by K. M. Shea
I hurriedly carried the oatmeal to the table, where Azmaveth was waiting with exuberance.
“What are you so happy about?” I politely asked as I placed his oatmeal in front of him before whispering the words to make the bowl grow.
“Those feathers you and Kohath got were magnificent! Thank you!” he said, his purple eyes whirling with cheerfulness.
“You’re welcome, but please warn me the next time you send me off fairy hunting that, that boy,” I complained.
“Not getting along with Kohath?” Azmaveth asked, looking concerned.
“No. He’s bossy and keeps trying to hold my hand. He’s also extremely annoying. He acts like he owns the place!”
Azmaveth choked on his oatmeal. “So you don’t like him?” he asked after a fair amount of coughing.
I opened my mouth to reply when I caught sight of his blasted princess book peeping over the edge of the table. If I said anything he was sure to compare it to the book. “I’m going out to beat out the welcome rug,” I declared, leaving the dishes where they were.
“So you must like him then! You’re avoiding the subject, that means,” he said, flipping the book open. He was about to inform me of my feelings towards Kohath when I turn around and, in a familiar motion, flung my bowl of nearly finished oatmeal in his face before shouting at the dish to expand, seriously decking him in the nose.
Before Azmaveth could start crying I fled the scene, rushing outside.
I picked up the rug and was about to start beating it with a stick when Azmaveth burst out of the cave. “I have to go speak to Shammah about the Keeper. I’ll be back in time for supper. I promise,” Azmaveth solemnly swore as he tipped his head by me.
“Okay, you promised,” I said as I reached out and caressed a scale on his muzzle. Azmaveth made his funny little purring noise before gently nudging me. He untucked his wings and took off, soaring into the sky.
I took a moment to admire the act before I went back to mercilessly beating the rug, picturing Kohath’s annoyingly handsome face in place of the mat.
I groaned as I wiped the sweat off my face and turned around to see Aaron standing a few feet away.
“Hi!” Aaron smiled.
“Hello. What brings you here?” I asked as I leaned against my stick.
“I saw Azmaveth leave,” Aaron confessed as I frowned, remembering their last encounter.
“Yeah, about your previous experience. Azmaveth can get…protective,” I stated as delicately as possible.
“It’s okay. It’s not your fault, and I should have known better. Dragons are known to be overprotective when they become attached to someone,” Aaron rattled on.
I smiled and dropped the welcome mat. “Do you want to walk down the driveway with me?” I invited Aaron. “If we stick around here Azmaveth will be able to smell that you were here,” I explained as I slowly wandered toward the road.
“Sure,” Aaron agreed as he trotted to catch up to me. “So, do you like it here?” he asked.
I fondly smiled. “Yes. I like it more than my home, although I wish I could see my brother.”
“What country are you from?”
“Ardeo. It’s in the south.”
“I am familiar with it. So what do you think of your dragon?”
“Azmaveth treats me much better than most dragons do. I’m happy, though I may not necessarily show it,” I admitted with a rueful grin.
Aaron’s eyes widened for a moment. “Did you know that most princesses only stay in a dragon’s home for less than a month? Usually the dragons get sick of them and send them packing with a prince.”
“I can see why. Most of the girls are annoying,” I observed.
Aaron grinned. “Yeah, most princesses are airheads, beg your pardon,” he added belatedly.
“No need. I couldn’t agree with you more actually,” I said, pushing back the stone over our mail hole to peer in and pull out a couple of thick parchments. When I stood up I spun around and found myself nose to nose with Kohath. I yelped and jumped backward as Aaron turned to see what my problem was. He his brow wrinkled when he spotted Kohath.
Kohath would clearly be as welcoming to Aaron as Azmaveth had been. He was darkly glaring, his mouth an angry slant.
“Um, who is he?” Aaron whispered.
“Kohath,” Kohath growled out. “And you’re Aaron. Azmaveth warned me about you.”
“How do you know Azmaveth?” Aaron said, his eyes taking in Kohath’s clothes.
“I’m his steward. I take care of all his possessions, including her,” Kohath said, jerking his thumb toward me.
