The Princess and the Dragon Knight Chapter 18

“I know what Stormbringer explained to me and Cartouche one time… he really didn’t want to, he seemed quite unhappy about having to do it but Cartouche’s mother insisted.” Ky said as he stroked his fingers through her hair. Saria cuddled close to him, resting her head between his shoulder and chest. “What did he say?” She asked, finding that holding his body like this was both exciting and peaceful.

“Well, it’s rather embarrassing and strange. I honestly never thought I would want to do the things he spoke of because it seemed too odd. I hadn’t really considered it until I met you…” He admitted. Saria cocked one brow at him. “So you wanted to do strange things to me?” She asked. He blushed deeply. It was easier to see now with his more flesh-toned skin. “Well… I suppose they are not so strange as they are natural. I mean, it is the way of things but… well, they seem odd at first.” He explained poorly.

“Well, out with it then! I want to know what it is that no one has told me.” Saria insisted. Ky hesitated. “Stormbringer said that when two people find they like each other… they join. I didn’t understand what he meant back then but now I have this idea of how it might work. Cartouche was older than I when Stormbringer sat us down and so he spent more time explaining it to him. ” Ky said. “How do you think this joining works…?” Saria asked cautiously.

“You will think me ill if I tell you but it makes sense if you have seen the horses in the stable, Saria…” Ky said. She was glad he couldn’t see her face. She was both embarrassed and horrified at the idea. “But… how? I mean…is… what… that wasn’t your hand… was it?” She barely whispered. She could feel his heart beating faster against her cheek. “I’m sorry…” he said quietly as if he were ashamed. Truthfully, it scared her but at the same time she could appreciate it wasn’t his fault if it truly was a natural thing.

“It is alright, Ky. I felt… strange wants as well just now.” She admitted. She had thought herself appalling for what came to mind but now it seemed to make sense. “I shall have Cally explain it to me and then I will tell you if our suspicions are correct. Is that fair?” She asked. “Yes…” he said quietly. “Would you stay a while longer? I know you are not supposed to but I miss you when you are gone…” He whispered into her hair. She shivered from that simple action and those simple words. She shivered down to her bones.

“Yes, Ky… I will stay.”


Sometime later Saria woke with a start and found herself in her own bed. The sun was barely peeking above the ramparts and her room was still dark. She looked around and wondered if she had dreamed everything from last night. Her cheeks burned and her skin chilled at the memory. The way he touched her, she would never forget it. “No, not a dream…” She murmured as she felt her lips. They ached from his kiss, it had been so thorough that her innocent flesh was not used to it.

The games were only two days away and after that she would be wed to him and then…
She fell into her bed and screamed quietly into her hands. Whatever this feeling was inside her it was exciting and overwhelming and she could hardly contain herself. She tried to fall back asleep but her mind was thrilling over what the next month would bring. Everything was going according to plan and Thanis wasn’t going to ruin it. He couldn’t.

After a few hours of dozing on and off Saria heard her bedroom door open and Cally came walking in. She went about opening the drapes but stilled as she found one of the windows open. Saria watched her silently from her bed feigning sleep. Ky must have brought her back and forgot to close the window. Cally walked over to the bed and gently stirred Saria awake and then sat at the edge of the bed. “Saria…?” She said softly.

“Mmmm… good morning, Cally,” Saria yawned and stretched convincingly. “I’m sorry about last night. I had no right to think such things about you or your friend. I was just worried, that’s all.” Cally said. “It is alright, Cally. But, do you think you could tell me what it is you were afraid we were doing? I think it’s time someone explained it.  After all, I wed soon…I don’t really want to be surprised.” Saria said, pushing her tangle of black hair back. “Aye, I suppose you should know…Oh dear, Saria, your face!” Cally gaped.

Saria touched the cheek Thanis had struck. It was sore and Saria realized it must be bruised as well. She couldn’t tell Cally because then Thanis would retaliate by saying something terrible about Ky so she decided to…alter the truth. “It’s nothing. When I opened my window I fell on the way back to the bed andh it my face on the chest there. Now, you were saying?” Saria insisted and smiled. Oh, it even hurt to smile.


Cally visibly wanted to argue with the story but didn’t. Saria was glad. She didn’t think she had it in her to keep up much of a charade today. “So…about my wedding night?” Saria said. Cally relented and, much to Saria’s shock and horror, explained a few things in detail.

It was somewhat what she and Ky had thought, well, she hadn’t really visualized it quite the same way, truthfully. She understood very well what he had wanted to do now and why he was ashamed of it. She didn’t think her face would ever stop burning. However, making love to Ky seemed far less terrible than doing it with someone like Thanis. In fact, now she understood what Thanis was planning that day Ky had saved her, the filthy tyrant.

The idea of doing such an intimate thing with someone like Thanis made her skin crawl. “Well, I assure you that Ky and I have not done… that.” Saria finally said after taking a moment to regroup. Cally sighed in relief. “Thank the Gods… I don’t know what your father would have done.” She said. Saria would just not mention that she almost did it just last night by accident. “Now, does your knight know how the games work, have you instructed him?” Cally asked as she retrieved Saria’s clothes for the day.

“Oh, no, I haven’t. I’m going to ask Sir Caspion to do it, he would know better than I.” Saria said thoughtfully. “Well, your knight only has tomorrow and the next to train and the rest have been training for years. You should probably see to that today, my dear.” Cally said as she helped Saria remove her nightshift and then helped her into her under tunic, pannier and over tunic. The pannier was very confining and Saria despised it but it wasn’t done to go around without it, or so Cally always said.

After dressing and having her hair brushed, Cally finally allowed Saria free. She wanted to get to Ky early so they could start training for the games. Yes, it was incredibly short notice but Ky could surely learn the rules quickly. She tried the stables first, finding Cartouche there looking bored and annoyed. “Cartouche,” she said patting his back, “Where is Ky?” She asked. Cartouche nodded toward the grouping of trees that she had run into to escape Thanis.

Saria made her way through more gingerly this time, not wanting to ruin her shoes nor tear her dress. Cally would have kittens if she did. She finally came to the field where she had been taken and found Ky standing near the edge looking out over the land below. “Ky!” Saria called, waving and running to him. Despite her best effort, her slippers were getting quite dirty. Ky turned and smiled at her. His strange green hair lit by the sun and dancing on the wind made him look even more handsome than usual.

Saria couldn’t help but notice her heart beat strangely just then and she found it hard not to smile. She stopped just a few feet from him, which was proper but he close that gap of space and pulled her into a gentle hug. “Ky…” She whispered, gripping him tightly to her. “I’ve some things to discuss with you.” Saria said finally, pulling away. “Alright.” Ky said. “First, you were right to stop us and you were not a tyrant in wanting what you did… secondly, we need to train for the game and I’m hoping Sir Caspion will help us.” Saria explained.