“You see,” he smiled contentedly. “And this is not even my main magic, but so ... Passed through the blood from my mother. Will you show your strength?

“I won’t show you,” I felt offended. - She will wake up with me later, when I become a virgin.

- What is it like? He lowered his hands, and the fiery whirlwind dissipated. Only a light remained on the bitch. Stretching, Frodi put it out with his fingers. - Magic is given from birth, why wait for something?

“I don't know,” I muttered. Nanny said so. As I turn into a young woman, so immediately. I'm kind of like a bud. And then it will bloom, and I'll show everyone! And before that you can’t, otherwise the magic will burn out.

- Nonsense! It is necessary to develop magic from childhood and wisely, then nothing will burn out. I'm developing all three elements. I will be the strongest general in the emperor's army. I will conquer your father's lands and marry you. You are my chosen one!

- Oh oh. He will win. Mages are stronger than dragons. And my dad is invincible. He loves me, I'm his firstborn. He's still thinking about whether to give me for you.

“Ha, he’ll give it back.” Approaching the huge boulders, he raised his short wooden sword. Because this land will be mine.

- Not! I put my hands on my sides. - Rod Matey consists of strong magicians.

Yes, Alicia. Your dad bullies mine. Demands to give him our land without a fight. Behaves abusively and calls names, calling us lizards. This is unworthy!

“My dad isn’t like that.” Frowning, I lifted my chin.

I didn't like it when Frodi spoke badly about members of my family. He did this infrequently, but sometimes his words were simply unacceptable.

Like this, Alicia. And such a brother. While our fathers were talking, he went out into the yard and broke my little brother's hut. He took it and broke with his feet all the branches on which he was holding. Does a worthy warrior behave like this? This is meanness! Offend little ones low. And even more so to mischief when adults do not see. He's a slug! You don't look like him at all. None of them. You are very kind, though sometimes harmful. According to our laws, you would be the heiress of the family, not he. Because it doesn't matter if it's a boy or a girl. The power of the first child in the family. And when I come to this earth, the laws of magicians will lose their force. You will become the heir, and we will unite our families.

No, my dad will win. He is my strongest mage,” I mumbled stubbornly.

From his words, I became completely sad, because my brother Krites really often did dirty things. He broke toys or, taking a stick in puddles for pigs, poked it into my dresses, knowing how much I do not like dirt.

And the twins were not much different from him.

Seated on a thick root of a tree growing on the edge of a cliff, she frowned.

Of course, my dad did not notice me, because I'm just a girl. Plus, I have two sisters. But I loved him and was proud of him. He's dad! The lord of these lands. And it was a shame that Frodi did not respect him.

Everyone should respect dad.

Alicia, are you offended?

Sniffing, she folded her arms across her chest.

“Do you want me to get you a blue flower from the top?”

“You can't be a dragon. They see it, they break it. These are our lands.

- Yes, I'll get it.

Jumping up to the rock, he deftly began to climb up.

“Careful,” I was afraid for this recklessly brave boy. You fall and break your knees.

- For a real dragon, bruises and abrasions are decoration! came up to me from above.

“A real lerd should look clean and tidy!”

- You can't see my knees under clean pants.

Lifting my head, I tried to see Frodi behind the berry bushes.

Blue snow primroses grew only on bare rocks, up there. Any girl dreamed of showing off in a wreath of such flowers. But I couldn't. Is it possible to insert a flower into a tight pigtail.

Frodi sometimes got me primroses and I even wove a wreath of them. But left here, hanging on a branch. If they saw me in it in the castle, they began to ask where the flowers came from. The brother was especially intrusive and ubiquitous. And you can't prove to him that I found them myself. Won't believe.

Yes, and about Frodi, I was silent.

She carried rare flowers in her hair and hid them in the room.

Too bad they faded quickly.

- Found! my friend shouted.

Several pebbles rolled down the slope, frightening me.

"Don't fall," I shouted indecently. Frodi, come back. You will fall.

“You don’t believe in me?! I'm a dragon. Future General of the Emperor.

You are still small and you can fall.

