” asked the ladder.
“Why, I’m off to see the king to ask for my money back,” replied Drakestail.
“What fun to see the king!” cried the ladder, and asked to come along for the journey.
“Why not? One can never have too many friends,” Drakestail agreed, and the ladder hopped into Drakestail’s sack and off they went.
Further down the road, Drakestail came to a mighty river. Before he could cross, the river asked him where he was going.
“Why, I’m off to see the king to ask for my money back,” said Drakestail.
The river asked, “Can I come along to see the king?”
“Why not? One can never have too many friends,” Drakestail replied, so the river jumped into Drakestail’s sack and they continued towards the castle.
A few hours later, Drakestail came across a buzzing beehive. The bees asked where he was going.
“Why, I’m off to see the king to ask for my money back,” said Drakestail.
The bees asked, “Can we come along to see the king?”
“Why not? One can never have too many friends,” Drakestail replied. The bees flew into the sack, and off they went toward the castle.
Not long after, Drakestail arrived at the castle. He walked up to the guards and said, “Quack quack quack, I’ve come to get my money back. Please take me to see the king.” The guards went into the castle and told the king that Drakestail was outside the gates, looking for his money. The king, who had no intention of repaying Drakestail, told the guards to take him to the dungeon and throw him in the pit.
The guards returned to the gate, grabbed the little duck, and threw him in the pit. He opened his sack and cried, “Help help, my friends, I’ve been thrown in a pit!” The ladder jumped out of the sack, and Drakestail climbed out of the pit. “One can never have too many friends,” he said, and went in search of the king.
Drakestail walked around the dungeon until he came across the kitchen. He said to the cook, “Quack quack quack, I’ve come to get my money back. Please take me to see the king.” The cook went to find the king, and told him about Drakestail. The king grew angry. “How did he escape the pit? Never mind. Throw him in your cooking pot and he will bother me no more.”
The cook went back to the kitchen and threw Drakestail into the cooking pot. Drakestail opened his sack and cried, “Help help, my friends! I’m in hot water!” Out flowed the river, which quenched the cooking-pot fire and flowed away. Drakestail climbed out of the pot and said, “One can never have too many friends.” He then continued his search for the king.
Eventually, Drakestail found the throne room. The king was red-faced and angry. “You escaped the pit! You escaped the pot! Never mind, I will deal with you myself.” The king drew his royal sword and swung at Drakestail.
“Help, help, my friends, I’m being attacked!” Drakestail opened his sack, and out flew the bees. They stung the king and chased him out of the castle and so far away that nobody ever saw him again.
With the old king gone, everyone in the court asked Drakestail if he would be the new king. After all, nobody wanted the kind of king that would never repay a debt. “Why not,” said Drakestail. “One can never have too many friends.”
