That night, as the soldiers began to pitch their tents, Belmardina approached her husband as he was putting up their own. “What can my insipid ability to turn into a two-inch dragon do to open a cave? I’ve thought and thought about it, but it makes no sense.”

“I’ll tell you when we get there. It’s easier to show you.”

She turned to go but he caught her by the arm, his immense strength and weight of his armor stopping her dead. “You’ll help me pitch our tent tonight.”

“Fat chance.” She said and smacked his arm with her free hand.

She was surprised when he let go. “Have it your way. You can sleep under the stars tonight.”

Her jaw nearly fell to the floor. She had been treated poorly in her life, but being left out in the cold? She could hardly believe he would go through with such a plan. She squared her shoulders and marched away.

Belmardina walked about, watching the kraat, “her people” raising their tents. She wondered how they could live like this. She looked down at herself once more as the sky turned from bright blue to a velvety black. How filthy she was, having not changed her clothes or taken a bath in a week. She imagined her comfy room back at her mother’s castle—the ornate mirror next to her canopy bed, her thick quilts and the warm glow of candles next to her window.

But she was stuck out here in the open, amidst these barbarous people. Well, I’ll just have to make do. Maybe when we get those riches Blutgang was talking about, I can afford to run away.

She returned to her and Blutgang’s tent only to find a lanky soldier, one of the king’s most trusted named Theodar, guarding the entrance. He stepped close to her, his black feathers almost invisible in the dark. “The king told me you’re sleeping under the stars tonight. Enjoy, milady.”

“Hey!” She shouted. “What kind of king treats his queen so poorly!” She marched back and forth in front of the canvas awning, swearing under her breath, her mind desperately searching for a plan to get into the tent without work.

Finally, she stood in front of Theodar, looking straight into his eyes, almost hidden behind his colorful beak. “Will his majesty grant me an audience?”

“You wish to speak with him?”

“Yes, that’s what I said you ignor-” she caught herself, “-yes. I will speak with him if he will have me.”

Before Theodar could turn around, Blutgang appeared behind him through the tent’s entrance, wearing a simple tunic. “You’re dismissed, Theodar. Perhaps my queen has wisely changed her mind.” Theodar scratched his breastplate twice with his claws, the kraat version of a salute, and disappeared into the night.

“I’ll sleep in the tent tonight. I promise to help put it up tomorrow.” Belmardina lied. For effect, she took his hand in hers, and stroked it with faked affection.

“Why not help me now?” He smiled.

Her eyebrows came together over her nose. “With what?”

In an instant, Blutgang whirled about and cut the lines holding the tent. The whole thing collapsed with a sigh of wind and a flash of dirt.

Belmardina became rigid and red with anger. “Why would you do that?”

He stared at her, saying nothing.

Her mind fuzzed over with ire and she paraded about, picking up rocks and throwing them into a nearby copse of trees, kicking up dirt with her badly worn shoes, and grunting angry syllables.

Finally, after her anger was spent, she panted and returned to Blutgang. She looked up at him, her voice was terse, “Fine. What do we do?”

He smiled, and they began work. Blutgang did most of the lifting, but Belmardina helped to the best of her ability. Within minutes their tent was re-pitched and Blutgang lifted the flap for her. She walked in as nobly as she could and fell asleep almost instantly.