A Tale That Cannot Be Told

The Call of the Young Dragon

Princess Genoa overheard a messenger searching for her as she admired the tapestries. "Who is looking for me?" She inquired aloud.

"A messenger wishes to deliver a letter to you, Your Highness," replied Oliva, her attendant.

"Please bring the messenger to me," the princess requested.

"Good morning, Your Highness," the messenger greeted her.

"Good morning. Who has sent this message to me?" She asked.

"I'm sorry, Your Highness, but the sender is unnamed. However, they mentioned that you would recognize them once you read the letter." The messenger then presented the letter to the princess.

Intrigued by the message, she quietly read it aloud: "Scarf: 400 miles north from town." Puzzled by its meaning, she sent her attendant and the messenger away to focus on the note once more. After mentally repeating the words several times, a thought struck her. "Could it be?" Her heart raced with excitement, feeling a thrill at the potential significance of the letter that surpassed her anticipation of Prince Yaakov's visit. Eager to act, the princess prepared to depart.

"Your Highness, are you heading somewhere?" Oliva inquired.

"Yes, I just realized I haven't picked out a gift for Prince Yaakov yet. I thought I'd swing by the bookstore in town to see if they have anything interesting," the princess quickly fabricated an excuse for her departure.

"I can accompany you, Your Highness. The other attendants can handle the rest of the preparations," Oliva suggested, eager to join her.

"No, that won't be necessary, Oliva. I think you should stay here to oversee everything and ensure it's already there," the princess insisted.

"I understand, Your Highness, and I'll make sure everything is in order. Please be careful, Your Highness," Oliva called out as the princess made her way out of the palace.

The princess's heart raced as quickly as her horse's hooves, not from fear but from sheer excitement. A broad grin spread across her face, and she hardly noticed the towering trees surrounding her. "He called for me," she mused. "I got an invitation from the young dragon." Just the thought of Ioulos wanting to see her again sent waves of joy through her.

Miles away, Ioulos could already hear the sound of the princess's horse thundering toward his castle. He realized he hadn't written much in the letter, but he hoped she grasped its significance. To avoid any confusion, he decided to wait for her outside the barbican, making it easier for her to find him. "Well, she's here, so she must have understood my message," he reassured himself.

As the princess neared the drawbridge, catching her breath, she spotted the magnificent creature before her and felt a wave of relief wash over her—she was right; it was indeed Ioulos who had invited her.

The young dragon felt a bit uncertain about how to welcome her inside. Although he had met other humans before, this situation was different. Trying to mask his nervousness, he finally spoke up. "Ahem, good day, Your Highness. I'm pleased you received my message, and welcome to my humble abode." With that, he turned and led the way into his castle.

"Good day to you as well, and thank you for having me," the princess replied, following Ioulos inside.

Inside Ioulos's castle, dragon-inspired architecture was everywhere—small dragons adorned the gates, and dragon claws held up torches. Great wings arched over the armory and smithy, while dragon tails formed the archways and staircases. The citadel of Dragonstone was crafted entirely from black stone. "What an amazing array of creatures here," the princess thought to herself.

Ioulos stood in the grand hall, the vibrant heart of his castle, eagerly awaiting the princess. This space, often filled with laughter and feasting, was aglow with the light of countless candles flickering around the long table, which had only one chair set for the guests. An array of pastries, fruits, and vegetables adorned the table, showcasing his efforts. "I wasn't sure what you might like, so I prepared a little bit of everything. If nothing here suits your taste, just let me know, and I can have the cook whip something up for you," Ioulos offered.

"No need for that; I enjoy them all," the princess replied, her voice warm with gratitude.

Feeling a wave of relief, Ioulos gestured for Princess Genoa to sit. "That's wonderful to hear! Please, make yourself comfortable and dig in."

"Thank you." As she settled into her chair, the princess hesitated, glancing at the dragon standing across the table, feeling a bit awkward about eating while he remained on his feet.

Noticing her discomfort, Ioulos quickly reassured her. “Please don’t worry about me, Your Highness. I’m perfectly fine. I’ve brought in the best cook in the area, so I’m confident the food is delicious.”

“Wow, thank you.” Taking a bite of a pastry, the princess decided to steer the conversation. “I couldn’t help but notice how much the interior of your castle reflects dragon esthetics.”

“Oh! It’s hard for me to envision any other style,” Ioulos replied with a smile.

“Thank you for the invitation and for all the effort you put into this. It means a lot to me,” the princess said sincerely.

“You’re very welcome, Your Highness. I must confess, this gathering was inspired by the events of the other day. I didn’t want to overstep, but I also hoped to clear any misunderstandings about our kind,” the young dragon explained.

“Regarding that incident, I take full responsibility. I intruded on his territory, and I accepted whatever consequences came my way. But I’m truly grateful you were there; I can’t imagine what might have happened without your intervention,” she admitted.

I was taken aback when I spotted you there, especially since I had just seen you at Uilliam’s castle. Are you on a quest to visit every dragon’s lair?

“Oh, no!” Princess Genoa quickly realized she needed to clarify things for Ioulos to avoid any further confusion. “I was hoping to find you when I visited your friend’s castle.”