by Kara Griffin
She wasn’t at all excited. The dragon prince would eat her. Yet she wouldn’t disappoint her papa and nodded. If she was a good lass, maybe he’d give her the gift now instead of waiting until she was older. Mayhap the dragon prince wasn’t hungry. And perhaps he wouldn’t eat her.
“Do I gots to meet him? Can I see him on the morrow?”
Her papa let out a bellowing laugh. “Aye, my wee baby. This day you will meet your husband. He shall be pleased with ye because you are the most beautiful lass in the kingdom.”
Katriona couldn’t hold back her smile. Only papa praised her beauty. Mama always chastised him too, because she said his compliments would turn her head. She didn’t know what her mama meant and so she kept her head still and her gaze on her handsome papa’s face.
“Let us hope King Pryce accepts her. I am disheartened, my love, at Heloise’s behavior. What an embarrassment. I am gladdened we remedied the tragedy.”
Her mama folded a blanket and set it aside. “We must hold hope they accept Katriona. At least we were able to settle Heloise with her suitor. All is not lost.”
Her papa frowned. “And well he should’ve accepted her, the miscreant for defiling our daughter. Heloise did it on purpose, aye, seduced the lad to take her so she wouldn’t have to wed King Pryce’s son. She did it just to be spiteful.”
“She did no such thing. She claims she was in love. You know how foolish one can be when love is involved. My darling, let us not speak of such matters in front of the children. We handled the situation. All will be well. Besides, we didn’t name which daughter we offered in the treaty. Katriona is the only one unattached, for Mali’s betrothal is well placed. Graciously the prince is only a half-a-score older than Katriona.”
Her papa grumbled and Katriona felt the rumble in his chest. “Aye, aye. By the time he takes her to wife, he will be a man, mature, and capable of protecting her. Still, I am not pleased to be sending my baby so far from home. The lands to the west are dangerous. But we need this treaty to keep our borders secure. I will not have our lands marauded again, our people killed, or those heathens setting foot on our soil.”
“Be calm, my darling. Worry not, for they will accept the treaty and the betrothal. Need I remind you, they want the treaty as much as we?” Clarisse took up the bowls on the table and said, “Mali, wash your hands and take your sister outside. We will gather to greet our guests.”
Her papa set her on her feet. She skulked by his side and held on to the hem of his tartan. Katriona didn’t want to go outside and she didn’t want to meet the dragon prince. “Please, Papa, do I gots to meet him today?”
Her papa smiled and caressed her face. “Aye, my sweet baby, you do. He’ll be pleased with ye too so cease your worry. You will bring him joy and laughter, for you always do to me. Now be a good lass and stay with Mali.”
“Keep yourselves clean,” her mama called when Mali took her hand. “Stay away from the puddles for it rained earlier.”
Katriona tried to pull away, but her sister held her hand tight.
Outside, many gathered near the keep. Their small kingdom was home to many families. Katriona usually liked celebrations and gatherings. Mostly because her parents were often kept busy greeting people or joining in the revelry. That left her free to wander. She liked the freedom and often got into mischief. Her siblings were all much older than she and they never played with her.
She didn’t mind because she spent her time at the stables or in the barn. She’d heard the steward talking about a new litter of wolfhounds that were born the day before when he’d given his morning report to her papa. She was supposed to be sleeping, but she liked to rise early. Katriona frequently sat on the keep’s stairs and watched the bustling servants and warriors coming to and fro in the early morning.
She didn’t want to meet the dragon king or his son. She didn’t want to be eaten either. What she wanted was to see the pups. If only she could sneak away when her parents were busy.
Mali squeezed her hand and hurt her fingers. She tried again to dislodge her sister’s hand, but Mali wouldn’t let go. Her eyes widened when the most beautiful horses cantered into the courtyard. Some of the manes were cut short and stood straight up. Others had pretty ribbons weaved with laces in the long tresses of the mare’s manes. She was in awe at the ladies who sat upon the horses too. They wore exquisite garments, gowns of beautiful colors, gleaming with beads and jewels.
Her mama and papa came out of the keep and stood at the base of the steps. Her brothers and sisters, those who still lived at home took the second step. She and Mali stood behind them on the third step. That suited her just fine because she could hide behind her siblings. Once everyone was focused on their visitors, she decided to sneak way. That was if she could get Mali to let go of her hand.
