Page 14 of Mountain of Dragons and Sacrifice

I huddled on the bed, my knees drawn up to my chest, as darkness descended outside of the window.

The dragon had said he would come tonight. After Phoebe and the other servants had been so pleasant to me all day, I couldn’t imagine that the dragon was coming to eat me.

But he could still do whatever else he wanted with me.

I’d considered putting the locking bar in place, but it would do little good against a dragon. Besides, locking him out might anger him. I was supposed to do whatever he asked of me, and I couldn’t risk the defiance of barring him out.

Darkness cloaked my room, but I didn’t get up to stir the embers in the hearth. I didn’t light the candle that had been left on the table by my bed. I didn’t dare risk any light that might shine on the dragon’s face when he came.

And there it was. The expected knock on my door. The dragon’s deep, rumbling voice asking, “May I enter?”

Did I really have a choice? Why did he even bother asking for permission?

I didn’t think he’d go away if I told him no.

Give him whatever he wanted. That was what I was supposed to do. So I swallowed and squeaked out, “Yes.”

The door creaked open, then the dragon’s imposing figure stepped inside, his wings brushing against the lintel. I could make out nothing of his form beyond that in the darkness. He halted just inside the door. “I hope your day was pleasant.”

“Yes.” I hugged my knees to my chest. Why was the dragon asking about my day? Why would he care?

He made a movement, though I couldn’t make out more than a faint sense in the darkness. “You may light the candle. There is no reason for us to stand here in the darkness.”

There was every reason. “I can’t look upon your face.”

“Yes, you can. You may light the candle.” The dragon’s voice rumbled even deeper in the darkness.

What was he saying? I wasn’t supposed to look at the dragon’s face, and yet I was also supposed to do everything the dragon commanded. How could those things be so contradictory? Why would the dragon give a command that went against his own orders?

This was a test. The dragon had to be testing my devotion.

“No, I know I can’t look upon your face.” I squeezed my eyes shut, just to be on the safe side.

This situation wasn’t anything like what I’d expected, but I would be a good sacrifice, listen to my village elders, and not look at the dragon’s face.

The dragon made a noise almost like a sigh. Was it a sigh of relief that I’d passed his test? Perhaps there was some purpose I needed to fulfill, but I had to show that I was faithful before he would reveal it to me.

So far the test had been easy to spot. But the tests would get harder. There must be a reason none of the others, even Clarissa, remained here at the dragon’s castle.

Unless they were locked away somewhere in a deep dark dungeon I had yet to see.

Or they were dead. Killed when they failed the tests.

“In that case, then I hope you sleep well. I will be back tomorrow night.” With the scrape of wings on stone, the dragon ducked his head, strode out the door, and shut it behind him.

That was it? He tested me, then left.

After the exhaustion of last night and the tension of anticipating tonight, I found myself relaxing as I curled up beneath the blankets, feeling strangely safe now that his purpose for his visit had been determined.

I’d passed his test tonight. I’d pass tomorrow night too. I’d prove to the dragon that I was worthy for whatever purpose he had for me.

I just hoped that purpose wasn’t anything gruesome.

Chapter Five

You can see what a pickle I was in. I found myself in an entirely new realm, surrounded by people who were acting all too nice.

Yet I had the words of my elders ringing in my head. Be a good maiden sacrifice. Don’t look at the dragon’s face. Appease him by any means necessary, for the good of the village.

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