To those expecting this yesterday... sorry ^^; losing track of the days lately... hopefully it's worth the wait.

That's right, everyone's favourite dragoness is back (unless you count her sister possibly). As the title suggests... it seems a young, unsuspecting prince is about to find himself spirited away by a fearsome dragon... but, surely when that dragoness is involved, the fairytales don't, quite go as expected... right?


The Prince and Chandra

“Prince Rafael Teregis, First born of our country’s king, governor of the wild territories and future king”
“They don’t care, James” Rafael noted dismissively to his announcer. It wouldn’t stop the formalities, of course… but they were wasted on this place. Outside the window of his carriage was the second of the, disarray of hovels he was visiting on his, tediously long survey of the lands officially he governed.
He peered out. People had gathered, though he wondered if it was him they were marvelling at, or the very concept of cleanliness that had rolled into their lives. Their clothes were worn, dishevelled… made from, whatever they found lying around, he imagined... and one of them had a stain, a huge stain… impossible not to notice… was it blood? How had that man just… put it on that morning, that ugly mark on proud display at chest height. “ugh…”
The homes were little better… enough to make any architect lose his faith in human taste and quit forthwith. He could see into one through a crack between two walls… There was no… aesthetic form to anything.
He looked to his side, the, immaculate youth sharing his carriage was… the son of some noble trying to cosy up to royalty… and, well, it was working. Jay was, close to his age, someone, noble enough to understand him, but common enough to relate to the world around him.
“I can grudgingly accept my high standards are not always practical… but just look at this place. Would it harm them to… take any pride at all in appearance”?
Jay smiled in a gentle way… just, one look at that knowing little smirk was calming “Perhaps you can find a beauty in the patterns of practicality, Rafael. Look, that looks like a tannery of sorts… and over there, the weapons, got to house hunters. They build things close to where they are needed”
“I suppose…” Rafael mused “but everything is so hideous… just… just look at that man, the hairy one… gods that doesn’t even narrow it down, does it… the… the walking bear over there, with that stain. That stain! It’s huge”
“It’s the wildlands, Rafael” Jay reasoned softly. He had such a soft voice, it brought Rafael down from his emotional high “surviving it is, their only priority. I’m sure they have no, born hatred for the pretty things in life. But they can’t farm out here. Here there be dragons, and all that… This is as far as anyone has ever explored… without disappearing”
“Dragons…” Rafael snorted
“I know, I know” Jay placated him “They do exist though, even if you feel the trouble they cause is… exaggerated. But they do eat people… and they are why we can only spread so far. They are… supposedly very, touchy about protecting their territories balance. A new species arriving into it, is something they are not fond of. Go too deep, and you’ll get eaten. They avoid us, we avoid them. This region is… the line, where people are, within dragon regions. Believe it or not, Rafael, most places are like this, outside the heartlands”
“mmm” Rafael looked out again “dismal to think about…”

Rafael had learnt his lesson from the last village they had visited and turned down the offer of a place to stay in one of their… dirt filled hovels. His carriage seemed a lot nicer… the seats were more cushioned than any bedding they had. Still, he left the safe, clean bubble of his carriage to, stagger around the village, putting on his best royal smile for the revolting gaggle of… people… he had introduced to him.
He was also introduced to no end of new scents, each more mortifying than the last. It was a great challenge to remind himself that, officially, these were his people. He felt vindicated on one point though, he was quite certain few of these people cared who he was. Oh, he could see some were intrigued, interested… he was a distraction, a novelty… no more meaningful than a circus to them… and that rankled him no end. He toyed with commanding they bow… but he’d seen their… he’d charitably call them roads. He felt he’d pass the line from ruler to tyrant if he forced anyone to bend down onto those…
Through it all, Jay looked so… steady. Such a comfort his companion was… solid as a rock, stable and calm even thrust as far from his element as anyone.
“I don’t know how I’d cope without you” Rafael found a chance to hiss between being presented one hideous infant and the next “I don’t know how these people do it… how do you manage to, un-cute a baby!”
Jay coughed into his hand, smirking behind the gesture before regaining his composure “only a brief time more, Rafael… just, imagine the local culinary fare we’ll get to enjoy later”
“Gods forbid…”

“what is it… do you think?”
Rafael poked a fork into the, bowl of… brown he had been presented. The bowl was lovely, ornately formed, a rich blue. His own, of course. He thanked whatever force had compelled him to bring his own implements.
