I was just about thirteen when the scales started showing up. Then the claws, and the tail, and gods the damned teeth. For months I was biting holes in my tongue by accident. By the time I was sixteen, Father was already at his wits’ end. Every single week, some brazen knight from somewhereshire or elsewhereville was storming up to the palace gates shouting about the foul dragon living here. Since Mother had given up everything, including her draconic shape, to marry Father. Well they had to be referring to me. 

Father was a well known knight before he was named the previous king’s successor. He knew his way around every weapon conceived by man, dragon, elf, dwarf, or goblin. He was trained by the very best warriors and adventurers in the land. Now, he has to use every single one of those skills to fight off these self-proclaimed heroes. Some employed siege tactics, but those were easily quelled by the anti-wyrm securities that grandfather had helped install before the wedding. Other times they tried sneaking in to assassinate me. I met a few of them. Every single one was convinced that I was some sort of demon. That I was tricking my parents and all of the servants, advisors, knights, townsfolk, and even the court wizard into thinking that I was the prince. 

It was a little fun discovering that I was immune to poison. Not the fact that I was poisoned of course, but the sputtering and outranged shouting from the assassin who’d poured it in my ear. Father had rushed in and helped the man get acquainted with my closet until the guards could arrive. He was added to the ever growing amount of “heroes” filling up the dungeons and I had to spend a week buying a new wardrobe. The vindictive ass had shredded all of my clothes while he’d been trapped. Apparently three guards were sacked for accepting bribes from him as well. 

On the day I turned twenty, I was set to start my training to be a diplomat for the kingdom. Though I would not be serving as the next king, I’d forgone that honor thanks to the frequent attacks on my life. Mother was forced to spend most of her time looking for a worthy heir as Father was still busy fending off knights from other kingdoms. I tried talking to several of my would-be killers but nearly all of them merely screamed about how I was some sort of fell wyrm. They were eventually released when their home kingdoms paid their bail, and sent a formal apology for the slight. 

Over time, the price of bail for attempted slaying of me, Prince Io Dulchanis, gradually increased. Father originally was determined to put them all to death, but thankfully he’d let me and Mother convince him otherwise. At that point, the bail was an astonishing million gold coins for the release of any of the adventurers who tried. Thanks to that, our kingdom was rather well funded. I insisted that most of the bail money go to the town and public care. The people were more than approving of me becoming a diplomat. So, I still tried to get through to the few that were still trying to kill me. 

Father had nabbed this one as he was approaching. He had come across Father on a hunt, and mentioned in passing that he was after a dragon. Father, not wanting to deal with it, had ordered his knights to arrest the man on the spot. I learned of it the very next day. I found myself clomping down the dungeon stairs to face him. Over the years the dungeons had received some upgrades. Better plumbing, better insulation, comfortable cots. All at my insistence. I desperately wanted to get through to at least one of these prisoners, this was just another way to do it. In the last few months the dungeon had blessedly cleared out, leaving the lone prisoner. I approached his cell with some trepidation. 

He was… not what I was expecting. He was a goblin of some kind, somewhat unusual for a knight on the hunt. The goblin kingdoms and ours had been at peace for years at that point. He was a large goblin too, bigger than most men I’d seen. Dull orange skin with thick patches of deep brown fur covered his body. He was dressed in hunting leathers and chain mail. His eyes were orbs of molten blue, only marred by the thin black slits that served as pupils. His smile was filled with broad, sharp, fangs. I took a moment to collect myself, clearing my throat as I straightened my posture. 

“Good Morning,” I began, “I am Prince Io Dulchanis, first and only son of King Mycroft Dulchanis and Queen Valcanus Dulchanis.” He looked intrigued as I spoke, shifting from the cot he’d been laying on to stand. “You have been arrested under suspicion of intended assassination charges. If this is found to be so, your bail will be posted and information sent to your kingdom of origin to be paid at a benefactor’s discretion.” I looked up from my scroll to look at the goblin. He towered over me, even behind the heavy iron bars. His vibrant eyes bored into my soul. “Is there truth to this allegation?” I finally asked. 

The goblin grinned, taking in my appearance. My shorter, slightly plump build. My long midnight hair parted by curling yellow horns. The vibrant yellow and violet scales on my arms and hands. The trailing tail, more than three times the length of the rest of me. He focused for a while on my luminous yellow eyes, searching for something. He breathed in deeply, drawing out the moment before finally, he replied.

“No.” he said, his voice a gentle rumble. Like rolling thunder over the fields in spring. I felt my hair fluff out involuntarily. Attempting to maintain my composure, I looked back to the scroll. My voice trembled as I continued. 

“The King reports that you stated you came to our kingdom for a dragon. Is this true?” I asked. He gave a deliberate nod. “Were your intentions to harm this dragon?” I asked, dread already growing in my stomach. His brow rose in interest as he continued to stare at me. 

“Am I to assume that you are the dragon I seek?” He asked, a grin stretching slowly across his face. “The half-human grandson of the great wyrm, Eidolon?” To say I was shocked would be an understatement. Many of my attempted killers had known I was a half-breed, but none knew grandfather’s name. Those that learned of it often begged forgiveness out of fear. I stared at him in surprise for perhaps a moment too long. He merely chuckled in his soft rumble. I took a moment to collect myself, before turning again to face him. 

“Were your intentions to harm the dragon?” I repeated. The goblin sighed deeply, looking everywhere but me. He reached a hand into his medicine pouch and produced a scroll of his own. He offered it between the bars, looking somewhat embarrassed. 

“I do not intend you any harm, your royal highness.” He said, bowing his head to me. I stood in absolute shock. No one who had been imprisoned down here had ever referred to me in the proper manner. I looked at the offered scroll as if touching it would burn me. With a quick hand I snatched the scroll, in an admittedly less than princely manner. It was a fine scroll of hemp paper, tied with a golden piece of thread. A wax seal bearing the arms of one of the goblin kingdoms. Alarmed, I quickly broke the seal. 

“To the royal family of the kingdom of Ferelldan, we the goblin kingdom of Gathibad offer friendship and council in these troubling times. We send to you one of our most skilled hunters, Rogad, second son of Chief Radarg. Please accept our request for friendship and lasting peace.”

“By the gods!” I cursed, crying out for the guards. In short order, the goblin, Rogad, was released and led to the dining hall for a proper meal. I sat uncomfortably across from him as he wolfed down his meal. Father was sulking in his study after finding out the reality. Though, he had invited Rogad to stay for as long as he desired.  “I still don’t understand why you didn’t try to explain. Or what you meant by saying you were after a dragon.” I told him as I continued to write a rather lengthy apology letter for my Father’s actions. 

“I figured that begging would be frowned upon, clearly I’d misstepped.” He replied between bites. “As for coming for the dragon, I did say that in jest, and I’d no idea I was speaking to your father. I merely thought he was another hunter.” He kept shooting glances at me, before averting his eyes whenever I caught him looking. I was flustered, but I tried not to let him distract me. “Though, I would be amiss in saying that were not still my goal.” He said with a shy smile. I had to avert my eyes, and hide my burning face in my hair. For once, I was glad of my situation. Though I would have to speak with Father about simply talking more clearly with other kingdoms.