Dragon and the Princess Read Free Page B

wrong?
    Two maids brushed Rozlinda’s hair, sometimes pulling out knots in their rush, and Rozlinda saw new lines around her mother’s mouth. “Don’t worry, Mother. I will do everything precisely as it should be.”
    The queen’s face relaxed and she put a hand on Rozlinda’s shoulder. “I know you will, dear. You always have. We do understand how hard it has been for you.”
    Another page girl. “It’s eaten two cows in Thretch County!”
    Another. “It’s taken a pig and her piglets near Cummins. All in one gulp!”
    One of Rozlinda’s deeper fears surged up. “Once upon a time, the dragons used to eat the princess. What if . . .”
    “Ancient history, dear. Probably myth, in fact.”
    But this dragon had come early. What if Aurora’s selfish folly had changed everything?
    Perhaps the queen felt her shivers. “Don’t be afraid, dear. It’s a tiresome business, but there’s nothing to it other than a small cut and a little blood. Truly.”
    Lady Petrulla hurried in, almost invisible beneath a mound of white. “It’s ill-omened. It’s even stained.”
    The skirts were edged with dusky green, and a few dark spots must be blood.
    “If you can tell me where we may find a pristine white dress, I will be grateful,” snapped the queen. “Dress her!”
    The mass of perfumed gossamer silk first smothered Rozlinda and then was tugged down so she could breathe. She twisted to look in the mirror. The gown hung off her and puddled on the floor.
    “I look like an iced cake that’s run!”
    “We’ll hitch it up with a belt.”
    In moments, that was done, the bulges of fabric above the waist doing nothing for the appearance.
    “Mother!”
    “There’s a bodice.”
    The clanging bell was giving Rozlinda a headache.
    Another page ran in, eyes wide and bright. “It swept right over the castle! It’s enormous!”
    Rozlinda’s arms were thrust into the stiff, sleeveless garment, which was laced at the back. It was more like a corset, and being slightly built, Rozlinda had never worn one. Thank heavens it was loose.
    But the queen said, “Summon the seamstresses. We can make it fit.”
    “Except in the bust,” Rozlinda pointed out, looking down at the jutting, empty mounds. In moments, they were being stuffed with silk veiling.
    I look ridiculous
, she thought, close to tears. For the most important, most public day of her life, she was going to look ridiculous.
    I am the vessel of the blood
, she reminded herself.
I am about to make an important sacrifice to save my people from harm and to preserve peace.
Calm settled over her. She’d prepared for this for seven years, so she was glad to have the privilege of doing it. And in hours, she’d be free.
    The Keeper of the Jewels presented the tiny crown, no bigger than an apple. Rozlinda hadn’t seen it since she’d watched Aurora leave the castle last time. It had looked so pretty, sparkling and trembling on the top of her head, with yards and yards of shimmering veil spilling out of it. Now she wondered.
    “How on earth does it stay on?”
    “Glue.”
    “
What?”
    “Don’t fuss. It washes out. Sit.”
    When Rozlinda obeyed, someone dabbed cold stuff in a circle around the top of her head. “Don’t move,” the queen commanded, and pressed the crown in place. Rozlinda immediately developed a cramp in her thigh and a desperate need to scratch her nose.
    “Mother . . .”
    “Just a little longer . . . there. I think it’s solid.”
    Rozlinda shifted, and tiny hairs pulled. “Ow.”
    “Don’t touch it! The veil.”
    The enormous length of silk was carried over and many hands began to hook it to the crown.
    “Ow. You’re pulling my hair!”
    “Don’t be a baby, Zlinda. I hope you’re not going to make a fuss when the priest takes your blood.”
    “Of course not.” But that meant she had to grit her teeth and keep quiet as the veil was fiddled onto the crown. At the same time, two seamstresses took in rough seams in the