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  The dragon’s screech cut him off. Grasping her wrist, Dean dragged her toward the shoreline. Her side ached from running full speed. A warm wind caressed her body. Thunderous wings beat above the oak canopy. A black shadow blocked out the orange sky. Billowing fire blasted the tree tops, engulfing the dried branches.

  He shoved her ahead. “Run, girl, run fast! Do not stop despite what happens. Flee to the river!”

  “But—”

  He waved her to go.

  She watched over her shoulder as he fitted a large rock into his slingshot. Before she could stop him, he darted into the clearing.

  Flames crackled above. Princess sprinted on, but edged toward the tree-break instead of keeping to the shore. The beast’s wings beat like the smack of a whip, and its ear-splitting cry caused her to fall on her face.

  Dean the Messenger yelled in a loud, rolling voice, “FOR FREEEEEDOM!”

  He swung the sling in a wide arch as the monster swooped down on him. The rock smacked the dragon’s left temple. It faltered and fell hard on the ground.

  “For my King!” Dean shot several more rocks from the sling. The stones bounced off the beast’s tough hide.

  “What are you doing? Run!” Princess leaped to her feet. He didn’t listen.

  The dragon shook its head and rose into the sky. Shafts of fire and smoke discharged from its nostrils, its roar loud and fierce.

  Dean charged at Princess and yelled, “Run, now!”

  Princess sprinted, pushing every muscle past the normal limit. Her leg muscles screamed in agony. From behind, Dean the Messenger shouted, “For My King. For Free—”

  The night grew quiet.

  She halted beside the rushing waters, heart threatening to burst from her chest.

  No, no, no!

  The seconds passed with her panting breaths.

  He’d come racing toward her any second now. She searched the woods, the shore, straining her ears to listen. No running feet. No bellows from the dragon. No beating of wings from above, only the white-capped river.

  “No!” She fell to her knees.

  The medallion burned against her chest, reminding her that his sacrifice had bought her precious time to escape. She raced for the water as the messenger’s challenge echoed though her whole being, giving her a renewed vigor and energy. For freedom! I want freedom! I want to be free!

  Princess sprinted along the shoreline, repeating this to herself. The water foamed a brilliant white. Then another sound filled the air. Crashing limbs. Pounding feet. A terrible bellow, followed by a toasty burst of flames.

  The dragon now came for her.

  The beast plowed through the trees, perhaps too full to fly. Could she be so lucky that it might be too full to eat her as well?

  Heat seared her back. She dove into the river. Icy coldness prickled her body like a thousand sharp spikes. The stench of filth and decay filled her nostrils and throat. She clamped her mouth shut to keep from swallowing the putrid water. The shoreline flashed past, a blur as she spun in circles, left to the mercy of the crashing current.

  A mountainous splash knocked Princess into a mighty swell. She coughed, catching sight of blue wings and a spiked tail disappearing below the surface. Another wave pushed her forward, then the watercourse dropped out from beneath her. Princess tumbled into nothingness, completely airborne.

  Chapter 6

  The dragon tumbled over the waterfall right behind Princess. In desperation, she grabbed onto the downy mane growing along the beast’s back. Billowing wings flapped in the rushing wind like sails on a warship, at least slowing their decent a fraction.

  They plunged several feet into the swirling mist. Water filled her nose and screaming mouth. As the beast swam for the surface, she sought for a better grip. A golden cord tied like a leash around its neck provided the perfect hold as she rode the dragon down the rapids.

  “Get off,” gasped dragon over the roaring waves. “Get off me!”

  Shocked to hear the beast speak, Princess almost released the rope. It bucked like a wild horse. She held tighter, too frightened to let go.

  “You chokes me, pleeeaaase!” It not only spoke, but spoke in a child-like girl’s voice.

  “No!” Princess’ knuckles whitened. “You’ll eat me!”

  Coughing smoke and sparks, the dragon dragged itself up onto the shore.

  “The rope-” The beast’s eyes bulged as her long, claws clutched at the binding. “-hurts me… when you touch….”

  “How do I know you won’t hurt me?” The river had tumbled down into a mountain lake, surrounded by sharp, spiraling crags. How will I ever get down from here without being caught?

