Page 59 of Rapunzel's Gambit (All That Glitters)

She cinched my corset and began fastening the multitude of buttons that ran up my back. “Meaning that that dragon has done more for the people of Rookwyn than King Harrigan ever has. Even with his recent change of heart, it is too little too late. If you are willing to rule without threatening the dragon, you will have a great deal more support from the people. Some people say he was holding you captive, but…” She shot me a shrewd look. “I think you stayed on purpose. Rumors have been spreading.”

“Why would you say that?”

Beatrix smoothed out my skirt and stood. “I’ve been caring for you since you were too young to remember. I know you well, princess, and I think you have a soft spot for that dragon. Based on what my sister told me, he has a sweet spot for you as well.” She smiled at me. “I always did say that no man could handle you. But a dragon may have a chance.”

“Can you contact your sister and have her pass the message to Pollox that I’m being kept here? They won’t let me out.”

“I already did. Word travels fast.”

“And tell him that they have more dragonsbane.”

“I don’t know if I can get a message to him in time, but I can?—”

A rapping came from the door and Beatrix broke off her sentence. “Are you finished yet?” the guard called out.

“Yes, we just finished,” She called back, crossing to leave then turning back. “Enjoy your meal, princess.” She added in a whisper, “I’ll try to get the message to him, but I’m not sure how long it will take.”

* * *

When Beatrix came late that night, she didn’t linger. She only said, “Enjoy your pudding,” and left promptly, without a single word of information about Pollox or her sister at the orphanage or anything. I glared at the creamy pudding, topped with glazed strawberries and a chocolate drizzle. What, was I supposed to sit here and eat sweets while everyone assumed I was a madwoman?

I picked up the pudding, tempted to throw it off my balcony, but spotted a small folded paper beneath the dainty bowl.

I instantly felt lighter. Pollox was coming for me! But just as quickly as it had risen, my heart dropped. Griffin said he had dragonsbane. Would he have the time to get it and shoot Pollox before he rescued me? He had succeeded once before; he very well could deal a fatal shot this time. Had Beatrix been able to warn Pollox in time?

For the following hours, I stayed rooted to the balcony, staring up at the sky as stars emerged and twinkled down on me. I had so many questions that were unanswered. How would I ever be able to stop Father before he truly was assassinated? Would Griffin take the throne no matter what? What would Pollox say when he discovered that Griffin and I were legally married? Once Griffin was made king, would he have any reason to keep me alive? If Pollox were shot, could he make it back to the forest before he transformed, or would his secret be revealed? If he failed to get to me the first time, would he try again?

It felt like a year before a dark shape rose up from near the village and soared toward the castle. Almost immediately, the alarm was raised and soldiers shouted warnings. I waved the torch, hoping Pollox would be attracted to the heat and light.

It worked. My heart leapt with joy as he plummeted out of the sky, gripped me securely in his claws, and pumped the air again to bear me heavenward.

“They have dragonsbane arrows!” I shouted. “Be careful!”

“Hold on, then,” he called back, going into a dizzying barrel roll that set my stomach to churning.

There were severaltwangs as the soldiers released arrows, all of which zipped past us as Pollox zigzagged through the air, spiraling his way away from the castle.

“We did it,” Pollox gloated. “We?—”

Thwack. From somewhere on the battlements, there was the ugly sound of a catapult launching its payload into the air.

Smack.A thick, glutinous paste splattered against Pollox’s wing.

“What was that?” I called, wishing dawn would hurry up so I could see better. The faint streaks of light in the distance were painfully slow at brightening the sky.

“It felt like a cannonball’s worth of jam,” Pollox laughed, winging his way over the forest. “How childish.” Two thirds of the way to the tower, he began hissing and increasing in temperature, just as he’d done before the first time he transformed.

“What’s wrong?”

His flight pattern became more erratic, as did his breathing. “I think whatever they hit me with was laced with dragonsbane. It feels like it’s burning away at my wing.”

“Land, then! We need to get you cleaned up.”

“No, we’re nearly there. We’ll be safer at the tower. It’s closer than the cave.”

I stared up ahead at the turret looming closer. Each time Pollox groaned and twisted, we would drop several feet. I nearly cricked my neck trying to look around to examine his wing, but couldn’t see anything from my position.

Pollox barely made it to the tower and scrabbled at the roof, trying to hold on while gently lowering me to the balcony and simultaneously roaring in agony.

---