“Likely a stew of sorts” Jay offered, considering his own bowl “it’s a common foodstuff out here. They don’t have the stone or the finance to have ovens, but a fire pit and a big pot… they throw all sorts in”
“That’s what I’m afraid of”
“Do try it, Rafael… you’ll feel better to eat something. I’m certain one of the guards will have tasted it”
“I think little better of their sense of taste than these people”
Jay sighed, and took a spoonful, chewing “it’s fine. Now do you trust my sense of taste? It’s simple but consider this… this is the food that keeps the hardiest folk in our country alive against dragons and wild beasts and the ravages of the wilderness. That has to be good, doesn’t it?”
“Well, when you put it like that…” Rafael eyed the food distastefully, before quickly taking a mouthful, chewing through it with a sigh “fine… it isn’t disgusting… not delicious, but not disgusting…”
Jay ate quietly, contented chewing companionable enough for the time being. Rafael ate quickly once he began, hunger winning handily. He had, lost a lot of his appetite since they left the capital.
When they had finished, Rafael set his bowl aside with a groan “what I wouldn’t give for bread… soft and fluffy, or course and hearty…”
“Natural to miss our staple” Jay assured him “actually… in the heartlands, the common folk make stews, and they normally eat it with bread… but, they’d have a bakery”
“Why don’t they have one here?” Rafael probed, a touch hopeful “did we overlook it?”
“No stone for ovens” Jay reminded him “too costly to build a good oven here. But… you could remedy that, someday. I heard some lords on the far reaches sort of, build their own ovens, and charge for the use”
“I’d keep it for myself right now” Rafael whined
“I’m sure” Jay sighed “I admit, bread would have been a very welcome addition… but if I may say so, there is nothing to be gained by dwelling on things we cannot have”
Rafael peered at Jay from his slump “you may” he noted, archly, “but I wish you wouldn’t. Wistful dreams of home are my only comfort”
“It’s a pity” Jay observed “you were so excited about this trip”
“Oh, the naivety of youth…”
“A chance to really know your people, you said” Jay smiled wryly “A great exploration to the wilds, like a grand explorer, heroic adventurer from a storybook, you said”
“Woefully, woefully naïve” Rafael concluded “I swear, the next bard who intends to prance around telling of heroic deeds, fighting beasts and braving the wilds, I shall chase out of the manor, with a broom”
“You wouldn’t know where to find a broom”
“Oh Jay, how cruel you are while I’m suffering”
“Only playing to my lines in this play you’re performing”
“So harsh” Rafael sat himself up, the hints of a smile chasing the edges of his lips “How much further is it… do you know?”
“There are seven villages on our merry trip, sir” Jay sighed “and this is the second one”
Rafael peered out the window with a sigh “and nary a bardic verse to chronicle my ordeal…”

“I prefer when we are travelling” Rafael observed, leaning to the open window of his carriage, eyes trailing through the trees and brush that coated the world here “there is a certain sort of beauty to the wild… the plant life grows so thick here… it is nothing like the gardens”
He sat in silence for a long moment, listening to the steady roll and click of the wheels, the steady clunk of the horse’s hooves and the exotic sounds from the woods. Birds mostly, he assumed… birds made nice, pretty sounds. Still, he imagined those sounds would be less pleasant if he wasn’t pleasantly safe in his carriage. Then they would be, unnervingly unknown.
“This is travelling” Rafael concluded wistfully “a good, sturdy layer of wood and steel between me and the outside world. The wild is pleasant to look at, but I need my personal space, my own bubble of civilisation”
“I’m sure most of the denizens of the wild feel the same of our world”
Rafael looked to Jay “do you refer to the animals or the people?”
“Maybe both” Jay smiled faintly
Rafael shrugged disinterested in the line of thought, looking back out into the woods. For a time, he was content, staring into the deep reaches that rolled past, trees thicker than pillars, deep, smaller ones that hung with fruits like jewels. He knew it was no place he would enjoy, but, still it was with a dreamy smile that he turned his eyes over the mysterious wilderness. Till a pair of huge, luminous eyes peered back.
He started away from the window, a cry choked in his throat. For… just a moment, in the gloom, some, shadow rose, and, impossible eyes peered out, but in that instant, they were gone, rolled past.
“Rafael?” rare alarm was in Jay’s voice “Is something wrong?”
