Page 2 of Dragons & Dumplings

"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Your Highnesses," the man at the front says, dipping his head in acknowledgement. "I am pleased to bring gifts on behalf of my Emperor for each of you." He signals to some attendants who bring forward four chests of shining red and gold. I have to admit that it's a spectacle, and from the murmurs amongst the courtiers, I'm not the only one who thinks so.

They set the chests down in front of each of us.

"For Princess Kathryn, His Imperial Majesty has sent perfumes and fabrics befitting an empress," he announces as his attendants open the lid of the chest and show her the contents.

I raise an eyebrow but don't say anything. Why would she need clothes that are fit for an empress if she isn't one? Unless this is the Emperor's way of asking her to marry him, but I doubt it. She's going to rule Falhaven in her own right, my parents aren't going to let her marry anyone with a kingdom of their own.

"Please give my thanks to your Emperor," Kathryn says with a slight giggle. "They are very fine."

The delegate nods and moves to the next chest, smiling at me with blank eyes. Maybe he doesn't like the fact that he's been sent to give gifts to us.

"To Princess Evelyn, the Emperor has sent a true treasure, a dragon egg from the mountains."

The chest opens, revealing a small green egg which shimmers in the light of the room. It's barely bigger than a chicken's egg, but it does look a lot more impressive, especially when it seems to be sitting on a bolt of green silk with gold embroidery. It seems I can find out for myself if it is as itchy as it looks. I hopenot. If it's nice, I can have it made into a dress, or at the very least, a robe.

The egg reflects the fire of the torch on the wall behind me, drawing attention to a multitude of questions I'm now finding myself faced with.

"What am I supposed to do with it?" I ask without thinking, remembering that I'm supposed to be representing my kingdom a moment too late. "I mean, I am truly grateful to His Imperial for the remarkable gift. I only ask because I don't wish to treat such a gift poorly."

To my surprise, the ambassador nods. "I can understand your hesitance, Your Highness. It is recommended that you keep the egg in the warmest fire you have. If you are lucky, it will hatch."

"Thank you, this gift is most kind," I say out loud. Internally, I'm trying to reconcile what he's saying with reality.

He thinks I could hatch a dragon. I'm not even entirely sure what I'd do with one if I had one. I've never really thought much about pets. Arthur is the one who is fond of animals, not me, but the idea of having a dragon is at least a little exciting.

The ambassador doesn't seem to give my reaction any other thought and moves on to Veronica, while Arthur shoots the chest with the dragon egg a funny look. Maybe he wishes that he were the one who had a chance to have a dragon and not me. He remembers himself in time to thank the ambassador for the hunting knife he's been gifted.

I reach out to touch the egg, finding it slightly warm under my fingers. It's smoother than I expect, with a few ridges that seem to resemble those I'd imagine a dragon to have. My mind drifts to the fire in my bed chamber, but that doesn't seem like the right place to try and hatch a dragon, especially when it's not the warmest place in the castle.

But I do knowexactlywhere that is.

Chapter 2

It's already late by the time the banquet finishes, and I had to change before coming down to the kitchens. Not because I'm worried about my dress, I know how to bake without ruining my clothing, but because I couldn't stand a single moment more of having the itchy collar against my neck.

The kitchens are mostly empty by the time I finally arrive, though the spit boy is in place, turning the meat that will make up the centrepiece of tomorrow night's feast. He ignores me, and I do the same as I head through to a smaller room where a familiar figure is kneading bread.

Nate looks up when he hears me enter and flashes me a smile that I know he doesn't give to many other people. Or not that I've seen, anyway. I suppose there's a chance he gives it to someone outside the castle whom I've never met.

A strange feeling grows within me even as I think it. I know I don't have any right to insist that I'm his only friend, but sometimes it feels like that's what I want.

"I didn't expect you tonight," he says. "Isn't the banquet still going?"

"You thought I'd pass up on an excuse to escape down here and not have to make small talk with people who think they're more important than they are?"

Nate chuckles. "I think theyareimportant, Evie. That's why they're the delegates for a foreign ruler."

"I suppose. I'm just glad that Kathryn is the one who has to deal with all of that, not me. I don't see the point of it all. They give us expensive gifts, and we give them back. Wouldn't it just be easier if no one gave anyone any gifts and everyone just retained their wealth?"

"I think it's seen as a show of friendship," he responds. "What did you get this time?"

"A dragon egg," I respond, taking it out of my pocket and holding it out for him to see. I don't normally bring my gifts down to the kitchen with me, mostly because they never need to come here. But this one is different.

"Huh, that's smaller than I'd expect a dragon egg to be," he admits.

I shrug. "Maybe it's for a small dragon. I don't know enough about them to know."

"What are you supposed to do with it now?" he asks.

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