The Dragons' Chosen (19 page)

They were silent then. I could feel their discomfort. I wasn’t grateful or honored. Neither was I so deliriously happy not to be destined for the dinner plate that I was eager to marry one of these things.

They also failed to see that this conversation was over. I needed time to think, to lick my hurt feelings and to decide how to deal with these men who weren’t men.

Hugh’s mouth twitched in annoyance, but he continued. “It was necessary. We didn’t want you to harm yourself, but the Pact must remain secret.” He set his shoulders before he spoke again. “This is no different than any other politically arranged marriage.”

He was right. This really was no different from what my parents had prepared me for all my life. I was born and bred to be married to a powerful ruler. Married off to acquire land or strengthen ties between kingdoms. My hands gripped my fine silk skirt, now covered with dirt and grime. But
never
had I been treated like this, never pulled as a puppet by invisible strings, nor had I ever expected to wed a beast.

Hugh continued. “It’s simple. This serves the needs of both our countries. We have spent a great deal of time and effort selecting you. Look at this from a practical view; because we remain part human, your country is safe and fruitful. This is a good alliance, a good match.”

He walked back and forth, his hands behind his back. “I’m here and think you lovely and charming. You’re here and, I hope, see me in a similar light. Anything else can be discussed after our return home.”

Chris interrupted him. “Why the rush?”

Hugh looked like he might ignore her, but then spoke. “The winter storms are due. Wind, hail and lightning that make flying difficult.” He nodded. “So perhaps you should collect your things and say your goodbyes to your friend.” He jerked his head at Chris.

“Or perhaps not,” I responded.

I put my knife away and beckoned to Chris. “While I appreciate all the effort to which you have gone, I shall not make such a momentous decision without somber reflection.” As I spoke, Hugh’s mouth turned down and he shook his head. Perhaps he wasn’t used to being opposed. “Your
offer
will receive every consideration.” I sat my now empty trencher down and rose to my feet, taking care not to acknowledge Tristan in any way.

“It has been instructive meeting you and your relatives. I appreciate you taking the time to present me with these specifics. Unfortunately, I am still recovering from the ill effects of my journey here…and from the potion that I was given before our meeting.”

He stood there tongue-tied, clearly displeased.

“Was that part of the treaty also? The sleeping potion?” I inquired politely. I didn’t need to wait for a response. I needed to leave before I behaved inappropriately. “I shall retire now and think on your proposal.”

He jumped to his feet, reaching out his hand as if to grab my arm. “You can’t leave!”

I looked at his hand as if it were a worm.

I drew myself up to my full five foot two and turned the force of my righteous anger on him. “Are you saying that I am a prisoner? Did I misunderstand your intent?” I snapped.

“No, but for your safety…” he began.

“Did you bring me to a place where I am not safe? Or are you saying that you and yours are not safe?” I countered.

“No, no. Nothing like that, but…”

“In that case, we shall retire.” I stood, glancing around at the food cooking over the fire. “Until further notice, we will take our meals in our—accommodations.” My eyes scanned the area, taking in the diverse expressions of shock.

“I believe that this conversation is concluded. Any further discussion should be relayed through my—” I nudged Chris.

She jerked to attention. “Lawyer.”

“Counsel,” I amended. I turned and started back up the stone steps. Chris trotted after me looking slightly befuddled.

One of the men, James, the one who had a very detailed memory of history, stepped forward, handing Chris a satchel and couple of blankets as she brushed by. “It’s cold.”

Chris shrugged him off, but took the blankets and the satchel.

Chapter 26

When we returned to our cave room, Chris tugged at my sleeve. “Okay, now we know this was all a scam. Let’s leave. I don’t believe these guys will try to force you to go with them. They’re not going to stop you from returning to your family. We can walk out of here and be back to your people in, oh….” Her voice trailed off as if she realized what she was suggesting. “Four or five weeks?”

As the afterglow of my temper wore off, I realized what I had done: defied dragons. Five of them, to be precise. I hid my trembling hands at my side and shook my head at her. Chris was opposed to my staying here and engaging with them; there was no need to let her know how frightened I really was of these creatures. Or how I had longed for one of their company to comfort me.

I investigated the contents of the satchel that James had pressed on Chris. “Lovely, just a cheery stroll through wolf-infested lands. No food, no horses. Or perhaps you see us flying high above, clutched protectively in the dragons’ talons.”

Chris didn’t respond.

“And then after we return from this casual walk through the wilderness…” I put my finger on my chin.

“Yes, I can see myself going before my parents now. No, they were not going to eat me; there never was any danger. And, yes, it would have made an excellent alliance. Yes, I was willing to go to my death for duty, but not to marry. I walked away.”

I had to stop speaking or I would cry. I remembered my mother’s last hug, her face white as she gripped me as if she would never let me go.

I covered my silence by pretending interest in unpacking the contents of the satchel while I gained control of my tears.

