Free Chosen Sister by Ardyth DeBruyn

washed over her, convincing her that it could breathe fire if it wished.
    Don’t show any fear, she told herself. She straightened up and glared defiantly at it. “We’re here to see the Green Wizard. This is hardly the way to greet a couple of exhausted travelers.” She shook her finger at the dragon. “We’ve had enough without you too. Let us through!”
    The dragon cocked its head, regarding her for a long moment. She wanted to check Austyn, make sure that he was all right, but she didn’t dare.
    “You are not afraid of me?” the dragon asked. “I could eat you in one bite.”
    I’m sure you could. “Of course I am,” she snapped at it. “But I’m not just going to scream and run. Besides, I’m trying to get in, not out. ” She took a step towards it, even though everything in her wanted to run away. “Once I get ahold of that Green Wizard, I’m going to tell him exactly what I think of his way of welcoming visitors. Now step aside and let us through!”
    “I will let you through on one condition.” The dragon bared its teeth at her and stood up.
    Reina bent her legs, ready to jump aside if it should attack her, but instead it stood on its four feet, wings spread, and looked down at her.
    “Walk beneath my body to the door.”
    Reina gulped. “I thought dragons’ bellies were their weak spot.”
    “You don’t have a weapon.”
    That was only too true. And with Austyn unconscious, they didn’t even have a chance to use magic.
    “Fine. If you promise to let me through without attacking.”
    “I promise nothing, only that if you don’t do it, you will have no chance at all of getting through.”
    She hadn’t expected it to agree. “Okay, we’ll do it.” She bent to wake Austyn.
    “Stop. Leave him. You must go yourself.”
    Anger replaced all her fear, and she whirled around to face the dragon. “Never!” I should have known it would trick me. “I won’t leave Austyn. Eat me, then, and let him go.”
    The dragon blinked in surprise. “I won’t harm him.”
    “And I won’t leave him!”
    The dragon snorted. “Very well. I see you have courage, child. Take your brother if you must, but I won’t be responsible for what happens afterward.”
    Reina bent and shook him. “Austyn! Wake up.” He didn’t even grumble in his sleep. “What did you do to him?” she demanded. “Let him wake up!”
    “He won’t in my presence,” the dragon said, and the hint of a chuckle in his voice irritated her further. “He’s too afraid, and that fear binds him while I stand here.”
    Reina gave him a scathing look and picked Austyn up in her arms. He was horribly heavy. “He’s only six. It’s normal for him to be afraid. You did it to him on purpose, scaring us like that.” With each step, her arms ached, but she continued towards the dragon, her anger supporting her. “If he doesn’t wake up, I’ll find a way to make you pay, I promise.”
    “He’ll wake, but he’ll not have passed this test,” the dragon said softly. “I said I wouldn’t be responsible for his welfare afterwards, and I won’t. It’s you who insists on bringing him where he shouldn’t go.”
    “Hrmf.” He probably just wants to eat him when I’m gone. She marched right under the dragon, determined to make it without dropping Austyn. Ahead stood the door, and as she approached, it opened.
    “Good luck, little morsel,” the dragon said.
    She turned her head. The dragon had turned around and sat on the ground facing her. It winked, and then flew away. Austyn groaned, and she gently set him on his feet as he came to.
    “Reina.” He sobbed and clung to her. “I was so scared. I thought we were going to die.”
    “It’s okay, it’s okay.” She rocked him for a moment. “It was just a jerk that liked scaring people. It’s gone now. Let’s go in and find the wizards.”
    Austyn wiped his tears away with his sleeve and nodded. She took his hand and entered the castle. Windows near the ceiling let dim gray