“eyes…” Rafael murmured, shooting his companion a look “big, deep, glowing eyes… just, just for a moment, I swear something was looking out at us, from the trees”
“Probably a wolf, or a wildcat, I hear there is a breed that roams the hills around here” Jay reasoned “the cat’s eyes look like they glow in the dark”
“I hope you are right” Rafael re-seated himself, brushing down his shirt, trying to calm down “it seemed, immense… how large are these cats?”
Jay considered, before spreading his hands apart, bit over an arm’s length.
Rafael felt his stomach turn a little, looking back out into the woods. He dearly hoped his eyes were playing tricks… what he had seen looked very much larger than that…
His worst fears were soon proven right. The horses whinnied in panic, the carriage coming to a sudden, jarring halt. Yet there was still a vibration running into Rafael’s legs, and he realised, he could hear the source, a heavy, thudding tread.
Then the beast came into view, it… it was beautiful. This had to be a dragon, he realised. It was huge, and sleek, scaled over its body, a vibrant red along its back, and blue at the belly. A vast, powerful tail thudded behind it as the creature sat, thick chest on display… he could hear it sniffing. Then it turned to pad along the side of the carriage, and he heard the horses cry out in fear.
A firm grip took his shoulder, and Jay dragged him down from the window “Rafael… you need to stay low, don’t let it see you”
Rafael just nodded quietly, sitting on the floor of the carriage as Jay rose, peering outside moments before a sharp roar that shook him to the core. Jay glanced down with a smile “I think we’ll be ok… our guard is going to drive it off”
“Remind me to reward his bravery” Rafael murmured. A cold sensation welled deep as he saw Jay’s face fall
“It’s eating him…”
Rafael dragged himself up to peer out to a, mortifying sight. The dragon was back in his view, jaws spread, shockingly wide around the middle of their, sole guard. A horrible, muffled sound of shouting came to his ears, drowned out by the movement of scale on scale as the dragon’s snout jabbed forward. Its neck arced when it did, working, the unfortunate man deeper into its throat. The blue plates swelled to show pink flesh where the guard was, filling it. Seemingly, a person was, a sizable thing, even to a large creature, but… the dragon swallowed the man down with a shocking efficiency. It lunged forward, and the torso swelled its neck, head tilted up… and another lunge saw the legs swallowed down to the boots.
A soft, discomforted grunt of a sound came from the beast, a forepaw feeling to the neck, before the sound of its swallow echoed in the still quiet, echoing out past the spread fangs. The last of the soldier slid past bright white teeth, onto a soft tongue that scooped back to push them. Then the jaws clicked shut, the head rolled forward and up, the underjaw and neck clenched tight to the dragon as it swallowed, and the shaped lump began to flow steadily downwards.
Rafael collapsed back to his rump, blinking “he… he’s gone”
“I fear so…” Jay slumped down nest to him, clear of the window “we just need to stay quiet… maybe… it will be content with just one meal. If… digesting in a dragon’s stomach saves your life, at least, he did his job”
Rafael frowned “what of the others… the driver and my father’s servant”
“It took time to… eat our guard” Jay consoled “it, can’t have eaten them… not yet”
As if in answer to their thoughts, the whole carriage jolted and, began to move. It was uneven, and they were thrown to the side by a sharp turn, but the carriage continued to move, the click of the wheels building speed.
“Are we… getting away?” Rafael was hopeful, sitting up from his collapse, looking to the window. He saw the sky from his low spot, and the rush of the canopy
“Maybe… but listen…”
Rafael complied, and grimaced. He heard heavy, hammering footfalls, and the guttural breathing of… something large “it’s chasing us… has it not had enough?”
“I fear it may intend to eat us all” Jay rolled a hand to his forehead, drawing a slow breath “it has… eaten, it might be slow enough our driver can outrun it. Yet… it seems to make sense to me, if it wished only a small meal, it could have hunted elsewhere, or snatched one of us, and then run off. If it gives chase… then perhaps it attacked simply because there were enough of us”
“It is large but, not that large, surely” Rafael clutched to the seat, dragging himself up onto it, holding for dear life, the carriage was bouncing and jumping as it rolled over roots and stone
“I have heard” Jay spoke, with hesitance “that dragons will sometimes gorge, drag themselves to a warm, safe place and sleep off their meal, same idea as a snake, only, not as, singular a meal, or perhaps quite as, heavy a meal”
The morbid thought lingered silently between them for a moment before the carriage hit something harder, the whole confines rocking. They exchanged a look, before Jay relented and carefully moved to the window, peering out for a moment
“We seem to be going up the mountain slope… why, would the driver choose this route? Surely the dragon lives towards the mountain. He must be in a panic… I still hear the dragon”
Rafael watched as Jay sat, shivering with a plaintive whimper that got the attention of his companion “Jay… I hear the dragon as well, but, I do not hear the horses”
Jay blinked, a look of blind confusion taking his features, before horror. He sprung back to the window, poking his head out, and returning an instant later “oh gods… the dragon, it’s not behind us, it’s in front, it’s dragging us home with it”
“You mean to tell me I’m being kidnapped, by a dragon?” Rafael blurted “that, actually happens?”
