The council chamber erupted in laughter. Robin stood frozen, her hands trembling at her sides as Lord Darian slapped the table and Lady Mira wiped tears from her eyes. She had just told them the truth—that Cyrus, the kingdom’s greatest dragon slayer, her fiancé, had transformed into a dragon right before her eyes—and they were mocking her for it. “Dragons taking human form,” Lord Halford wheezed.
“What will she come up with next? ”
“I’m not joking,” Robin said, her voice rising. “I saw it happen. He changed right in front of me.
”
Her brother Kendrick shook his head firmly. “Dragons are beasts. Powerful, dangerous beasts, but beasts nonetheless. They don’t reason, they don’t transform, and they certainly don’t infiltrate royal courts.
”
“But I saw—” Robin began. “You saw a man flee in one direction while a dragon appeared from another,” her father, King Baldwin, said gently. “In the chaos and fear of the moment, your mind connected them. ”
Robin’s gaze darted to the sun crown on her father’s head.
It sat there, dark and inert, showing none of the amber glow it had revealed when she held it in the catacombs. “And that crown—it glowed when I held it. It was warm. Why is no one talking about that?
”
Her father’s hand moved protectively to the crown. “Robin, enough. ”
“Take it off. Let me show you.
”
Kendrick gestured to her flushed face and trembling hands. “She’s exhausted, traumatized. She’s just lost the man she was to marry. Of course she’s created a story where he’s still alive somewhere.
”
“Father, please,” Robin pleaded. “Just let me hold it again. You’ll see. ”
King Baldwin sighed heavily.
“Robin, my dear, I think you should retire to your chambers and rest. ”
Master Fenrin, the court physician, stepped forward and took her arm gently but firmly. “Come, Your Highness. You’ve suffered a terrible shock.
”
“I don’t need a sleeping draft,” Robin cried, pulling away. “I need someone to believe me. ”
But they didn’t. She had always been the dutiful daughter, the clever princess whose observations were praised.
She had never imagined they would simply not believe her. —
Two days passed. Robin barely left her chambers, keeping the fire blazing even though it was nearly summer. A persistent chill had settled deep in her bones, one that no amount of flames seemed to chase away.
She huddled close to the hearth, staring into the dancing flames, replaying the moment for the hundredth time. Cyrus doubling over in pain. His skin rippling and hardening to scales. His face elongating.
His teeth sharpening to points. The way his body grew and changed. The dragon’s eyes—his eyes—meeting hers one final time before she ran. It had been real.
It had to have been real. And Cyrus was gone. Missing. And no one was looking for him.
She made her decision in the middle of the night. If no one would help her, she would do it herself. The stables were dark, but Robin knew her way by touch. Her mare, Briar, nickered softly as she approached.
“We’re going on an adventure, girl,” she whispered, securing her pack behind the saddle. “And me,” came a small voice from the shadows. Robin jumped, her hand flying to her dagger. Prince Tommen stepped into the dim light, arms crossed over his chest.
At twelve, he was all gangly limbs and curiosity. “You’re going after him, aren’t you? ” he asked. Robin sighed, caught.
“Yes. I know no one believes me, Tom, but I know what I saw. I have to find him. I have to know the truth.
”
Tommen’s eyes widened, but not with disbelief. “Dragons can turn into humans? “I believe so. Which is why I must find Cyrus.
Because if they can, then everything we’ve believed about dragons until now has been wrong. ”
Tommen nodded solemnly. “You’re right. You have to find him.
I’ll come with you. ”
“What? No. Absolutely not.
”
“I know where we should go,” he continued, ignoring her protest. “The captain of the guard is always talking about this inn near the borders where mercenaries meet. That’s where smugglers who can get you across hang out. ”
“We don’t need to be smuggled in.
We’re royals. We’re going on a diplomatic mission. ”
Tommen looked at her sympathetically. “Who doesn’t know you’re coming probably won’t be waiting for you by the borders and most definitely won’t have told the dragons you’re coming.
”
Robin deflated, knowing he was right. “Fine. I’ll go to your inn. But you can’t come with me.
I’m going on a suicide mission. I can’t bring my baby brother. ”
Tommen just smiled patiently. “You don’t have a choice.
The moment you’re gone, I’ll wake up Kendrick and tell him exactly where you’ve gone. ”
“You wouldn’t. ”
“I would. But I’d rather come with you.
