The Last Dragon: Book Three

CHAPTER TEN

Princess Elizabeth

Will had insisted I must become a bitch of a princess. He wanted me to change my interaction with all those around me as a quick way to enforce my stance and bargaining power. To demand respect, as he said. Like Avery did. He was my example. While it was not in my nature, I saw Will’s point. I was not yet twenty years old. I would have experienced ambassadors sitting across a bargaining table working out the minute details of a treaty. They would think I was barely more than a spoiled child they could mold a treaty around, and they would be right. With my mild personality, they would never take me seriously, and the points in the treaty would be all in their favor.

When reaching Dagger and facing them at a negotiating table, supposing I ever managed to sail there past the storm, I wouldn’t have a staff of people at hand to help negotiate the finer points of a treaty—or to fight for those things that were important. The negotiators for Kondor would see me exactly as Will suggested—and take advantage of the little girl who pretended to be a grown woman. They would not see a competent emissary of Dire sent by her king. They would see me as a coddled princess sent to do a negotiator’s function without any real power.

Will was right. I needed to “age” myself, present myself as a stronger woman with a tougher attitude. That would help, but I also needed to intimately know the details of the proposed treaty—and consider the other information I was sent to learn.

After thinking over what Will said, there was more than just being firm. Being a bitch was not what he’d meant. He had just wanted to draw my attention to the traits I lacked. I needed to be direct and decisive. I also required to know what to demand of Kondor, what to relinquish as offers, and when.

Making a few veiled threats might also help. My staff would need to provide me with that information. But first, I needed to convince them to give me what I needed, and they also needed to understand they were not in charge of the details of the treaty. I was. My staff needed to change their way of thinking about me.

“I think I understand,” I muttered. “At least, I’m beginning to see the problem.”

Will sipped wine and gave me a sly wink; the same kind people give to children who perform their numbers or print their letters correctly for their tutors. It made me feel about ten. And that pissed me off.

I said in a heated voice, “From this point on, you will act and speak to me with the respect my position requires. Do you understand?”

He smiled wanly. “Your temper tantrum does not impress me. Respect is earned not asked for. It just makes me want to turn you over my knee and spank you, which is exactly what the Council of Nine is going to do to you if you don’t make changes.”

I was really angry and started to hit back by shouting and telling him again I was a princess, and he had to treat me better. The truth was, he didn’t have to. But something, some small kernel of what he was saying penetrated and took hold. I drew in a deep breath before speaking. “What should I be doing?”

He smiled again. “Act imperial at all times. Look down your nose. Keep your chin high. You are better than any of them. You will call their best wine, swill. You will spurn the finest gifts they offer. You’ll demand quarters suitable to a princess and will not settle for less. If they are not seated at the negotiating table before you arrive, you will depart because it is not your place to wait for anyone. You are above them in every aspect. Complain about everything.”

I listened, but in my mind, I rejected nearly all he said. It wasn’t like me to act like that.

He continued, “Let me be more direct. How many times has Avery used those tactics in your presence to get his way? In reality, he is only a servant of the next king. He acts like he is the next king or a member of the royal family. Avery has convinced everybody of his power and position repeatedly, and with the increased power that will be coming to him with the death of your father. He has intimidated you and nearly everyone else at Crestfallen.”

“Is it that obvious?”

“To all. Even the other servants. They laugh at how he manipulates you. Only Damon earns respect in that manner because he fights back, but all agree Avery is far better at the game. Damon makes his points, but Avery always wins. You must become Avery. Think of him and how he would act or react in a given situation and you will have a guideline. Exaggerate it, and you may bring home the treaty your father wants.”

“How did you get to be so smart in the last few days?” I asked.

He chuckled and stood. On his way past my chair, his hand brushed across my shoulder, his fingers seeming to linger for a scant moment as if to encourage me to be strong. The action filled me with energy and resolve.

And gave me plenty to think about. He was right. Instead of thinking of myself as a royal princess that was owed respect, I needed to become a leader who demanded it. I normally wore my hair down and loose. Pulling it back and tying it would provide a sterner look. As a rule, I wore little jewelry, but instead of my normal simple clothing, I should at least wear a scarf until we reached port and I could purchase better.

The things Lady Grace had brought for me sprang to mind. Earrings. And broaches. The gold stored in the carved box in my cabin would dress me as well as any royal—and there were gold coins to buy more if I had a place to spend it. Perhaps she had also brought a selection of formal clothing.

But the persona I needed to project didn’t only depend on jewels and clothing. It was the person inside. I tried to stand taller as I rose from the table, attempting to add height and squaring my body by shifting my shoulders back. As Will suggested, I raised my chin. Another passenger, a wealthy man who had nodded my way more than once, reached for the door and pushed it open as quickly as any servant.

Instead of lingering and allowing him to pass first, I wore a haughty expression and stepped ahead as if that was my right—and his place was to allow me to. Somewhat to my surprise, he relented and stood aside, accepting my position.

I felt like apologizing for my rudeness. Instead, I strode out onto the deck and angled my stride to walk directly at another passenger, a younger man who had a superior way of treating others. I held my chin high, as Will suggested, refused to make eye contact, and if he didn’t move aside, I was prepared to meet him chest to chest, nose to nose.