- I'm not small, but already an adult. Is that clear? His voice sounded closer.

Small but sharp stones fell again. They bounced off the ground and rolled to the side. Taking another step back, she raised her head. My friend appeared behind a lush bush of black rocky berries and again disappeared into a shallow crevice.

Small pebbles fell again.

Suddenly... roar...

Frodi, clumsily sliding down a steep slope, sat down right in front of me, legs spread ridiculously. Rubbing the bruised thing below his back, he muttered something under his breath. Obviously indecent! Unable to contain myself, I grunted with laughter.

“You see how not to listen to girls,” she pointed accusatoryly at him with her index finger. “I said be careful. But do you, boys, when you listen to someone?!

He grimaced and looked at me resentfully.

- I wanted to bring you a flower, but you laugh ...

“Don’t say that you are the strongest. Grow up first.

- Come on, - he handed me a slightly rumpled blue flower and got to his feet. "Dragons' brides don't laugh at their suitors!"

“And you haven’t asked your dad for my hand yet,” I remarked and brought the flower to my face.

How he smelled! The sweet aroma was reminiscent of the lollipops that were prepared for children for the holidays. About bright orange roosters that gleamed from sweet caramel.

Turning her gaze to her friend, she smiled sweetly and inserted a flower into her pigtail.

— And what to ask, — Frodi turned away from me. "He'll kick you out just because I'm a dragon!" We are lizards for you!

- It is not true! How I didn't like what he said. “I respect you and… love you.

"But you're laughing at me!"

“That’s because you disobeyed me and fell.

“Then go and tell your brother and father that you are friends with the dragon.”

Frodi pointed towards the castle beyond the hill.

And I took a cowardly step back.

"I can't," she turned away, pursing her lips. - They will scold!

"So which one of us is the coward, Alicia?" I, who was not afraid to break for your sake, or you, embarrassed by our friendship? I told my father two years ago that I made friends with a girl from across the river. And he was very happy, but you keep silent and run here like a hare.

- I'm only eight! I can’t choose myself with whom to make friends and run over the rocks after rabbits. Dad just forbade me, that's all. Then we won't see each other again.

“Nothing, I will get my sword and win the right to propose to you. When you grow up, you will become my wife and the Great Dragon Spirit will bring us an egg with the firstborn ...

Why do I need an egg? - I did not understand.

- What do you mean why? He thought about it and scratched the back of his head. - Where do you get kids from? The gods bring them.

“Well, you’re a fool,” I shook my head indulgently. - They are stored in the mother's stomach.

How do you think they get there? Frodi narrowed his eyes. “So I say: The Great Spirit will bring an egg.

“Hatch your own egg,” I muttered.

“You wizards don’t understand anything. Since you are so harmful, I will not come again until you confess to your father - he will get angry.

Returning his sword to its scabbard, Frodi, jumping up, clung to the thick branch of the oak under which he stood, and hung, swaying back and forth. Then, pulling himself up, he climbed on top of her and dangled his legs.

I also wanted to climb a tree, but to climb in a dress ... I’ll tear it, and it’s not good for lers, like cats jumping on branches. But I so want...

“I can't be like you, Frodi,” I muttered. “Papa will punish me, and he will give strict instructions to Nanny Valencia to keep an eye on me and not let me out of the castle. And my happy free life will end. If he finds out about you, he will be angry and very angry!

“So what?” A fire flared in my friend’s green eyes and then immediately went out, as if he had taken control of magic. But he will stop looking for suitors for you. I saw your miniature in the bridal box!

"Dad isn't looking for a match for me," I muttered uncertainly.

Well, anyway, my nanny didn't tell me about it. Although my little portrait was indeed painted by the master magician-artist a month ago. Dad paid a whole bag of gold so that the master could convey my image in such a way that it changed over the years. As I grow up.

“He's looking, Alicia.” There was real anger in his friend's voice. - And he wants to give in marriage more profitable, in order to strengthen these lands. In the meantime, you are small, at least conclude an engagement. I know these adults. They just want the gold in their pockets to ring. So confess to him.

