To
win a woman’s heart, one must have a dragon…
He
is the last of his kind. King Rhydderch Pendragon guards his secret: that he
rules the last dragon in the kingdom. But when his dragon falls ill, he cannot
figure out what ails her. As Rhyder’s wedding day draws near, he’s apprehensive
about retrieving his betrothed. And with the recent murders in his kingdom, there’s
no time to woo his princess.
As
the youngest daughter of King Raedwald Baldach, Katriona is the only one who
can save their kingdom from embarrassment. When her sister runs away rather
than wed the dragon prince, Katriona is substituted as Pendragon’s bride. Now
grown and with druid blood in her, Katriona accepts her destiny, especially
when his forlorn emotions beckon her heart.
Rhyder
vaguely remembers meeting Katriona at their betrothal, but their reunion sparks
unexpected passion. When Katriona reveals a secret of her own, she does more
than claim his heart. Is love the answer to his dragon’s plight and PENDRAGON’S
PRINCESS’ acceptance?
Prologue excerpt Pendragon's Princess (Mystic Maidens of Britain book 1) copyright @ 2019 Kara Griffin
Kingdom
of Deverdoeu
In
the early age of Anglo-Saxon Britain…
The dragon is coming! The dragon is
coming!
“They say the dragon prince eats his foes and that he
breathes fire and burns entire villages with just a sigh. When he turns into a
dragon, he flaps his mighty wings and uses his sharp talons to pluck people
from the ground and gobbles them up.”
Katriona slunk down in the seat, fearful at her sister’s
words. Tears gathered in her eyes and she stifled a whimper. She didn’t want to
get eaten.
“Aye, and when he takes his fill, he feeds the remains to
his beloved dragon friend. All except the eyes. Eyes are his favorite.”
Katriona stood upon the chair and screamed with a force from
her toes to her mouth. The screech called her mother’s attention.
“Sweet Goddess Friege, save me. Cease giving your sister a
fright, Mali. She’ll wet her clothes again and I’ve just changed her.” Mama
scolded her sister before turning back to the chore of readying the keep for
their imminent company.
Mali made a teasing face at her, stuck out her tongue, and
laughed. Her sister always told scary stories of the dragon king and his son. Katriona
always believed her too. Her sister was wise being she was twelve summers, seven
more than she.
“Eat your morning fare, Katriona. We must make haste this
day. If the Goddess Friege aids me, I shall get all readied in time.”
But Katriona didn’t want to hurry. Fear kept her from eating.
Their guests would soon arrive, and she swore she’d be on her best behavior.
She promised Papa, and she always tried to keep her promises to him. Papa was
the biggest, meanest, bravest warrior in the kingdom. Everyone had to obey him
and that included her four brothers and three sisters. Even Mama didn’t usually
disobey him.
Being the youngest of King Raedwald’s brood, Katriona often
went unnoticed. That was well and good since she liked to listen to the adults.
She heard Papa say Heloise, who was
supposed to wed the dragon prince, did something atrocious. Not that she
understood what atrocious meant. She felt sorry for her sister because Heloise
was sent away. Many said she was the prettiest of her father’s daughters, but
also the wickedest.
One day Katriona would be a lady and she wanted to be as
graceful as Heloise, but she would never be as pretty for Mali told her so many
times.
Katriona slunk lower in the chair when the massive door of
their keep opened with its loud creak. Papa returned. She held her breath and
took a quick peek to see if their guests arrived. Mali told her the dragon
prince had a scaly face and horns on the top of his head. Although she’d like
to see that, the thought of it frightened her.
She was suddenly plucked from the bench and lifted high. Her
squeal sounded only until she saw Papa’s face.
“My wee Katriona. Why are ye hiding beneath the tablecloth?”
She pressed her small hand on his whiskered chin and giggled
at the tickle. Mali snickered from the other end of the table.
Her mother saved her from having to answer, “Mali’s been
telling her frightful stories again. Mali, you shouldn’t scare her. Now finish
your meal and keep silent.”
Papa gave her sister a look of disapproval. Katriona set her
arms around Papa’s neck and smiled because Mali would get what was coming to
her. Papa always punished her sister when she teased her. She hoped he’d send
her to bed this night without supper. That would serve her well.
But he said nothing. Katriona let out a small sigh of
disappointment.
“Papa, why do I get the gift and Mali doesn’t? Is it because
she’s bad?” She’d heard Mama and Papa talking, and they spoke about a gift she
would receive. Yet they didn’t give her anything and she wondered what it was.
Perchance it was a new doll stuffed with Master Elman’s hay. He had the softest
hay of all the farms near Papa’s lands. Or perhaps the gift was what she’d
asked Mama for, a pup of her own.
