Free Princess Ahira by K.M. Shea Page A

won out. “Would you like to come inside for a cup of tea?” I politely asked.
                  “Yes, please,” the mage said with a smi le before we turned to enter my temporary home. I led him down the hallways, making a beeline for the kitchen. I set the mail on the table and went into the ki tchen with the mage behind me. As I prepared a cup of tea I started to pump him for information. 
                  “So, what’s your name?” I asked.
                  “Aaron,” he answered with a sweet smile.
                  “My name is Ahira,” I said as I carefully poured the piping hot drink into a tea cup. “I s aw you in the woods yesterday. What were you doing there?”  I asked.
                  He looked a little uncomfortable. “I was originally there to pick some of the Ever Blossoms. But I saw you and your dragon, Azmave th, right?” he asked and I nodded. “O nce I saw you and y our dragon I became fascinated. Dragons are moody creatures who generally don’t like their princesses. I was astonish ed to see your loving relationship,” he said as I became minutely disturbed while I passed over his cup of tea.
                  “It’s not really like that. Why were you in the area? I’m very grateful that you rescued me, but it is evening…,” I trailed off.  
                  Aaron blushed. “ I happened to be nearby and I heard you scream for Azmaveth. I thought it sounded like you might need help, ” Aaron carefully replied before baiting me and switching topics though. “I walked into a tree when I heard your shout. Amazing, out of all dragons you are placed with Azmaveth.”
                  “What do you mean?” I asked as he took a sip of his tea.
    “Azmaveth is a duke. That’s the highest possible rank besides the title of Dragon King ,” Aaron rambled, his eyes were glowing with happiness.
                  “So what?” I asked, unimpressed. Azmaveth, even if he was a duke, was still Az maveth: a dirty, piggy , little slob with an enormous appetite.
                  “So what?” Aaron raved. “You have power,” he said, thrusting a finger in my direction. “He very clearly dotes upon you! Do you know what you could do?”
                  I was about to inform Aaron that I would die happy if Azmaveth just learned to pick up his dirty dishes, but instead the tunnels ran with the delighted tones of Azmaveth’s voice.
                  “Ahira, I’m home!” he rumbled. “You are never going to guess where I’ve been,” he said as he trotted into the kitchen while concocting possibly the biggest lie I would ever hear in my life. “I know . I’m late, I’m late, but it wasn’t my fault! You see on my way back from the lake I ran into this cat. But it wasn’t really a cat, it was a pig. Don’t ask. I also met a sphinx who had forgotten his riddle, so naturally I had to help him. Then I ran into a wood elf who had ironically gotten himself lost in the woods, and then I—who is this?” Azmaveth said, abruptly cutting off when his purple eyes landed on Aaron.
                  “Azmaveth this is Aaron. Aaron, Azmaveth.”  I introduced them as Azmaveth’s eyes became murderous. “Aaron saved me from that prince you were supposed to take care of,” I wryly said as the wizard shuddered under the dragon’s glare.
                  “He returned?” Azmaveth questioned, turning his gaze onto me.
                  “Yes. You took your merry old time getting he re, so the p rince beat you back,” I carelessly flaunted . 
                  Azmaveth went back to glaring at Aaron, who bowed. “I was just leaving,” h e stuttered, tripping over himself as h e all but ran out of the room. Apparently he had all the courage and bravery of a mouse.
                  After Aaron appropriately