Author's Notes

She rises quickly and scrambles for the cave mouth, careful of the game set up. Marybell scurries after her, hiding behind the dragon's leg to peek outside.

The knight below struggles to control his mount at Chartreuse's appearance before being knocked off. The animal runs away, shrieking in fear, hooves clattering on the stone. The knight struggles to his feet, picking up his shield. It was dented in the fall, but Marybell can see the coat of arms clearly - a beehive at the bottom of a tree.

It's the signal of House Krondell, and more troublesome, the ruling house of the kingdom to the north. Marybell's father hadn't just sent someone other than Charlie, he'd sent the visiting prince.

The visiting prince who is the whole reason Marybell asked for a game day, because she really, really did not want to entertain him around the castle. He thinks cheese is the best food in the universe and has no desire to read, be it law or poetry. Marybell bet Charlie a Beltane pie that Prince Leo de Krondell of Purlynn would be a puppet king, doing anything his advisors recommend, by the third year of his rule.

Leo holds his shield up, arm shaking in terror. Marybell sighs, ducking back behind Chartreuse's leg.

"That's Prince Leo, my betro~thed." She shudders, leaning into the dragon's calf.

Chartreuse clacks her teeth. She cannot speak softly, and neither of them wish to let Leo know they are friends.

"I'd much rather he stay in his kingdom and me mine," Marybell continues.

"I will char you!" Chartreuse roars. "I will burn your bones until they crack!"

"I appreciate the sentiment, but I would appreciate not watching my friend commit murder."

"OKAY!" Leo shouts back.

Marybell darts out from around Chartreuse's leg to watch Leo turn on his heel, particularly sprinting over the rocky terrain and avoiding the path back down toward the palace he came from.

"Is he...going home? He gives up on rescuing me? Just like that?! THIS IS THE MAN DAD WANTS ME TO MARRY!!"

"I thought you didn't like him."

"I don't, but honestly, I'm insulted now. I'm worth saving, Chartreuse. Charlie does it all the time."

"He's more your ride home-"

"Shut it, sulphur breath."

For an hour, they watch the shiny dot that's Marybell's false knight get further away, the glint of sun on his armor giving away his progress.

"I guess we're having an extra-long sleepover. Been a while."

Chartreuse rumbles. "Not since we realized Charlie was cool."

"Dad better send him next."

It took two days, but eventually Charlie shows up, barging in on them curled up and sunbathing on the ledge out the back of Chartreuse's cave. "I'm sooo sorry. The king thought I was a poor knight and sent Prince Leo, and I tried to remind him of all those knights Chartreuse used to eat."

"I've broken that habit, thankfully. Bad for my gut."

Marybell pats Chartreuse's snout and gestures for Charlie to continue. "But when Prince Leo, wait. Char. The kingdom thinks you ate him."

"I did not!"

"Well, he hasn't returned to the palace. And I'm sorry, Marybell, but we can't stay for game day. Not if we are to convince your father that I'm an established knight so we can play next month."

Marybell sighs. "I expected that. But at least Char and I got to hang out. I'm surprised Leo didn't go back. He's struck me as a guy who likes creature comforts, for all that he doesn't read." She pauses, thinking. "Actually, Char, didn't he head over the mountains?"

"Yes."

"That's west. Charlie, I'll bet you another pie he can't read a map or compass either and thought he was heading north toward Purlynn."

"No bet, because I'm sure you're right. Should we rescue him?"

"And risk the off chance of Dad going through with the engagement? No." Marybell shook her head. A dead prince couldn't be a husband, and there's no guarantee a weak, cowardly one wouldn't be either.

"I did promise to set him on fire..."

"Char, no," Charlie groans.

"I just told you I don't eat knights anymore," she snaps, offended. "But what if I chase him, push him to the coast."

"This is why we're friends," Marybell declares.

"Well, you were right! You deserve a prince who even tries to rescue you." Smoke pours from her nose.

Marybell twists to look Chartruese in the eye. "Do it."

Chartreuse grins, all teeth. Charlie groans, all regret.

"Fine! Go terrorize a fellow knight. Char, it was good to see you, but the sooner we get going the better. See you in two weeks." Charlie pats her foreleg.

"You better be the knight who shows up."

Marybell sticks out her hand and Charlie helps her up and over Chartruese's legs. Once clear, the dragon stands and they make their way to the front entrance of the cave. Charlie looks mournfully at the table, still set up for their missed game session.

"We'll be back in soon," Marybell consoles him.

Outside the cave is Charlie's horse. There's already a blanket for Marybell across the back of the saddle and the gelding's rump. Charlie mounts, then Chartreuce picks Marybell up gently before depositing her behind the knight. She wraps her arms tightly around the man.

"Don't have too much fun with your knight," Marybell tells the dragon.

"I'll have as much fun as you," Chartruese shoots back with a wink.

Marybell doesn't get it. She always enjoys spending time with Charlie, who is much better company than Leo.

Charlie coughs and turns his gelding down the mountain, and once they're a safe distance away, Marybell hears the low snap of wings flapping, like laundry on the line.

"Did Prince Leo really not try to rescue you?"

"YES!" Marybell sinks into her rant, filling her friend in.