Between the lines is written in fire

«But Edwin is polite and very handsome.»

«The dragon is beautiful too, but when it dies by fire, you can’t escape it.»

That’s what he said. So the danger comes from beautifully dressed people and from dragons with beautiful golden scales. It is not without reason that they say beauty is dangerous.

Rosamunda sighed languidly after Edwin.

«It’s a pity he’s not a king and can’t ask me to marry him.»

But the dragon did. The dragon wasn’t a king either, but there was no escape from his matchmaking.

Fire-breathing suitor

Another letter was waiting in the king’s bedchamber. It wasn’t lying on the table or windowsill as usual, but hanging in the air. The scroll unfolded itself as Rosamunda approached it. The letter, of course, was from the same crazy suitor who signed himself «your dragon.» Except that his madness was now worth doubting. There was indeed a dragon over Dauran. And he was indeed a passionate admirer of the queen, dreaming of getting her either as a wife or as a dinner. She wondered what love means to a dragon? Suddenly to love in his mind is the same as to burn and eat. The dragon is probably a savage. But how can a savage write such abstruse letters? Did it have the help of wizards?

Rosamunda sighed:

«How tiresome is to have a dragon worshipper!»

The scroll flamed dangerously at the end. Sparks erupted, brightening the dark bedroom. There were several lines of fire in the letter this time. The letters were burning, but they didn’t lose their shape. How much magic do you have to have to make fiery letters on parchment? Or did it only require the breath of a dragon?

Rosamunda read:

«I await your decision! You are treacherous, but I can forgive you. Your appearance has changed, but I still see the same old you under your new face. You are still dear to me. Seeing you on the throne makes me feel as if a rare jewel has escaped from my treasury and I must bring it back to the dragon’s cave. You are like a valuable necklace or crown that I long to put back into my treasury. You are mine, but you are playing on your own. I give you a chance to continue the game. I wait. I have fiery breath and long claws. I am a predator. I’m used to stalking prey and attacking, but I wait you out like a cat waiting for a mouse. I like to play with you, but if I get angry, your perfect new body will be nothing but bloody scraps. Don’t make me angry! I’m out of control when I’m angry. I didn’t torch your entire kingdom, and I really wanted to. I could have taken you out of that blazing castle alone. And I need you alone. All your retinue and dowry can be sacrificed. Rose! Fleur! Bianca! Patricia! Giselle! Portia! Flora! Violet! Rosalinda and Rosabella! You have so many names! It’s hard not to get confused. You yourself remember all those whose faces you wore like masks. I recognize you by your eyes. Do you recognize yourself when you look in the mirror? What if one day you want to look like a handsome young man instead of a girl?

I often tear with my claws young men whom I suspect to be my rivals and drink their blood. One day for infidelity I will grab you too, carry you in my claws to the top of the highest mountain and maybe kill you. Orit is maybe not. It’s up to you. You have the advantage of beauty. Beauty makes women so forgiving. I’m a dragon, but I’m not blind. If you beg my forgiveness, I can spare you. Be my wife and no one else’s but mine. Is that so much to ask of you? All I need is your devotion.

A dragon is in love with you and is loyal to you.»

Rosamunda almost burned herself when she finished reading the letter, because the parchment began to burn right under her fingers. A few fiery lines instantly consumed the entire text.

How quickly dragon letters burned! If she’d had a chance to reread the letter a few times, she probably would have understood a little more. Everything in the letter was too convoluted and mysterious. It’s as if the dragon admirer is not addressing her, but some multifaceted sorceress. His revelations are too complicated. If only the wizards of the Magic Empire could look at the letter! Would Edwin be able to recover the letter from the ashes deposited on the carpet?

It’s worth asking him. It would be another chance to see it.

«I’ve given in to the dragon!» Rosamunda complained, tugging at a tourniquet of blue-black hair twisted with pearl threads. Maybe if she took off her jewelry, she wouldn’t attract the dragon so much. She’s wearing tons of gems! No wonder why the dragon would be attracted to her. The hem of her dress is embroidered with tiny rubies and emeralds, there’s a heavy crown on her head, and there are more bracelets, necklaces, and rings than one can count. We should take it all off and put it in a chest. But then she wouldn’t be considered an elegant queen. Only an old royal widow can dress modestly. One gold hoop in her hair is enough for her. A young queen without jewelry would be considered naked. That’s court etiquette. The more expensive your clothes are, the more powerful are you..

Rosamunda sighed again. She was a slave to convention. If the dragon hadn’t turned his watchful eye on her, she would never have thought about how hard it was to be queen.