If Jay meant to reply, it was halted as the cart came to a sudden, irredeemable stop. Jay thrown off his seat and atop Rafael as the carriage recoiled from some, impact, and was still.
A low bellowing groan echoed in the silence outside “oh… stupid, stupid…” A whining grunt followed, the cart rocking “move… move, stupid rock…”
A higher pitched grunt, and the cart rolled backwards, before coming to a sudden, jarring halt again “you’re not rolling anywhere, pretty thing” the voice cooed “oh… I’ll never get you back… I should have asked Zorian…” the two inside crouched lower as the voice got closer to the window. A deep sigh echoed nearby “no… think Chandra, think… she’d have eaten them all”
Rafael’s stomach turned… it, it was the dragon speaking, it had to be… they spoke? And it was speaking about… eating them. He assumed this… Zorian must be another dragon, this… Chandra one, must have wanted them all for herself… it, sounded like a she.
“Mm… that’s a new smell” the growly dragon voice crooned, the carriage rocking. Before his eyes a long, hooked talon slid into the window and, in the room with them, as the dragon pawed the side “what wonders do you hold, you gleaming treasure…?”
Rafael couldn’t help a brief shriek as the carriage tipped with the pressing weight, rolling quite suddenly onto its side, the door on the opposite side pressing to the ground, the hooked talon taking the door off with it as the dragon snorted “oops… overexcited, calm down, calm down… aww… it broke… I hope one of my guests knows how to fix it… if I ever get it back… ugh…”
Rafael gasped in discomfort, trying to sit, to get off Jay. His head was spinning from hitting the wall. He barely had the mental presence to react, when above in the empty doorway a bright red muzzle appeared, turning to let one gleaming eye peer into the inside of the carriage “oh… wait, this one has humans inside it?”
The beast leaned closer, snout right to the window, its hot, unpleasant breath washing in to fill and corrupt the previously pristine air of the carriage “I thought the small ones carried human things, and, the big ones had humans inside?”
Rafael searched for words, but how did he reply… the, claim that the beast, hadn’t known he was inside, was barely even, paying him any attention, and had uprooted his whole journey on some, misunderstanding? His wheeling mind settled on the one thing currently bothering him most “Will… will you please stop breathing that, rancid air over us”
The dragon blinked, and drew its head back, both, shimmering eyes focussing entirely on him for the first time… he, trembled right to his core, something in him recognised the predator, the size, and screamed that gaining such a thing’s full attention was danger
“Oh… sorry…” the dragon responded lamely, head disappearing from his view. He had a moment to relax, before he was thrown to his stomach, the carriage being turned back onto its wheels
“Will you stop doing that!” he screeched, looking up to find the red muzzle had returned to peer in “oh gods… eat me if you must, but will you stop throwing me around inside this infernal carriage? I swear I will never be able to ride in one again after this”
The dragon’s beautiful eyes blinked once, slowly “oh, you’re the source of that smell. You smell different to most humans… I didn’t smell human in there before”
Rafael gripped the edges of the empty doorframe, and took a step out of the carriage, staggering uneasily as he stepped to the ground. Immediately his legs gave way, and he collapsed, back to the wall, supporting himself so he remained standing, glancing in to see Jay crawling for the door also. Solid ground had never felt so good under his feet. Still… now, now he was outside, and before the huge beast. His eyes drifted to the belly plates. He felt ill, thinking about who was inside there… and what her body was doing to him…
“I…” he panted “am Prince Rafael Teregis”
“ok” the dragon acknowledged “I’m Chandra. Why do you smell so different?”
“Because I’m a prince… you likely deal with, commoners in your diet, don’t you, beast…”
“Oh” she seemed to respond with disinterest “why is your rolling thing so pretty and small?”
