by K. M. Shea
The prince unsheathed his sword. “Where is the dragon? If I’m going to rescue you I’m going to do it right and kill that miserable lizard.”
“Azmaveth!” I bellowed as loud as possible. Surprisingly I was loud enough to rouse Azmaveth from his lab.
A huge shadow fell over the prince and I, and we turned to gaze at Azmaveth, whose giant head blocked out the sun. His eyes were gaining glints of black as he saw the prince’s hand clasped hard around my wrist.
“Leave her be,” Azmaveth growled, a sound that started low in his chest and worked its way up his throat. Even I was frightened. The prince, however, was another matter. He pushed me in the general direction of his horse and smirked as he confidently/foolishly strode towards Azmaveth.
“Perfect,” the prince said. “I have finally met a worthy opponent!” he yelled before jumping at him. He hammered down on Azmaveth rock hard scales. The blow glanced off Azmaveth’s chest and appeared to have broken the prince’s wrists. He cursed and dropped the sword as he shook his hands.
“Does he actually think he can beat me?” Azmaveth asked me over the prince.
“Maybe,” I volunteered with a shrug of my shoulders.
The prince gave up on his weaponry and instead shot a ball of fire at Azmaveth’s head.
Azmaveth ducked and missed it.
“This is stupid,” Azmaveth decided. “I’m just going to kill him now and get it over with,” he said as he flexed his paw and eyed his silver claws.
“No!” I shouted startling Azmaveth. The prince took advantage of the moment and tried to stab Azmaveth in the paw with his sword. Instead his sword sparked and made an interesting and promising cracking noise.
“Why not?” Azmaveth whined when the sparks subsided.
“I don’t want any blood spilled,” I darkly warned him as he reached out and snagged the prince in one giant paw.
“Fine. Have it your way, fine. I’ll go dump him in a lake then. It will take me a while. The nearest lake is a good half an hour away,” he added, sounding disgruntled and perhaps the tiniest bit disappointed. “Good bye my sweet princess! I’ll be back!” He dramatically gushed before flouncing off, taking to the sky with the prince and the prince’s horse trapped in his claws.
I shook my head and went back into the den, confident that Azmaveth would return by morning. I was wrong.
I woke up the next day and happily skipped into the kitchen. I hurried into the main hallway, scuttling to Azmaveth’s room. Without ceremony I flung the giant door open, frowned at the disgusting piggy mess, and set my sights on his bed. His empty bed. I scowled and ran to the lab, the library, his washroom, and lastly I returned to the kitchen. Azmaveth was nowhere to be found.
I considered the problem at hand for several moments before brushing it off. He probably stopped to visit Rose or Shammah. Azmaveth was always doing things like that. One time he told me he was going to get the mail and he didn’t return until the following morning because he had seen Shammah, and then a met wizard who showed him a rabid unicorn, and together the three of them ran into a griffon who wanted so desperately to serve them tea…his story went on, and on, and ON! In fact the only way to shut him up was to assure him that all was forgiven and most certainly forgotten.
Knowing this I was not worried about Azmaveth, nor did I wonder about his whereabouts. Instead I rolled up my sleeves and worked in the kitchen.
I cleaned cupboards (That were roughly the size of my bedroom.) for nearly the entire morning and afternoon. There was still no sign of Azmaveth. I shrugged it off and went out to get the mail…again.
It was dusk by the time I walked all the way back down our driveway after retrieving the mail. To my surprise there was a dark shape waiting by the doorway.
“Excuse me, can I help you?” I politely asked. The giant torches on either side of the door sputtered to life, and I gasped. It was the glacier prince.
“I said I’d take you, and I will!” he vowed, his eyes gleaming.
You gotta hand it to that boy, he perseveres. I, however, didn’t like look in his eyes. He stepped closer to me and I backed up, feeling the insides of my pockets for my dagger or flute. I found neither and cursed myself, making a silent promise that if I got through this I would be sure to carry them with me everywhere.
“What about killing Azmaveth?” I weakly reminded him, hoping to sidetrack him.