— Engagement?! Oh, it's not serious, - I waved my hand. - Marry again, oh, how early and I can always refuse. And when I get big, I'll just run away with you.

- What! I don't want to drag the bride away like a thief. That's shameful! - his face became offended and insulted, as if I were offering him to steal the only donkey of the old templar master. — Have pity, Lera! I already stole your miniature!

- WHAT? Frodi how could you, it's... It's...

“Yeah, right,” he continued to protest. - If I left her there, for sure, the suitors would have already come running. What am I fool rivals a chance to leave? And my dad said that I did everything right. A warrior fights for girls, not steals them. Ugh!

“Frodi,” I shook my head, imagining what my dad would say if he knew my miniature was missing. And if he starts to figure out what's what? And God forbid Mother Earth, he will find out about my friend. About this place.... It's a nightmare!

“It’s all so simple, Frodi, you steal me and that’s it,” I sang plaintively and clapped my eyelashes three times in the same way as my sisters did when they begged for dresses and dolls from their father.

- I won't steal! He said categorically and folded his arms across his chest. "Generals don't steal!"

- Well, do not steal! I was offended. “Actually, it’s time for me to have lunch!” And you sit here without a bride.

Turning around, I proudly walked to the log.

He doesn't want to run away!

It's so romantic.

I sighed dreamily.

These boys don't understand anything. I had already planned everything, but I didn’t know how to drag the chest with the dowry behind me. You can't leave it at all. Indecent! Lera and suddenly without a set of things necessary for life. As in marriage and without new pillows, without tablecloths, without handkerchiefs. I don't even want to think about it. The chest must be taken with you. But this is a solvable issue. Frodi will spread like a dragon, and I will throw him a chest from the balcony onto the hump - he will catch it.

He's also strong. General!

So let him drag everything on himself!

Why not an option!

- Alicia, - Frodi jumped down from the branch and caught my hand, - Don't pout. For a dragon to capture a girl is dishonorable! A bride should be proud of her groom. Don't be shy about it. Are you coming here tonight? Our cook has been baking buns since morning.

— With poppy? - Hearing the cherished word, I immediately became kinder.

“Your loved ones,” he nodded, “he asked me to bake especially for you. Dragons feel with their souls what their chosen ones want.

“Then I’ll come,” I agreed, sighing for effect. - And I told you about the buns. You don't feel anything!

- Vredina! Will you tell your father about me? The strange glint appeared in his eyes again.

It was as if there was rage raging in their depths.

“No,” I muttered softly. - We'll run away.

- I don't want to run away! he threw up his hands. Why am I an unworthy groom? Why did he show everyone your thumbnail? You are my bride.

I don't want my dad to be mad at me!

- Little coward!

- Do not call names! Leds don't behave like that.

- I'm a dragon! Dragons behave as they please. And they say what they think!

- Saying what you think is unacceptable! Quickly sticking out my tongue at him, I stepped onto the shaky log and carefully crossed to the other side.

— Alicia! shouted Frodi from the other side of the ravine. "I won't run away!" I will conquer this land and deprive your frail brother of the right to inherit. And you will be my trophy!

“Nonsense,” I said loudly, turning around. “Mages are stronger than dragons.

I will become a general! Remember this. And you, Lera Alicia Matei, are my trophy! Like this!

- Fi...! Well, well, - I smiled sweetly, as my nanny taught me, - become one, and then I will tell everything to dad.

The bushes crackled strangely ahead, and there was the sound of a breaking stick.

Frightened, I stopped talking and shook my head. The crack was repeated only to the right.

- Who is there? - I retreated to the log. "Frody, there's someone there!" Frodi!

Hearing me, he quickly ran across the tree and stopped. A frightened hare jumped out from under the high thickets of grass.

“Well, you’re a coward,” this unbearable dragon laughed softly. - The bunny was scared.

- It's not true, I'm brave. And the branches cracked... I'm all gone! Don't forget the buns!

Squaring my shoulders, I hurried to the castle, visible over the hill.

The sun was directly overhead, illuminating the green plains of the native flax.