Page 62 of Redeeming the Dragon

There was, however, a sharp set to her features and a ferocious downturn to her mouth. A smile would ease those unfortunate characteristics. I’d a feeling smiling was not something she did often.

“Aye,” I replied, my courage gathering as I spun the lie. “Peddlers hear many tales. I heard of this magnificent keep, Moonswept, that lay east of the sun and west of the moon. I’ve traveled far to reach it, and finally did so last night, but the gates were locked against me.”

I swept out an arm towards the walls, the gates that were still bolted.

The Scraggen’s daughter nodded dourly. “The gates are ever locked,” she replied. Then, after a moment, added, “Well, we’ve no magical artifacts here. Begone, Peddler, lest my mother loose a dragon upon you.”

A dragon? My heart leapt to my throat.

Kidron!

She’d just admitted that my prince, the man I loved, was here, at the end of my quest. I had to gain an in with her.

Thinking quickly, I said, “Wait. Please wait. I do not ask for charity. I do not beg. I will trade for what I seek.”

Before she could protest, I slung my pack around in front of myself, dug into it, and pulled out the crystallized snowflake from the fairy queen. I produced it grandly, holding it up in the palm of my hand, where it glittered in the morning light.

“Is it not a pretty thing? Came from the ruler of the fairies, herself.”

I saw the Scraggen’s daughter’s eyes widen. “Br-Braisley?” she stammered.

“Oh, aye. Braisley. I told you—I have traveled the length of this realm, seeking magical artifacts,” I replied proudly.

With the mirror’s help and in search of my dragon prince,I thought, but kept that to myself.

“I will trade you this,” I said, “for one night with the dragon you boast to possess.”

“One night? There is a problem. During the night he shifts forms into a man,” she replied. “If you wish to see the dragon, you must see him during the day. And that, my mother would never permit.”

She gazed hungrily at the glittering snowflake as she spoke. Noting her rapt attention, I casually turned my hand this way and that, causing it to sparkle with the movement.

“I cannot risk that,” I replied. “Your mother is a powerful Scraggen. Suppose she seeks to take my artifact without my consent? You would not do that, for you are good and honorable.”

I knew nothing of the sort about this woman. In fact, I was inclined to think the opposite. Regardless, I put every bit of my persuasive powers into my statement, speaking as if I believed what I said, recalling that Braisley had termed my magic persuasive magic. If that were true, might it work now? Might I be able to convince her?

“Sneak me into your mother’s keep,” I said. “I will be happy to see a shapeshifter instead of a beast. Allow me one night with him. Do not tell your mother. The following morning, I will give you this treasure from the fairy queen. I assure you it is one of a kind. You’ll not find its like anywhere else.”

When she finally raised her face, I saw sheer, unadulterated greed, and knew I had triumphed.

“Ver—very well,” she stammered. Her gaze darted this way and that as if making certain no one was about. She even twisted her head to glance in every direction. “Meet me after dark by yon clump of aspens, behind the keep. There is a secret entrance. I’ll escort you inside, and I’ll come up with a task to distract my mother. Until then, you must stay hidden. As you said, my mother cannot know. Agreed?”

“Agreed,” I said, tucking the snowflake away before reaching out to clasp the other young woman’s hand. “I will meet you at nightfall.”

Simple as that, the bargain was struck and my fate awaited me.

Chapter 36

Ihastened into the hills, grateful for the supplies the Jearim had provided. I found respite from the day’s warmth beneath a clump of trees with reddish-purple leaves, and I waited for twilight. While I waited, I walked, I paced, and then I pulled out my sewing. I stitched and stitched on the beautiful blue gown, and into each flash of the needle, I poured my energy, my hopes, my fears, and my dreams of a future with Kidron. Into those stitches, I poured my restlessness, my eagerness to get on with my quest, and my will to complete it.

Truly, I no longer had a reason to even sew the gown, beyond keeping myself occupied. Still, deep in my soul, a premonition warned me that I might need it. So, I worked, off and on, until evening painted the sky and it was time to meet the Scraggen’s daughter. I wended my way behind the line of hills surrounding the lonely keep, utilizing what cover from rocks and trees and fallen logs I could find. Darkness fell rapidly, and I was soon behind Moonswept.

Once more, an amazingly bright moon rose in the sky, shimmering with the radiance of the sun. While it did little to shield me, it offered anearly unimpeded view of the landscape, so I could be certain neither the Scraggen nor her guards, if guards she had, were attempting to catch me unawares.

I made it safely to the back side of Moonswept, where there was a copse of trees and a pile of boulders. I slipped between the trees and hunkered behind the rocks, waiting for the Scraggen’s daughter. My nerves were heightened nearly to a fever pitch by the time I heard rustling outside my hiding place and a hesitant voice whispering,

“Peddler! Peddler!”

Hastily, I crawled out of the boulders and emerged from the trees, clutching my pack in both hands.

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