“Considering I obviously beat him back here, I’ll say that counts. Besides, I don’t have time to waste,” he scoffed as he jumped at me. I leapt backwards, out of his reach and glanced around the driveway. He was blocking the path between me and the cave, and as far as I knew the nearest neighbor was about two miles away. Bottom line? I was in deep trouble.
Once more he lunged for me and I leaped backwards again, trying to stay over an arms length away from him. He angrily eyed me. I could tell he never thought I’d refuse him. “Don’t you want to see your brother?” he coaxed. I paused for a moment, caught completely off guard.
He took this second to pounce on me, grabbing me by the waist before slinging me over his shoulder.
“Put me down!” I frantically screamed as I kicked and punched his armor-covered body. He ignored me and mounted his horse.
“Azmaveth!” I yelled, hoping that by some miracle he would come soaring down from the sky. He didn’t.
The prince snickered and placed me in front of his him on his mount, wheeled his horse around, and cued the horse down the drive way. To our surprise another dark shape stood between us and the end of the driveway.
He wasn’t close enough to the torches for me to see him, but I could tell that he was wearing sky blue robes.
“Stand aside!” the prince snarled as I tried to climb off his horse while he was distracted. He caught me by the waist and hauled me back onto the saddle, my back painfully scraping against his armor.
“The lady asked for you to put her down,” the shape respectfully said.
“The princess is in her wrong mind. Now move or I will run you over,” the prince confidently scoffed as his charger snorted and pawed at the ground.
I squeaked and the shape made no movements. “Have it your way,” the prince said, kicking his horse which shot forward.
The man in the middle of the road muttered and his hands glowed with blue lights. There was a blinding light and the horse reared, sending the prince and I flying. I screamed and cringed as I prepared myself for the hard landing, but to my surprise I was cradled in the arms of the stranger. I looked up and the light, which hadn’t disappeared, illuminated him.
“You’re the stalker mage from yesterday afternoon!” I blurted out as I recognized his brown hair and sky blue eyes.
He cringed at my word choice.
“Thanks,” I added, intending to soften the blow. I blushed when he didn’t release me. His eyes were fastened on the prince who was slowly standing up.
“Arrogant wizard!” the prince said, glaring as he unsheathed his sword and rushed at us.
The mage blinked and a huge fireball shot towards the prince. He dodged it but got the ends of his golden hair singed. The prince, more furious than ever, leaped at us again.
This time a river that appeared out of nowhere rushed forth and surrounded the prince and his horse. “Leave and never return to this hallow,” the mage yelled most impressively over the roar of the waters. The river surged and carried the prince and his mount away.
“They’ll be fine, right? Would you put me down? Why are you here anyway?” I asked, unable to stop the babble of questions that burst from my mouth.
“Yes, the prince and his steed will survive,” the mage soothed as he set me on my feet. “The river will drop them off at the house of a particularly dumb princess. They will be a perfect match,” he predicted. “That’s what I would like to think anyway. Who knows what will happen to him?”
My forehead wrinkled. This boy seemed odd. “Thank you for saving me,” I said with sincerity. The mage blushed, his light magic still
lighting up the driveway for us. “Erm,” I said. It was only right that I invite him in for a cup of tea. But after that prince experience I wasn’t exactly cheering for male company at the moment.
In the end my good breeding won out. “Would you like to come inside for a cup of tea?” I politely asked.
“Yes, please,” the mage said with a smile before we turned to enter my temporary home. I led him down the hallways, making a beeline for the kitchen. I set the mail on the table and went into the kitchen with the mage behind me. As I prepared a cup of tea I started to pump him for information.
“So, what’s your name?” I asked.
“Aaron,” he answered with a sweet smile.
“My name is Ahira,” I said as I carefully poured the piping hot drink into a tea cup. “I saw you in the woods yesterday. What were you doing there?” I asked.
He looked a little uncomfortable. “I was originally there to pick some of the Ever Blossoms. But I saw you and your dragon, Azmaveth, right?” he asked and I nodded. “Once I saw you and your dragon I became fascinated. Dragons are moody creatures who generally don’t like their princesses. I was astonished to see your loving relationship,” he said as I became minutely disturbed while I passed over his cup of tea.
