Belinda stared at the image lingering in the cauldron.
Another witch?
The thought unsettled her.
As the vapour slowly dispersed, the ten-armed figure vanished along with it.
"Thank you for your help, old dame."
Belinda placed a small pouch of coins on the table.
"Make do with this until I return."
The old woman bowed her head silently.
Belinda turned and left the cottage.
The entire journey back to the palace was spent deep in thought. Who was interfering with her magic? Who possessed enough power to counter her spells without revealing themselves?
The questions haunted her all the way home.
When Delvin and the others returned to the palace, everyone retired to their respective chambers.
After changing out of their ceremonial attire, Delvin settled behind his desk and began sorting through a mountain of documents.
Across the room, Sheila sat quietly by the window, staring out at the gardens below.
"What happened?" Delvin asked without looking up from his papers. "Why weren't you announced?"
"I was rejected," Sheila replied.
Delvin immediately set down his quill and walked over to her.
He gently moved her hair aside and examined the mark behind her neck.
It was still there.
"Was it Tan'y'ju who rejected you, or the priests?"
Sheila stood and brushed his hand away.
"That oversized lizard did."
For a brief moment, amusement flickered across Delvin's face before disappearing.
"Why would he do that?"
Before Sheila could answer, a knock sounded at the door.
She crossed the room and opened it.
Stel entered and bowed respectfully.
"My royal mother, the King's Dowager, requests your presence."
Delvin nodded.
"Lead the way."
They arrived at Dolores's chambers to find her seated comfortably upon her bed, still dressed in her coronation robes.
Delvin approached and bowed.
As always, Dolores immediately took his hands and pulled him upright.
"You will never stop doing that, will you, brother?" she said with a smile.
"Sit."
Delvin obeyed.
Stel sat opposite him while Dolores cleared her throat.
"I will need to postpone your travel plans."
Delvin frowned slightly.
"Why?"
"In three days, it will be Stel's birthday."
The young girl's eyes widened.
"I want her to have the celebration she deserves," Dolores continued. "A proper royal celebration. She's already submitted a list of requests, and I would be delighted if you remained here to help organize everything."
Delvin glanced at Stel.
"You never told me."
Stel simply smiled.
Delvin chuckled.
"Very well. I can survive a few extra days."
Dolores nodded approvingly.
"Good."
"Anything else?" Delvin asked.
She shook her head.
He rose, bowed once more, and left.
Back in his chambers, Delvin found Sheila sitting before a mirror.
She had turned her head, trying to catch a glimpse of the mark behind her neck.
Without a word, Delvin stepped behind her and covered the mark with his hand.
"Don't dwell on it."
A loud thud suddenly came from the window.
Both of them turned.
Tan'y'ju crouched upon the stone ledge.
Smoke poured from his nostrils and drifted throughout the room.
Delvin coughed dramatically.
"What's wrong with you, lizard?" he grumbled. "Trying to suffocate us?"
The dragon's eyes flashed gold.
He climbed through the window and stalked toward them.
"You think I released the girl because I changed my mind?"
His voice rumbled through the chamber.
"No. I merely diverted the priests' attention."
The dragon shifted into his human form and dropped casually into a chair.
"I only need to keep her away from temple rites and public scrutiny."
His eyes narrowed.
"And away from you."
Sheila immediately moved behind Delvin.
The dragon laughed.
Delvin spread his arms slightly as if shielding her.
Tan'y'ju rose from his seat.
"You seek something that can never belong to you."
Before Delvin could reply, the dragon seized him by the throat and hurled him across the room.
He crashed into a bookshelf and collapsed to the floor.
Sheila gasped.
Tan'y'ju turned toward her.
His hand shot forward.
Instinctively, Sheila drew a small penknife and stabbed his palm.
For a moment, the room fell silent.
Sheila bolted toward Delvin and helped him sit up.
Then she heard laughter.
Cold.
Mocking.
Cruel.
She looked back.
Tan'y'ju's hand was completely unharmed.
Not even a scratch remained.
Suddenly, agony erupted through her own hand.
She screamed.
Blood streamed from her palm.
The exact wound she had attempted to inflict upon him now appeared on her own skin.
Delvin stared at her hand.
Then at the dragon.
Tan'y'ju leaned back into his chair.
"Did you truly believe you could wound a god?"
His laughter echoed through the room.
Moments later, his body dissolved into black smoke and vanished.
Delvin immediately rushed to Sheila's side.
He grabbed a handkerchief and wrapped it tightly around her bleeding hand.
"I'll send for the royal physician."
Concern filled his voice.
He guided her onto the bed and called for a guard.
"Bring the physician immediately."
The guard hurried away.
As Sheila adjusted herself on the bed, something caught her eye.
A small box bearing the royal seal lay on the floor nearby.
Quietly, she slipped it beneath the blankets before Delvin returned.
He carried a bowl of water.
With a snap of his fingers, the water began to steam.
"What exactly is your relationship with that dragon?" Sheila asked.
Delvin paused.
"And where is this question coming from?"
"My question came first."
He sighed.
"I'm his guardian."
She frowned.
"Meaning?"
"I'm essentially his vessel. His servant, if you want the simple version."
A mischievous smile tugged at Sheila's lips.
"So you're the servant and I'm supposedly his bride?"
She raised an eyebrow.
"Doesn't that technically make you my servant?"
Delvin stopped cleaning her wound and stared at her.
"You can't possibly be serious right now."
Before she could answer, the physician arrived.
The middle-aged man bowed deeply.
His eyes immediately scanned Delvin for injuries.
Delvin smiled.
"Not me."
He pointed toward Sheila.
"My maid injured her hand."
The physician bowed again and immediately began treating the wound.
As he worked, Sheila couldn't help noticing that Delvin still looked vaguely offended by her earlier remark.
Which only made the joke funnier.