Page 27 of Rapunzel's Gambit (All That Glitters)

“No,” I answered quickly. I didn’t want anyone to hurt Pollox. I didn’t even know if hecouldbe hurt. “There’s nothing.”

“In the village you escaped to the day after you were taken, you told them that he had an injured wing.”

“It got better.”

Griffin chewed on his lip and thought before brightening again. “What about something he really likes? If there were a way to lure him into a trap…”

“He likes treasure, but everyone already knows that. His hoard is massive and he’s very clever. I don’t think he would fall for a trap.”

“Every dragon has a weakness. It doesn’t have to be an item, it could even be a…” His voice tailed away.

“A what?”

He drew a deep breath. “It could be a person. Does the dragon ever act possessive of you?”

Ice flooded my veins. “I’m not sure,” I lied. “I don’t…I don’t talk to him much.”

“He’s never tried to claim you for his hoard or anything? It would be unusual dragon behavior if he didn’t. If he’s keeping you locked up…”

“What if a dragondidclaim a person for their hoard?” I asked. “Hypothetically, of course.”

Griffin looked very serious. “Then I would recommend that the person get away as far and as fast as they can. Dragons cannot be trusted, no matter how friendly they sometimes seem.” He took my hand. “I want you to be safe.”

Another gardener passed, and Griffin released me once more. If only Pollox had captured Griffin so he and I could be alone together to talk.

“The pigeon should be delivering the message to your father about now,” Griffin breathed. “You’ll be back home before you know it.”

“That’s wonderful,” I said, unable to inject much enthusiasm into my voice. If I stayed, I would be rushed back to where I was a mere pawn to my father, back to being one of the royals that my subjects all hated. The prospect held no joy for me. Life with Pollox was so much simpler and enjoyable—swindle the rich who refused to help others and avoid having rotten tomatoes thrown at me. All I needed to do now was find a way to redistribute what I’d taken without being recognized.

“It’s getting late,” Griffin said, glancing up at the setting sun. “The dinner bell will ring soon and I’m expected in a council meeting. It’s about the dragon situation, so they may call you to give testimony and to debrief you.”

“Oh.”

“We’ll find a way to kill the dragon so it never troubles you again,” Griffin told me, smiling reassuringly. “And we can do so much good with the dragon parts. Did you know a dragon heart will make someone invincible? And a dragon’s blood, when applied to a wound?—”

I lost track of what he was saying as my loyalty to Pollox reared its head, but what was I to do? I couldn’t very well beg them to not go forward with the plan, but if Griffin was right and Pollox was dangerous and possessive, I had to do something. What if he had claimed a different girl who wasn’t able to handle a dragon the way I could? Should I talk to Pollox about it? I certainly didn’t want to think about him being killed and picked apart for anyone’s personal gain.

The evening meal flashed by. Just as Griffin had predicted, I was quickly whisked off to a debriefing meeting right after eating.

“My apologies if this seems calloused to ask so soon after you got here, Princess,” the captain of the guard said, “but we must know everything you can tell us about the dragon. Based on previous experience, I assume he’ll be back tomorrow to demand a ransom for Drake, and we need to be prepared. Anything you can tell us will help.”

My declaration that Pollox belonged to my hoard floated back to me, echoing in the back of my mind. A dragon protects their hoard. Pollox was part of my hoard.

“His cave is almost impossible to get to for humans,” I told them, “but he keeps his prisoners in the forest tower, where I was held hostage. The knight who came for me?—”

“Drake,” the captain supplied.

“Drake, then, will probably be held there. He was the only one able to find a successful escape. He smuggled rope under his armor and carried me down.”

“Good idea, Griffin,” the captain said, nodding at the squire to commend him. “Your plan worked. Well done.”

Griffin shrugged modestly and didn’t say anything, but I lost track of what I’d planned to say next. Griffin was the one who’d come up with that plan? Why hadn’t he told me when we were playing chess? And why hadn’t he been the one to come for me if it was his plan? Drake’s comment about sacrifice rang in my ears. He had been merely parroting Griffin’s words.

“So…what defenses does the dragon have?” the captain asked me. “Traps? Terrain advantages? Enchantments?”

“He’s a dragon. He doesn’t need any defenses besides his hide, and I was being held prisoner most of the time, so it wasn’t like I could scope out the landscape.”

“How often does he leave his lair? Is there a specific time of day or night, or is there a pattern?”

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