Page 17 of Rapunzel's Gambit (All That Glitters)

Pollox stared down at his body and let his lower jaw drop so his razor-sharp fangs were all exposed, but this time, the effect was comical. “Look at that. I’m a dragon.”

I couldn’t hide my smile. “You’re funny. I like you.”

Pollox let out a snort of sparks. “And I suppose I can tolerate you. Now let’s go stage an escape.”

CHAPTER8

“Help! Someone please help me!” I screamed, tearing into the town and throwing open the door of the tavern. I panted, looking around in terror, then clutched at the nearest man, who slopped half his drink down his front in surprise.

“The dragon, please, you have to help me!”

“Calm down, lass,” the barkeep said. “What are you talking about?”

My eyes darted around frantically and I took short, panicked breaths. “The dragon…I only just got away. Please… He might come back.”

There was a gasp from one of the barmaids. “She’s the stolen princess!”

Immediately, every eye turned to her. Rather pleased with the attention, the barmaid straightened and addressed me. “Are you Princess Rapunzel? Did the dragon take you?”

Tears trickled down my face as I nodded, lip trembling. There was an instant rush as men stood, some offering their chairs, others hurrying to get me a blanket or food and drink.

“How did you escape?” the tavern owner asked kindly, pressing a meat pie into my hand.

“I waited until he was sleeping—he got injured when he took me, so he needed to rest, and I only just got away.”

“What injury?” A soldier leaned forward, his hand on the dagger at his side.

“He was shot near the base of his left wing joint by a poisoned arrow,” I told them. “He made me pull it out.”

“An injured dragon,” he murmured in wonder.

Several other men began eagerly conversing among themselves. “Do you know how much a dragon heart would sell for? Just imagine—the ability to never be defeated in battle! We’d be rich as kings!”

“Forget the heart, do you know how much a single scale would sell for? Harder than diamonds, they are. And dragon blood can?—”

“You’resureabout this?” the barkeep asked me. “It was the dragon’s left wing joint where it connects to his body?”

I nodded timidly. “But…first can you send a message to my father? The dragon kept me in a cave today, but he said he was going to put me into a tower in the forest that no one can escape from. I got away as soon as I could; Father will be very worried.”

“Of course, of course! We can send a message right now. Would you like to have an escort back to the capital? We could leave within minutes. There are some soldiers stationed here, but they will want to join the hunt. A dragon heart…” He stared off dreamily, undoubtedly thinking about the wealth he would gain from butchering a dragon.

“Give her a moment,” an elderly man said, patting my shoulder in a fatherly way. “She’s been through an ordeal, she has. Let her have the night to rest.”

“Or she might want to get as far away as soon as possible,” the barkeep retorted. “Lass, which would you prefer?”

“I…I don’t know. Am I safe here? Does the dragon ever attack the village?”

“Never. Some of the children are actually quite fond of seeing it. The only thing I’ve heard of is that it will feed on the lord’s sheep from time to time. It’s never troubled humans, Princess.”

“Not until it stole her away,” the barmaid contradicted.

“Princess Rapunzel?” I overheard one of the off-duty men-at-arms say to his companion. “Isn’t that the girl that Griffin said he fancies?”

“Shhh,” his friend hissed. “I want to listen, not gossip.”

I clutched the blanket around me a little tighter and fought not to react to the offhand comment. Did he mean the same Griffin I’d met? Had he talked about me to others? It was a shame he wasn’t nobility; I wouldn’t be upset about the idea of him rescuing me.

“May I stay the night? I haven’t slept since…since I don’t even know when. It seems like forever ago that I was taken.”

---