Between the lines is written in fire

Frant hastily hid under the throne, and the boorish fellow spread his sable trim over his shoulders and settled down beside the throne. No one dared to send him away or at least reprimand him. The rude man was probably from a very noble family. But powerful parents didn’t educate their young son. Probably they spent all their time and energy on court intrigue. There’s no energy left for the children.

«Who are you?» Rosamunda did not like the fact that the strange young man attached himself to her like a shadow. His face was as pale as a dead man, but his eyes burned brighter than the ruby hoop on his forehead. It seemed to be the emblem of the Dukes of Dauran.

«I’m Vincent, your new counselor.»

«I don’t recall a council seat being vacant.»

«I’ve come to take my father’s place on the council.»

«And who is your father?»

«He is Duke Alonso of the northern provinces.»

«Can he himself confirm what you say?»

The handsome, pale as death young man did not inspire Rosamunda with confidence.

«He himself had recently been clawed by a dragon.»

At the mention of the dragon, Rosamunda felt confused. She thought she saw a dragon among the knights at the tournament. Or was it someone wearing a dragon helmet? There are not many daredevils who challenge mythical creatures by making shields, armor, and helmets that mimic the body of a dragon.

«You were in such a hurry to take your father’s place that you rushed here immediately?» Rosamunda snickered. «Yesterday Duke Alonso was still alive and arguing with me fiercely about taxes.»

«News of the dragon’s mischief travels the country at the speed of the wind,» Vincent said tactfully.

«Have you received fire letters, too?» Rosamunda was wary.

Vincent is so pale that it is impossible to suppose otherwise. Someone has frightened him to death! Only a dragon could have done that. A dragon’s letters have a magnetic effect on the will.

«So you’re in correspondence with the dragon, too?» She whispered to Vincent.

He was clearly embarrassed. Did he think she was crazy?

«Forgive me, Your Majesty, but I don’t correspond with anyone. It’s out of caution. Messengers are too often intercepted.»

Rosamunda was disappointed. She’d thought she’d found a companion with whom she could discuss her problems and devise some means of self-defense against the dragon tyrant.

«Even if you were able to instantly know the news of your father’s death, say you had a telepathic link with your father, how did you manage to travel to the capital in just a day? Do you have speeding boots or a flying horse?»

There was a moment’s hesitation.

«I didn’t live there.»

«Where did you live?»

«It is someplace else.»

«Where is it?»

«You don’t want to know. It was a bad place. Like I said, my father had me under his thumb.»

Vincent was twisting and turning. What exactly was he so afraid to confess?

«I hadn’t heard that Duke Alonso had a son.»

«I’m kind of a stepson.»

«And can you produce any evidence that you are his legitimate son and official heir to claim his position as counselor?»

«I’m wearing his coat of arms jewelry.»

«And what is beyond that?»

«You think I killed him and took his regalia?»

«I’m merely honoring tradition.»

«Oh, it is the red tape!»

«So how can you prove you’re not a foreign spy sent to the King’s Council?»

«Is there any suspicion of that?»

«You have a strange accent.»

«I’m a bit of a stutterer. My father frightened me as a child.»

«How can I make a stutterer my counselor?»

«You can’t go against tradition. The duke’s loyalists will tell you I’m the son he kept locked up for a long time.»

The Duke’s vassals and kin have indeed arrived at court. Very quickly! It was as if they had been flown here on wings. They all looked pale as if they were ghosts, their eyes were burning feverishly, and their hands were covered with a strange rash like scales. All of them came to Rosamunda’s throne and confirmed that they knew Vincent personally.

«Did you cast a spell on them?» She asked the young man as they stepped back. «They look like zombies.»

«A dragon raided the Duke’s castle in the night. Everyone was frightened,» Vincent explained.

«He can get to both you and me in one night,» Rosamunda said warily. «Do you have a beautiful girl living with you, too, whom he harasses and floods with flaming notes? Is it your sister, for instance?»

«I have no sister. I had a younger brother, but he died.»

«Probably it was during childbirth as a baby?»

«It was later.»

«Why didn’t the Duke say anything about his sons?»

«He was too busy with his career. We children became a burden to him.»