A Tale of Two Princesses (17 page)

     "I must speak to him before the night is out and...apologize for my behavior."

     "Best to let it wait until tomorrow, your highness."

     "I am ashamed of myself, Vrine. I should not have allowed myself to drink so much."

     "It is a trying time for you, princess."

     "Goodness, what he must think of me. He will likely dismiss our courtship in the morning."

     "Likely, your highness. But at least you'll get what you want."

     "My mother will be furious."

     "There will be other princes."

     "None with the name Cross. He'll sully my name across his kingdom, won't he?"

     "Yes, probably."

     "There may not be any other princes after such a report."

     "Then you'll truly get your way, your highness."

     Celeste smirked at Vrine. "Oh, Vrine, you are so cruel."

* * *

     Court rode across the stone bridge, reaching the muddy road, the hooves of his horse thundering even louder than the sky, the rain hammering into his back, running down his face and neck. He felt possessed, an invisible force willing him away from the castle, away from that girl who he had so foolishly given his heart to for a moment, only to have her drop it on the floor and trample it as she ran away.

     "Sir!" Wellington called. "Sir, please! Slow your horse! The men cannot keep pace!"

     Court glanced back and then he dug his heels into his horse all the harder, pulling away from Wellington and the knights. No one could keep pace with his black stallion, a horse that had been bred through years of good stock to be the fastest and strongest. It had been raced to victory on the track before it came to him, a horse fit to take him anywhere he wished, at the speed he wished it.

     He blazed through the town, laughing, loving the freedom of his momentary solitude, bursting back onto the muddy road. He pushed his horse harder. Even it was beginning to tire now, but the clapping thunder and the flash of lighting led him, giving him adrenaline as he leaned over the horse's mane, driving it on.

     And then he heard it, the roar. It made him jerk, pulling on his horse's reins as his eyes searched. The lightning flashed, striking the ground, and with the light, the dark beast's silhouette was visible, standing there before him in the road. The lightning took away the image, but the beast illuminated itself again. A burst of fire erupted from its mouth, striking a tall tree. The leaves, even soaking wet, caught flame.

     The dragon roared, flapping its wings, jumping at the tree, smashing into it. The tree broke, creaking as it fell to the ground. The dragon's leathery wings folded along its hulking body. It's neck was long, matching the length of its tail on the other end, with four great paws. The dragon's head was as a crescent, with long horns coming out of its forehead, teeth hanging out of its mouth, the eyes glowing yellow.

     Then Court saw what held its interest. A boy had climbed the tree, now on the ground, covered in mud from head to toe, cowering beside the tree, crying and screaming. The dragons swiped with its paw, hitting the tree trunk.

     "The dragon!" Court said. "The rumors are true!"

     Court's head spun around, looking for his men. There was no one. He was alone, without a sword. A prince dressed for a ball did not carry a sword, but he was still a knight, and he was not going to watch a dragon eat a child. He grabbed his horse's reins and charged.

     "Show your bravery, Striker!" Court told the horse. "A knight's duty we will perform!"

     The dragon was crawling over the tree as the boy scurried around on all fours. It was clearly toying with him, as if to savor his death. But the dragon was done playing now. Its mouth opened, its jaws dripping with rain and saliva, ready to chomp.

     Court leapt off his horse as he neared, snatching up a broken tree limb, coming between the cowering boy and the dragon. He swung his branch, hitting it right in the mouth. The dragon roared and chomped down on the branch, ripping it from Court's grip.

     Court spun around, grabbing the boy by the back of his vest, pulling him up. "Come on, then! Don't just sit there!"

     He pulled him along, backing away, keeping the boy behind him as he kept his eyes on the dragon. The dragon came after them, its tail thumping the earth in warning. The lightning flashed again, smashing into the ground. It took the dragon's attention for a moment, but then it turned its head back. Court looked around for something, anything to use. He found a rock, lifting it and throwing it. It hit the dragon in the face, but that only made the beast hiss. And then its head pulled back, a flicker of fire lighting in its throat.

     "Oh, no! Run!"