«Hi! Dandy!» Rosamunda called out, hoping her supernatural advisor was hiding under the bed, but Dandy was nowhere to be found. Had he gotten so cold feet in front of a delegation of wizards from the Magic Empire that he had decided to sneak back to the Underworld? Though Dandy had a bad temper and a sharp tongue, Rosamunda had grown accustomed to him and was even beginning to long for him.

The colorful tapestry on the wall suddenly twitched. The figures of the fairies on it changed their poses and leaned toward each other. A whisper sounded from the threads of the tapestry:

«She is a poor thing! She doesn’t know what she’s in danger of!»

«And what threatens her?»

«He will punish her for her infidelity, and choose one of us for her throne.»

«Is it one of the fairies?»

«It is either a fairy or a peri or a nymph or a naiad. He has so many choices! And he has no use for a mortal girl!»

As Rosamunda moved closer to the tapestry, the voices fell silent. The figures of the fairies froze again. They were depicting the scene of a unicorn hunt. Rosamunda felt uneasy. After all, the unicorn is the symbol of Dauran. It is part of the coat of arms. To harm a unicorn is to defy the queen. The fairies not only hunted unicorns, but also tamed them by tying their horns with ribbons. Where could such a tapestry have come from in the castle? It was as if it hinted that Dauran was finished. The dragon would burn the place down and fairies would frolic in the ashes.

Dandy appeared suddenly, as if from under the floor. Rosamunda almost fell over in surprise. He suddenly jumped out from under her feet like a devil out of a snuffbox.

«Send the ambassadors away!» He demanded. «They’re no good here!»

«Are you crazy? If we send them away, who can protect us from the dragon?»

«They’re on his side.»

«I don’t believe it. You just didn’t like Edwin because I liked him.»

«I wouldn’t recommend falling for the first person you meet. You never know what’s behind their pretty face.»

Rosamunda let Dandy’s sneer pass over her ears. He would probably like to court her, but he’s not tall enough, so he’s angry with normal men.

«Say, could the dragon be attracted to my jewelry? Maybe if I took them off or replaced them with fake stones, the dragon would leave me alone. I’ve heard that dragons are attracted to gold and stones.»

«Try putting your jewelry on a lady who looks like you. Maybe the dragon will mistake her for you and drag her away,» Dandy smirked. «It’s mean, but there’s no choice. The country can’t exist without a queen, and it can do without one or two ladies. Besides, the dragon himself is already kidnapping and killing girls from the outskirts of Dauran. They’re all brunettes with curly hair, just like you. He’s got this obsession with girls who look like you.»

«Maybe he’s crazy.»

«It is a mad dragon!» Dandy whistled. «Well, then you’ll have to get smart and put him on a chain. That’s what you do with crazy people.»

«And how do I do that?»

«Lure him in and seduce him. He seems to respond to your singing. Sing him something beautiful and put a chain on him.»

«That’s a great idea! All I have to do is get a skilled blacksmith to forge a chain that the dragon won’t break, and then I can start seducing him with song,» Rosamunda fell asleep hopeful. She dreamed that she had put the dragon on the chain, and when she returned to it, she found a young man with the appearance of a golden-haired elf asleep on the chain. And where had the dragon gone? Why was the elf on the chain instead? The elf was asleep. Rosamunda laid his head in her lap and burned herself. His breath was fire.

Flames at the tournament

The tournament is to bring out the most skillful knights. It would be nice if Edwin turned out to be the kind of strong knight who could defeat a dragon. Why should he become a dragon slayer for Rosamunda? He doesn’t seem to like her.

As luck would have it, all the once rejected suitors for her hand or their valiant vassals showed up to try their luck in the competition. The kings of neighboring countries, and princes, and even an overseas sultan sent their representatives to the tournament. His knight came with rich gifts and sharp sabers. The only thing missing was the lord of the Magic Empire, but instead of him, his representative Edwin was here. He was the one who was supposed to participate in the tournament.

Rosamunda was nervous. For some reason, she really wanted Edwin to win. That was not patriotic. After all, Edwin is not her vassal. He is a foreigner. Any foreign subject could be an enemy, but Rosamunda somehow didn’t feel like a traitor to her homeland. When a dragon strikes, everyone is a victim, foreign and domestic. If there is a single knight who can defeat the dragon, he will be unanimously declared a hero.

Rosamunda’s maids of honor tried to keep their distance from her. No wonder! The rumor of Winona’s sad fate has already reached everyone’s ears. No maid of honor wants to be the next victim.

Only Dandy is her faithful companion. Even though he’s the size of a lynx, it’s still nice that his fear of the dragon keeps him a step away from the queen.

Rosamunda rejoiced early. Some rude man in a luxurious robe shouted at Dandy, and Dandy was as frightened as if he’d seen a whole pack of dragons.

«Get away from the queen, you little scoundrel!»