Chapter 3

I scramble up the stone steps, running to the cave entrance. There is a roar.

“I’m coming!” I call. My voice echoes weakly against the hard walls, muffled by the tapestry hanging there.

I skid to a halt when I am in view. I dip in a low curtsy. My heart pounds from more than just the exertion. I may have become accustomed to living with a dragon but that does not mean I am comfortable in its presence.

Chrilton’s scales are a dull silver-grey in the afternoon light. He stands on all four powerful legs, sharp claws sheathed, his muscled tail swishing slowly behind him like a spined snake. His long neck cranes about, moving the fierce looking head. He is sniffing the air.

“We’ve a visitor – where is he?” Chrilton’s voice is a low rumble, like rocks tumbling over one another down a mountain side.

Oh, what to do? Should I lie?

And risk being swallowed in one bite? a voice from within asks. Is Richard really worth it?

The answer is ‘no’… but that is also the answer to ‘would I be able to live with myself if I let Richard die?’

I decide to plead. “I’m pleased to see you b-back, Dragon Chrilton. As for our visitor - he doesn’t wish to fight for me. He stumbled here by mistake. Could you just let him go?” It sounds strange even to my ears.

His head snaps back in surprise. “We cannot let a knight go unchallenged regardless of his intentions.”

My shoulders slump in relief. “Oh but he isn’t a knight,” I reply.

He lowers his head to my eye level and I stiffen. “Princes are no exception.”

That thought is so ridiculous in relation to Richard that a chuckle escapes me. “He is most definitely not a prince. He’s not even a nobleman’s son.”

Chrilton tilts his head as if considering the situation. “Is he a third or seventh son or an only child then?”

“No, he is the second son in a family of five. His parents own a shop.”

Chrilton growls menacingly. Only my six months of experience prevent me from scurrying under a table. He is only thinking.

“Bring me some supper and send me the lad.”

I let out a sigh of relief. If Chrilton wanted supper and Richard that meant that Richard wasn’t supper. It seems that Richard’s unusual background has made him a distracting conundrum.

I dance away to do Chrilton’s bidding. I meet Richard on the stairway.

“I have to see him?” he whispers.

I motion him to follow me back to the kitchens. I shut the door behind me before answering.

“I’m sure you heard him,” I reply. I pull out a large salted ham from the cupboard.

Richard moves to stand beside me. “I thought dragons ate raw meat.”

“Chrilton likes ham.” He had brought this back from his last village rampage. “He only eats fresh kill when he’s away from the cave. Here, I have to cook.”

A look of relief passes through Richard’s eyes.

“How big is that creature?” He asks, his eyes wary.

I cock my head, considering. “I would say a little smaller than a barn.”

I move to the hearth to remove my forgotten kettle. The water had boiled. I replace the kettle with a cauldron and order Richard to fill it while I slice the ham.

“Do you know how to defeat him?” Richard asks after a silence.

“Do you think I would still be here if I did?”

“I wanted to be certain,” he replies, defensive. “It would be foolish to die if you did know and I neglected to ask.”

I hide my surprise. That was unexpectedly practical for Richard.

The kitchen is quiet as we work, the only words being my calls for him to fetch and carry. Despite my misgivings of what is to come, my heart slowly calms.

As I sneak a sidelong glance at Richard who is laying out plates, I marvel at the change. Four years ago, I would never have imagined us preparing a meal together in such accord. And after only a bare hour’s reacquaintance! It appears that his years as a squire has made him more obedient to orders.

“Ready?” I ask, balancing a platter precariously on my hip.

He nods and adjusts his grip on his own platter.

I lead the way up to Chrilton’s dining hall.

I don’t think that I will ever cease to find this sight baffling. Chrilton sits curled up at the end of a long table, a book opened in front of him. As he reads, he delicately turns the pages with the tips of his claws. He looks so innocuous and yet the gleam of his armored skin warns the viewer not to be fooled.

I clear my throat.

Chrilton locks his piercing eyes on my face and I struggle not to gulp.

“Dinner is ready.”

The platters before him, Chrilton turns his attention towards his dinner.

