Not Always the Vunerable
By: Riley Wilson
Tags: Fantasy, Short Story Writing, Adventure, Short Story, Perspective

Riley Wilson

. In a destined land of lush fields, dark forests and fate, lies the kingdom of Squaldivish.The kingdom is home to the old king, his wife and his daughter, the princess. Banners sash the walls with pride, torches drew high to light, and chilling hymnes echoing; but not on the day of folk lord.

. A nearby liar rested concave underground, whilst it was full of gold and a skin-prickling dragon; only the beast remained. The kingdom feared the day of it’s awakening as it was destined, the princess was to be taken.

. -But the dragon although not mighty in size was feared for his overwhelming savagery. The princess was kept far away from his potential wrath, with the guidance of various mentors on the outskirts of a nearby village.

. “You’re going to have to hit me better than that”, drenched in a layer of sweat and dirt Damien spit out a clump of bloody spit; then grinned.

. The once seen beautiful and elegant princess was now hidden behind a head of hair and stubbornness. She threw a punch, smacking between his eyes.

. “And you’re going to have to be faster than that-” Before she could finish her sentence, Damien scooped his leg under hers knocking her flat on her butt.

. Damien was placed head in control of protecting the princess as he was the great commander of the old king’s army. He reached out a hand for assistance.

. “You know, that’s not fair-” She uttered.

. “Life’s not fair. If you want to attack, you have to always expect a return.” Damien went on to explain the tactics of attacks, as she was knowledgeable when it was spoken but not expertised in hand-to-hand combat itself. Training of such was usual; she had learned from a young age that it was necessary for survival. Her real talent resided in cleverity, as she used logic and puzzles to fill free time as well as a way to destress.

. In distance, the dragon began his awaited awakening, tossing but not yet conscious.

. The princess now cleaned from the day’s duties met Damien at the small cracked wooden table she had grown accustomed to.

. “You know I find it awfully confusing that you can knock an ogre down faster than blowing out a candle- and yet you still don’t know how to bake a pie”, the princess snickered, pulling out a indulging apple pie crusted with handmade designs.

. Damien scooted his chair in, ignoring the playful spitefulness that is the princess.

. “Nothing? Hm I am so happy to know there’s more pie for me” She smirked.

The room went cold, no smiles remained as the ground shook, needed not an explanation they starred in acknowledgment. The dragon had awoken, and he discovered the thevience that occurred in his slumber; resorting him to follow the legend, stealing the princess. The ground rattled, trees bounced, but it was no time for hesitation.

. “You know what to do” Damien asserted and rushed away to attend his duty.

The princess knew that there would be no army, the risk of death was too high to risk; it was up to her now. Damien would head out towards the treading dragon in hopes to halt and slow down the beast.

The princess grasping at previous training, and glisp memories of preparation for this moment bolting her into action. Moving with haste, she armed herself with hands shaking along the way. Tactics raced across her mind, revealing only two viable options for her survival; fight her way or manipulate it.

Damiens fight must’ve halted the beast temporarily as the trembling ground began to settle briefly before continuing at godly speeds. The princess stood pridefully outside awaiting.

The tree line split revealing scales green as emerald, and a tale of spike with the slithering of a snake. Three heads appeared one by one through the brush, speaking in the language of an unforsaken tongue sounding of hisses. The princess had heard of the skin- prickling dragon but never expected such a hideous reptile. Jagged teeth stuck out like saws, eyes color of dark blood glowed, and scars of failed assenation resided on the dragon.

The princess came into sight, arousing the beast to speak, “I come for you” it hissed fading off into the unspoken language.

“And I come for you”, she spoke clearly, “ For you are not the villain. I come bearing a request of revenge. You seek to take me to right the wrong the kingdom has conducted, but you have yet to realize my little importance”.

The three-necked devil stretched in neck in curiosity. Reputation of the best shows it’s tendency to take dark measures for revenge rather than the expected one, and she played to it’s game.

“SPEAK”, it demanded.

“You see they have left me alone in the woods to be killed, with no army. What beloved princess would be set up for death? I am of no worth to a kingdom that sees me as dead. I ask why steal something so invaluable rather than to conduct a more effective plot of revenge”, finding her words as she spoke; she had no plan but to outsmart the dragon.

The beast rumbled with interest, turning its heads facing each other as to discuss with itself. As it contemplated its choice, an image of hope flashed through her mind; a way to save everyone.

“Well?” She spoke up confidently, interrupting the decisive dragon. The threes stopped and turned harshly at her, sending bumps of adrenaline or fear up her arms.

“Tonight I will enter the kingdom for the first time in 19 years, celebration will occur enacting parades of joy as I will deliver a story of your death. There you will make your entrance, when their guard will be at the lowest. Then you can take your true revenge on the forsaken king for his crimes committed against you”, it merely purred in correlation to her words. It did not feel as true in her heart as she had made it seem. The kingdom had done no wrong but take back what the dragon had stolen from the souls it slaughtered.

The beast returned himself to his cave that frightful night, with words of cursed threats if she did not comply. And as she intended to announce the death of the dragon, she did. The kingdom roared, speaking of joy and festivities. The banners once again sashed with pride, and Damien rejoined her for breakfast that fateful morning after.

“I need you to prepare a small offensive group, it’s coming here”, she spoke softfully to not allow any other listeners.

“What? You’re joking you willing planned the assanation of your father if not the entire kingdom. The villagers are going to parade the streets with signs of hatred of the dragon, and you do not expect a horrid result? Why in god’s good name would you ever plan -” he spoke harshly and quiet.

“Will you shush up”, she cut off as per usual, “I’m not a fool. You will put together a group of 7–10 men fully armoured to protect the king; if anyone asks, it’s for the appeal of power. The king won’t be harmed nor the village, but it will be close. I told it lies abandonment, and hatred to lead it here, but why? I want to lead it where it feels the most egotistical, when it will feel the most powerful, and I can’t very well lead it to a city guarded when it will only lead it kill without listening. It must believe I am telling the truth, it must entrust me enough to get close enough to burn the beast. When the time comes, I will slice the beast with it’s own weapon of flame”.

. As anticipated, the turnout of townsfolk was almost unheard of, reaching numbers in the thousands. The cheering quickly turned to squeals and screams when the ground shook once more as welcoming of their unexpected guest. The villagers cleared the grounds of which the dragon was headed down, and the princess stood in the halls waiting for it’s arrival. The old king and queen trembled in their thrones watching their daughter in their eyes betray them.

. “You stole what is mine. And now I will steal what is yours, your soul”, it hissed in disgust at his foe.

. “Now, now, now. We want to have a little fun making him repay why be in such a haste. You should touture him a bit first”, she taunted the dragon, making herself only look more convincing, “Burn a few holes in him first wouldn’t you?”.

. The three-headed devilish reptile took his stance at the poor old king, turning its emerald scales red as he began to heat and expand its belly.

. The princess was well prepared for the instant agreeance to such a volatile action. In the slumber of the dragon beforth today, the princess had planted a potion across its lips to forbid the dragon from closing its mouth once it opened; knowing it rarely spoke. The aroma of burning flesh drafted from the three throats, and with the crack of its terrifying serpent-like mouth, the princess sprung to a hidden rope. A metal box with a higher melting point than the temperature of it’s flame encased the beast, echoing the loud bang from the fall. The beast no longer able to with hold its flame killed himself with his most used weapon, melting itself down to nothing more than puddle.