Taming the dragon - A slave to the prince

13.

After a long ride, we could finally see the colorful tents of the market.

The city around the palace consists of several rings.  The workers and handcrafters mainly live in the first ring, where the daily market also takes place. Since all the shops are here, it's always crowded. It is considered the 'inferior ring' and everything is arranged here by the first counsil. 

The nobles live in the next or the second ring. Here, the houses have small gardens, the streets are wider and much cleaner and the people here wear nice clothes. I only came here a few times when I accompanied the masters. 

In the center of the capital stands the palace. The palace is on much higher level and the surrounding walls are connected by large bridges with the walls surrounding the rings and the entire capital. You regularly see soldiers walking or troops of guards marching on these bridges. Every step you take closer you see more and more of its beauty. Of course I have never set foot here but I wonder if prince Tristan will allow me to take a quick look at the gardens. Their beauty is known all over the country and when the plants are in bloom, the king and queen sometimes allow visitors. But even master Legas, a member of the second counsil has never received an invitation. The invitations are sent out randomly, so that commoners also have a chance to get a closer look. I wonder what the king's like and if Tristan looks like him.

Our arrival doesn't go unnoticed. Most people stare and bow their heads afterwards, but there are a striking number of women who pull their children just a little closer to them. Tristan is looking straight ahead, ignoring everything. I am sure that I'll have blisters from riding without wearing decent clothes. Even though there is a shirt and cloak between the saddle and my butt, my skin isn't used to such friction.

Suddenly our group stops and Tristan gets of his horse. He holds out his arms to help me. It must be quite a sight, the prince helping a slave getting of a horse and putting her down gently. He looks straight at me and starts playing with a lost strand of hair. We attract the attention of more and more spectators and I hear that people are starting to talk.

I'm starting to feel really uneasy and push myself away from him. While he raises an eyebrow I trie to straighten my shirt/dress as much as possible an start combing my hair with my fingers to look a little more... decent and presentable if that's even possible. He nods at the store we stopped at. I know this store, I've already bought many dresses here for lady Dalia and Cecilia. The tailor isn't really friendly but never rude. Unlike most vendors. 

I give him a confused look. 'My prince, this shop only sells dresses. If you're in need of new clothes, there's a shop a few streets away.'

Tristan starts laughing... hard. I feel my cheeks heating and pouting, what did I say? 'You're a lot of things but definitely not boring. We stopped here so you could get a new dress...' He leans a little closer and whispers in my ear '... so you can take of my shirt. I tend to sleep in it tonight.'

He turns to one of his men and yells 'Rick, stay with the lady and guard her.' The young man gets of his horse and joins us. He looks at me and straightens his back. 'Protect her with your life, and if there's any trouble you know what to do.' 

He places his hand on my cheek and give me a deep look in the eyes. Once again I feel lost in his eyes and feel my stomach heating up. 'Choose anything you like and wait here for me. I won't be gone for long. Rick is a strong man, well not as strong as me but still... I trust him.' He smirks and start to walk to his horse.

'B-but my lord...' ... 'I don't have any money...' I whisper. Too late, he already took off. Letting out a small sigh I turn to Rick and bow my head. He does the same.

'So my lord... you look about my age, did you join the princes army long ago?'

'I'm already 18 my lady, my father was a general so I'm used to hang around in the fort. Prince Tristan always took time to train with me and fix my posture... I had my ceremony 2 years ago.'

'Ceremony?'

'My initiation, a small ceremony where they hand you your own sword. After that you are officially a soldier of the dragon prince. But my lady... is it ok if I wait here? I mean... I don't know anything about dresses and other woman stuff.' He turns red after saying these last words.

'Please, call me Rana. And woman stuff?' I laugh 

I enter the shop but feel really uncomfortable. I've been here before but always with my hood. People only saw my dirty dress but never my face or my hair tangled. Now, for some reason I feel really exposed.

The tailor comes in, friendly as always. He looks at me head to bottom and a strange expression appears on his face. I can't decipher what he is thinking now but on the other side ... It also looks very strange. Everything about my appearance screams slave, but the long, broad cloak around my shoulders says something else.

'Good morning, I'm looking for a dress.' I begin really uncomfortable.

'Well, you've come to the right place, house...?'

'Oh well, funny story, I'm not here as a slave. Well, I am still a slave but my master wants me to buy a dress for uhm... myself.'

Still looking weirdly at me but with a more blank expression now. 'And what house can I send the bill to?' He asks sharply.

'I -'

'What's your masters name slave? Let me see your cuffs.'

I take step back. 'Like I said, funny story. I used to belong to the house Dreolli but my current master is the prince. Prince Tristan? He just ordered me to buy a dress and left. So I actually don't know what to do but he will arrive here shortly so if you just-'

'I see, please... miss, stay here.' I really can't read what he's thinking but I have a real bad feeling about this. I watch him as he leaves the store. The door is still open and I see Rick staring at me, I shrug. I really don't know what's going on or what to do. All I can do is wait.

A few moments later I see the tailor coming back and behind hem 2 royal guards. I start sweating and shaking. I feel myself panicking. He stops and I see him pointing at me, they pick up their paces and I see them looking at me with stern faces. I take step back, preparing myself for the worse but just when they want to enter Rick stepped in front of the door. He stands tall, with his arms crossed before his chest. 

The guards quickly become angry and try to push him aside. But he doesn't move an muscle. 

They step back and one of them draws his sword.

'Move or I'll make you move. Do you know who I am boy? Being dressed as a clown with a sword doesn't make you a soldier. For the last time. Move!'

I see Rick changing his posture and putting his cloak back to reveal his sword. He still stands tall but now one hand on the handle. 'You have no jurisdiction over me sir. I only take orders from the dragon prince. Me moving in this situation will lead to you probably harming the lady. And that's exactly what I have to avoid at all cost.'

His eyes grow wide and I recognise him. It's the same guard that was holding Olly. 

Suddenly I feel a strong breeze entering the shop followed by a loud roar. 

Everyone looks up and I see the guards and people on the street backing up in fear and starting to scream.

Another roar makes the ground shake a bit and a large shadow starts to form on the ground.

I run to the door to look at Rick but he is only smirking. I look at the sky...

No way, this can't be....

'A dragon?!'