He moved aside with a muttered insincere sounding greeting. I grunted in return and continued walking and thinking. Rudeness was not the same as demanding respect, but there were aspects of it that were similar. People were willing to treat others as they demanded, much of which seemed to be physical as much as mental.

A strong leader didn’t have to identify himself or herself by a title or position. Avery often did it with a smirk. That twitch of his lips said he was superior in every way. No matter what mountain you’d climbed, what battle you’d been in, or how beautiful the girl you’d danced with, he had done more.

He seldom said it aloud. Avery didn’t brag. Instead, he raised his eyebrows, or smirked, or even smiled—but not in humor. It was as if he had called you a liar without words. I’d once baked peach pastries and proudly offered one to him. We were maybe thirteen or fourteen years old. He had said to me as he rolled his eyes as if I’d made a mistake, “I like cherry or apple. Not that this isn’t good, but cherry or apple is better.”

Not that this isn’t good, but it isn’t as good as cherry or apple was the point. If he had baked them, he wouldn’t have used peaches. His would have been superior, even though he’d never baked in his life. Even if he had liked peaches the best, he wouldn’t have said so. As Will had told me, criticize everything.

The purser approached again. “Princess, the captain has requested me to inform you that our arrival in Trager is to be late tomorrow afternoon.”

Never be satisfied. “Is that the best we can do?”

He stiffened. “I will ask the captain if we can put on more sail.”

I nodded but said nothing. That was something my father had taught me. Combined with Will’s instructions to act and sound imperial, the purser had nearly shaken in fear when I asked for more. That sort of power was not only unlike me but didn’t suit me. It made me cringe inside, and I did so as the purser withdrew. But, I also found a glimmer of hope in the exchange. Previously, the pompous purser had almost acted superior to me. Now, I demanded his respect.

I walked to my favorite place to stand on the rail and noticed the old man who had come to my cabin with the information about the Blue Lady. He might have been thinking about his brother who was taken by the mages. He was watching the flickering lightning in the dark clouds to the south. I went to stand at his side but said nothing after nodding my greeting.

“You look worried, Princess,” he finally said as he turned to me.

“I am. There are things to figure out. How to best help Dire and my father, which is to say that I need to help the people of my kingdom.”

He looked off into the distance again before speaking again. While old, his eyes remained young and clear. “It must be hard for you.”

“What?”

“Being a princess and always thinking about others before yourself. For me, it would be a curse. You have very little of your own life.”

A curse. He was right. I glanced around to make sure we were still alone. There were too many ears on any ship, many of them not in sight, but still listening. My voice became softer, and I leaned closer, “Has your brother come to visit you again?”

“He has. I think he understands your message to him expressing your thanks and debt.” He paused, then continued, “But how would I know for sure since I cannot speak to him as he does to me?” He shrugged off his response with a sly smile.

“Of course,” I quickly agreed so as not to embarrass him or expose his obvious lie. He had passed on my message without a doubt. I suspected that the mages had taken only half the children with magic in his family because he shared the gift. “My offer was sincere, you know. If he, or you, ever need my help, know that all you must do is contact me. I pay my debts.”

He bowed deeply. “You are a true princess.”

I watched him depart feeling we’d somehow become friends. It was a much nicer situation than when the purser had departed my side. Which of them was the real me? Could I separate the two?

I could and would. To fail at taking home a treaty would be to fail my father and the people of Dire. How could I return and face them with that news on my lips? I would do what was required. I reconsidered what little information I’d gathered.

Beyond the obvious, was the expansion of the mage’s rule far beyond what we had suspected. Rumor said they already ruled Kondor, I’d seen an example of their rule in Trager, and knew they’d tried to murder my family to take Dire under their control. I pictured the map in the passenger lounge and realized there were only two places on it that were not mage-controlled. Kaon to the north, and the empty Brownlands to the east.

There were no people, or very few of them, in the Brownlands to the east, which left Kaon, an unknown land the north and west, separated from Dire by impassable mountains and reachable only by sea or across the northern deserts of Kondor.

While Kaon existed along a technically shared border, little was known about them. Since there was no way to reach them except via Kondor or a sea voyage, and since the Kaon had long ago closed their only seaport to foreign ships, only old texts and rumor gave clues to them.

That same mental map told me more. If Dire, Vin, and Kondor were brought under the rule of the mages, how could Kaon stand against the three? Once all three were consolidated under a single rule, Kaon could not stand against them—which would give rule of the entire region to the mages.

That implied Dire had an ally, even if we didn’t realize it. Even if the Kaon didn’t realize it.

A smile crept across my lips as I became aware that for the first time, I’d acted and thought as a ruler and warrior. I’d taken the facts of the situation that placed my kingdom in danger and found a possible ally to join in standing against Kondor and Vin if it came to war.

A mission to Kaon would have to follow the one in Kondor. A message could be sent explaining that to my father, but assuming the upcoming treaty was less than we wished, Kaon was my next venture, closed ports or not.

Without arousing suspicion, I needed to acquire information about Kaon, the ruling class, the type of government, why the ports were closed, and how to impress upon them their need to join with Dire in a mutual defense league.

I might not be such a bad ambassador for Dire, after all.