Page 9 of The Lost Princess

Before I could flinch away, he picked up the hammer again and brought it down on my ankle; the one in the manacle. Something cracked.

My incredulity lasted for a second, giving way immediately to white hot pain that lanced through my body. The sound that left my throat was shocking to my own ears. It sounded less like a scream and more like an animalistic shriek of desperation. Then again, this was just about as desperate as anyone was going to get, wasn’t it?

I continued to scream, the men covering their ears in pain.

“Hurry!” called the man, fear in his voice.

Hooves thundered around me as they left me, kicking up a trail of dust. I was torn between pain and rage. I coughed, the throbbing in my head secondary to the agony in my ankle. Adrenaline kept me thinking and plotting how to get away. There was amonsterin these cliffs? I craned my neck, trying to take in the sheer scope of the mountain range that loomed in front of me. It was impossible.

I winced as I moved my arm, realizing I needed to stop the bleeding. I couldn’t even stomach looking at my ankle yet. Jarrett’s old cloak was at least still around me, and though it was tempting to burn anything that had been his, I recognized how useful the fabric could be.

Tearing off a strip, I tried to clumsily bind the wound on my forearm. It was nearly impossible to do it myself with only one hand. Tears of frustration gathered in my eyes, and I pushed them away. Crying would only make my headache worse, and I should try to keep all my water inside my body. I didn’t know how long the canteen would need to last me.

The sun loomed overhead. It was cooler to the south but I wasn’t used to so much direct sunlight. My skin sparkled under it. I just hoped it wouldn’t gettoohot.

I pulled at the manacle, cursing idiotic men and their idiotic superstitions. Couldn’t they have just left me here without the manacle? Without breaking my ankle? I needed shelter, I needed the pain to stop. I needed—

A shadow crossed overhead, and I froze. Judging by how high it was and the shadow it left, it was huge.

Was this the monster? If I kept still long enough, would it simply go away? Should I play dead, or would that simply encourage it to eat me?

I breathed out in relief as it flew on.

No!

My heart sank as it came back, passing over me a second time, larger and closer.

A small whimper left my lips, and I shut my eyes. I flinched as a loud thump landed nearby, followed by crunching steps. It was coming toward me.

I forced my eyes open, determined to face this beast head on. I wasn’t sure what I was expecting to see, but certainly not what stood before me, proud and tall.

Not a what: ahe. Well, not exactly.

He was shaped like a man, but the largest man I’d ever seen. Huge, bulky muscles made up his arms and shoulders, and his chest was defined and ridged. My eyes traveled lower to his sturdy, thick legs, and I realized with horror he wasnaked. I looked down at the sand, then couldn’t help it. I looked up again.

So that was what it looked like. Was everyone so … big? And ridged? Not like I had any other knowledge to compare it to.

His skin glimmered similarly to mine under the sun’s rays, but it was easy to see why; small, miniature scales reflected the sun’s rays. They were gold up along his arms and chest, then switched to black down his waist and legs. Massive golden wings flared high above him, casting a large shadow over his face. White spikes shot from his back and neck like an external skeleton protruding from his spine. He stood in front of me, baring his teeth and flashing fangs.

I jerked back, a whimper leaving me before I could help it. The … man-creature twitched. Then he crouched down on all fours, his wings tucked against his shoulders like a giant golden cape. His ears went flat against his head, which was bent low.

I recognized that stance. My little dog Petra did it when she was afraid or when she thoughtIwas afraid.

Ok, so maybe he wouldn’t eat me right away. I could work with that.

I stayed absolutely still, wondering what he would do next. With his wings down, his features were finally clear to me. A strong face with high, angular cheekbones looked back at me, with golden hair that hung down his back as long as mine, but tangled and matted. His nose was straight, though large and flat. His lips were full, even though they were bared back in a slight snarl.

I didn’t know what he was, but he wasn’t a monster. Nor was he exactly a man. And as of right now, at least he’d never hurt me like those men had. That made my odds somewhat better, didn’t it?

He stalked now, close enough to touch now. I kept still. He lowered his head and sniffed over the wound on my arm, his nose wrinkling with disgust. He grabbed my arm with rough hands, the textured edges of his scales scratching along my skin. I gave a cry of pain at the sudden movement. Dark eyes shot to mine, feral and wild. I shut up immediately.

His face leaned over the wound again, and he frowned intensely as if trying to put together a difficult puzzle.

“I … I just need to bind it. It’s fine,” I said.

His head whipped back, eyes training on my lips as I spoke. I swallowed, and vowed to keep my voice low and soothing.

“There’s a nice ….m. Haven’t you ever heard a nice lady talk? Because that’s what I am—a nice lady. And you’re a nice dragon man. I hope. Please be a nice dragon man.”

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