Two are safer than one, and I know things. I listen to people. The guards never watch what they say around me. ”
Robin weighed her options.
Her brother was fast and knew all the shortcuts. And he believed her. That alone was worth something. “You’ll do exactly as I say,” she said sternly.
“No arguments, no wandering off, no heroics. Understood? ”
Tommen nodded eagerly, already moving toward his pony. “I’ve already packed.
I’ve been ready since I overheard Kendrick talking about making you marry Lord Cassius’s son. ”
“You’ve been planning this? ”
“I’ve been waiting for you to finally do something,” he corrected, swinging up onto his pony. “You’re not the only one who can sneak out at night.
”
Despite everything, Robin found herself smiling. “Lead the way to this infamous inn, then. ”
—
They reached the Fallen Drake inn by midday. It was a ramshackle building with a tattered sign swinging from rusted chains, the painted image of a dragon with an arrow through its heart nearly worn away.
Two men were brawling in the dirt outside while others cheered them on. Robin grimaced as another shiver ran through her. “Well, let’s go in. It’s chilly out here.
”
Tommen looked puzzled. “It’s not so bad. It’s nearly summer. ”
Inside, the stench hit Robin first—unwashed bodies, spilled ale, and something acrid she couldn’t identify.
The room fell into a watchful silence as heads turned toward them. Robin grew aware of how out of place they looked: two young royals in travel-worn clothes, gold coins jingling in their pouches. Tommen marched confidently to the bar where a large man with a scar bisecting his left eye was wiping tankards. “Good kind sir,” he began, his voice carrying in the now-quiet room.
“Would you be so kind as to point us toward someone who might take us across the dragon borders? ”
The barman raised an eyebrow. “There’s plenty of people who could take you. Now whether they’d want to, that’s another story.
”
“We can pay,” Robin said, stepping forward. “Sure. But paying don’t keep you alive. People usually team up with someone that has the skills to survive out there.
It’s brutal beyond the borders. ” His eyes raked over them. “And you two—well, I ain’t too sure what skills you have, but it’s not looking very promising. ”
For the next hour, Robin and Tommen approached table after table, offering increasing sums of gold.
Some laughed outright. Others began negotiating only to back out when they learned the destination. “No one’s going to want to risk their lives by dragging dead weight into a danger zone,” the barman said when they returned to the bar. “You’d need someone who’s both money obsessed and has absolutely no sense of self-preservation whatsoever.
”
Just then, the door swung open. A tall figure in a hooded cloak entered, silencing the room momentarily before conversation resumed. As the newcomer approached the bar and pushed back his hood, Robin’s words died in her throat. He was striking.
Not handsome in the courtly way she was accustomed to, but compelling in a way that made it difficult to look away. His hair was dark, almost black, with a streak of deep auburn that caught the light like burnished copper. His face was all angles—sharp cheekbones, strong jaw, straight nose—and his eyes were the strangest color she’d ever seen. A warm amber that seemed almost to glow in the dim tavern light.
“Actually,” the barman said, brightening. “You could ask Xander here. He fits the bill pretty well. ”
Xander walked right past Robin as if she were invisible.
“The usual, Gareth,” he said, his voice low and rough. Before Robin could stop him, Tommen slid off his stool and hurried after the man. “Excuse me, kind sir. For you to take us across the borders to the dragon territory.
”
Xander paused at the door, looking down at Tommen with a raised eyebrow. “What do you want, kid? ”
“For you to take us across the borders to the dragon territory. ”
Xander snorted.
“And who’s we? You and your mother? ”
“Sister! ” Robin growled, sliding into the space beside her brother.
Xander’s eyes finally shifted to her, a proper assessment that made her feel like she was being weighed and found wanting. “You two want to go into dragon territory? ”
“It is of the utmost importance that we do,” Robin declared. Xander’s lips quirked.
“Right. Which is why you brought the pre-pubescent adolescent with you, is it? Because it’s so vital. ”
Robin bristled.
“He is the prince of this kingdom. You will address him with respect. ”
Xander sighed, uncorking his bottle. He gave Tommen an exaggerated bow.
“My apologies, Your Highness. ”
“Still not helping you,” he said, fixing Robin with a withering look. “We can pay,” Robin insisted. “Heavily.