  “I swear! Please.” The young dragon started to cry.

  The childish whimpering tore at her heart. “All right! All right! But I’m staying right here where you can’t get me! Understand?” She hooked her legs beneath the wings, and grasped the mane below the cord. The pang of pity which tinged her conscious was cautionary all the same.

  “Don’t try anything, dragon, or I’ll pull until you stop breathing.”

  The drake’s body expanded as it sucked in a deep, ragged breath.

  Princess touched the creature’s shimmering, glass-like scales. Beautiful. Fine, flaxen tresses grew along her back. White, silken wings were almost transparent. At the end of the tail were small spikes, resembling a goat’s horn.

  “What’s up with the cord, dragon? I wasn’t pulling that hard.”

  “He makes strong magic. I chokes every time I get too near the edge of the mountains. And if I even just touch.” The dragon took another deep, gulping breath, and settled on the rocky shore. Smoke puffed from her nostrils in a steady stream as she groaned, “I should have never left my home! I should have listened to Gran-Maton.”

  “You’re captive, too? What happened?”

  “Well, I was just a baby and not big enough to have a good fire yet. A soldier caught me. Played a trick on me, the cheater. Then brought me here as a present to the dark king.” Another snivel caused a shower of sparks and steam. “He even tied a red ribbon around me.” Choking sobs shook the beast’s body. “I. Was. Humiliated.”

  Princess tightened her legs to keep from getting bucked off. Her hands accidentally fell back onto the rope, yet the dragon didn’t seem to notice this time.

  They might have made it half-way down the cliffs Princess reasoned. The castle towered high upon the mountain’s crest. From the distress the dragon seemed to be in, she’d probably reached her limit. Any farther and the cord would most likely cut off her breath.

  A rank smell from the lake still burned Princess’s nose and roiled her stomach. She had to get out of this putrid land. Had to. Would she be able climb down the rest of the way before Darnel realized she was gone and sent soldiers to bring her back?

  The dragon huffed another smoky sigh and rested her head on a rock. Princess felt sorry for the poor beast. Although the poor beast had just eaten a grown man.

  Her pity remained cautionary. They seemed to have a lot in common. Perhaps the dragon wanted to escape, too.

  Princess fidgeted with the knot. The cord loosened slightly.

  “I’ve also been a prisoner.” Princess broke the silence. “My chance to finally escape had come. Until you…took my one hope.” She shuddered, trying not to think of Dean’s death for the moment. Somehow she had to convince the dragon to let her go. “Now I don’t know what I’m going to do.” She continued tugging the rope’s knot.

  “But…you’re not supposed to escape. That’s bad.” Dragon shook her large head, and then added with awe, “Your friend was so brave, though. Yelling ‘For freedom!’ and all.

  “Oh, I wish I could be free of this hateful, rotten, stinking place! I know how you feel, girl. But if I don’t obey, he hurts me.” The dragon settled into the sand, her voice growing wistful. “My land was so beautiful, too. Tall evergreen trees, pristine waters and falls. There were so many fat cows and sheep to eat. We are guardians of King S
haydon’s treasure. He provides everything we need and more.”

  “King Shaydon?” exclaimed Princess. “That’s who I’m going to see. The messenger was to show me the way to the White Road. He said it would take me to Aloblase.”

  The dragon’s head twisted around to face her. “You want to…” Her eyes widened. “What are you doing?”

  “Nothing.” She jerked her hands away, despite seeing the knot had loosened.

  The dragon’s brilliant blues narrowed suspiciously. “You will have to go back. Go now, while I’m still full, and I’ll pretend I never ever saw you. Our little secret.”

  “I’m not going back!”

  “Don’t make me eat you, please. People really don’t taste that good, if you want to know. I can’t let you escape. He’ll find out and that would be very bad. I don’t want to be punished again.” A shiver tore through her body, ruffling her brilliant scales.

  Sweat beaded upon Princess’ forehead. The moon peeked over the horizon. Master already searched for her. Her back tingled. Would he use the looking scope to find her? She could pull the cord with all her might and kill the dragon instead. Her stomach twisted, as she realized she didn’t have the ruthlessness in her to harm the poor beast. In her nervousness, she continued to poke the knot until the loop moved again. Another idea, a slim possibility came to her mind.