“Because I’m a prince” he reasserted
“Oh” she replied again “what’s a prince?”
“royalty” he added, looking to her expectantly “the, sort of humans’ dragons fly off with to their lairs”
“Oh…” The dragon said with revelation “you call that, prince? My sister uses another word… I can’t remember, I think it started with a D…” the scaled shoulders rolled “don’t worry, I don’t want you” a clawed paw reached, over Jay who had crawled out, and hunkered low. But she placed her paw on the carriage roof “I want this… it’s beautiful”
“You… you did all this because you wanted my carriage?” Rafael exclaimed, incredulous, gawking at this… mad beast “you expect me to believe you attacked me, ate my guard, and you’re not even after me? You intend to eat me, or put me in a tower so you can stalk around it growling or, something, don’t you?”
A soft, grating sound echoed from the dragon’s throat, the eyes glancing to him once more “Do you want me to eat you?”
“No!” he burst
“Then don’t worry, I’m not hungry” She licked her chops, eying her stomach “I ate, the one you call guard… he was not a pleasant meal, I can tell you, but, he’s filling”
Jay staggered to his feet by Rafael, placing a hand to Rafael’s shoulder “sir… we should leave, while the beast is… distracted”
Rafael shrugged the hand off of him violently “No, this is my carriage, this… mad beast can’t have it. I’m not having my carriage stolen by a dragon”
“Hey…” the dragon looked to him, her voice had gone… whiney “I didn’t steal it… and I didn’t attack you either. I just wandered up to say hello, maybe offer you to stay at the Chandra Inn, and that, metal coated human attacked me, so I ate him. The other ones sprang on those horse things and ran… so, I thought they were leaving me this… an apology maybe, I don’t know, I wasn’t going to question my luck, being left something so pretty… I didn’t know you were inside”
Rafael grunted, gesturing at the dragon “well look at yourself. You had to know if you came at us we’d think you’re attacking, if I believe your story mind you. If a man clad in armour with a sword came right at me I’d not assume they came peacefully”
The dragon’s long tail flicked, glancing off the ground near him, a low rumble in the throat again “I do not have armour and blades. I have my hide and claws. Would you fear a human who came to you in only those?”
Rafael frowned, considering that argument… but as he considered it, it dawned on him that he was, arguing with a dragon… right before him the behemoth lizard was just, sprawled. He was alive… Jay was alive, and it… honestly seemed more interested in the blasted carriage than in him. Maybe it was telling the truth “I’ll concede you cannot remove your… weaponry but that means there is no way to tell the difference between a dragon coming to attack, and one meaning to… say hello. You can concede the former is more likely, and it is sensible we assume it?”
The dragon’s head rose from licking a wheel to make it turn, and she looked at him, her head cocking. A low huff in her throat “I see your point… your kind are a nice size to swallow… and without the tools are tasty and easy on the mouth… a lot of dragons would only approach to eat you… I feel a little bad for eating this one now” she glanced to her stomach “he’s gone anyway. Too late”
Rafael looked to the belly, and shuddered
“Maybe… we can make a deal?” the dragon mused, looking to the humans “you humans can’t make this move alone, right? But I can’t get it up the hill…” she snorted “stupid rocky crags… if you let me play with it… and help me understand it, I’ll bring it back to the flat line you roll it on, and push it for a bit, till you can find other humans”
Rafael bristled, but, looked around, wild, untracked wilderness… with dragons in it. He looked to himself… dusty, rumpled “very well… but know I don’t appreciate being thrown into this situation”
Jay rested a hand to his shoulder again “it’s the only way, Rafael”
“I know…” he sucked in a breath “we take this… indignity to our graves, Jay…”
Cautiously, Rafael approached the dragon, nearing her chest, swelling, and shrinking with every deep breath beneath the scaled muscles. He froze as the muzzle, which had been close to his carriage, turned sharply to face him. The scales were practically within reach. His shirt rippled in the gale of dragon breath that washed warmly against him
“You… humans have little, agile hands… I have an itch, just against my ankle, would one of you…?”
