She looked at them. “You know what I turned into?”
“Well, duh,” Kat said. “Same as at the troll attack. You turned into a whirling ball of energy.”
“No.” Olivia couldn’t believe they didn’t see her as a dragon. “I turned into a dragon.”
“Don’t be silly. You’re not a dragon.” Lisette brushed the hair back from Olivia’s eyes. “How did you learn to be so fast and … look like a flaming ball? You need to teach us,” Lisette insisted.
“It’s gone now. We still need the magic power stone. How are we going to get to the mountain and get it?” Kat asked.
Olivia and the others turned to her. “We aren’t,” Melinda said. “Not today. We aren’t prepared. Right, Olivia?”
Olivia nodded. “There has to be more information in the library. We’ll find out how to get the stone without getting ourselves killed.”
Reluctantly Kat nodded, and they began the trek back to the castle. It was only minutes before they encountered Henry riding slowly toward them. The princesses were so hot and tired, none of them had on their helmets. Olivia tried to think of how to explain their armor and keep him from revealing who they were, but a moment later the whole hunting party came out of the woods at a canter.
“It’s all over now,” Olivia said. Her father would be angry about her endangering them all, disobeying him by including the princesses in her lessons, and generally lying. She’d fess up and hope the punishment would not exceed her lifespan.
As the hunting party stopped their horses, Henry dismounted and walked over to her. “Black armor. Why am I not surprised you’re that one?”
“Huh?” Olivia said and immediately regretted sounding so clueless.
Facing the other hunters, Henry said, “May I introduce the Perilous Four that saved the castle from the trolls.”
Olivia’s brother Ian laughed. “Right. Just because they dress up in armor like those knights, doesn’t mean it’s them.”
Olivia’s father held up a hand. “Is it true?”
The four princesses nodded.
“Can you prove it?” Ian asked.
Henry interrupted. “Well, I know Olivia has the dagger skills of the black knight.”
Olivia’s father shook his head and asked, “These princesses defeated the trolls?”
“And a dragon!” Kat said.
“Pardon?” Olivia’s father said. The rest of the party stared silently.
Kat held up a black scale Olivia was pretty sure had come off herself since it was the color of her armor and not green like the other dragon.
“We wanted to get the dragons’ power stone to save the farmers’ crops,” Kat said. Olivia shut her eyes and wished Kat would stop talking. It was only getting worse.
Olivia’s father gazed at each of them for what felt like forever. At last he turned his horse, and said over his shoulder, “I think princesses who spy on Council meetings had better attend them and contribute.” He stopped his horse and turned back. “Give me the dragon’s scale.” It was handed to him, and he rode on.
Melinda was handed up to ride behind Bryand. Lisette was helped up onto Willum’s horse, and Kat climbed up on Michael’s. Only Olivia still stood in the road staring at the dust and trying to think of a way out of this trouble. She did not look up. She would not beg. A gloved hand reached down past her face and wiggled its fingers.
She peered through her golden bangs. Henry grinned at her. “Not flying home?”
She froze for a moment. Her ears had to still be full of the dragon’s roars. Henry couldn’t have said what she thought she heard. She couldn’t ask him. What would she say? She couldn’t ask about becoming a dragon. It wasn’t possible. He was making a joke.
She let him help her up on his horse.
“You have been very busy. It takes a lot of practice to be as good as you are,” Henry said. “The others have trained along with you?”
“Yes.” There was no point in hiding that truth any longer. “We call ourselves The Perilous Princesses.” Who cared if he laughed?
But he didn’t. “There’s an old tale about a race of dragons who were more dangerous than any other. It’s said they could morph, even making their wings into human hands. Hands that could hold daggers.” He stopped for a moment then continued, “Aren’t you the best princess at using a dagger?” He chuckled. “But then dragons don’t exist, do they?”
For a moment, Olivia didn’t answer, then she muttered, “They’re extinct. Why are you talking about dragons?”
Henry turned and looked at her. “Becoming.”
“What?” she demanded.
But he only laughed and ignored her question. “Maybe I’d like to help the famers too. Maybe I’m just interested in dragons. I think you are too. It’s nice to have common interests.”
He stopped for what felt like forever before he went on in a serious tone, “I’m becoming very, very good with a dagger. Maybe dragon good.”
They were both silent the rest of the ride home. Olivia spent the time thinking about where Henry had been these past years, about how he was a fostered prince, and how he was not like his brothers.
And how she was becoming very much not like her sister.
* * *
At seven years old Kath Boyd Marsh self-published her first fantasy on lined notebook paper starring a creature based on her little sister. Before Kath moved to Richmond, KY to write about dragons, wizards, and other fantastic creatures, she lived in seven states, Panama, and one very haunted house. The Lazy Dragon and the Bumblespells Wizard was her debut novel. Visit her and the dragons at KathBoydMarshauthor.com.
Once upon a time, a very long time ago when the countries we know now were no more than a patchwork of very small kingdoms, there lived a young man who wanted to be king. However, he was the youngest son of the youngest son. When he went to his grandfather and said he was ready for a kingdom, his grandfather, the King, told him he had no kingdom to bestow upon him, not even a fiefdom, for they had all gone to his uncles and brothers and cousins.
