Page 82 of Lady Dragon
But the grinding of gears and cranking of chains cut him off as the drawbridge began to lower. Kirek spread her wings and hissed at Branon and the line of troops in case they thought to take any advantage.
As soon as the bridge was down, the gates to the keep crashed open, and out marched a small company, led by the queen in full battle royal regalia. Her narrow blue skirts were embroidered with gold and lined in chain mail, while a silver breastplate and gauntlets enclosed her chest and arms, her sapphire studded crown on her head. She even carried her sword—that masterfully forged work of art that was as beautiful as it was deadly. Atop the pommel, the large blue jewel winked in the sunlight.
Realizing she’d guessed right, Samansa gasped.
The sword was usually mounted on the wall in the throne room, rarely taken down for closer inspection. But now, right here, within reach, Samansa could see it for what it was.
The queen was also accompanied by Tordall, who looked grave, and Cenara, who looked murderous, along with Merard and a retinue of guards, but Samansa ignored them all as she ran up to her mother.
The queen’s eyes glittered with unshed tears. “Samansa, my darling. You’re alive. You’ve come home to me.”
“Yes, Mother, excuse me,” she said, evading her mother’s arms. “I can’t even describe how happy I am to see you alive and well—as well as you can be, under the circumstances, as the situation appears a bit dire—but I’m absolutely revolting and, trust me, you don’t want to get any of what’s on me on your dress, but if I could please see your sword for a moment?”
Under the barrage of words, the queen was more shocked than generous in letting Samansa snatch the sword out of her hand. Cenara and Merard raised their own blades in an instant, as if Samansa might attack the queen, but instead of committing treason and possibly matricide and regicide, the princess ran back to Kirek, the sword clutched in her grip.
“Kirek,” she gasped, lifting the hilt and letting the jeweled pommel shine. “Is this what I think it is?”
Yes, Kirek said, her own affirmation sounding nearly disbelieving.
“Lords and ladies,whatis going on?” Branon said, gesturing in arrogant disregard. “Can we get back to—?”
“Shut up,” Samansa snapped, casting around for something to free the stone. She considered smashing the sword on the ground, but she didn’t want to risk breaking the stone or to cut her hands, which would be rather messy, and she was already a complete mess. Then a simple solution occurred to her. She raised the sword, hilt-first, back up to Kirek. “Here, bite it.”
“Samansa,” the queen said in exasperation. “While I’m overjoyed to see you and I don’t wish to agree with Branon on anything, I have to ask what on earth you are doing with my sword? Which has been in our family for—”
“Three hundred years, give or take,” Samansa said. “I know.”
Are you sure?Kirek said, her eyes on the stone, but the princess knew she wasn’t referring to the sword’s age.Are you sure you want me to?
“Of course I’m sure!” Samansa shouted, practically thrusting the pommel into the dragon’s mouth.
“Is she… talking to the dragon?” Branon said, and then barked a scornful laugh. “See, shehasgone mad.”
“Silence, Branon,” the queen snapped. “For once in your miserable life.”
Samansa only hefted the blade again, pleadingly. This time, Kirek took the jewel between her large teeth with surprising gentleness. There was a quick snap, and then the queen’s sword no longer had much of a pommel.
And Kirek was no longer a dragon. At least, in this moment. Blue light flared, blinding everyone, forcing even Samansa to shield her eyes with her hand. When the light faded and she let her arm fall, there was Kirek.HerKirek.
Her dragon girl.
The sight of her standing there in the courtyard, blinking, nearly made Samansa drop the sword on her toes. In equal shock, Kirek stared back at Samansa, those wide silver eyes returned to her angular, singular human face… and she burst out laughing. Full laughter. Not a slight, wry smile or a snicker or a scoff, but free, wild laughter that pealed out like a bell. She sparkled with it, radiant.
She was so beautiful that Samansa wanted to take her into her arms right there and kiss her, but the princess remembered all too well what had happened the previous two times. First, she’d ignited a curse that turned her into a dragon, andsecond, she’d had to stab herself in the heart afterward tobreakthe curse. Not to mention the whole issue with the princess’s unsightly appearance, and the fact that they had an audience—
Logical thought cut off as Kirek swept Samansa up into her arms and spun her around with enough force to send her legs flying, the sword crushed precariously between them, before setting her back on unsteady feet, taking the hilt from her grip, and throwing the blade at the queen’s feet. And then Kirek kissed her. In front of everyone. There was no hesitation in her, not even slow deliberation. She tipped Samansa backward, cradling her in her strong arms, and kissed her until the princess couldn’t breathe.
After she pulled away, Samansa could only stare at Kirek, marveling, trying to catch her breath and yet happy to never find it, if it meant holding on to this feeling like sunlight in her chest.
Absolute silence reigned in the courtyard around them.
Until the queen cleared her throat and said in her most diplomatic voice, “It looks as though the alliance between queens and dragons still stands. Andyou, Branon, will standdown.”
Branon only folded his arms. “And you, Tordall, what do you say?”
The queen’s razor attention cut to her first-in-command, who stood before his own guards. “You’ve been arguing for peace—my peacefulsurrenderto Branon,” she said to him. “Well, now that we might have peace without my surrender, then, indeed, what do you have to say for yourself?Whydid you ever imagine I would bow?”
Tordall didn’t seem to be able to meet her eyes. “After your husband died, I looked after your son like my own. Now my sonis dead, killed by the dragon your daughter is so clearly infatuated with. I’m done with dragons, and done with your daughter as heir. Because I yet have another son,” he said, looking at Branon, “one not of my blood, but who told me the truth—that dragons killed my son. And that under his leadership, they would bother us no more.”
