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I have ridden for days, only stopping to rest my steed. At long last, I stand beneath the ruined castle where my prince has been taken. Through raging storm and tumultuous flood, overcoming wolves and bandits alike, no obstacle could stop me. I scale the castle walls of this ancient ruin, making slow progress up toward precarious heights.
When I at last reach the courtyard, I can see the flash of verdant emerald as the great wyrm unfurls herself. I don my enchanted shield and draw the dragon slayer’s spear. I offer a silent prayer to whatever saints and gods may heed me that the magics upon my shield will hold long enough for me to strike her true.
As she unfurls, I see my prince sitting on the flagstones of the courtyard near where her head was tucked. The light glitters off the dark curls of his hair and his fair face seems to shine as sunlight kisses his pale cheek. He yet lives, unharmed for the moment. I will see to it that he stays that way even if it costs my life.
“Darem?” My prince speaks my name as though he is surprised to see me, as if I could leave him here at this ancient abomination’s mercy. The dragon freezes in place when my prince speaks, then slowly, arduously turns her head towards him. “Rexy, this is my knight-protector, Sir Darem of Khionia.”
“Ocam, he hasss a dragon ssslaying weapon.” The monster hisses out the words at my prince. She keeps her eyes locked on him as he stands and strides over to me, perfectly calm and confident. He is thin, but no moreso than usual. He shows no signs of mistreatment, beyond that his doublet looks torn and his trews are more ragged than befits his station.
“Don’t worry about it, Rexy. Darem, everything’s fine. You can put those away.” He gives me a broad grin and clasps a hand upon my pauldron. I lower my weapon and secure my shield at his order. I drop to one knee and bow my head.
“My liege, please. You must get to safety. I will hold off the beast.” Even as I say it, his hands are upon the strap that secures my helmet, undoing it and removing my helm. He casts it aside, letting it clatter onto the stone at his feet. He moves his hand to cup my cheek, a tender gesture he would never offer in front of anyone he did not trust. I look up at him from where I kneel, and his smile warms me. His gentle eyes cause my heart to race.
“I am safe, Darem. It’s fine. Aurexelius and I have been having a very fruitful discussion about a means for her to secure the gold she needs. Sheathe your weapon, my good knight. All is well.”
“Aurexelius the Anhilator. And you.” My mind reels even as peels of his laughter ring in the air.
“Rexy didn’t give herself that title. Just trust me.” I bow my head again, shamed for my lack of faith in him. He is my prince. He can do anything so long as I keep him safe. Yet it seems he does not need that of me, even against a dragon. I sheathe my spear.
“My liege, I ap-“
“Hush, my good knight. It gladdens my heart to have you at my side once more.” I feel a heat run across my neck. “You’ve no need to kneel before me here, Darem. Stand and greet me properly.”
I rise and when I do, he presses his mouth to mine, twining his arms around my armored form. I kiss him with all the passion I’ve restrained, all the fear and desperation I’ve carried since his abduction. The relief of holding him in my arms once more fills my heart to bursting, and my tears flow freely down my face.
“I thought I had lost you, my prince.” I whisper my confession against his lips when we part, the burning shame of it causing more tears to spill down my face.
“I would never allow such a thing to pass. You are mine, come what may.” His voice is firm and reassuring, the authority of a royal speaking his whim to the world and making it truth. He wipes my face clean with his sleeve. “Good. Now, Rexy and I still have some negotiations to finish, and then you can take me home.”
The dragon extends her neck towards me, and I cannot help but gaze at her sword-like fangs when she opens her maw to speak.
“Your printssse claims he izzz not even heir to hizzz kingdom, little slayer. Doezzz he lie?” She eyes me, the sulfurous yellow of her gaze burning into me. There is a compulsion in her gaze, a power that would force me to speak truth even if I intended to deceive her.
“Never. His sister is the heir. Their kingdom favors a queen over a king whenever possible.”
“Good. Your little knight verifiezzz your claimsss, Ocam. I trussst we can bargain in good faith.”
“Lovely. Let’s continue.” He smiles broadly at her, turning from me. I retrieve my helm from the flagstones and move to stand just behind him, once more in my proper place. He sits back down on the stone courtyard, and they resume their negotiations. Ocam has proposed that rather than ransoming royalty to gain the treasure she craves, this dragon could ask for a more reasonable regular tithe if she served as a guardian for a group of allied nations. While it’s a less lucrative approach, it would mean that she would have her gold while being less frequently hunted.
They begin to write out a contract, and I can’t help but stare as the dragon uses her massive talon as if it were a little delicate quill. Her movements are precise and perfectly measured as she writes. It seems that she keeps ink and vellum on hand, which feels a strange choice for a monstrosity. I do not question it, do not dare to question her for fear that I will give offense. Should she change her mind, I do not know if I could protect my prince long enough for him to escape her, but at this range, I doubt she would hesitate to behead me before I could ready my shield.
They make a duplicate of the contract, one for her to keep, and one for us to take. When the ink has dried, my prince hands the document to me for safekeeping. When she gives us leave to depart, Ocam takes a moment to scratch at the soft scales under her massive jaw. I have a moment of terror that she will simply devour him. She does not.
We make our way out of the ruin with care. The descent is easier than the climb for there is a hidden path that I did not find on the exterior of this ancient castle. My dear warhorse waits where I left her, still grazing. My prince seems momentarily surprised when I insist he ride, knowing full well that I never let others ride my steed. He forgets who he is to me at times, forgets the depths of my devotion. I lead my mare out from under the dragon’s gaze and towards home.