Page 43 of Crown of Ashes and Awe

"No one rides it, sir. We found it here when my maid servant was injured by a moon stalker, and we sought shelter so we could nurse her wounds. Since the beast has done nothing to harm us, we gave it the same courtesy. But it was alone. Besides, it is not a blue dragon, as you can see. It is a green and blue DeNoy dragon, which isn't at all what Moire described in the prophecy.

“And speaking of the prophetess, why don’t you present this dragon to her as a gift? You must have heard how she covets the DeNoy for their pretty beasts. And since this one seems to have lost its rider, she can have her own…her own living, breathing dragon…a beast she can ride to the stars and back.”

The commander wasn’t buying it. “And if the king prefers all blue dragons dead?”

“Then gift it to him. Let him be the one to kill it. King Aristaeus, Dragonslayer.” I let the sound of it sink in. “Personally, I know he’d be pleased...”

The man nodded. “I shall consider it.” He snapped his fingers and a soldier came forward. “Summon a skylith to find the nearest Guardian. The more dragons the better.”

All around the cavern, the tension eased and weapons lowered, albeit slightly. I gestured to the men holding the ropes around Sweetie’s horns and made an impatient noise. “He’s a man, you fools. Remove your ropes and perhaps he will forget your insults.”

The commander ordered that the women to be left alone. The man who’d held a blade to Lennon’s throat moved to his leader's side and spoke quietly. "Too many to take back with us. If we execute the men?—"

"You're welcome to try," Griffon said, smirking as he slowly unfolded his arms.

To avoid more fighting, I continued my bluster. "I require two dragons for myself and my party. We have been walking since last night, so we will rest while we wait for them. I want my men released this instant. They have done nothing wrong."

The leader wasn’t happy to do it, but he waved a hand toward the men on the floor. "Their ties will be severed, but they will remain where they are for the moment." Then he nodded toward Griffon. "And what about this beast?"

I lifted an imperious brow. "Careful, sir. My protector—assigned by the king, by the way—will do as he pleases. But I suggest you treat him with civility. Those wings can sever a head faster than the eye can follow. Though, considering that a truly blue dragon has been sighted, you may consider that a blessing.”

If a fight broke out again, I worried all our advantages were outweighed by our enemy’s numbers, which were at least double ours. And in such proximity, the chance of my friends being injured or killed was too great to risk. The best option was for me to keep blustering all the way to Ristat—or at least long enough for Tearloch and Morrow--wherever they were--to find a way to save us.

20

ONE BY ONE BY ONE

As the minutes passed, the cavern grew increasingly warm with the combination of fire, living bodies, and the tension that rose and ebbed each time someone shifted their weight. Guards came and went through the opening, but there was no mention of trouble outside.

I was upset by the thought of Tearloch and Morrow being left behind if the king’s guards did as I suggested and took us all to Ristat. But what could I do?

Lennon left Minkin’s side to offer me water, which she did with a bow. “Princess,” she said, “you must drink.” Then, quietly, “You seem to have them on their heels. But what will we do when two large dragons arrive to take us away?”

“We can’t fight in here. But I assume, if we can get outside, Kivi can fight with fire? I hate to waste innocent lives. They’re only following orders.”

“True. But I cannot let them kill my dragon.”

“Let’s hope Tearloch and Morrow have a plan.”

“And if they don’t?”

“Then they may have to find their own rides to Ristat.”

I took a drink and handed the skin back to her. “Tell everyone to play along. No rebelling. No bloodshed.” Then asked her, loudly, to make sure our people had a drink.

Lennon curtsied again. “I can’t help but wonder what will happen to you, my lady, when we reach the palace…and these men learn you are no princess.”

“I don’t know what you mean,” I said, then winked.

* * *

Standinginside an alcove on the opposite end of the cavern, Tearloch listened to it all and chuckled to himself. Asper had managed to surprise him yet again. Princess Negotiator had managed to subdue her attacker with mere words, and in doing so, she’d arranged for yet another dragon to take her to the palace at Ristat.

He’d heard her scream, came running, then thought he was so clever to stay back and wait for a chance to save her—to save them all. But it seemed, yet again, that she’d done fine without him.

He was going to call her Phoenix—a name for a legendary, magical bird that always managed to rise from the ashes. But why, for once, couldn’t she need help rising? And why, in the name of the Fates, did he need her to need him?

If he could be helpful, however, he had to act quickly, before that skylith returned with help.

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