”
“You wouldn’t last a day out there, sweetheart. And I’m not in the business of condemning royalty to death. Bad for my reputation. ”
“I will have you know both my brother and I have been well-trained to survive dragons,” Robin said, lifting her chin.
“And we’re not asking for your opinion, just whether you’ll take us across or not. ”
“Please,” Tommen interrupted, his eyes wide and earnest. “It’s very important to us. To Robin even more so.
”
Xander looked between them, taking another long swig. “Why do you even want to go there, anyway? ”
“For love,” Robin answered without thinking. Xander nearly choked on his drink.
“Did you just say for love? ”
Robin lifted her chin. “I’m going after the man I’m going to marry. ”
“Your fiancé went into dragon territory voluntarily?
”
“Something like that. ”
Xander threw back his head and laughed. “Oh, this is priceless. The princess is on a quest for true love in dragon territory.
What’s next? Will there be singing woodland creatures to accompany us? ”
Robin’s face burned. “Mock me all you want, but this is serious.
”
“Oh, I’m sure it is. Look, princess, I’m sorry your betrothed had poor judgment, but charging into dragon territory for a rescue mission is suicide. ”
“You don’t know that. ”
“I know dragons,” Xander replied, his tone suddenly serious, all humor gone.
“And I know what they do to trespassers. ”
The conviction in his voice nearly made Robin falter. But she couldn’t think that way. “We’re still going,” she said firmly.
“With or without you. ”
Xander studied them for a long moment. “Look, I’m sorry, but I can’t help you. ” He turned to leave.
In desperation, Robin reached out, her hand closing around his forearm. “Wait. ”
The moment her fingers touched him, she froze. His skin was unnaturally warm, radiating heat like a banked fire.
The warmth seemed to flow from him into her, chasing away the persistent chill that had plagued her for days. Xander pulled away sharply, frowning. “I can’t help you. Sorry for your fiancé, lady, but it’s not—”
“I’m the princess of this kingdom,” Robin blurted, playing her final card.
“If you help us, whatever you desire from my father’s—the king’s—treasure vault is yours. ”
Xander’s protest died on his lips. “Anything? ”
Robin saw his hesitation and pressed her advantage, reaching for the chain around her neck.
She pulled out a large ruby ring—her grandmother’s—which she had brought as an emergency bargaining chip. “Yes,” she smiled, dangling it before him. “Anything you want. ”
Xander’s eyes fixed on the gem, following its movement with an intensity that seemed almost predatory.
His pupils dilated slightly, and the amber of his irises seemed to brighten. His hand moved of its own accord, snatching the ring from her grasp. He held it close, examining its facets. He seemed to catch himself then, straightening and clearing his throat.
“Fine,” he snapped, tucking the ruby into an inner pocket with a quick, almost furtive movement. “When do you want to go? ”
“Tomorrow morning,” Robin said before he could change his mind. “We’ll need supplies.
”
Xander nodded curtly. “Meet me here at dawn. Bring only what you can carry, and more payment. ” His eyes glinted.
“More shiny things. ”
“Like a magpie,” Tommen whispered, not quite quietly enough. Xander’s head snapped toward the boy. “What was that?
”
“Nothing,” Robin interjected. “We’ll be here at dawn. ”
Xander narrowed his eyes, then shrugged. “Well, at least I’ll be paid well for delivering you to your deaths.
” He inclined his head in a mockery of a courtly bow. “Until tomorrow, Your Highnesses. ”
As he turned to leave, Robin suddenly stepped forward. “Wait.
Could we meet earlier? Two hours before dawn, perhaps? ”
He raised an eyebrow. “Why?
”
Robin glanced at Tommen, who was distracted by a bar fight breaking out in the corner. “I’d prefer to leave before my brother wakes,” she said quietly. “He’ll be safer here. ”
Xander studied her for a moment, then gave a curt nod.
“Eastern edge of town, two hours before dawn. ” He held out his hand. “For the inconvenience. ”
Robin hesitated, then pulled a small gold bracelet set with emeralds from her pouch.
His eyes fixed on it with that same strange intensity before he pocketed it and walked out without another word. “What was that about? ” Tommen asked, returning his attention to Robin. “Nothing.
Just confirming details. Come on, let’s find somewhere to sleep. ”
As they left the tavern in search of lodging, Robin’s thoughts were already racing with plans to slip away before her brother could follow.
What she didn’t notice was the thoughtful look in Tommen’s eyes as he watched her from behind.
