Purple Dragonfire

Better Than a Princess (Chapter 4)

Hope you enjoy! 

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Lance wasn't sure how much time had passed. It was dark outside, except for an occasional flash of lightning and rumble of thunder.

His own body begged for sleep, his eyes barely staying open.

Then his sleepy eyes spotted the violet orbs staring at him, clearer than before.

They were clearer, yes, but still livid and stormy.

The boy saw Lance's notice, and snarled as he struggled to sit up. He fell back to the stone floor.

Lance stood and reached to help him, but the teen shrank away, baring his fangs with a snarl as a warning. "Stay back."

"Geez, it's not like I patched you up and saved your life," Lance sneered back, before promptly sitting back down. He waited and watched the teen struggle before finally pushing himself up against the wall.

"Yeah, right," the dragon boy scoffed. "A human from Altea helping a dragon? Impossible. Besides, you gave me half my wounds and left an arrow in my arm!"

Lance sighed. "Sorry, that was my job--"

"To get left behind?" The dragon demanded.

That was harsh. It's not like Lance wanted to get left behind.

"At least I succeeded at my job as a squire."

The dragon glared at him. Lance's harsh words struck right back.

"I fulfilled my purpose," the dragon growled, staring at the fading embers. He tossed a few more sticks in to keep the glow alive. "I protected the princess until I no longer could. I was expecting to be slayed before your fellow knights fled with the princess, but that didn't work out."

Lance looked away. "By the way," the dragon continued. "Why didn't you kill me and run? You could've just left me to die and sent a flare to your ship."

"You're not used to people, are you?" Lance laughed.

The dragon didn't realize that his face had grown red while staring at the human.

Lance assumed it was just the heat from the fire. "I'll be honest, I thought about leaving you, but I realized my conscience wouldn't let me leave you hurt, dragon or no."

The dragon was silent for a moment.

"You're not afraid of me?"

Lance thought about it for a moment, as if consciously searching for any fear within himself. "Strangely, no, not really," he admitted. "Why? Should I be?"

"Uh, yeah," Keith answered, surprised by Lance's carefree nature. "I'm a dragon, a fire-breathing, rampaging monster, hated by all Alteans."

Lance was silent. Why did Alteans hate Keith so much?

"Are you here, alone by yourself?" Lance asked quietly. The dragon nodded. "I'm Lance, by the way. What's your name?"

"Why would I tell you?" The dragon scoffed.

"Because we established that I saved your life already!" Lance snapped back irritably. "If you don't want to tell me, then fine—!"

The dragon cracked a smile, the first time in a long while.

"Keith," he answered. "My name is Keith."

Lance couldn't help but smile back. "If your so alone here, why don't we go back to Altea together—?"

"No way," Keith countered, pushing himself to his feet. "They'd kill me on sight, and a dragon doesn't belong in human society. Besides, it's not like I'd let you escape that easily."

"But..." The squire's voice dwindled as the dragon started limping away deeper into the cavern.

"Since you injured me, I expect you to stay with me and assist me in my chores, Lance," Keith added over his shoulder. "You stay with me now, as my new princess."

"But I'm not a princess!" Lance retorted.

"Nope, you're better!" Keith chuckled before he disappeared from view.

Lance plopped down beside the fire with an irritated sigh. What do I do now...?

He gazed outside, the ocean dim under the moonlight hidden behind the clouds. Thunder tumbled across the horizon as rain started to pour.

Lance wrapped himself in his cloak and laid down, doing his best to stay warm as he searched for any sleep to come to him. Eventually, the blue eyes closed, memories of his family pulling him to sleep.