“It’s not really like that. Why were you in the area? I’m very grateful that you rescued me, but it is evening…,” I trailed off.
Aaron blushed. “I happened to be nearby and I heard you scream for Azmaveth. I thought it sounded like you might need help,” Aaron carefully replied before baiting me and switching topics though. “I walked into a tree when I heard your shout. Amazing, out of all dragons you are placed with Azmaveth.”
“What do you mean?” I asked as he took a sip of his tea.
“Azmaveth is a duke. That’s the highest possible rank besides the title of Dragon King,” Aaron rambled, his eyes were glowing with happiness.
“So what?” I asked, unimpressed. Azmaveth, even if he was a duke, was still Azmaveth: a dirty, piggy, little slob with an enormous appetite.
“So what?” Aaron raved. “You have power,” he said, thrusting a finger in my direction. “He very clearly dotes upon you! Do you know what you could do?”
I was about to inform Aaron that I would die happy if Azmaveth just learned to pick up his dirty dishes, but instead the tunnels ran with the delighted tones of Azmaveth’s voice.
“Ahira, I’m home!” he rumbled. “You are never going to guess where I’ve been,” he said as he trotted into the kitchen while concocting possibly the biggest lie I would ever hear in my life. “I know. I’m late, I’m late, but it wasn’t my fault! You see on my way back from the lake I ran into this cat. But it wasn’t really a cat, it was a pig. Don’t ask. I also met a sphinx who had forgotten his riddle, so naturally I had to help him. Then I ran into a wood elf who had ironically gotten himself lost in the woods, and then I—who is this?” Azmaveth said, abruptly cutting off when his purple eyes landed on Aaron.
“Azmaveth this is Aaron. Aaron, Azmaveth.” I introduced them as Azmaveth’s eyes became murderous. “Aaron saved me from that prince you were supposed to take care of,” I wryly said as the wizard shuddered under the dragon’s glare.
“He returned?” Azmaveth questioned, turning his gaze onto me.
“Yes. You took your merry old time getting here, so the prince beat you back,” I carelessly flaunted.
Azmaveth went back to glaring at Aaron, who bowed. “I was just leaving,” he stuttered, tripping over himself as he all but ran out of the room. Apparently he had all the courage and bravery of a mouse.
After Aaron appropriately fled I fixed Azmaveth with my own dark glare. “You were being mean!” I accused as Azmaveth still looked mad.
“He had your scent all over him! What did you do? Hang on him?” he snarled.
“What is your problem?” I demanded. “I’ve been alone all day, the prince attacks me, and Aaron was nice enough to rescue me and you dare waltz in here acting like I’m a traitor,” I growled.
“What is my problem?” Azmaveth bellowed. He was about to continue but I interrupted.
“You’re such a spoiled brat!” I screamed in a pitch so high I’m sure I did permanent damage to Azmaveth’s ears. I ran to my bedroom, slamming the new oak door in Azmaveth’s eye.
“You get back out here right now!” he roared.
“MAKE ME!” I yelled back rolling over as I plugged my ears and folded my pillow around my head.
Azmaveth continued to roar and growl outside my door, but I ignored him with great determination. Eventually he stomped away.
Several times that night I heard some rather loud explosions come from his lab.
Chapter 7the Dragon Steward
The following morning I rolled out of bed and instantly grabbed my dagger, flute, and charm bracelet. I had learned my lesson.
I washed and readied myself for the day. Explosions were still sounding from Azmaveth’s lab, so I made breakfast and left it on a tray next to the door before I retreated to the kitchen to eat by myself.
I busied myself right away. I scrubbed the kitchen floor and cleaned my room. Before I knew it, it was noon, my most hated hour because that meant the mail was delivered.
I stomped out of the den, shoving the front doors open, before tramping down the driveway. There was nothing in our mail hole.
I growled.