I pulled out a simple divided gown, made for riding, and some small-clothes. There was also a cloak made of short brown fur and a pair of sturdy boots; all seemed to be my size. I cringed inwardly, realizing these creatures were so knowing of my person. They had planned everything carefully, every detail considered.

“I need to think on this. I need information and time.”

Chris threw her hands up in disgust. “What is there to think about? They are talking about an agreement from eight hundred years ago! That’s like forever.”

I shook my head at her again. “No, it isn’t. Many treaties are that old or older.” My hands clenched and unclenched. I struggled to relax. “It isn’t much different to what was always my destiny—a negotiated marriage to some royalty in a far-off kingdom. It’s merely taken a different form than I anticipated.” I willed myself to face the thought of marriage to Hugh—a dragon. A monster.

Chris started pacing. “You can’t be taking this seriously.” She looked around our quarters as if searching for a solution among the roughly crenelated stone walls. “Maybe I can take you back to Berkeley with the card. I’ll tell them…I don’t know, we’ll think of something.”

I sat down, trying to calm myself, to think. “What about the Pact? It is an agreement between my land and theirs. It can’t be dismissed out of hand.”

Chris walked back to me. “But you’ve never seen it, it’s just their say-so. And, even if it exists, it’s just a piece of paper that some men—sort of men,” she amended, “who are dead—long dead, I might note—cooked up a zillion years ago. Let it go.” She waved her hands through the air.

“But it’s a compact that is keeping my country, my people, my land from destruction. This is about duty. Father would say that it should be honored.”

Chris tilted her head up to the stone ceiling in exasperation. “Why are you accepting their story? Your father doesn’t even know about this Pact. You told me. He thinks you’re a dragon snack by now—delivered by Tom the Troll.”

I wished she weren’t so vulgar.

“My father may not know the specifics, but he knew enough to send me, to not refuse them. If I invalidate the agreement, what harm am I inflicting on my country?”

“Well, whatever, you can’t just hand yourself over to some guy because he says so. This is blackmail, coercion. It’s…it’s paternalistic!” She looked at me as if assessing my understanding.

I glared her down. “I’m a princess. Royal marriages are part of our alliances. An important part of our lives. As I’ve told you dozens of times, this is how my world is, how it is run: on treaties, alliances, and balance.”

Chris started pacing again. “These so-called men are the enemy. They’re using you. You’re playing the role of willing sacrifice for your family and they’re not even here to applaud.” She stamped her foot and stared at me then, and I stared back.

“You’re a wuss! After all we’ve been through, are you going to roll over and play dead?”

“This is how royal families arrange marriages. Not even my brothers can marry for love.” I could feel the tension roiling through me, my shoulders tightening.

She shook her head. “This is wrong. You’re going to trail after these lizard-men like a lamb with a pink ribbon around its neck. You’re surrendering. You’re giving your life to these…these hybrids to be a broodmare, a dragonette carrier.”

“I am not surrendering!” I screeched. We were both surprised at my outburst. I took another breath, trying to compose myself.

It would seem that there was no middle ground for Chris and me on this subject. We were loud enough that the stone walls bounced our voices back, sounding like a mob of people. It was undignified. I lowered my voice. “I need time. Time to figure out what is best for Verdeux, and what is best for me.”

“Fine!” Chris took in a deep breath and started in again at a whisper. “Okay, let’s look at it from another perspective. Let’s assume, temporarily, that this Pact keeps these ‘creatures’ from devolving into real dragons and overrunning your world, like locust or kudzu or Nixon.” She trailed off. “Why do you have to marry him? What about a friendly handshake and we part as friends? Or you could change places with some nice girl from your town who wants to raise dragon babies. So they don’t get the prom queen this time. They really only need a female who is willing to breed with a half-dragon.” Her voice was rising up in volume again and I put my finger to my lips to remind her that we might be heard.

I stood up tall and addressed her. “I
am
special. I’m a princess.”

Chris threw up her hands and stomped back across the floor.

A hollow feeling grew as I contemplated my new fate. A fearful image of my marriage bed leapt into my mind. I resisted putting my face into my hands and sobbing.

Chris tromped back, obviously preparing another verbal tactic.

She leaned over, whispering, “Yuck. Think about it. You’re to marry Hugh, a lifetime with ‘mister I-am-your-lord-and-master,’ just because his name is embossed on a piece of paper. Sure, he’s pretty, in an over-muscled, Errol Flynn kind of way, but he’s a prick. He’s too full of himself. I mean, we’re talking serious testosterone poisoning here.”

“Wait, what did you say?”

“That he’s a prick?”

“No, not that.” I thought about my father’s council, the papers they pored over before agreeing to a new compact, that I had read myself as part of my training. “I need to see the contract. I need to know what the boundaries are concerning my obligations to these people.”

I pulled out the pawn my father had given me and sat down on the cold stone. I smiled. It was my move.

Chapter 27