Seraphina(111)

The Regent of Samsam looked pale and peevish; Count Pesavolta hemmed and hawed. Each finally muttered something close to, if not exactly, yes.

“Goredd’s treaty with Ninys and Samsam banished knights across the Southlands,” continued Glisselda, her blue eyes cold and sternly fixed upon them. “I will not risk war unless we are free to revive the dracomachia. It would mean renegotiating that agreement.”

“Your Highness,” said my father, “many of the Samsamese and Ninysh knights were rumored to have fled to Fort Oversea, on the isle of Paola. Their dracomachia may be in healthier condition than ours. Altering the treaty could allow the knights of all three nations to work together.”

The princess nodded thoughtfully. “I’d want your help drafting this document.”

“It would be my honor,” said my father, bowing.

The Regent of Samsam sat up straighter, his skinny neck extending like a vulture’s. “If it means we might reinstate our valiant exiles, perhaps Samsam would be willing to negotiate some sort of nonaggression pact.”

“Ninys would never side with dragons against Goredd,” Count Pesavolta announced. “We stand behind you, of course!”

Glisselda gave an arch nod. Kiggs, behind her, had narrowed his eyes suspiciously. Ninys and Samsam would have squirmed in their seats had they realized what intense scrutiny would be upon them.

“This brings me finally to you,” said the princess, indicating us half-dragons with an elegant gesture. “We have here a fearless boy who grappled a dragon in his own version of dracomachia, a man who can design sophisticated engines of war—”

“And musical instruments,” mumbled Lars.

“—a woman who can tell the near future with her stomach, and another who may be able to find me more people of extraordinary talent.” Glisselda smiled warmly at me. “At least, you mentioned there are more. Are they all so talented?”

I almost said I didn’t know, but it occurred to me suddenly that I might. If I’d thought about it, I’d have known what to expect from these first three: Abdo was always climbing and balancing; Lars built gazebos and bridges; Dame Okra pulled up weeds before they had a chance to sprout. Every one of my grotesques engaged in idiosyncratic behaviors. Pelican Man stared at the stars. Pandowdy was a monster in his own right. Jannoula—if I ever dared to look for her again—could climb right into my mind, but maybe not just mine.

“I think we would be something formidable, all together,” I said. “And I think I could find the rest, if I went looking. I’ve wanted to find them.”

“Do it,” said Glisselda. “Whatever you need—horses, guards, money—speak to Lucian, and Lucian will make it so.” She nodded to her cousin; he nodded back, although he avoided looking in my direction.

The Regent could stand it no longer. “Your pardon, Highness, but who are these people? I know Count Pesavolta’s ambassadress, but the rest? A highland lout, a Porphyrian child, and this … this woman—”

“My daughter Seraphina,” said Papa, his face hard.

“Oh, that explains everything!” cried the Regent. “Princess? What’s going on?”

Princess Glisselda opened her mouth, but no words came out.

In that moment of hesitation, I realized she was embarrassed—for me, for all of us. We were the punch line of a hundred dirty jokes. How could she speak of such disgusting things to the leader of a foreign land?

I rose, ready to spare her the mortification. My father had the same idea and found his voice first: “I married a dragon. My daughter, whom I love, is half dragon.”

“Papa!” I cried, terrified for him, grateful, sad, and proud.

“Infanta!” sputtered the Regent, leaping to his feet. “By St. Vitt, these are unnatural abominations. Soulless beasts!”

Count Pesavolta snorted. “I can’t believe you were worried about our loyalty but are ready to trust these things. How can you ever be sure which side they will take, dragon or human? My ambassadress already seems determined to choose Goredd over Ninys. Surely this is only the first wave of her treachery?”

“I choose what’s right,” snarled Dame Okra, “as I expect you will too, sir.”

Comonot turned to Ninys and Samsam, his eyes bright but his voice filled with calm authority: “Can you not see that it’s no longer a question of dragon versus human? The division now is between those who think this peace is worth preserving and those who would keep us at war until one side or the other is destroyed.

“There are dragons who see the good of the treaty. They will join us. The young have been raised with peaceful ideals; they won’t sympathize with these grizzled generals who want their hoards and their hunting grounds back.”

He turned toward Glisselda and gestured toward the sky. “Something we dragons have learned from you is that we are stronger together. We need not take on the entire world alone. Let us stand together now for the peace.”

Princess Glisselda rose, stepped around the great oaken desk, and embraced Comonot, removing all doubt. She would not turn him over to his generals. We would be going to war for peace.





The meeting adjourned; the Regent and Count Pesavolta couldn’t quit the room fast enough. Glisselda and Kiggs already had their heads together, planning how best to address the council at noon. The princess smiled sheepishly at her cousin. “You were right: Ninys and Samsam took it poorly. I hoped to be efficient, but I should have met with everyone separately. Gloat, if you must.”