Azmaveth would undoubtedly make me come out later to check it again. He was convinced that he was a spectacular dragon who should receive mail every day. I angrily muttered and grumbled as I started stalking back to the den. I halted in my tracks when I was a stone’s throw from the front door.
There was a strange young man standing outside the den, reaching for the doorknob. I immediately panicked, he had to be a prince. (An awfully gutsy prince, but still a prince.)
“What do you think your doing?” I sharply asked as I felt in the pockets of my apron for my dagger.
The prince whirled around and I stopped moving. Heck, I almost stopped breathing.
He was quite tall with a feline feel to him. His hair was a deep black with a purpleish hue, the same shade of Azmaveth’s darkest scales. His hair was carefully kept and was as silky as a girl’s. His eyes were by far the most attention grabbing of his whole persona, though. They were a deep purple with rings of silver in them.
The prince spoke, snapping me out of my reverie.
“I’m going inside,” he said as if he thought it was obvious. He looked only a little older than me. He was handsome, by far the most handsome man I had ever met… but there was something very distinctive about him that irked me. He inexplicably roused my temper.
“And who are you?” I asked.
“Kohath,” he supplied, as if that answered everything.
“Ah. Kohath, why are you going inside?” I asked, pinning him in place. “You’re not a prince, are you?”
Now it was his turn to stutter. “Oh…well…you see, um, I’m Azmaveth’s steward,” he said.
“Steward?”
“Yes. I’m in charge of his lands. I report to him.”
“Why haven’t I seen you before then?”
“Because Azmaveth told me to stay away, something about a book he was reading…All About—.”
“What’s with your hair and clothes?” I asked, interrupting him. I heard enough about that blasted book from Azmaveth. I didn’t need to hear about it from his steward as well.
Kohath looked down at his clothes and then back up at me in confusion. He was wearing black pants with black boots, and a baggy dark purple, almost black, shirt. “What’s wrong with them?” he asked, sounding worried.
My, he must be vain. “Your hair is purple,” I observed, and he relaxed.
“Oh, that. As you know our lord’s colors are purple and white. He had me dye my hair and wear dark colors to match his colors,” he explained. He said it as if it were a very logical process, but he had me worried. Would Azmaveth make me dye my hair?!
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��So what do you want?” I asked as I approached him, satisfied that he wasn’t a prince.
“I have to talk to Azmaveth,” Kohath said in an annoying, superior tone.
I gave him a pinched look. Something told me he and Azmaveth got along swimmingly. “Come this way,” I ordered, stepping around him to open the door before stepping into the depths of the cave. Kohath followed me and we walked to the sitting room in silence.
“He’s probably in his lab,” I tossed over my shoulder as I continued on to the kitchen.
“Keh,” Kohath, the ungrateful rat, snorted as he walked on to the lab.
I rolled my eyes and got lunch ready. Once Kohath roused Amaveth from his lab the dragon was sure to be bellowing for lunch. His stomach was on a strict schedule.
Sure enough, half an hour later as I set a steaming tray of rolls on the table Azmaveth came scuffling through the cave like a malnourished animal.
“Where’s Kohath?” I asked.
“He left moments ago,” Azmaveth replied.
An uncomfortable silence fell over the table as we ate. Both of us quickly finished and Azmaveth was about to leave when I asked. “Azmaveth?”
“Hm?”
I swallowed. The question was weighing too heavily on my mind, I could think of nothing else. I had to ask him. “Um...I was wondering,” I stumbled, looking for the right words. “Are you going to make me dye my hair like Kohath?” I blurted out.
Azmaveth stared blankly at me for a moment before cracking into a great belly laugh. He appeared to have spasms on the ground for a good minute before he abruptly straightened up. “No,” he answered before going back to his great, snorting laughter.
I wryly scolded myself for breaking down and asking him. There would be no living with him for weeks now. I wandered outside, scowling because I could still hear Azmaveth laughing, and shut the door.
I heaved a great sigh before I walked into the forest. No, I’m not stupid. I studied a map of the surrounding area so I at least had an idea of where I was at all times.