Page 39 of The Lost Princess

After all, Nasi was upset with me. And I would have sworn he’d walk through fire for me.

The realization was sobering.

I took a deep breath and released it, squaring my shoulders. At some point, a girl (or female draken) had to learn to stand on her own two feet. They couldn’t always rely on fathers or strangely protective men.

I focused on the horizon ahead of me and refused to look down. I got a running start and pushed off the edge of the cave with my feet. My arms reached forward toward the sky, and my wings spread themselves wide.

The moment gravity tried to reassert itself I sank, my wings straining to hold and support my weight. Flap.Flap!

On either side of my shoulders, my wings worked furiously. I pushed through the burning, the slight pain, and kept my eyes ahead. I kept sinking, but not as fast as before.

This was useless. I was weak and I’d never be able to do this. My father and his court would shun me, and I’d be kicked out of my only home. And now I didn’t even have Nasi because I’d offended him.

The ground rushed up at me, and I was finding it difficult to care. Maybe I should hit it. Then I wouldn’t have to worry about fathers or dragon men who were all over me one day and then refused to touch me the next.

A mighty roar sounded in the distance.

My draken senses pricked and sent alarm bells through my head, but I didn’t need them to know it was Nasi.

Something bad was happening.

I didn’t think, just acted on instinct. Instead of flapping my wings furiously, I made decisive, large swoops in a steady rhythm. The ground stopped rushing forward and instead leveled out before shrinking away. My body went flat, my arms automatically tucking to my chest. I pointed my head south, where I’d heard his cry come from. My entire body became a streamlined speed machine in moments.

I didn’t fight my inner draken. I let her rise and sank into my instincts.

I was flying!

Normally I’d take the time to relish my victory a bit more, but I had to focus. Nasi needed help. And even though he was mad at me, I’d still be there for him. Unless he told me himself he wanted me to leave, or that he didn’t want me, I’d be there.

I flew until I came upon a rather large farm. Rows of vegetables and fruit passed under me, and there were pastures for as far as the eye could see. Cows, chickens, steer, and even tame deer roamed between meticulous wooden faces. The house in the middle of it all was large and grand—much more ornate than you’d expect for a farmer.

I saw all of this and dismissed it. I only had eyes for the thrashing gold figure caught between two pastures. Two men stood over him, holding long pikes. One dumpy was looking with brown hair and a portly figure. The other man was younger and stronger. Black hair and a beard obscured most of his face. A woman with long brown hair cowered behind them both, screaming. Nasi struggled under a heavy net. To my horror, his wings were pinned to the ground with two additional wooden spikes. His dark blue blood was everywhere.

I couldn’t show any fear even though I was sweating through my flimsy clothing. I had to move quickly. Nasi had lost a lot of blood, his struggles under the net slowing down.

I had to dig deep and find my inner draken again.

I dropped from the sky like an arrow, and screeched in rage.

They turned slowly, so slowly, but I dropped like a falcon. I hit the first man in his chest and face, both of us tumbling to the ground. I grabbed the pike and threw it as far as I could away from the others.

The second man reared around, yelling, “Beast! Monster!” He tucked the woman behind him, his eyes wide in terror. His straw hat fell from his head, revealing a balding head to match his portly stomach.

They were just farmers protecting their land.

I bared my fangs and snarled, putting myself between them and Nasi. I flared my wings high over my head.

“Leave him alone,” I ordered.

They froze, jaws hanging open.

“It talks?” said the first man from his position on the ground, scrambling to get up. He cast a look over to his pike and I growled. He backed away, toward the other two. “Unnatural dark magicks!” he cried out.

“Leave us be,” I countered, down low on my haunches and set to attack again.

The second man seemed braver now that he could talk to me. “He’s been stealing and killing the livestock! What are we supposed to do?”

They two of them advanced, the second man still holding his pike. I tensed, unsure how to proceed.

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