Roll Play (Second Helpings) Read online

  “There is a road that does that,” he said, “a perfectly good road. It goes around the forest. And, they have these thing called carriages with wheels and everything.”

  Her eyes narrowed in anger, she didn’t like being teased. The thought made him smile back at her.

  “I am perfectly aware of the road, Mr. Drake. But, it is too well guarded and will take too long.” She paused for a moment and gathered her gloves, “Now, will you help me or not?”

  He studied her for a moment. “Why do you need to go to Sinstra?”

  “You don’t need to know that,” she said with a haughty voice that seemed to end the matter.

  He looked at her for a long moment. “Let me get this straight. You expect me to get up from here and leave this nice, warm tavern, and this semi-acceptable ale. Risk my life on a daily basis to spend the next five to seven days sharing a campfire with you. But, I don’t need to know the reason why?”

  Shaking his head, he returned to finishing off his ale. The woman could leave, for all he cared. How dare she think that her problems were worse than his? That just because she was a princess, he should drop everything to help her, all the while, never knowing the reason why.

  See, this was why he hated people, they were so, so ... Selfish, yes, that was the word, selfish.

  She looked at him for a long minute, trying to decide what to say.

  “I can pay you,” she said. “I have gold.”

  “I don’t need gold,” he responded.

  She drew back in surprise. He was sure that in her world, everyone needed gold. He bet that she rarely came across someone who had all that he needed. The idea that he couldn’t be bought had probably never crossed her mind.

  At last, she let out a long sigh, “I need to reach Sinstra so that I might obtain Prince Julian’s assistance.”

  “Assistance with what?” he asked.

  Her eyes drew together. She didn’t like being pushed. There was a stubborn streak in this girl a mile wide, he realized, the thought pleased him for some reason.

  “I need Prince Julian’s assistance to help me obtain my crown,” she said, as if admitting the worst secret imaginable. Drake wondered if she was more ashamed of the fact that she needed assistance or that she had to go outside her own kingdom to get it.

  “My uncle, the Regent” she continued, “refuses to allow me to be crowned. He controls all the levers of power, the King’s Guard, the treasury, even my maids, and servants. Everyone is afraid of him.”

  “For good reason, Princess. Your uncle is known to be a rather unpleasant person.”

  “Don’t you see? That is why I must become Queen, only then can I stop him.”

  Drake shook his head at her naiveté. The only way a man like her uncle could be stopped was with a sword through his heart.

  “What makes you think Prince Julian wouldn’t be just as bad as your uncle? Might not you be changing one jailer for another?”

  “Prince Julian isn’t like that. You don’t know him. He is good, sweet.”

  Drake chuckled to himself. A good sweet man wasn’t going to defeat her uncle. Only a ruthless bastard could kill another ruthless bastard. Thankfully, it wasn’t his problem.

  “So, let me see if I have this correct. You want me to guide you through the Forbidden Forest to the Kingdom of Sinstra, where you will beg Prince Julian to help you take back your land? All the time, avoiding the King’s Guard and any dragons that might be in the area.”

  The princess relaxed and smiled. Obviously pleased that he understood. “Yes, that is it,” she said.

  He studied her for a moment, then shook his head.

  “No,” he said.

  “What?” she replied. “But, you have to.”

  He laughed gently, “Princess, this isn’t some fairy tale. This is real life. And, no I don’t have to help you. Let us not forget, to me, my life is more important than yours.”

  Her face turned white at the realization of what he was saying. He would not help her. If he wouldn’t, then who would? His heart hitched a little. Not a lot, but a little. She did seem like a nice person. And heaven knew, she was as pretty as a pink sunrise. But, no. He had his instructions, he was to avoid the political issues of the area. He was only supposed to observe and learn. Not get involved.

  His heart was already regretting it. He would have enjoyed a few days alone with her. He swallowed hard, most definitely, the beast inside of him begged to be set free. To take what it wanted and never let go.

  Her eyes scrunched tight as the surprise was replaced by a healthy anger. Untying the knot at her throat, she pushed aside her cloak and stared at him. Ready to argue him into the ground, if necessary.

  The determined look in her eyes made him smile. This was a woman to challenge a man’s soul. Leaning back, he folded his arms across his chest and made himself comfortable while he awaited her tirade.

  She stared at him for several moments. Her hand drifted up to clasp the medallion around her neck.

  “Please Mr. Drake, you have to. My uncle is ruining everything my father built. He is destroying any chance of happiness the people have. The dungeons are full of those that resist. I need to get to Sinstra.”

  He watched her hand as she subconsciously played with the medallion. It was obviously a habit. Something she did when she was worried.

  Staring at the gold coin, a cold shiver traveled up his spine. It couldn’t be. Not here, not now. He leaned forward to make sure. Yes, the double-headed dragon.

  His insides turned to stone. Did she have any idea what she held? Her fingers absently caressed the coin almost like she was trying to draw out its power.

  No, she didn’t know.

  A coin, a simple metal circle of gold, had changed everything.

  Dragon Fire