Princess Rosie and the Dragon

Chapter 3

Rosie's saddle was designed for the rider to more or less lie along the back of the dragon's neck, rather than try to sit upright. Rosie, a keen horsewoman when she had lived back in her father's kingdom, had adapted quickly to the different mode of riding. With Rose's input she had heavily modified the saddle, stripping out much of the padding and extra layers of leather, and redesigning the stirrups for her hands and feet, allowing her to grip much more securely as she lay along Willow's neck. With a little practice she was able to rise up like a jockey, quite secure and safe, yet with the wind surrounding her, streaming above and below her body, as if she were flying herself, and with her encouragement Rose had taken her on thrilling acrobatic jaunts, swooping through the mountain peaks, flying high in the sky, looping and diving.

Privately, Rosie also enjoyed their more sedate flights - with the saddle's padding gone she was free to lie flat, directly on Rose's scaled skin, feeling her powerful neck muscles move as she turned her head this way and that, the horn-like flight scales arching out and back from her forehead directing air streams onto her wings, allowing her to manoeuvre while remaining almost still. Rosie was never so content as when she and Rose flew together, with the rest of the world laid out beneath them, beautiful and distant.

"Here we are," Rose rumbled, as she curled her body over a little, allowing her wings to cup the air. Rosie lifted herself up as they landed gently on a wide field beside a picturesque town high up in the mountains, then dismounted as Rose craned her neck down, and helped her take off the saddle. Rose winked in thanks, then took a breath and changed, while Rosie opened one of the slim saddlebags and unfolded a light dress for her. The townsfolk were quite accustomed to a variety of strange and semi-mythical creatures, but Rose felt it was more polite on her part to be human-sized, and clothed, when she and Rosie visited.

"There's a new flag up," Rosie noted, looking to the edge of the field, where a couple of dozen pennants were flying from tall posts, some with crates and packages sitting beneath them.

"Last time I saw Cam she said she'd been contacted about a new job," Willow said. "Maybe that's her. Oh drat, that reminds me, I meant to stop by the lake and say hi."

"You go on," Rosie offered. "I'll meet you at the tavern?"

"Thanks," Rose smiled, quickly pulling her dress off again. "I'll just be ten minutes or so."

Rosie stood back as Rose took a running leap into the air, transforming mid-jump and soaring, with a beat of her wings that tossed Rosie's hair around in the sudden rush of air. She watched the dragon climb and bank off to the south with an affectionate smile, tinged with longing, then folded Rose's dress back up and headed into town.

Towersburg, as the name suggested, had grown up around the practice of secluding princesses in towers, and from its humble beginnings several centuries ago had become a bustling, prosperous town. Situated at the top of the only path into the mountains not infested with ghosts, treacherous pitfalls, avalanche-prone valleys or irritable monsters, it was the only safe way for anyone - besides suicidally brave heroes - to reach the mountaintops, where the future queens of anywhere up to thirty kingdoms could be living at any given time. Convoys carrying staple goods, as well as luxuries of every kind, were a frequent sight in Towersburg, which welcomed them with open arms. Being the only trading outpost in the region, catering to princesses with time on their hands and the considerable treasuries of their home kingdoms at their command, the town was profitable like no other.

"Mornin', Lady Rosie," the barkeep greeted her as she entered the tavern, a clean, lively-looking place currently inhabited by a few patrons enjoying an early lunch.

"Good morning Rolf," she replied courteously.

"Heard there was a hero somewhere about your area," Rolf said cheerfully.