     Court spun around, grabbing the boy and pushing him. The boy started running and Court was right behind him. A burst of flames erupted, throwing Court forward, stumbling over the boy, falling right on top of him. The flames licked Court's back, burning him, only saved from certain death by his soaking clothes. He stood up, turning back, pulling the boy to his feet, pushing him away.

     "Run, boy! Get out of here while you can!"

     The boy ran and Court backed away, the dragon snarling.

     "You won't pass me, monster!"

     "Your highness!"

     Court looked up to see Wellington and the knights riding hard, pulling bows from their horses, arrows flying. They struck the dragon and it turned its attention to them. Then the dragon leapt off the ground, its wings taking it the distance. It collided with one of the knights, its mouth closing down and crushing him as he screamed.

     "My sword, Wellington!" Court shouted.

     Wellington jumped from his horse, pulling the sword from his saddle, rushing it to his master. Court took it, charging after the dragon as it devoured one of his men. The others were drawing their own swords. Court reached the dragon first, cleaving with all his might, bringing the blade down on the beast's tail, cutting it.

     It screeched and spun around, its paw flying, smashing into Court's side. It sent him sailing. His men shouted and charged at the dragon's flank, cleaving with their blades. The dragon turned back and let off a blast of fire. Two men caught the brunt of it, both screaming as they burned.

     Court was up again, charging at the dragon's rear. He jumped on its back, lifting his sword and stabbing down. The blade ripped through its scales. The dragon roared and its long neck spun around, its jaws coming to bear, its teeth raking over Court's arm.

     His men shouted and began slashing at the front. The dragon jumped, flapping its wings. Court rolled off and hit the ground. The dragon was still roaring as it took to the sky, circling. It let off a blast of fire, but the flame disintegrated under the rain. Then the dragon flew higher and higher, finally disappearing into the clouds.

     "Sir, are you all right?" Wellington asked breathlessly.

     "Don't worry about me! How are the men?"

     He ran over to the two men who lay on the ground, both burned beyond all recognition. The third was nearly in pieces, devoured by the dragon, but he was still alive. The other knights were kneeling around him. Court fell to his side.

     "Bragster?"

     "Sir, I, I fear I won't be there to save you the next time you step in it."

     Court held his hand. "You fought well. You gave your life for mine. I shall not ever forget it."

     "It is all the honor a knight can ask for...to die for his, his..."

     The knight fell silent and Court lowered his head. The other knights saluted. Court stood up, echoing their salute.

     "Wellington?"

     "Yes, sir?"

     "That dragon is going to die for this."

     "Yes, sir."

     "Morris, Grotto," Court said. "Return to the town. Bring spades to bury Bragster, Horton, and Nelson. Clance, Sven, prepare the bodies. Jents, Crank, scout the area. Finn, check on the boy."

     "The boy, sir?"

     "That one," Court said, turning. But the boy was gone. He glanced around, seeing no one.

     "He must have fled, sir," Wellington said.

     "Hmm. I suppose I did tell him to run. Still, he is not of chivalrous quality, that is certain."

Chapter Eleven

The Knight's Code

     Sienna was crying as she ran, holding her arm. It hurt so much, but she kept her feet moving. Soon, she could see her uncle's tavern. She went right up to the door, pushing it open. Everyone inside turned to her, Banyan, Mrs. Crockery, the old man who drank so much, the scoundrel who purchased her for a night, and the baker who always paid with bread.

     "Sienna?" Mrs. Crockery said. "Is that you? You're filthy! You're tracking mud all over!"

     She sniveled. "The, the dragon. It's back. It came for me on the road."

     "What's all this?" Banyan said. "Where did you get a story like that? The dragon's not been seen in five years."

     "And you're getting mud all over the floor!" Mrs. Crockery said. She charged across the tavern, grabbing her by the ear, leading her back to the door. "Get to the barn and clean up, you filthy creature!"

     "But, but the dragon!" Sienna cried.

     "Out!"

     Mrs. Crockery pushed her outside and slammed the door. Sienna hurried away, rushing into the barn, closing the door behind her. There were no horses here. She hurried to her stall. The smell was terrible. No one had cleaned in the last three days. And worse, a horse had used her stall. Her blankets and her few possessions were covered in manure.

