Page 65 of Lady Dragon
And perhaps as unforgiving as the red dragon, as well, andunforgivablein her case.
If, upon if, upon if…IfKirek had escaped.IfKirek had bothered to come looking for her.IfKirek could find her.IfKirek knew of another magical spring of water tucked somewhere nearby in this desert.
None of it was looking very likely.
Samansa shifted out of the sun as best she could, the sharp rocks gouging her feet through her thin, ragged slippers. She dearly missed the broken-up rocks of her castle garden.
“I am Princess Samansa, Daughter Heir of Andrath,” she muttered as she went, her dry throat rasping. “I am not a dragon three hundred years dead, no matter what thoughts come into my head.” She sounded as mad as she felt. “I will not succumb to some ancient dragon spirit… though I may just die of thirst.” She sat down hard on the smoothest surface she could find in the limited shade. “Wouldn’t that be ignominious.”
Or I can help ease your pain.
Samansa leaped up at the silent voice, faint and indistinct from this distance, scanning the horizon. She saw the far shape of dark wings against the cruel sky.
Maybe she wouldn’t die yet. Maybe Kirek—
She shouted Kirek’s name aloud and even waved her arms, jumping up and down and cursing when the harsh rocks stabbed at her feet and almost toppled her. Still, it would all be worth it if…
As the wings drew closer, she realized they weren’t Kirek’s. They were misshapen. Ragged. So was the dragon herself, the princess saw, as she circled ever nearer like a shark in water—ironically enough in this waterless place. Scales were missing from much of her hide, which sagged like old leather from her protruding bones. Samansa couldn’t even tell what color the dragon had once been.
The princess pressed her back up against the rocks as the dragon landed in the sand in front of her, kicking up dust. Thedecrepit creature staggered with the effort, but she still looked dangerous enough.
“Hello,” Samansa breathed with as much dignity as she could muster.
The dragon’s head wavered, as if she was having a hard time holding it upright or focusing on Samansa. Her undoubtedly once-bright eyes were clouded over.Hello… Princess, was it?
“You’re not surprised I can understand you?” Samansa asked, edging her way along the rock, toward a deeper crevice. If only she could push her way into the stone to hide.
I talk to many things. The rocks have voices. The sand whispers in my ears. I’ve even come across humans before. Lone wanderers like me, willing to treat with me. One even fixed my wings for me. He pitied me, and for that, I ate him.
Fear froze Samansa in place. She could see the dragon’s wings up close now. They had once been torn apart and apparently healed that way, but now the membrane was stitched together with ratty strips of leather. They were uneven, but apparently serviceable enough.
Human hands are so clever, the dragon finished.
“Perhaps I can help you with something, then, before I go on my way?”I have hands, Samansa nearly added, but figured that might be obvious. As obvious as the fact she had nowhere to go.
The dragon’s head stopped swerving, her neck pointing straight at Samansa as if she’d finally located her.Yes, she said,you can help me. I’m starving.
Samansa decidedly didnotfit into the crevice. Her curves wouldn’t let her slip into the jagged stone groove. She’d cursed them before, but this wasn’t a ball gown she was trying to cramherself into, and she rather preferred her body fully intact, even if that meant she looked as appealing as a cream puff to the dragon.
Faced with death, the princess discovered she didn’t particularly fancy it.
“I unfortunately have no food,” she said.
The dragon stepped unsteadily forward.I think you do.
“Humans actually taste awful, from what I hear,” Samansa said, panic making her voice shriller than she would have liked. She knew the dragon wouldn’t be terribly picky, if starving, but only wanted to distract her as she kept shuffling along the rock face. “What is your name?”
Her mother had always taught her to try to relate if she was ever taken captive and held for ransom. Keep them talking. Make them see you as human.
Except this time, being seen as human might not be ideal.
The dragon blinked cloudy eyes.You know, I don’t remember.
“Well, I, for one, am bonded to Kirek, favored heir of the Queen Mother!” Samansa declared in the haughtiest dragon-voice she could muster, searching for anything that might help her and hoping news didn’t travel fast out here. She’d flown from High Nest just after the Queen Mother had been killed. Word of the queen’s death and her heir’s… disinheritance?… should especially not have reached a dragon that looked like an outcast from her own kind, if not a complete relic.
Which was also perhaps why her declaration seemed to have little effect. Whatever invisible walls such titles might have raised between her and a dragon before were as good as a mirage in this place.
Dragons can bond with humans? How strange, the dragonmused. It didn’t seem like she disbelieved Samansa—quite the contrary.Perhaps it will make your bitter human flesh taste better. I don’t know this Kirek, but the Queen Mother banished me here, had my wings cut. I prefer wild game, but vengeance is sweeter. And you look to be the sweetest morsel I have seen in a long time.