“She’s not a possession,” Aaron steadily said. “She can make up her own mind can’t you Ahira?” he asked. He didn’t really want a reply.
“You so are full of yourself!” Kohath spat.
I snorted. That was incredibly ironic considering it was popping out of Kohath’s mouth.
“What about you? I’ve never known a dragon to take on a human steward before!” Aaron shot back.
I sighed and rubbed my eyes. The last thing I felt like listening to was an argument between magic boy and weird-hair-color guy.
When I opened my eyes Kohath was ignoring Aaron and watching me with a concerned look. I half grinned and waved off his concern. All too easily he returned his attention to the argument with Aaron.
“I apologize, I forgot you weren’t from around here. You’re just a mage, you don’t live with the dragons,” Kohath smirked.
They continued to exchange insults, and I glanced over toward the forest where I saw Tuggles, snorting and snuffing as he watched me with his bulging eyes. I slipped away from Kohath and Aaron and joined Tuggles in the forest, running away from the quarrel. Tuggles and I scampered through the woods, slipping on the moist moss and scrambling over fallen logs. I laughed and sat down on a stump, trying to catch my breath as I watched Tuggles prance on his stubby legs.
After a short rest we walked a little deeper into the forest, Tuggles scuttling beside me. His short legs went hyper speed to keep up with my strides. I ran my hand through his fluffy mane and continued on as the dappled pony galloped after me. I paused to leap across a small stream, Tuggles following the suit, and when I looked up I found myself face to face with one of the most beautiful creatures in Somnio, a unicorn.
Unlike short and stubby Tuggles this unicorn was slightly larger than an average sized horse. His coat was a pearly, glittery, white, and his eyes were cobalt blue. His horn was long, gold in color, and a magnificent sight to behold. He looked at me with his beautiful eyes and I could have sworn I saw a smile creep across his lips.
“Hello,” he said in a melodic voice. “What’s your name?”
I bowed, my clean, purple dress scraping the forest floor. “Princess Ahira,” I said, glancing over at Tuggles to see him scowling. The unicorn didn’t appear to notice him.
“So you’re a princess?” the unicorn said in his polite, whispery voice.
“Yes.”
His eyes brightened. “Perfect! We shall stay together forever!”
“Pardon?” I asked, now thoroughly confused.
“You are a princess!” he exclaimed. I noticed his pretty blue eyes were rather vacant. “And since I am a unicorn you have to stay and braid pretty flowers into my mane!” he declared, glancing around the forest. “Although finding suitable flowers will be difficult. After all you can never find a flower that is more beautiful than a unicorn,” he mourned
“Flowers?” I asked, still not seeing the unicorn’s logic.
“Flowers. You will weave flowers in my hair, and we shall stay together forever.”
“We shall?”
“Yes, we shall,” he proudly said.
“Yeah… I need to get going,” I said as I walked around the unicorn, Tuggles trailing after me.
“Wait!” the unicorn called, hurrying after us. “Aren’t you startled by my amazing beauty and astounding intelligence?” he asked, blinking at me.
“No,” I
replied without hesitation.
“This isn’t right!” the unicorn huffed as he continued to follow Tuggles and I. “You’re a princess and I’m a unicorn. You’re supposed to sing and play with me in the meadow all day long,” he complained.
“I get sunburn if I stay in the sun too long,” I said, pulling back a branch to pass through before I released it. It hit the unicorn square in the face.
Tuggles snickered as he peered around my legs to watch the baffled unicorn.
“But I’m beautiful!” the unicorn reasoned.
To my horror, a previous conversation I had with Azmaveth came back to haunt me. “Beauty is usually a companion to stupidity,” Azmaveth claimed. Shortly after I asked him if he thought I was ugly or pretty. Azmaveth knew either way he was in hot water, so he told me that I was a rare case that didn’t apply to the rule.
“So what if you’re beautiful?” I snorted as I glanced around the forest. This unicorn was getting annoying, and I was anxious to be rid of him.