“You’ll have to make your own way in the world,” the King told him.
So, he did.
He crossed rivers and valley and mountains until he came to the cave of a dragon where a beautiful princess was being held captive. He proved his courage by challenging the dragon, he proved his strength by removing the rocks that trapped the princess, he proved his honor, by not taking the jewels the dragon guarded. For his reward the dragon promised his protection for a thousand years if he started his kingdom right there.
Oh, and he married the princess and they lived happily ever after as the first king and queen of Colsteinburg.
* * *
Tessa stirred the steaming cauldron with a large wooden spoon. The scent of vegetables and spices made her stomach gurgle. In the corner of the cave the big red dragon made a gurgling sound as well.
“It’s almost ready, Cole,” she assured her protector. “I need to make sure the potatoes are soft. You don’t want to get an upset stomach from eating underdone potatoes.”
“I never get an upset stomach,” the dragon grumbled.
“That’s because I am careful about what I feed you,” Tessa said and brought the spoon up to her mouth to taste the broth.
“You’re cheating, eating before it’s ready.”
Tessa laughed. “You big baby.” She poked at a potato, decided it was soft enough and ladled some of the soup into a bowl for herself. Then she removed the cauldron from the fire and placed it in front of the dragon’s large head. “There you go. Dinner is served.”
“Are you sure the potatoes are done?” Cole asked, looking at her through his double-lidded eyes.
“Absolutely certain,” she said. She nestled herself in a pile of pillows and ate her bowl of soup while Cole stuck his face in the cauldron and slurped. He was licking the pot clean when he picked up his head and tilted his ears toward the entrance of the cave.
“Someone’s coming,” he said.
Tessa’s shoulders tensed, and she prepared herself for what was likely to come. She hated when people found the cave and her. Was it a lone adventurer? Was it a knight out to slay a dragon and steal his treasure? Was it the people who killed her family?
“Should I go see?”
“Absolutely not. I cannot protect you if you are in front of me, instead of behind. Stay where you are.” He lumbered to his feet and, careful that his swaying tail did not hit Tessa as he walked, he made his way to the entrance of the cave and looked out. “It is another young cavalier,” he said. “Do you think he wants the treasure or the princess?”
The dragon chuckled to himself. He liked the challenge these men gave him.
“Perhaps both,” Tessa said. They came with increasing regularity, these knights and adventurers. Some wanted to steal the treasure that everyone knew dragons guarded, others wanted to rescue the princess that they had heard was trapped in the cave.
“Maybe he will be worthy of you,” Cole said, with what Tessa thought might be a tinge of hope in his voice.
“Tired of guarding me, are you?” she asked. The protection spell she had put on him would only lift when she found a man worthy of her. Based on the men who had made their way to the cave, she doubted that was ever going to happen.
“It’s been three years,” he said with the dragon- equivalent of a shrug.
Three years since her family was killed, the kingdom taken, and the only way she could keep herself safe was to run away and find protection where she could get it. Three years that she’d been living in a cave and tending her garden with her only companion a dragon.
But she never thought any man who came up this mountain was worthy. They were greedy and braggadocios and crude and violent. That was not the kind of man she wanted. Though, perhaps the kind of man she might like was not the kind to climb a mountain and challenge a dragon. She tried not to think about that. Besides, she didn’t mind living in the cave. Cole was good company.
Tessa left her nest of soft pillows and sidled up next to Cole, placing one hand on the rough leather of his dragon skin. She peered through the opening of the cave to the young man making his way up the mountain. He had a walking staff in one hand and wore a tunic of leather with red wool tights. His hair was bright red, and he had a friendly, open face. He stopped and looked toward the cave, and his expression changed to one of consternation.
“He looks nice,” Cole said encouragingly.
“You always think they look nice,” Tessa answered. “You cannot judge by looks. The men who killed my parents were quite handsome.”
“I do not always think they look nice,” Cole contradicted. “Remember the one last month who had evil eyes and a nose that was too large. I did not like the looks of him.”
That was true. There were times he didn’t think they looked nice, but if Tessa had to guess she’d say that Cole didn’t like being under the protection spell she’d put on him and wanted to be free. She had to be careful that he didn’t push her to accept someone she didn’t want.
Cole stuck his head out the cave and blew a stream of fire toward the traveler.
Tessa stifled a laugh as the startled young man nearly fell over. Would he turn and run? Some did when they realized that the dragon was real and they would be in danger if they approached. More often they unsheathed their swords and marched forward. This young man righted himself, straightened his jaunty felt hat and set his sights back up toward the cave.
“What are you trying to keep me from, dragon?” the man hollered up the hill.
Cole of course didn’t answer him. Cole did not make it general practice to talk to everyone who approached his cave. Instead he breathed more fire.
“You really don’t want me to come up there, do you?” the man responded, but instead of sounding put off, he sounded determined.
“Well, he’s not easily frightened,” Cole said to Tessa. “That makes him brave.”
“Or foolish,” Tessa answered.
The man was out of sight now, hidden by the rocks and crags of the mountainside.
“Get rid of him,” Tessa said.