Her papa’s booming voice rose in greeting the dragon king.
“Pendragon, my comrade, Pryce, welcome. It is good to see you and your family. I hope the journey was uneventful for you have arrived safely.” He clapped the dragon king’s shoulder.
“Aye, nothing of account on the journey.”
Katriona squeezed between her youngest brother, Raen, and her third brother, Eric, to see the dragon for herself. She gasped and took hold of a lock of her hair and twisted it. The dragon king was taller than her papa and he looked meaner too. He had light hair and dark eyes, as dark as a dragon’s. He didn’t appear frightening except for his size. She craned her neck, her eyes wide in amazement.
Katriona watched the king present his family. After he introduced his wife, Queen Arrian, he turned and then the giant placed his hand on the shoulder of a lad. She held her breath, knowing he was the one she was supposed to marry – the dragon prince. Mama told her she would make him a fine wife, but Katriona didn’t understand what marry meant or what a wife did. She shook her head when the lad looked at her.
Her papa called her name and Mali shoved her forward with a poke between her shoulders. Katriona tripped on the edge of her gown and fell into Eric who caught her and set her to right.
Mama practiced what she should say and do, but she was too nervous and forgot. She fiddled with the ribbons lacing her frock and clung to her papa’s leg.
“My sweet daughter, Princess Katriona.” He nudged her forward.
“She has beauty and grace, Raedwald. We’re pleased with the treaty. Let us go and finalize the details and covenant,” the dragon king said.
“Aye, we have prepared a fine feast and have plenty of mead. We shall celebrate this eve,” her papa said and gestured toward the door.
Katriona wanted to close her eyes. She was sure the giant king would pluck her from the ground and take a bite of her. When she peeked at the lad, she remembered … She was supposed to lift her frock and curtsey. Her small fingers clasped the edge of her hem and she raised it slightly. But she lost her footing and fell head-first toward the giant dragon king.
She screamed loud enough to wake Freyja, her favored Goddess. Katriona knew she slept during the day and wove her magical love at night. At least, that’s what her mama told her. With her eyes scrunched, she felt herself being placed on her feet. When she opened her eyes, the dragon king’s eyes glared. He wasn’t pleased with her nor was her parents. She heard their gasps of displeasure, but dared not to look at them.
The big man laughed and his large hands released her. She breathed a sigh of relief when he didn’t set her near his mouth. The lad who stood with him frowned. A sob caught in her throat, but she couldn’t stop the rest. She wailed and tears streamed her cheeks. The lad glowered. She didn’t think much of him either. He had to be as old as her brother Eric who was ten summers older.
From behind her tears, her blue eyes widened when he smiled. Well, it was as much of a smile as he would allow. The dragon king’s son was tall and his face not yet covered with whiskers like her papa’s. He had dark hair that curled. Mama told her that papa scared her once and caused her hair to curl. She wondered what frightened the dragon prince
enough to curl his hair. Maybe the dragon’s fiery breath or his wide wings knocked him down? She wanted to ask, but kept quiet.
“She’s a beautiful lass and my son will honor her. Won’t you, Rhydderch?”
The lad didn’t appease his father or acknowledge the question with an answer until his mother prodded him. “Is she not lovely, Rhyder? Have you not a gift for her?”
“She’ll do as well as any,” he granted. He pulled a rope with a shiny object dangling from it and approached.
Katriona wanted to flee, but she also wanted to see what the object was. She tilted her head when he placed the rope over her head. The glint of the purple and white amethyst sparkled in her eyes.
His father grunted in approval. “Come, we shall toast to our future king and his queen.”
Her papa walked next to the dragon king and all else left her standing on the steps alone with the young dragon prince.
“You’re a wee thing and gawky. Aye, you will listen to me, lass.”
“Bother you. I don’t have to listen to you unless Papa tells me to.”
“You’ll obey me starting now. I’ll be your king and husband. Did I not give you a gift?”