Rafael looked back to Jay, a grimace cracking his companion’s composed mask, but, obediently Jay moved down, past the settled stomach. Both sets of human eyes landed on it, as a low, wet gurgle echoed from within. Laid to her side as she was, the sounds of her digestion were, aimed at them. Jay shuddered, but approached the hind legs of the massive creature, placing a hand upon a scaled ankle, scratching. Little glances shot at the long, gruesome talons on her hind paws. He leapt back, as the leg bent up, past him, her paw for a moment on full display, leathery pads, heavy digits, before slowly it pushed against him, knocking him against the other settled leg.
“That one” she added helpfully, turning her attention back upon Rafael “So… you keep saying you’re a prince thing… prince humans ride in things like this?”
“Yes… I suppose” Rafael reflected, looking upon his once magnificent carriage with a heavy sigh “heavens… that door… and your claws have scratched the paintwork…”
“Oh…” Chandra lifted a paw from the carriage, and Rafael felt, a tiny bloom of respect take root. He looked to the, admittedly elegant and beautiful muzzle with, a new thought
“You, are really sorry you damaged it, aren’t you…” Rafael folded his arms “you… have an appreciation for the finer things…?”
Chandra peered over the back of the carriage for a time, briefly nudging with her snout “I really, really like pretty human things”
“I pity you then, dragon” Rafael considered “even I, if I had… large scaly, clawed hands like you do… I dare say even I, could not handle something fine with delicacy…”
Chandra looked to him with a little rumble, head coming in closer, and again, he felt himself, sniffed “you’re a strange human… I know what a prince is to dragons, you made that clear, but what does it mean to humans?”
“It means, I’m next in line to rule” Rafael hesitated, before waving at her snout, trying to bid it away from him… and she complied. He moved to the back of his carriage, pulling a chain from under his shirt, with a key
“Really?” the surprise in her voice was overpowering “humans assign rule to humans who… are, that, to a dragon… I suppose… if they survive it must mean they are strong” Chandra reflected “certainly my sister… well, the princes she takes don’t tend to leave…”
Rafael looked to the dragoness… he was starting to wonder what she meant… but, it seemed a topic, he might rather not know “If, you promise to look, and not to touch, I can show you some things of true finery”
He staggered a step back as her snout came in close, eyes, widening visibly till they were deep and black, her gaze locked on… his hand? He looked, the tiny key held to the skies like a diminutive sceptre… he moved his hand left and right… the vast muzzle followed
“That’s one of those magic, opener things, isn’t it? I’ve seen humans use them, they just, put it to the closed things… and they open up. I try and try, but I can’t get in without force… I have a metal one, up in my den, I cannot open it… can I have your, openy thing?”
Rafael hesitated… her closeness and focus was disconcerting. Oh, how it tempted him to use this… trick the naïve beast, hand over his key for the promise of immediate return to the road. He toyed with the idea for a long moment… before deciding it wasn’t worth the risk, cheating a dragon.
“No…” he moved the key to the lock, turning it with a click. Watching the… dare he say cute way both her ears flicked up with that tiny sound “this won’t open the safe you have… acquired”
“Oh…” her ears flopped, disappointed, before rising again “but, you have things to show me?” somewhere behind her there was a heavy, repetitive thump.
“You will promise not to touch” he asserted, waiting till the head bobbed, chin thudding to the ground, before he hefted open the lockbox built into his carriage. A cursory glance showed, to his deepest relief, that the efforts to protect things from bumpy roads had, indeed retained the integrity of his possessions. He considered, before wiggling his teapot from its harness, bringing it out, to hold before the dragon “this, it’s over a century old, look at the delicate patterns, the ornate craftsmanship, each little bird is drawn individually… beautiful, isn’t it?”
He felt a little smile as the dragon quickly nodded. He had the beast in the palm of his hand.
“What does it do?” her head came a little closer… but to her credit she didn’t touch… “it looks like… the clever mud work, one of my humans explained it to me once”
Rafael winced to the… uncultured claim of… mud work, though he struggled for an immediate defence for pottery as something else… “this is… much more refined. I can’t really show you… but it is thin, delicate, much more than the, crude work you have likely seen. This is a teapot, I would put herbal leaves inside, and hot water. The water draws the flavour from the leaves, and once cool enough to drink, it provides a bitter, cultured taste…”
“Can I try some?” The dragon got closer still, till Rafael felt he had to back away “no… I… don’t have a fireplace, or water…”
He squeaked as the dragoness rose suddenly, a forepaw raising from the ground “I have those in my cave, we can go, now”
“No!” he yelped, before calming himself “I mean… no… because, I’m… going to gift this to you… and… and the leaves” he leaned into the box, tugging out the little wooden box he kept them in “you said… you have, ah… humans who… tell you things, maybe you can have someone make tea for you”
“Oh, ok” the dragon settled back down, and Rafael relaxed, looking forlornly to his bargained teapot… he looked into the carriage, and placed the teapot into its box, with the cup and leaves, drawing it all out to place down before the dragon. At least he… hoped the beast would, appreciate its beauty
“There… you will, take good care of it?”