“Well, well…. I’m also the Keeper!” the unicorn announced as Tuggles made a sour face.
The prideful unicorn finally glanced down at Tuggles. “This little beast must have bewitched you! Don’t worry, I’ll free you from the curse!” he trumpeted.
I rolled my eyes. “Come on Tuggles, let’s go,” I said, crossing a large river via a log. Tuggles scampered along behind me, plenty small enough to pass over the makeshift bridge. The big unicorn, however, stayed at the other side of the river, not wanting to get his glossy fur wet. Even though he was none too bright, he knew the log wouldn’t hold him.
He was still standing on the bank, stuttering and stammering the last time I saw him.
Tuggles and I walked home together in smug complacency. Once we reached the edge of the forest that straddled Azmaveth’s cave Tuggles stopped.
“Bye Tuggles,” I called over my shoulder as I walked towards the den.
I cleaned up the cave the rest of the afternoon before I started to make dinner. Halfway through I could hear Azmaveth bellowing something at the top of his lungs from his lab. I guess he finished visiting Shammah and never told me.
I put his supper on a serving tray and carefully walked the distance to his lab. Since both of my hands were full with the tray I bumped the door open with my side. When the door creaked open there was a loud explosion before fog and flashing lights filled the lab.
I peered into the room with caution, still holding the tray. “Azmaveth?” I called coughing a little when I inhaled some of the smoke.
“I’m here!” he said as the fog parted to reveal a smoldering Azmaveth with a vaporous, white potion in front of him.
“What were you doing?” I asked, coughing again before setting the tray down on a table.
“Nothing,” Azmaveth said, innocently said. He was probably trying to create some sort of anti-Aaron potion.
I sighed as I turned to go, “Just try not to blow up the den. Eat your supper before it gets cold,” I added before I shut the door behind me, muffling his squawk.
I ate by myself, took a bath, and hopped into my bed. I fell asleep, staring up at the stars that peeked through the beautiful skylight.
Chapter 9Princess Visitation
Before I knew it my beautiful dreams (I was riding a horse, dragging Kohath along like a ragdoll) where unpleasantly interrupted.
“Up, up, up!” someone said. I groaned and rolled over, peering at my open door where one huge, violet eye stared at me. “Rise and shine! Don’t make me sing.” Azmaveth added as I glanced up at my skylight. The stars were still out and the sun wasn’t even thinking about rising yet.
“What time is it?” I yawned as I burrowed back down in my sheets. A giant silver claw reached in and stole my blankets.
“Early. Get up!” Azmaveth urged as I threw my pillow at his eye. My pillow flew across the room and harmlessly hit one of his scales. I groaned and realized my folly. Now I didn’t have a blanket or a pillow.
“Go find someone else to play with. I want to sleep,” I said, rolling away from him. Again a silver claw reached into my room, only this time it snagged me around the waist and pulled me out, kicking and screaming.
Azmaveth held on to me with his right front paw and fished around in my room for my clothes and toiletries with his free claws. After finding them he shifted me to his left paw and lumbered past the kitchen, through the main chamber, down the south hallway and into the dragon washroom. He unmercifully dropped me into the dragon bath, clothes and all. That may not sound very mean, but you probably aren’t taking into account the volume of the bath. If I had to hazard a guess I would say his bathtub is the size of a small lake. A small lake with warm and bubbly water.
I sunk like a rock.
I screamed underwater as my skirts dragged me down. Azmaveth quickly noted his mistake and fished me out of the crystal waters.
“Get changed into that,” he said, throwing his head in the direction of a large package. “You’re going to Behemoth’s cave today to meet with the other princesses. I want you cleaned and nicer smelling before you go,” he said before setting me down on the edge of his bath/pool, my shouts blistering his ears.
“What?! Are you implying that I stink? You giant ogre! Couldn’t you have found a better way to tell me rather than just tossing me in your bottomless lake? And why do I have to go meet the other princesses in the first place?” I yelled as I followed him to the door. He didn’t reply and shut the door behind him, I tried to pull on it, but it didn’t budge.
