Page 23 of Rapunzel's Gambit (All That Glitters)

Weeks passed.

Many men came to rescue me, sometimes alone but more often in large groups as time passed and word spread of how difficult Pollox was to defeat. But no matter what weapons they used, Pollox proved to be impossible to overpower. Frequently, the forest was so overrun with princes and knights that despite Pollox’s assurances, I didn’t trust that I wouldn’t be spotted flying on Pollox’s back and would remain in the tower, awaiting the next arrival.

Each time a man was held for ransom, I would hear snippets of what was going on in the world beyond. Other than my father continually increasing the size of the reward for my return, nothing much seemed to be happening. Occasionally, men would speak about how news of my capture had traveled to even more kingdoms, but other times, they would be so fixated on trying—and failing—to find an escape that they barely said three words to me.

Pollox began accruing wealth faster than any of his ancestors, a fact which pleased him immensely. The princes always brought in the best ransoms, but also the most arrogance at the onset followed by the most humility when they failed. Two of the princes were ones I’d kissed in the past as a way to get back at my father, and on both occasions, it made for some awkward silences as we shared the prison cell until their ransoms were paid.

The initial surge of potential rescuers dwindled about two months after my supposed kidnapping, and the treasure we had amassed from our ransom swindles made it so Pollox’s hoard was full to bursting.

“The kingdoms won’t have any treasure left at this rate, you know,” I told Pollox one evening. He’d brought me back to his cave for dinner and to stash our latest haul. “And the rescue attempts have really slowed down recently. The last one was a whole week ago.”

Pollox blew a fireball to ignite the ledge of coals that ran around his cave. “Was that the one who tried to smuggle in acid to burn through the chains?”

“Then spilled it on the straw and nearly started a fire? Yes,” I told him, shaking my head at the memory. “I think if no one is successful, word will spread that it’s impossible, and they might stop trying.”

“Do you want to leave?” Pollox’s voice, normally so deep and gravelly, became more brittle and clipped.

“I want them to think it’s possible to rescue me so they don’t give up. With the next person who comes along, be a little slower to come chase them off, and I’ll let myself be rescued. I’ll open the manacles while he’s sleeping and tell him I picked it with my hairpin or something. We would be sure to stop in Donover. Then after I get some information, you swoop down and steal me back.”

“And they will be encouraged at the taste of victory.” He nodded. “Very clever.”

I gave a dramatic, fake gasp. “A dragon praising the cleverness of a human? What madness is this?”

“It’s madness that will never happen again if you harp on about it. Just make sure you remember that you belong?—”

“You belong tomyhoard,” I cut in before he could act all possessive again. “And don’t you forget it, you overgrown newt.”

Pollox choked back a fireball. “Are you mocking a dragon?”

I beamed. “You heard me right, Snagglefang.”

“Two legs.”

“Come on, Lizard Breath, you need to improve your name-calling skills if we’re going to be friends.”

“All right then, you…you sizzle snack.”

“Flame face.”

“Petite feast.”

“Charcoal maker.”

“That one was weak,” he told me, tapping his claw on the ground. “But I can’t think of any better ones.”

“We’ll have to come up with more in the future.” I yawned and covered my mouth. “I need to get to bed, and hopefully there will be a real ‘rescue’tomorrow.” I threw a mistrusting look at the wardrobe, which opened its door invitingly. “Can you fly me back?”

“Always.”

* * *

Pollox flung a particularly stocky knight into the tower next to me. His armor clanged as he skidded across the floor, and I hurriedly moved my legs out of the way as he bounced slightly, the jarring metal-on-stone sound clanging loudly enough to give me an instant headache.

Pollox chuckled as he watched the knight roll to a stop. “You thought I wouldn’t notice the rear attack you planned as your backup? Think again, human.” He launched himself into the air, off to deal with whatever threat he’d seen.

The knight scrambled to his feet, throwing his helmet to the ground and revealing a shock of long, dark brown hair and a scruffy beard that didn’t hide his rather weak chin. I estimated him to be about eight to ten years older than I was.

“Hurry, we don’t have much time,” he told me, beginning to unfasten all of his armor clasps and strip down.

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