My heart stutters as those searing eyes turn my way.
They seemed tame when they first fastened on me from across the port—intense, but with none of the ferocity shining through them now. I hold his gaze only by the polite mettle developed from years of etiquette training.
A lady looks one in the eye when spoken to, I remind myself. A lady looks one in the eye when spoken to…
At my side, my mother’s glare bores into me, urging me to tell the king I’ll not go with him. Stars above, where is Abely? This is the exact type of situation a minister of foreign relations should be managing, but the man seems to have disappeared amongst the crew gathered silently behind us. I feel my courage shrinking as the seconds tick by.
“Do you speak, princess?” the king asks, a smirk rising to his lips. “Or should I accept the queen’s words as your own?”
Selena gasps aloud. Even I start at this unexpected rudeness.
“How dare you—” my mother begins, but to my surprise, I find myself offended enough to reciprocate the king’s manner.
“I can speak very well for myself, Your Majesty,” I say, gripping Selena’s hand tighter. “If you are able to address me with the proper courtesy.”
In an instant, all mirth falls from his face.
“I am,” he says, his seriousness restored, confusing me even further.
“Enough,” Mother says, and turning her head toward the crew, she addresses the captain. “Cast off immediately.”
The captain does nothing to hide the disdain in his voice. “Yes, Your Majesty.” He and his crew disperse as if suddenly called to war. The king watches the bustle with mild interest.
“I feel I should inform you that my subjects were eagerly awaiting the princess’s arrival.” He waves a hand behind him at the murmuring crowd. “A week of festivities has been planned in celebration.”
“A whole week?” Selena blurts before anyone can stop her.
He glances at her. “Indeed. They’ve waited long for their old king to marry.”
To my young sister, I'm sure he looks positively ancient, but he can hardly be much older than my own three and twenty. Of course, some would consider me past marrying age…
“Her arrival,” the king continues, “fortuitously corresponds with our festival celebrating the
Andrames meteor shower at the month’s end, so we have extended the festivities in her honor.”
Mother sends me a sharp look not to react. Though it’s impossible for this king to know, my love for astronomy is no secret to her. The king goes on talking while my sister stares at him, transfixed.
“There will be a feast consisting only of Tirenth’s finest desserts—”
Selena gapes. “Only desserts?”
“A masked ball—”
“A ball?”
“And on the same night, the most elaborate display of fireworks ever seen on the continent.”
Her eyes swell to the size of saucers. “May I come?”
The king is opening his mouth to answer when Mother circles around me, snatches up Selena’s other hand, and snaps, “Of course not. We’re setting sail. Now, dragon, get off my ship.”
“I believe I am on the gangplank.”
Mother fumes. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen her so out of control of herself. “Then remove yourself so that I may take my daughters back to civilization.”
The king bows. “If that is your wish.” And with that, he turns on his heel to go.
I blink. After all that fuss, he’s simply leaving? A surprising touch of regret wells up in me.
I jump as he spins back around.
“Oh, a minor detail I forgot to mention,” he says in that tepid tone again. “Should the princess return home, I will be recalling Vasna’s debt.”
I fall completely and utterly still as his gaze shifts to me.
“Immediately.”
Never have I seen my mother so stunned. Her mouth drops open. For a moment, all her lips can do is move soundlessly against one another. “You can’t,” she says finally. “We have a contract.”
“As we did regarding my bride.”
She stiffens. “You think to blackmail me?”
He only shrugs, enraging her more.
As their exchange continues, I take in the crowd. Their murmurings are growing, their eyes narrowing. How would it be to anger an entire country of dragons? Besides that, how could we possibly pay Vasna’s debt to Tirenth after what my father, and his father, and the father before that have done? If I leave now, what consequences might I bring on my own people? On my little sister?
Calamity is all I can see.
“The debt is insurmountable, Your Majesty,” I say softly, lifting my eyes to him. My mother quiets, as does he. “Our people will starve.”
The look he returns is hard. Unyielding. “A shame.”
Softness I had not expected, but consigning my people to death? I can’t quite disguise my shock, yet he does not give way.
He holds a hand out to me.
I feel tossed in all directions, like a ship caught in a storm. How can I marry a man like this?
How can I afford not to?
My mother is saying something I don’t even hear. I was meant to bring my people relief. I cannot allow them to suffer for my sake.
Praying for strength, I step around my mother and take the dragon’s hand.