There was a pause.
Maylie gathered herself, pressing a hand to her chest as if to still the thud of her heart. She had come so far, racing through the evening, driven by desperation. And now that she stood face to face withthe truth she had carried for so long, her mind was blank. She had been so intent on getting here that she had not thought what she would say or how she would explain it all. ‘My name is Maylie,’ she began slowly. ‘I’m …’ She glanced at the Princess. ‘I’m—’
A sudden roar interrupted her, ripping through the night.
All three women jumped as the air seemed to bend around them.
A huge, dark shape burst from the sky above, wings stretched wide, blocking the moon and scattering starlight. Talons gleamed as the creature plummeted towards them with terrifying speed.
Maylie’s heart lurched. She knew who this was.
She scrambled to her feet and raced forward as the creature descended. It landed hard on the ridge with a thunderous crash that sent tremors through the earth. Its claws gouged deep into the rocky slope, hurling stones, and a blast of wind, thick with soot and ash, fanned out from its enormous wings, flattening the nearby trees and ripping leaves from their branches. The beast was immense – its scales were a deep coppery rust, and its body rippled with sheer power, muscles coiling beneath its armour-like hide.
The Great Dragon had arrived for its payment.
What have you done?it boomed.
The sound resonated in Maylie’s bones, deep and almost painful. Her knees buckled and she dropped into a low bow, forehead nearly touching the scorched earth. Her hands quivered where they pressed to the ground, and she fought to steady her breath, pushing down the surge of terror that clawed at her chest.
Great Dragon,she cried, pretending that every sense in her body was not screaming at her to escape.Most ancient of creatures. I ask that you might hear my plea.
The mighty beast seemed to pause, almost as if in surprise at being addressed in its own tongue. Its head whipped around andtwo yellow eyes bore down upon them as dry heat barrelled through the air.
Now she had its attention, Maylie knew she must convince the Great Dragon not to take the Princess. Somehow. She swallowed.There has been a mistake,she said, as boldly as she could manage.Please. This spring’s maiden cannot be your sacrifice because she is a relation of mine. My own sister was sent to you nineteen winters ago and a maiden cannot be taken from the same family twice in two generations.
The Great Dragon snapped its huge, fanged jaws with a sound like splintering stone.That is not part of my treaty,it replied.I care not for your rules.
Maylie had not considered this. She scrambled back to her feet, trying to think of something else. Something that would keep the Princess safe.Then I am here to offer myself as the Maiden Sacrifice,she said.Take me instead.
It was the best she could think to do. If it were one of her sons in the Princess’s place, she would die for them without hesitation. She would throw herself between them and death, again and again, without question or thought. That was love. That was motherhood. And this would be no different. She had failed the wailing baby that was first placed in her arms, but she would not make that same mistake again with the woman before her now.
One of my kin has been slain,snarled the Great Dragon, its yellow gaze looking down upon the blood-soaked earth.You have broken my treaty with the Mountain folk. I have no need of a sacrifice now.
Fear curdled in Maylie’s stomach. Without the treaty no one in the Kingdom of Calestra was safe from the Great Dragon’s wrath. Her mind conjured visions of jagged peaks shrouded in smoke, the air split by screams and the roar of fire. She saw cottages consumed by flames, and the sky glowing orange with ruin while ash fell like rain.
But it was Princess Tiannie who was slain,she replied desperately.Not one of your kin. She was once like us—
No!the Great Dragon screeched, and sparks flew from its nostrils, showering over the ground in burning embers.She belonged to me; once they come to the mountains, they all belong to me.
You can take my life as payment,cried Maylie again.The treaty can be remade.
The Great Dragon growled and swung its head as a hiss of steam sprayed from its lipless mouth.Your life is nothing to me.
Maylie was frantically trying to think of what she could do or say to appease this terrifying creature before it destroyed them all, when she became aware of someone appearing beside her. She turned to see the Princess standing bare-footed with her face tilted up to the mighty ancient beast, moonlight falling over her fine features.
Greetings, Great Dragon,she said.
Maylie stumbled back in surprise. The Princess’s voice was the same as her own, half thought, half words.
The Princess drew herself up tall, the edges of the cloak slipping down her shoulders. Only Maylie could see the slight tremble of her fingers.
Greetings, Great Dragon,the Princess repeated.I have a proposition for you.
Cressyda
CRESSYDA PANTED,HERwhole body shaking. She could feel the sweltering presence of the Great Dragon bearing down upon her with all its perilous strength, and the terror of its rumbling, hissing voice vibrated through her body. Her muscles trembled under the weight of sheer, paralysing fear, and sweat ran down her face, stinging her eyes, mingling with the dust clinging to her skin.
Another who speaks the ancient tongue?said the Great Dragon. It almost sounded amused, if such a thing were possible. It lowered its head, nostrils flared, yellow eyes fixed upon her.
