if that means going with these guys and being compliant, then that's something I need to do too.”
“I think ye'r making a mistake,” he told me, and I softened my gaze and said,
“You might be right, but if there's even a chance that you're wrong and we save his brother, then I have to hope for that outcome too, which is why I'm going to ask you please, Trice, please trust me by trusting them.” For a moment when his features turned hard I thought he was going to refuse me, and I would have no chance at stopping the three brothers from trying to take on the King’s army. But then he took one look at the odds stacked against them and knew that if they fought then there was another strong possibility, one he didn’t need to say for his expression said it for him… he thought I might get hurt.
This was confirmed when he assumed,
“Ye hae no powers in this realm, dae you?”
“It doesn’t look like it, no. I tried with the raiders when they had you guys in that net thing, but I just ended up looking as though I was trying to drip dry my hands.” At this he finally smirked, giving me a hint of that handsome smile of his. He released a sigh before this was obviously what he needed to hear before he made his decision and thankfully for me, it was the right one.
“Fine, Princess, fur noo we dae it yer way bit despite how much ye trust these guys I wull be oan mah guard.” I nodded in agreement before I tapped the back of my hand to his hard stomach and said,
“I wouldn't expect it any other way, shifter.” Then I winked up at him before turning around and walking back over towards the captain and the King, someone who looked as though he had been waiting for this outcome.
“Captain, escort these men to the throne room as I will personally take care of the Princess myself.” It was at this point I was starting to regret my decision as I held up a hand when I was being led over to the dragon and said,
“Erm, actually, on second thoughts, maybe I should just go with…” I didn't finish my sentence as the King laughed heartedly before giving his pet a command in another language. One, that if I was to hazard a guess, was most likely elvish. This was when the dragon got low to the ground and stretched out a wing on his left side making me wonder if this was some fantasy world version of one of those inflatable slides that pop out when a plane lands in water. Although, you didn’t see very many of those passengers trying to walk back up it, so what they expected me to do now I didn't know. Either way I was going to end up on my face sliding down on my belly every time I tried and looking like a grade A idiot doing it. Oh, and Gods only knew what the dragon would make out of this, I thought with a mindful eye roll at myself.
Meanwhile, the King chuckled as if he could hear my inner rambling and grabbed hold of what I could now see was an elaborately carved saddle. He did this so he could lean over and hold out a hand to me. I opened my mouth about to tell him that I still wouldn't reach, when suddenly I was heaved off the floor by the captain and handed up to the King. I yelped at both the shock and impressive show of the King’s strength. It was incredible as all he needed to do was to grab hold of my wrist, shackling it with his large hand, before lifting me straight up in the air. Then he brought me closer to the front of him and said with a hum of words,
“This would go far easier, beautiful, if you spread your legs.”
“Excuse me!” I said in a high-pitched tone that had him laughing harder before whispering in my ear,
“Straddle the saddle, my lady.” Gods, but it was like he was the voice of sin.
“Oh right, of course… silly me,” I said feeling my cheeks now melting through the embarrassment. But I did as I was asked as he made room for me by shifting back on his large saddle so I could be tucked in front of him. Then he placed a