The sun already caressed the valley warmly, and the castle's blue flags waved happily. On the market, the scent of fresh bread floated, and the big bell bing-banged as usual. Mara, the little knight, wore tiny armor and a wooden sword. Pea, the sturdy, chestnut-brown pony, stepped faithfully beside her. Mara loved the sound of the bell. It was as if the morning itself smiled.

One morning, however, there was silence. The flags hung sluggishly, the bread scent seemed stuck, and the bell did not sound. The king, wearing a red cloak, looked around the square.

— Who will find the sound of the bell? — he asked.

— Me! — Mara raised her hand. — I'll start off with Pea.

Mara packed her strawberry jam sandwich, a soft blue ribbon, and a short rope into her satchel. Pea snorted, his mane like the shadow of straw stalks. The two of them started towards the green forest, where the leaves rustled, the birds chirped, and a winding path glittered in the fallen leaves.

At the stream they stopped to drink. The water tinkled: ting-tang, ting-tang. Mara listened. From the distance, something familiar sounded back: bing-bang... bing-bang...

— Do you hear that, Pea? — asked Mara. — This is the sound of our bell!

The sound led them to a bush-covered hill. In the side of the hill, the mouth of a friendly, cool cave yawned open. Inside, bathed in light, something big and golden rolled: the castle's bell. Next to it sat a young dragon. He was green, his tummy convex, and his spots shone like buttons on a coat. He gently tapped the edge of the bell with the tip of his claw, watching the echo.

— Hello, — said Mara, and she stepped closer. — Did you take the bell?

The dragon shuddered, then nodded carefully.

— I am Speckle, — he answered with a deep but trembling voice. — I just borrowed it. In here everything bongs and echoes. It is so beautiful when the sound bounces on the stones.

— It is beautiful in the castle too, — said Mara, smiling. — Everyone waits for it there. Would you like to take it back with us? And you can play there too.

Speckle's eyes rounded wide.

— I am afraid of spears and shouting, — he mumbled. Tiny puffs of smoke drifted from him, bringing the scent of strawberries.

— There will be no spears, — Mara reassured him. — Look, this blue ribbon means friendship.

She tied the soft blue ribbon on one of Speckle's horns. The dragon tasted the strawberry jam sandwich, and his spots almost seemed to tinkle with joy.

— Come, — said Mara. — I'll show the way, you lift the bell. Pea will watch, and come with us.

Speckle carefully caught the bell in his paw. He was so careful, as if he held a giant walnut. They stepped out into the sunlight. On the meadow, dandelions nodded, and grasshoppers jumped excitedly. Pea tiptoed before them, lifting his hooves as if he were drumming on the grass.

When they reached the castle, the guards were astounded. Mara lifted her hand.

— I have a friend with me! — she shouted. — He's bringing home the bell!

The king put down his spear, the baker master brought a basketful of warm rolls, and the children peeked curiously from behind the gate. Speckle knelt down, and the bell slid back to its place.

— Can we try it? — asked Speckle softly.

— Sure, — nodded Mara.

The bell sounded, lively and bright, like yellow lemon peel: bing-bang! The pigeons drew circling rings in the sky, the market smelled of fresh bread again, and the blue flags danced again.

That afternoon, in the castle's garden, Mara, Speckle, and Pea built a special little music corner. Old pots became bells, they drummed with wooden spoons, and shells tinkled on a string. Speckle happily tried out the sounds, and everyone laughed when his spots danced along with the rhythm.

— Every noon, — said the king, — Speckle may strike the bell once. Then he can play in the music nook for as long as he wants.

Mara climbed up on Pea's back, and stood next to the dragon. The sun caressed the valley, the sound of the bell filled the air. And if someone asked how they found the sound of the bell, Mara just smiled.

— We played it home together, — she answered, and Speckle's spots tinkled merrily again.