Shadow of the Unicorn

Chapter 8

A good King's daughter, albeit her father's fiefdom was smaller than the holdings of many a minor lord in other realms, had gone missing and soon thereafter came a challenge from a dreadful source. She had read too many stories, being an only child, her father's darling, and her mother having died when she was but a small child; she was left with her imagination, her books, and no supervision, a dangerous combination in a lass with an adventurous streak and none to advise or caution her, for her father indulged all her whims and encouraged anything he thought might make her happy. Only too late did he realize the dire consequences that might result. She had run off one night, eloping as she called it, but there was no gentleman involved; who need worry about the minor details when an adventure was in the making? Besides, she was a Princess and undoubtedly she'd find her Prince in the Wilds somewhere, perhaps enchanted and in desperate need of a magic kiss. Happily ever after was so close she could smell it.

But it was not happily ever after she smelled, though perhaps it was an adventure. She had accidentally stumbled into the lair and clutches of a black dragon, the most dangerous, cunning, and evil creature to inhabit the known world. He chained her up in the back of his cave, offered a challenge to all comers, and then fell promptly asleep while awaiting the arrival of the so-called heroes, but no heroes came, none were mad enough to face such a monster for so little gain. They would think long and hard before riding to her rescue even were she the only daughter of the greatest King in the world, but the only daughter of a minor King? Such paltry reward was not worth the risk of a long and terrible death at the hands of such a monster. The King sent a rider immediately to Astoria, hoping the compassion of the Brethren might avail where avarice and foolhardiness would not. His prayers were answered far sooner than he had ever hoped they might be.

Jace arrived as swiftly as only a Shadow could, traveling night and day with the unicorn's uncanny speed, having no fear of physical barriers that might bar or delay their passage. They seemed to know instinctively where the girl was being held and it was a small matter for Jace to ghost through the side of the cave, free the rather bored princess, and send her safely back to her father in a burst of inexplicable light, all without waking the beast that slumbered on unawares.

Jace frowned in consternation, wondering what should be done about the dragon. He could easily kill the beast while it slept, but that was far from just, knowing only one side of the story as he did. But neither could he simply walk away and let it prey upon other unwary folk. So he did the only reasonable thing, if such can ever be called reasonable when a black dragon is involved: he approached the head and wakened the beast. The creature snorted in disgust, snuffled its nose as if trying to catch some faint scent and seemed to be listening intently, but the eyes stared vacantly into the darkness; Jace was minded eerily of Brie after her misadventures in the dungeon.

Smoke spiraled from the monster's nostrils as it growled, "who is there? Reveal yourself! Where is the Princess?"

Jace said in astonishment, "you are blind!"

The creature turned its great head immediately in the direction from whence the proclamation had come, its nose twitching like a rabbit's trying to catch his scent. Hissed the serpent, "why can I not smell you? I know you took the princess, her scent has grown faint indeed, yet how is it you mask yours so well?"

Jace said evenly, "some secrets are not mine to reveal, but yes, the princess is gone, safely returned to her father. Now what of you? Why did you take the girl? What would have come of her had no challengers come? What are your future intentions towards mankind?"

The dragon hissed in annoyance, "I want to be left alone! The pesky creature came snooping about while I was abroad, found her in the very back of the cave, I did, the impertinence! I tried to shoo her away but she would not go, I had no choice but to chain her up, else I might have accidentally squashed her in my sleep. She wrote the ransom demands herself, as obviously I can neither read nor write, and then sat there sulking as each day passed and no hero came to her rescue." He chuckled, "I must thank you for rescuing me from the girl! I don't know what would have come of the matter had no one answered the challenge." His unseeing eyes narrowed, "just between you and me, I wouldn't recommend marrying the creature, she is still a bit...flighty, immature, and demanding, as it were."