The Dragon's Prize Read Online Free

she was a commoner.  It was only by grace of her skill that they let her into the guard in the first place.  All the other guards were nobles.  Minor nobles, or third sons in most cases, but still of noble blood.  If by some chance they scored a hit on the prince, it would all be in good fun.
    If she hit the prince?  They could execute her…
    “Sandra?”  The prince scoffed.  Clearly he didn’t know she was there.  Hopefully… “Little Sandra?  The urchin we found at the castle gates all those years ago?”
    “Yes, my prince.”  The guard captain bowed.  Sandra felt her ears get hot at the words ‘little Sandra’.
    “I haven’t seen her in years!  I forgot she was in the guard.  Sandra!”  The prince twirled around, looking for her.  “Sandra, come out!”
    Sandra gave Mira a panicked look.  Mira grinned and shooed her out into the yard, apparently oblivious of the danger that Sandra was going to be in.
    “I’m here, my lord.”  Sandra knew she couldn’t hide for long.  Even if she ran, someone would find her.  The guard captain decreed it...
    Sandra strode out onto the practice yard, carrying her wooden practice sword slung easily against her back and trying to look confident.  She was still sweaty and grimy from her failed fight with the dummy earlier, and her hair hung in ragged tangles about her face.  Not good condition to be presented to the prince in.  Even if they had once run through the mud together, pranking the cooks and causing trouble.
    “Sandra!”  The prince smiled broadly and came over, wiping his brow and throwing the towel away. Up close he was even more impressive: the height of physical perfection.  Sandra tried not to stare at his chest too much.  “How are you?”
    “I’m fine, my lord.”  Sandra smiled, then bowed before him.
    “Now, now.”  He touched her gently on the shoulder, pulling her back to her feet.  “There’s no need for that!  We skinned our knees and wrestled the pigs together.  There’s no formality between us.”  His smile was broad and welcoming, she could almost imagine this sparring match being good for her.  “Is the captain right?  You’re a good swordsman… err, swordswoman?”
    “Her!?”  The Eastern master scoffed.  Wu?  Was that his name?  “She couldn’t handle the dummy.”
    “Err…”  The captain looked between the prince and Wu.  “She might have been having an off-day, my prince.  She is our best swordsman.  Swordswoman.”
    “Warrior?”  Sandra raised her eyebrows hopefully.  It would be annoying if they kept arguing over semantics.
    “Warrior then.  Tell me, Sandra, how is it that you’re so much better than these others?”  The prince gestured at the guards who were slowly filtering back into the yard to watch the spectacle.  “I remember when you were in pigtails and helping me throw rocks at the stablemaster!”
    “That was a long time ago, my prince.”  Sandra smiled wistfully.  Those were the days… before the fact that she was a commoner started to get in the way of everything.  Before the duties of being crown prince took her playmate away.  “Since then I’ve pursued other activities.  Like the sword.”
    “Yes.  Well.  Alright, let’s see what you’ve got!”
    “My prince…”
    “Do not be bashful, Sandra.  We’ll fight!  And you’ll show me that you’re better than these sluggards!”  The other guards scowled at her when the prince said that.
    Damned either way.
    “Yes, my prince.”  Sandra tried to hide her dislike of the situation, but some sullenness remained in her voice.
    The prince headed to his corner of the field, grabbing the sword as he went, and Sandra walked to the opposite corner.  As she passed the guard captain, she gave him a glare and muttered under her breath.
    “You know I can’t do this.”
    “Why?  Because you’re just a commoner, and if you strike the Crown Prince I will have you thrown out of the guard?”
    "…"