Papa laughed boisterously. “Oh, my sweet wee one, the gift
isn’t something we give you. It’s something you’re born with. Aye, ye have the
gift for I see it in your eyes. Your grandmother would be pleased for ye got
the gift from her for you have her mark. Mama will give you the pouch and
explain when you’re older.” He kissed her forehead and smiled.
Katriona rubbed the leaf-shaped mark on her wrist. It
bothered her not, but she was glad to be the only one bestowed with
Grandmother’s mark. She was more interested in the gift. “But can’t I have it
now, Papa? I want the gift now. What’s in the pouch?”
“Not yet, my sweet. We have no time to discuss this. Our
guests are arriving. They’re coming up the last incline. We should prepare.” He
pressed her face back with a forceful kiss on her cheek. “Ah, wee princess, are
you excited to meet your betrothed?”
She wasn’t at all excited. The dragon prince would eat her.
Yet she wouldn’t disappoint Papa and nodded. If she was a good lass, maybe he’d
give her the gift now instead of waiting until she was older. Mayhap the dragon
prince wasn’t hungry. And perhaps he wouldn’t eat her.
“Do I gots to meet
him? Can I see him on the morrow?”
Papa let out a bellowing laugh. “Aye, my wee, Katy. This day
you will meet your husband. He shall be pleased with ye because you are the
most beautiful lass in the kingdom.”
Katriona couldn’t hold back her smile because Papa said that
about all his daughters. Only Papa praised her beauty though. Mama always
chastised him too, because she said his compliments would turn her head. She
didn’t know what Mama meant and so she kept her head still and her gaze on her
handsome papa’s face.
“Let us hope Lord Pryce accepts her. I am disheartened, my
love, at Heloise’s behavior. The lass fled with only a note of her abhorrence
of the prince. What an embarrassment. I am gladdened we remedied the tragedy.”
Mama folded a cover and set it aside. “We must hold hope
they accept Katriona. I worry for Heloise for there’s been no word of her
whereabouts. I fear something dreadful happened to her. Do you deem she wedded
the man she professed to love?”
Papa frowned. “She is no longer a daughter of my heart. Och,
she likely seduced the lad and did it on purpose so she wouldn’t have to wed
King Pryce’s son. Her man should’ve come and gained our approval before she
hailed off with him. If I ever find out who he is, I will lay him through for
defiling our daughter. She did it just to be spiteful.”
“Heloise did no such thing. She wrote that she is in love. You
know how foolish one can be when love is involved. I wish I knew she was safe
and well. My darling, let us not speak of such matters in front of the
children. All will be well. Besides, we didn’t name which daughter we offered
in the treaty. Katriona is the only one unattached, for Mali’s betrothal is well
placed. Graciously, the prince is only a half-a-score older than Katriona.”
Papa grumbled and Katriona felt the rumble in his chest.
“Aye, aye. By the time he takes Katriona to wife, he will be a man, mature, and
capable of protecting her. Still, I am not pleased to be sending my baby so far
from home. The lands to the west are dangerous. But we need this treaty to keep
our borders secure. I will not have our lands marauded again, our people
killed, or those barbarians setting foot on our soil.”
“Be calm, my darling. Worry not, for the Pendragon’s will
accept the treaty and the betrothal. Need I remind you, they want the treaty as
much as we?” Mama took up the bowls on the table and said, “Mali, wash your
hands and take your sister outside. We will gather to greet our guests.”
Papa set her on her feet. She skulked by his side and held
on to the hem of his tunic. Katriona didn’t want to go outside, and she didn’t
want to meet the dragon prince. “Please, Papa, do
I gots to meet him this day?”
Papa smiled and caressed her face. “Aye, my sweet baby, you
do. He’ll be pleased with ye too, so cease your worry. You will bring him joy
and laughter, for you always make me cheerful. Now be a good lass and stay with
Mali.”
“Keep yourselves clean,” Mama called when Mali took her
hand. “Stay away from the puddles for it rained earlier.”
Katriona tried to pull away, but her sister held her hand
tight.
Outside, many gathered near the keep. Their small kingdom
was home to many families. Katriona usually liked celebrations and gatherings.
Mostly because her parents were often kept busy greeting people or joining in
the revelry. That left her free to wander. She liked the freedom and often got
into mischief. Her siblings were all older and they never played with her. She
didn’t mind because she spent her time at the stables or in the barn.
The steward spoke of a new litter of wolfhounds that were
born the day before when he’d given his morning report to Papa. She was
supposed to be sleeping, but she liked to rise early. Katriona often sat on the
keep’s stairs and watched the bustling servants and warriors in the early
morning.