“Let him have a chance to prove his worth.”
Tessa sighed. “He’s not worthy. None of them are worthy.”
“Let him try and fail if need be,” Cole said. “But let him try.”
“Fine, but it is up to me to determine if he is worthy,” Tessa reminded Cole. She was not a pawn to be brokered by other people. She was the one to decide who would win her.
Cole grunted and together they settled in to wait until the man should come into sight again. Soon the feather in his hat was visible amid the scrub pines and wild flowers. Then his hat, and then the rest of him, came into view.
The man stopped abruptly when he caught sight of Tessa standing next to the dragon in the opening of the cave.
“I will rescue you,” the man said, jutting his chin out with determination. “Stand back, and all will be well.”
The same old story. They never even stopped to ask if she needed rescuing, just assuming that because she was female she must. Well, let him try. The protection spell was strong. He wouldn’t get past the dragon. Very few did.
“Get back,” Cole growled at her, and she obeyed, moving farther back into the cave, situating herself on her pillows again. Then with a wave of his tail, Cole scattered large rocks between her and the opening of the cave.
It was a standard test. If the adventurer did make it past Cole, would he have the strength to move the rocks that seemed to trap her? The strong ones could shift the rocks, the wily ones found their way around the rocks, but either way they often treated her as a prize they had earned. She was no one’s prize.
She peered through the gaps in the rocks and watched the exchange between the new adventurer and Cole.
“You are holding a young woman prisoner,” the man said.
“I am not,” Cole answered.
The man didn’t seem astonished that Cole spoke to him. Perhaps he had encountered dragons before.
“I saw her. You have a beautiful woman trapped in your cave.”
Tessa rolled her eyes. A typical flatterer. They all thought she was beautiful. And while she certainly appreciated the sentiment, did being beautiful make her any more deserving of rescue? Or love, when it came to that. It did not.
“What do you propose to do about it?” the dragon asked.
“I cannot fight you,” the man said. “You are much bigger, and I have no arms but my walking stick. I could perhaps outwit you and rescue her.”
“Perhaps you could,” Cole said. “But I am not easily outwitted.”
“I thought not,” the man said. “You are quite an intelligent dragon. Anyone can clearly see that.”
This was a new approach, Tessa thought. Most men did not think to use flattery on the dragon. And she’d lived with Cole long enough to know that he was particularly susceptible to it.
Cole preened a little.
“A very handsome and large dragon,” the man continued. “I have met other dragons, and you are by far the most formidable I’ve encountered.”
“What happened when you met the other dragons?” Cole asked.
“One ate my horse,” the man said. “Another melted my sword.”
“And you think you can get past me? The strongest, most beautiful and most amazing dragon of all?” Cole asked.
Tessa had to put a hand over her mouth to stop herself from laughing. Cole was certainly the most conceited dragon anyway.
“Oh no!” the man said. “That clearly isn’t possible. But I was wondering, how far can you breathe flames? The exhibition earlier was impressive, but I’m sure it was only a small demonstration. For example, could you set fire to that tree over there?”
Tessa couldn’t see what tree he pointed to, but she watched Cole slowly move from the entrance of the cave so he could see the tree the man pointed to. And then with one quick breath he apparently did exactly what the man requested.
/> “Amazing!” the man said. “Absolutely amazing. And what about that one?”
Cole moved further out of the entrance to the cave and quick as a wink the man was past him and inside. She waited for the sound of him trying to move the rocks, instead his head appeared over the top of the rock fall. He’d simply climbed them, which made him one of the smarter ones. Soon he was behind the rocks with her.
She shrunk back against her pillows. Now was the big test. He may have thought the test was bypassing the rocks, but in reality the test was how he would treat her once he had.
“I am Frederick Mohr,” the man said, sweeping his hat off and making a courtly bow at the waist. “Who do I have the pleasure of addressing?”
Such a dignified introduction deserved a dignified response.
“I’m Princess Teresa Elaina Bodenmuller,” she answered. The kingdom had been overrun and the king and queen were dead, but she saw no reason to renounce her title. Often when the adventurers heard her title they became even more determined to remove her from the cave, regardless of what she wished. One time a man even had her over his shoulder and was attempting to carry her away. Cole had intervened at that point, plucking her from the man’s back by snagging her dress in his large mouth and tripping the man so he tumbled down the mountain. He had not come back to try again. Unworthy.
“Are you a prisoner?” Frederick asked with proper deference. No one had ever asked before. They all assumed she must be. Why did he not make that assumption? Did he know other people who lived with dragons? She wanted to know more about this man and what had shaped his world view.
“I am not. I live here.” She raised her chin in proud defiance, in case he had an issue to make with her living arrangements.
“Then you do not need my help to leave here, do you?” he said with remarkable perception.
“I do not,” Tessa said, “but I appreciate the thought.”
He sighed and leaned against the largest rock, crossing his arms in front of himself and looking thoroughly dejected.
“I’m not a very good adventurer,” he admitted. “I thought perhaps my luck would change and I could rescue a damsel in distress, but I suppose first I’d have to find a damsel who truly was in distress.”
Perilous Princesses Page 8