Katriona didn’t like the way he spoke to her and she pouted her lips. “Fie on you. I don’t want your gift.” As much as she wanted to keep the stone, she pulled it over her head and tossed it back to him. She wouldn’t let him make her weep, but for some reason his abruptness made her want to cry. She took off in a sprint and ran as fast as her little feet could carry her. Tears dampened her cheeks. The barn was just ahead. It was the perfect sanctuary. She’d hide there until the unwanted guests left which she hoped would be soon.
When she entered the dark barn, she heard the sound of puppy yips and rushed to their pen. She’d forgotten all about them. There, four tiny gray wolfhound pups squealed and yapped. Their mama lay, wagging her tail. She smiled gleefully and was about to reach for one when she heard voices. Katriona slunk back and hid behind a crate.
“I tell ye, Rhyder, I saw her come in here.”
“What do I care, Sawyer? Let her be.”
“The lass is too young to be left on her own. You heard what your father said. She’s to be your queen.” His friend chortled. “Best start looking after her now.”
They entered the barn and stood near her pups.
“Stop teasing me or I’ll thrash you.”
Katriona heard them and hurried to hide herself in the upper loft. She took the rungs and climbed the ladder. They’d better not touch her pups. She sat at the edge of the platform overhead and watched them suspiciously, hoping they would leave. The dragon prince didn’t look as tall from where she perched on the platform.
“At least she isn’t unsightly,” Sawyer said and laughed. “I’d wager she still wets her nappy.”
“She is fairly young. I’d rather not have her as my queen, but the choice is not mine. I don’t need a lass to help me rule.”
Sawyer snickered and bent to retrieve one of the pups. She was about to call out because they were her pups, not theirs.
“You heard what your father said on the journey. It’s a good match and alliance. Not only will we our eastern borders be protected, but we in turn protect their western lands. What does it matter? You have years before you will take her as your wife. Mayhap by then she’ll grow some bosoms?”
Rhyder nodded and petted one of the pups. “I know we need the alliance, but I don’t want her or any lass. I have no time for trivialities. But I must obey my father though, for he is the king.”
She heard their harsh words. Even if she barely discerned what they spoke of, she understood the vehemence in their tone. The dragon prince was angry.
For some reason that made Katriona happy. She leaned forward and collected a good amount of spit in her mouth. She’d seen her brothers pull such a prank on the stable master and she’d do the same to the dragon prince and his friend. Just as she was about to release the spittle, she saw the biggest, fattest, ugliest spider crawling in the nearby hay.
Its black hairy legs moved and she gasped and choked on the spittle, drawing the attention of the dragon prince.
“There you are. Come down here at once.”
Katriona shook her head.
“I order you to come down now. You will heed me.”
“Nay.”
“Nay?” he sounded appalled.
“I cannot.” Katriona’s eyes widened as the vile spider moved closer.
“You will obey me, wee lass. I won’t put up with your insolence.”
The spider moved even closer and she crept backward, nearer the edge of the platform.
His friend had a good laugh. “You should beat her for her disobedience.”
The dragon prince turned a dark glance at his friend. “Be quiet, Sawyer, you’re scaring her. Lass, come down before you hurt yourself.”
She took a gulp of breath when the hairy spider ran up a board two inches from her arm. Katriona flung herself back and tumbled through the air. Her eyes squeezed shut and her arms and legs flailed.
The dragon prince caught her.
He held her in his arms.
Sawyer laughed and filled the barn with his loud chortle. “’Tis a good start, Rhyder, she’s already falling for you.”
He glared at his friend and set her on her feet and brushed hay from her hair. “Are you harmed?”
She shook her head. “There’s a big spider up there. Kill it.”
Sawyer grinned and said, “She’s already giving you orders.”
Ryder shoved his friend and took the ladder. He smashed his hand against the spider. “There, lass, it’s dead.” He climbed back down. “Killing a spider is nothing compared to taming a dragon.”
Katriona screamed loud enough to evoke the God Thunor and ran from the barn, positive the dragon prince was getting hungry.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kara Griffin has been writing for almost 20 years, publishing many novels, and has received praise from readers and reviewers alike. She’s been married for almost 30 years and has raised 3 wonderful daughters, who are on their own paths to love. Her second grandchild, a wee lass, joined the family in February.
When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading historical romances and watching any sort of historical drama and spending time with her family. Her writing partner, a fat tabby named Pearl (a kleptomaniac) can usually be found trying to steal items from her desk.
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