She didn’t want to meet the dragon king or his son. She
didn’t want to be eaten either. What she wanted was to see the pups. If only
she could sneak away when her parents were busy, but too many watched her.
Mali squeezed her hand and hurt her fingers. She tried again
to dislodge her sister’s hand, but Mali wouldn’t let go. Her eyes widened when
the most beautiful horses cantered into the courtyard. Some horse’s manes were
cut short and stood straight like blades of grass during a dry spell of no rain.
Others had pretty ribbons weaved with laces in the long tresses of the mare’s
manes. She was in awe at the ladies who sat upon the horses too. They wore
exquisite garments, gowns of beautiful colors, gleaming with beads and jewels.
Mama and Papa came out of the keep and stood at the base of
the steps. Her brothers and sisters, those who still lived at home took the
second step. She and Mali stood behind them on the third step. That suited her
just fine because she could hide behind her siblings. Once everyone was focused
on their visitors, she might sneak way. That was if she could get Mali to release
her hand.
Papa’s booming voice rose in greeting the dragon king, “Pendragon,
my comrade, Lord Pryce, welcome. It is good to see you and your family. I hope
the journey was uneventful for you have arrived safely.” He clapped the dragon
king’s shoulder.
“Aye, there was nothing of account on the journey,
graciously. Lord Raedwald, old friend, it is good to be here and to see you
again.”
Katriona squeezed between her youngest brother, Raen, and her
third brother, Eric, to see the dragon for herself. She gasped and took hold of
a lock of her hair and twisted it. The dragon king was taller than Papa and he
looked meaner too. He had light hair and dark eyes, as dark as a dragon’s. He
didn’t appear frightening except for his size. She craned her neck, her eyes
wide in amazement.
Katriona watched the king present his family. After he
introduced his wife, Queen Arrian, he turned and then the giant placed his hand
on the shoulder of a lad. She held her breath, knowing he was the one she was
supposed to marry–the dragon prince. Mama told her she would make him a fine
wife, but Katriona didn’t understand what marry
meant or what a wife did. She shook her head when the lad gawked at her.
Papa called her name and Mali shoved her forward with a poke
between her shoulders. Katriona tripped on the edge of her frock and fell into
Eric who caught her and set her to right.
Mama practiced what she should say and do, but she was too
nervous and forgot. She fiddled with the ribbons lacing her frock and clung to Papa’s
leg.
“My sweet daughter, Princess Katriona.” He nudged her
forward.
“She has beauty and grace, Raedwald. We’re pleased with the
treaty. Let us finalize the details and covenant over a drink,” the dragon king
said. “I thirst for something strong, mayhap a cup of wine?”
“Aye, we have prepared a fine feast and have plenty of wine.
Our ale is not bad either. Our brewer has made the sweetest mead as well. We
shall celebrate this eve and lift our cups in cheer,” Papa said and gestured
toward the door.
Katriona wanted to close her eyes. She was sure the giant
king would pluck her from the ground and take a bite of her. When she peeked at
the lad, she remembered… She was supposed to lift her frock and curtsey. Her
small fingers clasped the edge of her hem and she raised it slightly. But she
lost her footing and fell head-first toward the giant dragon king.
She screamed loud enough to wake Freyja, her favored Goddess. Katriona knew the goddess
slept during the day and wove her magical love at night. At least, that’s what Mama
told her. With her eyes scrunched, she felt herself being placed on her feet.
When she opened her eyes, the dragon king’s eyes glared. He wasn’t pleased with
her nor was her parents. She heard their gasps of displeasure but dared not to look at them.
The big man laughed and his large hands released her. She
breathed a sigh of relief when he didn’t set her near his mouth. The lad who
stood with him frowned. A sob caught in her throat, but she couldn’t stop the
rest. She wailed and tears streamed her cheeks. The lad glowered. She didn’t
think much of him either. He had to be as old as her brother Eric who was ten
summers older.
From behind her tears, her blue eyes widened when he smiled.
Well, it was as much of a smile as he would allow. The dragon king’s son was
tall and his face not yet covered with whiskers like Papa’s. He had dark hair
that curled. Mama told her that Papa scared her once and caused her hair to
curl. She wondered what frightened the dragon prince enough to curl his hair.
Maybe the dragon’s fiery breath or his wide wings knocked him down? She wanted
to ask but kept quiet.
“She’s a beautiful lass and my son will honor her. Won’t you,
Rhydderch?”
The lad didn’t appease his father or acknowledge the
question with an answer until his mother prodded him. “Is she not lovely,
Rhyder? Have you not a gift for her?”
“She’ll do as well as any,” he granted. He pulled a rope
with a shiny object dangling from it and approached.
