“I already told you—I only work alone.”

“I mean—are you sure? His captor is the dragon…”

The king’s deputy’s concern was a valid one. The dragon was one of the fiercest in the land, and the lair he’d laid claim to was a labyrinth of dark tunnels and traps. But I only ever work alone.

Oh—and it just so happened that the dragon was me.

“I’m sure,” I said, trying to disguise my voice. I’d had previous run-ins with the deputy as part of the king’s cabinet, and even though I wore a mask to hide my face, I didn’t want him to catch onto my plan.

“Well—good luck then, I guess,” he said, tossing me a bag of coins. It was lighter than I expected. “Here’s the ransom—100 coin crowns. 50 for you if you return with the Baron. And remember, if you show up without the coins or the Baron—well—the king will expect repayment.”

“Just 100 crowns?” I asked. Was that all I was worth to him? Cheap bastard.

The deputy shrugged.

“This is just going to get me killed!” I exclaimed. “The dragon won’t make a deal for 100 gold. He’ll just turn me to ash.”

“Look, I don’t set the prices—the king does,” the deputy said. “But—between you and me—I don’t think the king likes this Baron Whitescale very much.”

He doesn’t like me very much? After all I’ve done for him? Just another reason to go through with the plan…

But of course, I didn’t say that aloud. Though I did try and fish some more information from the deputy. “Is that so?” I asked with as much nonchalance as I could conjure. I also conjured a subtle spell to lower the deputy’s guard. Tell me what the King really thinks.

“There are certain whispers going around the court. Something about the Baron having a thing for his daughter. Wouldn’t surprise me if this is just a show for the princess, and that he secretly wants the baron gone for good.” I let the spell dissipate before it became too obvious. “Wait, why did I just tell you that…” the deputy said, mostly to himself.

I pretended not to hear the last part. “So, you’re sending me on a suicide mission?” I asked, feigning annoyance.

“Hey—you were the one who said you were interested.” he replied.

“If this is the mission, I’m going to need a little bit upfront,” I haggled. I knew the king had been annoyed with the deputy as of late. He wouldn’t want to have to be the one to send bad news back to the king.

“Fine,” he said, pulling out his own coinpurse. “Here’s 20. That good enough for ya?”

I didn’t really care about the 20 gold coins. It was a pittance for a dragon. But then again, a dragon can hardly pass up the chance at more gold.

I nodded to the deputy, then headed to my lair.

I tossed the gold into my hoard, reverted to my dragon form, and then took a moment to bathe in my collection of gold and jewels. It had been a whole 24 hours since I’d had the chance to—much too long. But it was just a short frolic, before I set the rest of my plan into action.

I set an old tree alight with my firebreath and plucked off a few of my scales. I also drew some blood with the sword, not much but enough, before reverting to my human form. I didn’t really like my human form, but it let me mess around in the noble’s affairs, so I put up with it.

I took some ashes from the burning tree and adorned my clothes and face. I let the fire singe a few of my hairs, but not too many. Just enough to be believable. I preferred to look both handsome and heroic.

With a handful of scales, a sword doused in dragon blood, and the marks of a firefight, I returned to the city at first light. As I walked through the city, the early risers took notice and began to follow me to the castle. They had no doubt heard I had been captured by the dragon. And my return, alone and with a bloodied sword, meant only one thing. I heard their whispers. My plan was working.

I strolled up to the King’s palace and pushed my way past the guards. They did not attack, for if the obvious was true, they would be no match for my sword.

The first eyes to greet me were the astonished greens of the beautiful Princess Caroline. “Baron Whitescale? What? Are you okay?”

“Just a few scratches, but the dragon was no match for my sword,” I grinned. “I managed to best it, unlike that grubby mercenary your father sent to save me.”

By this time, the King had approached as well, and the townsfolk who had followed me were crowding the entryway. It was all going to plan.

“Here’s your gold back, and a bonus,” I said. Tossing the pouch of 100 gold coins and dragon scales at his feet. “And I’m glad you’re here to be witness.” Confusion twisted the king's face into a wrinkly ball.

I knelt down before Caroline, and pulled out the second gaudiest diamond ring that my hoard had to offer. “Caroline—my love. It was your beauty that inspired me to fight back against the dreaded dragon. And I took this ring from my...his own hoard to ask one thing—your hand in marriage.”

I knew what her answer would be. And now that I was the hero of the entire city, there was no way the king could reject my proposal. Now all I needed to do was kill him in due time, and my plan would come to fruition…

…I WILL BE KING!