“When I get out of here I’m going to clean your room, just to spite you!” I threatened as I slumped against the door in defeat. After pouting for a few moments I made a hasty retreat to the warm bath waters. My initial anger had faded, and instead I was delighted with the large bathtub. Swimming in your bath is a wonderful experience!
When I climbed out I smelled like roses and my dirt brown hair had a dull shine to it. I inspected myself in the mirror and made a face. Azmaveth might have been right. Soaking in the tub removed the layer of den dirt that was stuck to me.
I turned from the gigantic mirror (dragons are vain after all) and opened the package Azmaveth had mentioned earlier. A swirl of cloth flowed out of the box.
The dress, when I put it on it, just touched the floor of the cave. The under dress was white with exquisite embroidery on it. The overcoat was a the deepest of royal purples. Azmaveth’s colors.
It was completed with a violet opal necklace that was set in silver, and opal earrings. Caught up in the feeling, I paid extra attention to my hair and pinned some of it up, out of my face.
I smiled broadly at my reflection. The dresses I had worn at court were stuffy, but Azmaveth’s dress seemed to be perfect for me.
Once I finished cleaning up I pushed against the door, which easily opened. “Azmaveth,” I growled.
The moment I set foot into the hallway Azmaveth pounced on me. He shoved an apple in mouth as he pushed me through the cave.
“Now, please hold your tongue for once when you meet the other princesses. I don’t want other dragons to think I fostered your terrible insults,” he pleaded as he pushed me toward the entrance of the cave. “Stay clean, don’t ruin your dress, have as much fun as possible, and be polite,” he finished before shoving me outside and slammed the door behind me.
I blinked, still confused. I turned around to open the door and found, again, that it wouldn’t budge. “Azmaveth open up!” I yelled after spitting out the apple. “What’s going on?”
“I already told you, you’re going to Behemoth’s house to meet with the other princesses. Walk for a mile and then take a left turn, then walk for a half a mile and turn due north, that’s his cave, you can’t miss it!” Azmaveth yelled through the door.
“What?” I hollered.
“Shh! Ahira, I’ll show you where it is,” Aaron said, cautiously creeping out of the bushes after watching out for Azmaveth.
Azmaveth apparently heard the offer and burst out of the
den, snatched me, and tossed me up on his forehead before taking to the sky.
I was terrified.
“AZMAVETH, SLOW DOWN!” I screamed.
We were flying fast, it was freezing cold, and this time I was not safely held in Azmaveth’s paws or tucked on a ridge in his back. Instead I was clinging to his forehead like road kill. Before I knew it Azmaveth landed and gently tipped me off. I rubbed my arms and face, positive I had windburn. By the time I turned around to begin scolding Azmaveth, he was already leaping into the sky and far out of hearing range.
I wondered if he was fleeing my fury or if he really was in a big rush to be rid of me for the day. He was probably doing some more experimenting today and didn’t want me around, screaming bloody murder when he ruined my perfectly good cleaning job on his piggy den.
With sorry eyes and an angry mutter I watched the sun peek over the dusty pink horizon line. I twisted around and found myself in front of a giant cave blocked by two equally giant doors. It had an eerie resemblance to Azmaveth’s cave, with the exception of the more earthy brown rock color rather than Azmaveth’s shale gray.
As I stared at the doors with no small amount of trepidation, one of them slowly swung open on a creaky hinge. Three blonde heads poked out from behind the door.
I swallowed, and the blondes zoomed across the yard, stopping to inspect me from all angles.
“You must be the last princess!” the tallest and snobbiest of the trio stated. She gave me a posed smile, almost like the cheesy/sort-of-powerful smiles my brother used when posing for courtly pictures. She was quite pretty if you could get over the strange smile, but for some odd reason the large unicorn I had stumbled upon days before came to mind when I looked at her. “My name’s Lesha,” she said, bending over in a deep curtsey, beaming at me with her posed smile.
“Ahhh…” I said as the next blonde poked me hard in the side.
“Hey. Pay attention to me!” she demanded. “I’m the best painter out of the three of us. My name’s Malory.”