Katriona wanted to flee, but she also wanted to see what the
object was. She tilted her head when he placed the rope over her head. The
glint of the purple and white amethyst sparkled in her eyes.
His father grunted in approval. “Come, we shall toast to our
prince and his princess.”
Papa walked next to the dragon king and all else left her
standing on the steps alone with the
young dragon prince.
“You’re a wee thing and gawky. Aye, you will listen to me,
lass.”
“Bother you. I don’t have to listen to you unless Papa tells
me to.”
“You’ll obey me starting now. I’ll be your lord and husband.
Did I not give you a gift?”
Katriona didn’t like the way he spoke, and she pouted her
lips. “Fie on you. I don’t want your gift.” As much as she wanted to keep the
stone, she pulled it over her head and tossed it back to him. She wouldn’t let
him make her weep, but his abruptness made her want to cry.
She took off in a sprint and ran as fast as her little feet
could carry her. Tears dampened her cheeks. The barn was just ahead. It was the
perfect sanctuary. She’d hide there until the unwanted guests left which she
hoped would be soon.
When she entered the dark barn, the sound of puppy yips called
to her and she rushed to their pen. She’d forgotten all about them. There, four
tiny gray wolfhound pups squealed and yapped. Their mama lay, wagging her tail.
She smiled gleefully and was about to reach for a pup when voices came. Katriona
slunk back and hid behind a crate. They entered the barn and stood near the pen.
“I tell ye, Rhyder, I saw her come in here.”
“What do I care, Sawyer? Let her be.”
“The lass is too young to be left on her own. Your father
commanded your protection of her. She’s to be your lady.” His friend chortled.
“Best start looking after her now.”
“Stop teasing me or
I’ll thrash you.”
Katriona hurried to hide in the upper loft. She took the
rungs and climbed the ladder. They’d better not touch the pups. She sat at the
edge of the platform overhead and watched them suspiciously, hoping they would
leave. The dragon prince didn’t look as tall from where she perched on the
platform.
“At least she isn’t unsightly,” Sawyer said and laughed.
“I’d wager she still wets her nappy.”
“She is fairly young. I’d rather not have her as my lady,
but the choice is not mine. I don’t need a lass to help me rule.”
Sawyer snickered and bent to retrieve one of the pups. She
was about to call out because they were her pups, not theirs.
“You heard what your father said on the journey. It’s a good
match and alliance. Not only will our
eastern borders be protected, but we protect their western lands. What does it matter?
You have years before you will take her as your wife. Mayhap by then, she’ll grow bosoms?” Sawyer snickered.
Rhyder ignored him and petted a pup. “I know we need the treaty,
but I don’t want her or any lass. I’d rather fight with the soldiers and lead
my father’s army. But I must obey my father for he is the king.”
She listened to their
harsh words. Even if she barely discerned what they spoke of, she understood
the vehemence in their tone. The dragon prince was angry.
That made Katriona happy. She leaned forward to peer at them
and spotted the biggest, fattest, ugliest spider crawling in the nearby hay. Its
black hairy legs moved fast, and she gasped and drew the attention of the
dragon prince.
“There you are. Come down here at once.”
Katriona shook her head.
“I order you to come down now. You will heed me.”
“Nay.”
“Nay?” Rhyder sounded appalled.
“I cannot.” Katriona’s
eyes widened as the vile spider moved closer.
“You will obey me, wee lass. I won’t put up with your disrespect.”
The spider moved even closer, and she crept sideways, nearer
the edge of the platform.
Sawyer had a good laugh. “You should beat her for her
disobedience.”
The dragon prince turned a dark glance at his friend. “Be
quiet, Sawyer, you’re scaring her. Lass, come down before you hurt yourself.”
She took a gulp of breath when the hairy spider ran up a
board two inches from her arm. Katriona flung herself back and tumbled through
the air. Her eyes squeezed shut and her arms and legs flailed.
The dragon prince caught her.
He held her in his arms.
Sawyer laughed and filled the barn with his loud chortle. “’Tis a good start, Rhyder, she’s already
falling for you.”
Rhyder glared at his friend and set her on her feet and
brushed hay from her hair. “Are you harmed?”
She shook her head. “There’s a big spider up there. Kill
it.”
Sawyer grinned and said, “She’s already giving you orders.”
Rhyder shoved his friend’s chest and took the ladder. He
smashed his hand against the spider. “There, lass, it’s dead.” He climbed back
down. “Killing a spider is nothing compared to taming a dragon.”
Katriona screamed loud enough to evoke the God Thunor and
ran from the barn, positive the dragon prince was getting hungry.
Don't miss Pendragon's Princess
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RWQPS41
Well written and romantic, this book is very entertaining.
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