  “Dragon, if I can get this off your neck, would you help me get to Aloblase?”

  “It’s impossible! Bad king made it magic. I’m trapped.”

  “What if I can?”

  The dragon stopped crying a moment, and turned to look at her. “Could you really? Will it hurt? Please don’t hurt me.”

  Biting her lower lip, Princess studied the knot, then she looked to the dragon. “What’s your name?”

  “Back home, I was called Crystal. I would have guarded those stones. We are named for the treasures we safeguard. My Maton protected the emeralds and my Gran-Maton, she watched over the King’s ruby mines. Very important she was.” Her blue eyes misted. “I really, really, really want to go home.”

  “Me too. They’ve called me Princess here, but I hate that name. I’d rather be called anything else.”

  Crystal wiped the wetness from her eyes with a long claw and said, “How about friend?” She smiled, showing two rows of razor sharp teeth.

  Princess gave a nervous laugh, no longer fearing the dragon, but instead, growing fond of her. “Friend is better than you calling me dessert.” She slid off the dragon’s back and now stood face to snout. “Do we have a deal?”

  Crystal’s wings trembled. “The White City is too far. Too dangerous. Dragons seldom fly far from their treasure. We’d stick out, you see?” She shook her head sadly. “But if you free me, I will take you to a safe place. Mountains are hard to get down. I’ll find you a nice town away from here. We both escape then. I hurry home. You hurry to Aloblase. Hurry real fast so the dark one can’t catch us again.”

  Her offer seemed fair enough. Princess had little hope of actually getting down the mountains safely by herself, anyway.

  Shifting the backpack, Princess studied the knot for a moment. Too bad she no longer had messenger’s dagger. Yet…magic worked according to one’s will, not force or weapon. If she focused her own will into making the cord come loose....

  She grasped the twine, thought hard on untying, and began to work the loops.

  Crystal gasped and choked. Princess let go. Her heart pounded so hard inside her chest, her ears vibrated. No matter what, Crystal couldn’t be harmed. She concentrated harder.

  The dragon cried for her to stop. “It’s useless. His magic is too strong.”

  “Listen, I’ve loosened a bit.” She wiped her sweaty hands on her damp skirt. “Can you take the choking for a minute more?”

  Crystal whimpered, but nodded. Princess tried not move the rope too much. It slipped a little. Crystal gasped for air. Princess tugged harder. Crystal fought to breathe, eyes popping.

  Frustrated, Princess yelled, “Let loose you stupid thing!”

  The gold cord fluttered to the ground.

  Both of them stared in shocked disbelief. Crystal took a step back, rubbing her claws over her bare neck.

  “Get on. Oh, hurry,” she pleaded. “He’s going to know. He’ll send out his bully soldiers to catch us!”

  Princess leaped upon Crystal’s back, right in the crook of her wings where she fit comfortably and secure. She grabbed a handful of silvery mane.

  “You’re going to love this!” Crystal’s wings beat loudly, sending up a cloud of dust.

  Indeed, as they rose into the velvety sky, Princess’s heart shot up into her throat. The dragon flew with such ease and care, Princess actually opened her eyes to the sparkling stars above. She held up her hands, wanting to touch them. Cool wind whipped through her tangled hair, drying the wetness and sending a pleasant chill down her spine. Laughter rose from within, and she whooped and hollered until Crystal gently reminded her to not make too much of a ruckus.

  In the east, a silvery band outlined a mountain range. “Is that Aloblase?” Princess leaned closer to the dragon’s head.

  “No, that’s only half way. The white city is somewhere past those mountains. I was very small when I visited, Aloblase, but I remember.”

  Princess’s joy waned. Such a long journey. Yet a good king really lived in a beautiful city. He wasn’t a mere fable. She was now on her way to meet the king who’d given her the medallion. Exhilaration coursed through her body like a lightning bolt.

  As they flew past the last mountain range, Crystal let out a loud whoop and cried, “I’m free! I’m really free! You did it! I’m free!”

