Page 113 of Pippa of Lauramore
“I am Pippa.”
Lionel tries to scoot away, his back on the ground, but the beast adds pressure to his clawed foot, keeping Lionel firmly in place.
The dragon turns his attention back to me. “The princess?”
I nod, not sure I can find my voice again.
“Do you love this cowardly man, Princess? Do you wish I spare his life?”
If I step back, the dragon will surely kill Lionel. If I step back, I will be free.
“Pippa, please,” Lionel begs, using my shortened name for the first time. Tears continue down his face, and his eyes are wild and desperate.
I stare at him. I hate this man. I hate everything he is,and everything he has done. How can I show him mercy? Why would I even want to?
He almost killed Galinor. He tried to have Archer murdered.
“Dragon.” I clear my throat, hoping my voice will not waver. “I do not love him, but I ask of you—I beg you—please. Please spare his life.”
“Would you trade your life instead?” The dragon tips his mouth in a reptilian smile, and his tail twitches. “Would you trade your life for the safety of your people?”
There is a riot of angry cries, but Archer’s protest is the only one I hear distinctly. It’s too much to ask. I close my eyes and tears spill down my cheeks.
I nod.
The dragon laughs, and fire comes with the guttural wheezing. “I do not want you.”
My eyes fly open, and before I can think or move or cry out, he lunges at Lionel. The prince hangs from the beast’s mouth. He’s flailing and shrieking, but he seems otherwise unharmed. The crowd parts as the dragon stalks closer to me. He drops the prince at my feet, and then once again pins him to the ground.
If I had the inclination, I could touch the dragon’s snout. I can feel his hot breath on my face, and I try not to choke on the smoke.
“I will spare his life for now, Princess, because of that lovely, noble gesture.” He’s mocking me, but I stay quiet. The dragon’s black stare drops to Lionel. “Where are you from, oath-breaking prince?”
Lionel lies still, gasping for breath. “Vernow. I am a prince of Vernow.”
“Then we will travel there, and I shall decide what to do with you in front of your own people.”
Lionel’s eyes go wide. “I don’t?—”
I stumble back as the dragon snaps his wings from his body. He crouches low on powerful, scaled legs, and then leaps into the air. Lionel is swept away with the beast, hanging from the dragon’s talons like prey in an eagle’s grasp.
In that one moment, there is perfect, horrified silence, but it is soon followed by chaos. The villagers shriek and many flee. Animals, as if sensing the danger, cry out, bleating and squawking.
I fall to my knees, quaking, trying to block out the sound of Lionel’s screams.
“We are even, King of Lauramore,” the dragon calls. With that, he rises higher into the sunset and takes to the sky, leaving pandemonium in his wake.
CHAPTER 30
There is a knock on my door, but I do not answer. I’m not surprised when the door opens anyway.
“Pippa,” Father says, and the bed dips as he sits next to me. “We must announce a winner.”
I nod but do not answer.
“This was not your fault,” he says after several moments of silence.
I turn to him. “If I hadn’t requested the tournament, he wouldn’t be…”
