Isilda explained what happened. The whole time, Captain Thack stared down at Val, not saying a word and never blinking. Val’s mouth was terribly dry. He barely heard her words until she finished with, “This man saved my life. You should be grateful, my prince.”

The prince looked to Val, not smiling. “Yes, you’re quite right. Thank you, Mr. Skagg. Forgive me, for a moment it appeared—but never mind that. Tonight we shall hold a feast, in your honor, for your deeds of valor, and celebrate that my betrothed still breathes.”

Val bowed low. “No need, Your Majesty. I was but doing my duty to protect the princess, as would be the responsibility of any man in my position.”

The prince said nothing but continued to look at Val who, in turn, changed the subject. “How fared your quest? There were other Bluebacks to slay, I presume.”

“Pfhaa,” said the captain, finally breaking his silence. “You call those pathetic baby lizards dragons? Still suckling on their mum’s teat, no doubt. You led us on a wild unicorn chase.”

Val only then realized why Captain Thack’s face annoyed him. He had a square jaw that begged for a beating. Val bit his lip. Things were not going good for him today. “I’m sorry, Prince,” he said. “I did not know they were not full-grown. I only knew the one adult female dwelt in the cave for sure.”

The prince gazed off in the direction Val and Isilda returned from. “Had I been there it would have fallen under my blade,” said Ectar. “Nevertheless, we did slay a few of the younglings.” His cold emerald eyes held no emotion at all. “And we captured three as well.” The prince snapped his fingers at Thack, who threw Val a bag of coins.

Val caught the bag, but keeping them didn’t feel right. “Sire, I can’t take these knowing you were not able to fulfill your quest.”

“Keep them,” said the prince smiling, more teeth than eyes. “It’s the least I can do for saving Princess Isilda.” Then he turned his steed. “Come, let us return to the castle. We have a feast to prepare for.”

As they all turned to go, Ectar said, “Captain. A word, please.” The captain turned his horse, and Val knew he should join the rest of the group and leave them to talk in private. He looked back to see them talking under the shadow of a weeping willow. The prince whispered into Thack’s ear, all the while his ringed fingers brushed the hilt of his sword, as if itching to draw it. Thack stared straight at Val and nodded, smirking for the first time that day.

A small breeze blew over Val. Goosebumps arose along the back of his neck. Whatever Ectar and Thack spoke of, he didn’t like it one bit. But with a borrowed horse amidst a hunting party prepared to chase down a dragon, he could not slip away without drawing attention to himself. And he didn’t need royal horse thief added to his list of skills.

“Thank you again,” said Isilda.

Val cleared his throat. “Don’t mention it,” he said forcing a smile, but his stomach churned. He’d have his feast, then gather his things, take his earnings, and leave in the dead of night.

***

Captain Thack led the party back out of the woods and toward the castle. The hunt began early in the morning, but now the red sun sank into the horizon beyond the clouds.

Val lagged farther and farther behind the hunting party until he fell in line with the three caged baby Bluebacks. They growled and sputtered tongues of fire, but the metal cage held fast. Soon, they gave up and settled in for the ride. The cage was designed to hold a full-grown adult Blueback, so it fit three adolescents with room to spare.

To rid the countryside of a full-grown, fanged menace was one thing, but taking captive baby dragons to breed them for the mere sport of future hunts was something else entirely, and it didn’t sit right with Val. He pitied the poor creatures. Sadness washed over him. His whole life up until this point he’d felt like a wild animal straining against the cage of hardship, dreaming he could escape to opportunity abroad, flying higher than his lowly upbringing. Would he ever break free? The earnings today were a step in the right direction.

They entered the town, and people gathered to see the spectacle. Val knew the prince brought back the young-wings just so he could display something for his subjects, rather than return empty-handed.

In the town square a gray-bearded, one-eyed beanstalk of a man struggled for a better view of the royal hunting party, but the stocks restricted his head and arms from much movement. “D-d-dragons!” he blurted, giving Val a gap-toothed, gummy grin. Val noted the empty stocks next to the man, and he focused his eyes straight ahead.

They climbed the winding path up the hill, ascending to Prince Ectar’s castle. Val craned his neck, his eyes tracing the tall towers that stood like spears piercing the sky. This morning he’d thought the castle looked lovely, but now black shadows enclosed the stone structure. Val shook his head. All of this extravagance at Ectar’s disposal. It sickened him considering all of the material possessions this one man held, while he scrambled after any glimmer of hope to survive. He patted his bag, the jingle pleasing his ears. “At least there’s a feast to enjoy, ” he muttered to himself.

When they arrived at the gate, the prince bid Val to approach him. Val dismounted, and his borrowed horse was returned to its stall for him. He noted which direction the caged Bluebacks went as they were carted out of the courtyard and moved into some other holding area.

“Captain Thack, can you please show Mr. Skagg here to the guest quarters?” Then he turned to his betrothed. “My lady, why don’t you retire and prepare yourself for tonight’s feast.”

Captain Thack approached Val with a smile and said, “Right this way, Mr. Skagg. We’ll have you fixed up in no time.”

Val caught the eye of Isilda, but the prince noticed it and grabbed her arm, hurrying off before anything could be said. Thack led Val away from the main hall and into a dark hallway. They walked down several flights of winding steps. Val felt like it was getting darker with each step and the air harder to breathe.

“Almost there,” said Thack reassuringly.

“Torch, maybe?” asked Val, but all Thack did was snort. “Sure is a long walk for any of your poor guests to the main hall. I’d hate to be a guest here all of the time.”

“You’re right. You will hate being here all of the time.” Then Thack turned abruptly to strike Val in the face, but Val was ready for it. He dodged the first blow, but not the second or the third, or the tenth. The last thing he remembered as he lay on the cold stone floor was Thack tearing the bag of gold coins from him. Val tried to object, but his eyelids wouldn’t stay open.