     She knelt down, shaking as she pulled off her black vest. The white blouse was brown from mud and red from blood. She unbuttoned it and slipped her arm out. A claw mark ran across her upper arm. It made her whole arm sting. She reached under the straw, pulling away her extra shirt and tore the sleeve off. She ripped it in half and used one part to clean her arm and the other to wrap her wound.

     The barn door crashed open and she jumped, quickly slipping her blouse back on and then her vest. By the time she stood up, Banyan had reached her stall, along with Mrs. Crockery.

     "Sienna?" Banyan said. "Was it true, the dragon?"

     She nodded. "It was real. It came for me and tried to eat me, but a man on a horse saved me. He didn't even have a sword and he told me to run away and I ran and ran and ran."

     "A man on a horse saved you?" Mrs. Crockery said. "Sounds like she's been dreaming again!"

     "No, ma'am, it was real. I swear."

     "It's that lying tongue of hers again, Banyan," Mrs. Crockery said.

     "I don't lie, Mrs. Crockery," Sienna whispered. "My mother always told me never to lie."

     "More as likely a dog with a blanket tied to his back," Mrs. Crockery said.

     "Anyway, doesn't matter," Banyan said. "She's back now. I want you to get started right away cleaning these stalls."

     "Yes, Uncle," she said, wiping her face.

     "I want them shining within the hour. We have a full house, and our guests will be back tonight and they'll want clean stables for their animals."

     "Yes, sir," she said.

     Banyan took one step away but then turned back. "Oh, yeah. Where's the money from your work at the castle?"

     Sienna bristled. "Oh. Oh, no." She checked her pockets, checked everywhere. She looked up, terror in her eyes. "Uncle, I, I—"

     "You little brat," he said, taking a step closer. "You're hiding it? Give it to me! I had to go without service for three days, and you're going to pay for that."

     "But, but, Uncle, it was the dragon!"

     "Now you see why she made it up!" Mrs. Crockery said. "Yes, the greedy dragon swooped down and robbed her. Hah!"

     "No, no. Really, I must have dropped it. But, but I can find it."

     "She's lying," Mrs. Crockery said. "She's probably got it tucked away in that straw with all her little things."

     "No, ma'am. No. You sold all my things. I don't have anything left."

     "Sienna," Banyan said, his voice angry, "where's the money? I want it now."

     "I swear I lost it. But I'll go look for it."

     "You miserable child," Banyan said. "After everything I've done for you, you're going to hold out on me? Well, you go ahead and keep that money, but you're going to earn back every last cent of it. You'll start tonight. Raphael's been waiting for you to get back."

     Sienna backed away. "No. No, please, Uncle. I'll do anything. Not that. I'll find the money."

     "He already paid. Finish the stables, clean up, and then come into the tavern. He wants a drink with you beforehand. Understand?"

     She dropped her head, staying quiet. Banyan and Mrs. Crockery left. She slumped down into her stall, sitting in the straw. She had been a princess an hour ago, and in an hour's time, she was to be a prostitute. How had she gone from two such extremes in such a short amount of time?

     She picked up her rake and got to work. Her eyes were vacant, her stomach in knots over what was to come. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. Maybe she could close her eyes, pretend it was Court, pretend she was a princess again, that this man was her prince, and that they were merely...making love.

* * *

     Court dismounted his horse as he reached the tavern. Now that his body was cooling down, the pain of his injuries was coming through.

     "Wellington, I'm going to need some attention."

     "Yes, your highness. Let us get you inside where it's dry."

     Wellington took the horse reins and passed them to the knights. Clance, Sven, Jents, and Crank took the horses to the stables as Finn, Morris, and Grotto came into the tavern with Wellington and Court. As soon as Court was inside, he sat down heavily at the nearest table.

     "Welcome back, your highness," Banyan said, bowing and smiling his fake smile. "Is there anything I can get you this stormy evening?"

     "Yes," Court said, pulling off his jacket. He found a hole in the shoulder and the fabric torn at the waist. "Gauze and burn ointment."