Destroyers and the Dragons

Page 37

 I add a few other ingredients and then serve it up in the stale bread, which I've turned into trenchers. The group eats happily that night and go to bed with full bellies. I stumble into the tent and face plant onto my cot.

     "I thought I recognized you," Pine says from the corner.

     "Go away," I mutter. "Too tired for this."

     "You've been in these mountains before," Pine says ignoring me. "We attempted to hunt you down a good ten years ago. You would always disappear into the trees and we'd loose you. I told them it was because you jumped into the branches, but they insisted it was because you were a demon that you could disappear at will."

     "So what," I mutter wanting nothing more than to sleep.

     "It explains a lot," he counters sitting on the edge of my cot.

     "Like what," I mutter rolling onto my back so I can see his face.

     "Like why Evergreen insisted we get you to help us. Why he isn't interested in any other females. Why he wants nothing more than to fuck your brains out every night."

     "I'm lost already," I say pulling my helmet off and dropping it next to the cot.

     "I wasn't the only dragon hunting you through our mountains; a young prince was right beside me several times when you disappeared. In fact you never attacked us like you did some of the others." I sit up because I am suddenly completely awake as memories claw to the surface. I see them ten years younger chasing me as I run from the savages hunting me. I flee into the woods and leap into the branches as they enter behind me. They look around and his forest green eyes lock onto mine, he smiles at me and then directs the savages in the opposite direction. His companion waits until they are alone and then yells at him pointing to the branches. I quietly drop from the branches and set a dead duck down from my game bag. I run off in the opposite direction of the savages.

     "You two were there, he saved my ass that night," I say.

     "And you gave us much needed meat," Pine retorts. "It was like you knew we were different from the rest of them even then." I shrug feeling strangely exposed. "All he'd talk about for the next two weeks until we returned to the castle was how he was going to find that girl and marry her."

     "And now he's found me, but he can't marry me," I say feeling very confused.

     "Why not," Evergreen demands from the tent flap. I bite my lip and pull on my helmet.

     "I'll take first watch tonight," I say heading for the flap, but Evergreen refuses to budge. "Excuse me," I state trying to be polite.

     "No there are enough men on watch, you will tell me why I can't marry you," he says gently shoving me back. I look to Pine for help and he shakes his head in regret or frustration.

     "You are a king. You must marry a clan leader. You need to marry a dragon born. You can not marry some peasant and expect your people to support you," Pine recites. "You know this Evergreen. She could be your mistress, but nothing more."

     "I want to hear it from her mouth," Evergreen snaps. I take a cautious step back.

     "I am the daughter of a plains man. I am an orphan, I am a sell sword. None of these are things you will find in a queen."

     "Who was your father?" Evergreen asks gently all his rage is gone.