  She shot higher amongst the stars. Both yelled with joy and laughter as the dragon twirled and spun through the purple sky. Princess was so excited, she forgot to be scared of the dragon’s acrobatics hundreds of feet in the air. The wind on her face and the expanse of land spreading out in the valley below settled the realization that she was finally free!

  Laughter eventually ceasing, Crystal pointed her nose in an easterly course. Desert spread below, occupied by a few sparse hamlets. Soon, the dead land became spotted with trees and meadows and farmland.

  Feeling like she was being pulled out of a mud pit, she took in the new land beyond her place of enslavement. A few towns appeared below, but Crystal didn’t slow in her easterly flight.

  The moon hung overhead when they came upon a valley where nearly a hundred pale tents reflected the moonlight. Dragon circled, rising higher. A short distance to the north, they both saw the twinkling lights of a village.

  Crystal flew in a zigzagging pattern, searching out the land.

  They set down in a small clearing next to a dirt road, which disappeared into dense woods. Princess slid off her scaly back onto damp grass.

  “If I get any closer, they might shoot me. Follow this road to that town.” Crystal instructed. “They should help you.”

  “What are all those tents?”

  “Might be Aloblase warriors. In this dark, I’m not sure. They looked colorful which means they don’t belong to the bad king. That’s good. But who knows if the Racan army isn’t around somewhere? That would be bad. Do be very careful.”

  Princess’s legs wobbled from the ride, and she stepped from one to the other to get blood flowing again. The flight had been fun, but she was glad to be back on the ground.

  “Hurry real fast and stay on the road so you don’t get lost, friend.”

  Princess stepped in front of the dragon and smiled. Who would have dreamed the terrible beast contained such a tender heart. Who, like herself, only wanted to go home?

  “Thank you, Crystal. That was…amazing.”

  The dragon brushed her warm nose against Princess’ neck. Sulfuric heat washed over her chilled body.

  “I’m sorry about…. I…I...wish I could undo everything,” Crystal paused. “Well, almost everything. I will always be your friend, and you mine.”

  Princess’s
throat tightened, but her words faltered. She threw her arms around the dragon’s neck and hugged her tight. She’d had few real friends in her lifetime. Quickly she let go and headed toward the road.

  “Stay hidden,” Crystal called after her, “until you get to the village. Stay away from beasties.”

  Princess stopped, “What are beasties?”

  Wings flapped, sending dust and the dragon up into the sky. “For Freedom!”

  “For Freedom!” Princess waved goodbye. Fighting down the growing apprehension about beasties, she entered the shadowy woodland.

  Chapter 7

  Beasties, huh?

  The dark woodlands swallowed the narrow dirt lane barely wide enough for a horse cart to maneuver.

  Even if she met one, how would she know? Wouldn’t a dragon be considered a beastie? That ugly troll-man was certainly beastly. And he smelled of rotten eggs.

  Her stomach rumbled. She started for the tree-lined road, legs wobbling like thin reeds. A loud grumble came from her gut, a mixture of fear and hunger. Did the messenger have any food in his pack? After her trip down the waterfall, everything inside was most likely wet.

  If only the black tree limbs didn’t loom over her head like jagged teeth. She imagined the road turning into a giant tongue and threatening to gobble her up. Her feet stumbled. Oh, what silliness! There’d be many woods on the way to Aloblase. Now is no time to lose courage.

  A piercing screech echoed through the forest. She peered back to where the dragon left her. In the hazy distance the mountain city of Racah shone like twinkling dots. Crystal had spared her a few days of traveling, yet she was still too close.

  The full moon crested in the star-sparkled sky. There might be four or five hours before daylight. Master would come after her. She needed to keep going, no matter how long the journey took. Don’t think of the distance, just focus on getting to the little town. That’s all you need to do.

  Weariness hung on her like a heavy woolen blanket. She shifted the backpack. No sense carrying a bag full of wet, ruined items. Finding a flat rock a short distance off the road, she collapsed, letting the pack slide from her aching back. Now that she’d finally stopped, her body protested its recent treatment. The creamy velvet dress hung around her scraped legs in stained tatters. Hopefully once she reached the town, she’d be able to find a place to take a hot bath.