“Of course,” the dragon’s tail thudded again “do you have anything else I can see?”
Rafael considered the question and looked into the container… he didn’t want a repeat of the teapot. His eyes were drawn to… something that just might convey to the beast that he was, a powerful human, one she certainly shouldn’t eat…
He reached in, and gripped the, uncomfortably heavy sceptre settled to the very back. It brought bitter memories of his own naivety… it was part of his, royal attire, but he had assumed the, people out here would be so much more excited to see him, he’d imagined showing off, in circlet with sceptre and flowing fur rimmed cape… He’d begun to fear those people could dirty these things just by looking at them…
He drew the sceptre out, hefting it in his hands, and looking to the dragon
“A weapon?”
“No” he retorted, exasperated “it’s a sceptre… it’s a symbol of power, of authority. Wielding this, all who meet me know I’m royalty, to be respected and admired”
He didn’t like how her eyes widened further “it makes humans like you?”
“It… no, it’s not like that” he felt defeated, too defeated to be frustrated “It’s… regal”
“It sounds like magic” a low purr echoed in the throat of the dragon, and his heart sank in expectation “can I have it?”
Rafael looked to the sceptre with a low sigh, and offered it to the dragoness, snapping his hand back when her jaws took it from him. At last her eyes left him, however, as she rolled a forepaw palm up, and dropped the sceptre onto her scaled palm, clenching to a fist, the, bright tip poking out through her digits. She made… a deep, coughing roar sound which, made him think of… giggling, before she rose her paw, waving the sceptre around “I like this”
“Good” he murmured, and with finality, slammed shut the compartment. A glance showed him Jay was having no nicer a time, caught between the dragoness’s paw and her ankle, trying to fight off the talons.
Chandra looked back to him with a low rumble “I like these very much, thank you”
Rafael let himself smile just a little bit, at least she was, polite “may I please, request you take us back to the road now… please”
“Of course,” the dragoness’s bulk rose, Jay yelping, scrabbling on the ground as a paw thudded down near him. Her eyes drifted back “oh, the other one… good jump”
The large beast’s head came down, the box with his teapot disappearing into the soft, pink abyss. As her head lifted, he saw her jaw working, tongue licking out past the obstacle, as she got it comfortably inside her mouth. “ust, et back inm” she mumbled, nosing the carriage.
Rafael went to Jay, helping his companion up, leading him for the carriage. He did, shoot the large reptile a look… he did wonder if they could trust her… but she could have killed them already. Was she devious enough to just, kick the carriage over to kill them inside it, making a royal prince look accidental… no… he doubted it, but he couldn’t help worrying.
They clambered inside, sinking into their normal seats. A laugh choked in Rafael’s throat, as the surreal nature of… the sudden familiarity hit him. He looked around his carriage… the roof was buckled, he saw wood splintering. The door was… just gone, and the whole carriage had developed a tilt.