I stand to one side, Richard stationed like a soldier beside me, watching my captor eat. Of all my duties, this is the one that I hate the most. Perhaps it is strange but every time I watch Chrilton devour his food with such alarming gusto, I cannot help the fleeting thoughts that one day, that could be me. Not to mention that Chrilton has appalling table manners.

A flaming burp is my signal that he is finished. As I move to clear away the dishes, he turns to me and growls.

“Leave them for the moment. Sit.”

I sit.

Richard drops down on the wooden bench next to me.

Chrilton looks to his book, seeming to ignore us. Silence reigns in the hall.

“You come at an interesting time,” Chrilton growls, finally. He turns to Richard. “It is a pity that you are not what I had hoped for.”

Although I am confused, fear keeps the bewilderment off my face. I glance at Richard. I cannot read his face. Chrilton does not elaborate.

After another silence, Richard dares to ask for clarification.

“I intend to capture a princess,” Chrilton declares. He turns to me, “You were to be a temporary arrangement – a whim as I had needed someone to clean my dwelling. However, it appears that getting rid of you will not be as easy as I thought.”

A vague feeling of insult twits.

“Unfortunately, I cannot have two prisoners – it is against The Code,” he continues. He swung his gaze back to Richard. “You do not wish to fight for her?”

The speed at which he answers in the affirmative is blatantly insulting.

“A pity. I could fight you anyway but I do not want to kill the only challenger to come in all these months. I have no idea when another might come along.” Chrilton stood and stretched. I am suspicious that he is drawing out the moment merely for the sake of suspense.

He addresses me again, “I’m sure that you want to leave. I have thought of a way that doesn’t violate The Code.”

“I am being relieved of my position?” I am incredulous… and actually humiliated. Who has ever heard of a prisoner being dismissed? However, my embarrassment is not nearly strong enough for me to protest.

“I cannot remove the spell nor can I just let this lad leave. However, fighting me is not the only way for him to take you. He could quest instead.”

I only have a marginally little more respect for Richard’s brain than his brawn but it is a very little. Still, with a quest, my chances of being rescued have been raised from zero to a million to one, which, mathematically speaking can be seen as much better.

“What must I do?” asks Richard. The look on his face is one I recognize. It is the brave, almost uncaring expression that he used to try and affect every time he was about to get whipped by our teacher in school for some prank. And I can still see through it.

“In a kingdom west from here, there is a golden bird. A single feather is worth more than a dukedom.” A gleam of avarice shines in Chrilton's piercing gaze. “Bring him to me and I will give you the girl.”

“By himself?” I blurt, “What if he doesn’t come back?”

Richard shoots an annoyed glance in my direction but I cannot care less. He isn’t the one who risks spending the rest of his life with six legs.

Chrilton carelessly cocks his head – a dragon’s shrug. “It is his choice. But you shall be accompanying him so make it your duty that he completes the task.”

I cringe with indecision. On one hand, going along with Richard means that I can ensure he follows through with the quest. On the other hand, I was not at all keen on experiencing life as a cockroach.

“Will my leaving allow you to bring a princess here as prisoner?” I ask.

At his nod, I feel a thread of confidence. It is bold and probably a little foolhardy but I decide to bargain. “Then isn’t there some way you could modify the spell on me to make it easier for me to travel.” I take a deep breath. “I can hardly accompany Richard as I will be.”

I can feel the puzzlement in Richard’s gaze but I am not going to elaborate.

“Very well,” Chrilton says slowly. If his face was human, I would be incline to interpret his expression as amusement – perhaps at the fact I had the gall to try and haggle with him. “I will modify your spell tonight and shall see you off in the morning.”

He flicks his tail and I know we are dismissed.

Author's Note: I know, I know, I'm half a year late. I've been so busy the last six months I haven't written any fiction. Hopefully, you, dear readers haven't given me up for dead. It's summer now and with school out, I will hopefully have a little more time on my hands.

The usual applies: comments, questions and complaints. Also, ten points to the reviewer who figures out how Chrilton will modify the spell. It's actually quite obvious if you know your fairy tales. Waiting to hear from you!