Page 90 of The Discount Damsel

From the looks on his humans’ faces, his sassitude would not go ignored. Millie’s eyebrows winged up as her mouth puckered; Bradley’s eyes glittered dangerously as his jaw clenched. But neither of them got a word in, because Sir Eustace darted out of his tent at just that moment, bellowing, “Thief! I’ve been robbed!”

He thrust a finger at the red dragon perched on the wrought-iron railing. “Where have you been the last thirty minutes, Dragon?”

“Thieving.”

“I knew it!”

“These rubies, you idiot.” Dirk waved a paw down at the wagon and the gem that glittered in the moonlight.

Millie snatched the scroll from Bradley’s hand and thwacked Dirk across the snout. “Manners, young man.” As the dragon rubbed the sting from his nose, she craned over the railing to shout, “Sir Eustace, we’re dealing with something right now. We’ll happily assist you after we’ve attended to it.”

“Alright,” he grumbled. “I’ll be in my tent.”

The princess tossed the scroll back to the apprentice, who caught it, and turned a glare on the dragon. “Dirk, that was so dangerous of you!” She, of course, had no knowledge of the little dragon’s previous exploits before he’d kidnapped her.

“Yeah. That’s kinda my epithet?”

“And that’s kinda a lot of attitude to direct towards someone who’s concerned for you. We’re supposed to be doing this as a team.” Without meaning to, she turned towards Bradley for backup.

The apprentice was way ahead of her. He, of course, knew full well of Dirk’s extortion ring, but the little dragon brought home hams and bolts of fine linen and satchels half-full of coins. Never anything like this. The risk he must’ve taken.

“You can. Work on y-your treasure. By looting. The Heroes,” he told Dirk crossly. “Get rid of. Those r-rubies and the w-wagon.”

“Then wash up and get ready for supper,” the princess added.

“Fine,” the little dragon spat.

The two humans watched like disapproving parents as the luck dragon raised a wind to lift the crates from the wagon. A second wind formed a whirlpool beneath the wagon and buried it under the sand. With the many crates hovering behind him and pulled along in his wake, the luck dragon went to his room and slammed the door shut.

The apprentice and the princess sighed at the same time, disappointed in the dragon’s juvenile decision and resulting tantrum. Then, realizing they were in agreement on something, the two immediately stepped away from each other.

“Sir Eustace,” Millie called, “we’re ready for you now.”

“Thank you. You must excuse my outburst and state of undress.” By undress, the little man was clearly referencing his missing suit jacket, the undone top two buttons of his shirt, and the loosened laces of his shiny leather shoes.

“It’s nothing,” she assured him. “You said you were robbed? What is missing?”

“One of my bezoars! I woke from my nap to discover the chalice lid askew and one of them missing. It’s a mercy the rest of them didn’t escape.”

“What’s a bezoar?”

“Something very important,” was the cagey answer.

Millie and Bradley exchanged a confused look.

“We’ve been. In the tower,” the apprentice assured him. “And Dirk. Just got back. From r-robbing r-rubies. It wasn’t. Us.”

The ministry official dry-washed his hands, muttering something about desert sprites. “I know this is against protocol, but those bezoars are precious. I don’t suppose you have any dried mongoose dung or eagle talons in that tower, do you?”

“Both.”

Sir Eustace bowed. “I would consider it a great kindness if you would part with some. So great, in fact, that I would exchange them for a boon.”

Millie tapped Bradley’s arm. “But what is a bezoar?”

He shook his head and disappeared into the workroom, returning with two jars and a doubtful expression. “I’m n-not sure how⁠—”

“Just toss them.” Sir Eustace linked his hands behind his back and stretched, then shook out his arms. “I’m quite spry.”