The Princess' Dragon Lord by Mandy Rosko Page A

times I have considered destroying it.”
    “Never found it?”
    “Your memories must still be fluttering about
in your head.”
    “But I did find it, when I was walking
through the park. It was under a tree, just sitting there. I picked
it up and brought it with me up the hill.” It had been in her bag
when she ran away. Was probably at the bottom of the stream she'd
fallen into now.
    “ Sakkra , I have had it here with me
the entire duration of my sentence.”
    “What?”
    Azoth sighed and put his uneaten dragon fruit
aside for later. He licked his thumb, wiped his hands on a cloth of
questionable material, and offered his hand to her. “Come, I will
show you.”
    Diana set aside her own fruit on the square
bit of flat topped rock that acted as Azoth's bedside table. She
took his hand, and went with him.
    Big Azoth was waiting for them, lying curled
up by the carved doorway. He crooned when they emerged, and Diana
wished she'd brought the dragon fruit with her to offer as a treat
of sorts.
    She just settled for running her hand across
his nose as they passed. He crooned again and settled his head down
on scaled, reptilian claws, eyes closing for sleep.
    Azoth was in no hurry to drag her away from
the dragon, nor did he admonish the creature for sleeping
there.
    Maybe he was finally beginning to...not
forgive, but at least let go of some of his self hatred, and the
hatred he'd been directing at the dragon for all these years.
    That might explain the crooked smile on the
dragon's long mouth as the beast slept.
    Azoth took her to a particular mound of
treasure that was smaller than all the rest, as well as containing
items different in design from the other piles spread out all along
the cave.
    For one thing, there were very little gold
coins, emeralds, and rubies to be seen. Most of what lay in this
pile was silver in color. There were scepters instead of swords,
crowns of silver and gold leaves, and even gowns that looked to be
made from shimmering moonlight.
    Without a doubt in her mind, Diana suddenly
knew that, that was exactly what they were made out of, the same
way she'd once worn gowns woven from spider webs and morning
dew.
    “This was part of the dowry my family
received on the contract of our marriage.” Azoth said.
    “Your family was allowed to keep it?”
    The after the attack part was left
unsaid.
    Azoth's cheeks became noticeably pink. “Of
course, much of it was sent back after my loss of control. Dragons,
as you can see, are known for their love of treasures. This lot
they refused to part with. You wore the gown on the day of our
marriage.”
    Diana looked at him sharply. He refused to
look back at her.
    Now her face was becoming warm. The
difference was that she never looked good when she blushed. “I
guess that was the part of the treasure you refused to be
without?”
    He nodded stiffly.
    Diana went over to examine it. It was another
medieval looking thing with a lace trim around a square neckline
and long trumpet sleeves. It shimmered like a thousand tiny
diamonds in moonlight, yet was softer than silk. She had flash of
vision pass before her eyes, this time without seizure or pain.
    It was herself, wearing this gown, smiling
bright and feeling happier than she'd ever felt before, despite how
mere days earlier the knowledge of her coming marriage saddened
her.
    Azoth was in the same chamber as she, long
jeweled sword at his hip, red cape at his back, dark leather boots
on his feet and legs, with a metal breastplate to protect his
chest.
    His tux for the big day. Guess the fae and
the dragons didn't hold the same superstitions about not seeing the
bride before the ceremony as humans did.
    Diana's memory of her happiness was so great,
that it swelled into the here and now, warming her heart, and
putting another great smile on her lips.
    In her memories, she ran into the arms of her
husband to be. He kissed her ear softly, and she felt his lips
there, and his warm breath as he spoke.
    “ I will