"So will you do it?" Declan demanded, puffed chest beginning to deflate. Crow folded his arms across his chest and cocked one eyebrow.
"Fighting dragons is pretty dangerous, little princeling," Crow drawled to him. The prince bristled. Crow smirked. "My apologies. Fighting dragons is pretty dangerous, Your Grace."
The prince fought to keep his composure.
"What would I get in return for helping you on this little quest?" Crow continued. He had every intention to accept the prince's request; he had always wanted to fight a dragon, but making the boy flustered was incredibly entertaining.
"Gold, lands, a castle, a title. Anything you like," Prince Declan replied. Crow's smirk widens.
"And how come you're going to rescue the princess? Isn't the hero supposed to rescue the damsel? Her knight in shining armor to carry her home and wed her," Crow went on to say. "Unless you've got some weird, taboo want for your sister."
The prince's jaw hardened and his hand flew to the sword at his hip. Crow held his hands up in surrender.
"Alright, alright, easy Your Grace. I mean no disrespect," Crow said with a laugh. When the prince relaxes, Crow added: "If that's the case, I'll ask for the princess as my reward."
"No, absolutely not," Prince Declan snapped. Crow leans back again.
"Fine. Good luck bringing your dear sister home safely."
Crow watched Declan mull over this ultimatum. As he waited, Crow let his eyes close to infuriate the princeling even more.
"Fine," Declan finally surrenders. "You can marry her if I see that you're a decent, honorable man and Annora wants to marry you as well."
Crow pretended to mull this bargain over just as deeply as the prince.
"Deal," Crow accepted, sticking his hand out to the prince. Declan couldn't hide his sneer as he grasped Crow's hand and shook. In turn, Crow pulled him in and slapped him on the back. "And don't look so somber all the time. I'm great company."
"Yes I'm sure," Declan replied stiffly and attempted at a smile. He butchered it. "We'll leave the city at dawn."
Crow snorted.
"Why not just leave now? Dawn's only an hour or two away."
"I need to get my things," the prince snaps. He gave another impression of his father that made Crow want to roll on the floor laughing and and spun out of the private room, golden cloak swirling after him.
Crow covered his face in his hands and laughed.
He wandered back into the tavern to find it's occupants whispering in hushed tones after the departure of the prince. Only Shea cried out to Crow. The middle aged bar tender raised up the glass he was polishing and let out a whoop.
"And the mighty hero returns unscathed. What did our great and noble prince request of you?" Shea boomed.
"To go on a quest with him," Crow remarked as he sat down at the bar.
"Look at you, getting attention from nobility for your talent now," a reeking man at Crow's elbow remarked. Crow ignored him.
"And you're going?" Shea asked Crow. He nodded in response.
"I figure it'll be interesting at the least. There's a reward at the end. Castles and gold and a princess and such," Crow replied lazily. Shea poured him a pint of ale and slid it over to where he sat. Crow brought it to his lips and took a long sip. "Besides, there's a dragon involved."