He looked over to Jay “Can you do it Jay, do you have the calm, soothing words to make it all better for me”
Jay shook his had lightly “If you want to complain, Rafael, this time I’ll support you fully”
They exchanged a look, and laughed, a delirious touch in the raucous notes, but the tension broke… moments later, the carriage was rolling, turning, bumping its way downhill… four, large, heavy thuds for paws instead of the thrumming clatter of horse hooves
“You do realise, I’m the first prince to have a dragon pulling my carriage”
“One way to look at it” Jay smiled faintly “It’s not sunk in that… we may just survive this”
Rafael nodded slowly, tapping a finger to his chin “It makes me wonder about those bardic tales… who knew dragons were like this…”
“I imagine this creature is an exception” Jay added “Before you… begin to relax too much Rafael, don’t forget who she ate… and that had she not, you… may have been enacting the tales of royal youths snatched away”
Rafael winced a little, yes… he remembered, the kicking legs… she had been sweet, pleasant, cute… but he hadn’t gotten the feeling she’d bat an eyelid to make a meal of him “I take your point…” he sighed heavily “oh I’m going to miss that teapot… and father will have a fit when he learns what became of my sceptre… blasted beast will probably be using it as a toothpick when she gets our people stuck between her teeth, how ironic is that…”
Jay sighed “we are lucky this particular beast is placated by trinkets”
“mmm?” Rafael gave Jay a look “easy for you to say… it wasn’t your things she took. Though I see your point… we are fresh out of nubile young damsels…”
“This dragon is female… it may be, young lords she’s interested in keeping, and eating, if you want to take the legends literally
Rafael pouted, grimacing “I suppose all the princess or damsel stealing dragons in legends are male, aren’t they…? I assume she really is taking us back to the road…”
Jay peered out the window “near as I can tell… we’re going downhill anyway”
Rafael looked out of the torn door, eying the wrecked hinges “Still… is it strange, if we survive this, I think I may even come to be glad of this encounter. The creature… was quite beautiful to behold” he sighed “oh to tame such a thing… perhaps this one could be, with a steady offer of new… shiny trinkets”
“I wouldn’t wish to see you risking her appetite”
“Something to ponder… this is the region I govern, is it not? I can consider the idea in time… I rather doubt she will be leaving the region”
“I can’t deny a tamed dragon would be a boon” Jay observed, reluctantly “but… I fear she cannot be. Placated yes, her interest caught, yes… maybe even bargains made, but… a dragon… cannot be made as docile as livestock, nothing that can, think so freely could ever be. Not forever, at least”
Rafael rolled a shoulder “But imagine… such a thing of beauty, all mine… astride the back of that beast… now that is how a future king should travel. Beautiful but imposing, intimidating but graceful, regal and deadly”
Jay sighed lightly “She is all those things…”
They sat quietly, as the carriage continued to roll, but, quite suddenly it came to a stop. A moment passed, before a thunderous crash, wind billowing inside, leathery thumps which, faded into the distance quickly.
Rafael rose from his seat, hopping out and looking skyward… the red and blue gem disappearing from view. He sighed a little bit… he wanted it…
“Well sir” Jay noted, exiting beside him “it seems the beast was true to her word… but best we leave this place before she becomes hungry once more”
“Agreed, how?” Rafael looked to Jay
“We hope our… remaining entourage returns with the horses and finds us… or we start walking”
Rafael’s heart sank with a weary groan “will my torments never cease…”

“That’s really how it happened?” Leo pressed, looking over the bright, settled red muzzle of Chandra. Her forepaws were crossed before the bar, head settled upon, eyes locked on the little teapot he had on the counter. She was so excited to try it… she’d have eagerly burnt her mouth if he hadn’t distracted her with the tale of how she got it
“Of course,” Chandra’s tail drifted back, and forth behind her. That excited agitation he knew so well
“Ok, it should be cool enough to handle…” he shook his head “you’re not going to like it though”
She snorted, a blast of air pushing his hair back. He shrugged, and lifted the teapot as, the abyss to hell opened before him, the dragoness’s maw parting before him. A soft world of pink inside the gleaming red muzzle. He leaned over the bar, partly into her mouth, pouring the stream of steaming tea in over her tongue, watching the liquid blending into the slime in her lower jaw. He pulled back, as her teeth snapped shut. Her underjaw shifted with her moving tongue… and he burst out laughing as her features twisted, eyes shut, and tongue poked from her lips
“Blech…”
“Told you so”
“How do humans drink that” Chandra coughed, swallowing with a grimace
“It’s what we call an acquired taste” Leo noted with a wry smile “which means we drink or eat something that tastes awful and our bodies try to reject, till our willpower to keep consuming it wins out over our body’s attempt to tell us not to”
“That does not sound at all wise”
“Normally it isn’t… we serve alcohol here, Chandra, you remember how that tastes”
She grimaced “don’t remind me… liquid rot. This is just bitter, so bitter”
Leo shrugged “but, once you get used to the bitterness, apparently it becomes somewhat savoury. Honestly, I think it’s just fashionable… and don’t forget, the water we have here is good… other places, it’s foul… they need to boil it just to make it… safe. A pinch of flavoured leaves can make it taste better than without” he considered “maybe I’ll make you some mint tea, you might like that better…”
Chandra nodded “ok… this, this… acquired taste, I’m willing to acquire… I want to learn more about human things… even the things that seem weird”
“Atta girl” Leo smirked “shall I brew another pot right now?”
“No”