Magnus was sitting at his desk, quill in hand, thinking. His most recent schemes had failed entirely, and now he was doing fair business. Or in his language, unprofitable business.

The last few months had proceeded horribly for Magnus. Gunther was doing quite badly at his training. That girl, Jane, and her flying lizard were the talk of the whole kingdom. And Magnus couldn't figure out what to do about any of it.

Gunther was sixteen now, and still had had no success with courting. Magnus had tried to work out sensible and profitable arrangements for Gunther, but every time something got in the way.

"That is what you get when you choose the daughters of ambitious nobles for your son to court," Magnus grumbled to himself. Gunther was fine to court…until someone richer or with more status came along. Never had Gunther gotten anywhere near an actual betrothal.

If only there was some way to guarantee a successful courtship. If he could find a girl more attuned to Gunther's knightly ambitions—and whose parents were less obsessed with wealth and status—perhaps his son would manage more than a few weeks of courtship.

When his son had told Magnus of his desires to be a knight, Magnus had agreed to his pursuit seeing as it could increase the Breech's standing in society. But as the boy grew older and took more heed of that foolish knights' code, Magnus perceived his son was the type of weakling that bent over to the idea of honor. Magnus had tried to train his son out of this ridiculous notion and had repaired a fair amount of damage over the years, but he could not fully extinguish the flame. So he was left with a son whose loyalty to him straddled the border between profit and a code of honor. Alas, there was no girl who possessed the same goals as his son except for that annoying Jane. And she had been showing Gunther up since they had met. Of course, that was mainly because that cursed dragon gave her an unfair advantage.

Magnus sighed as he closed his accounting book and put it back on his bookshelf.

"Father, I have loaded the barrels onto the cart like you asked," Gunther reported, walking into the room.

"Good, take it to the castle," Magnus said leaving the room and climbing down the stairs.

"But, father, the sun is setting," Gunther said, trailing him down the stairs.

"Am I paying for you to be a knight so you can sit around doing nothing?" Magnus asked, pausing mid-step.

"No father."

"Then you will take the cart to the castle tonight. We need the money, especially since you messed up with Lady Lonesheer." Magnus turned to see Gunther obediently nod.

Stupid boy, Magnus thought as he entered the docks. Always failing. Failing to that red-headed snippet of a girl as subservient to honor as his son! And her sycophant of a dragon!

Then, as thoughts of Jane, her powerful beast, his unprofitable business, and Gunther's courting rolled about in Magnus's head, an idea struck him, and he laughed.

Adeline was escorting Princess Lavinia down to her bedroom. It had been a long day, as usual. But Adeline liked the work. She remembered when Jane was small and ladylike. The good old days. No dragons, no knights. Just peaceful little Jane, completely safe and loved. But those days had passed.

Adeline tucked the princess in bed. She sung her lullaby, blew out the candle, and left the room. A day's work well done, Adeline thought to herself. The Queen was lucky that Princess Lavinia had no chance to become a knight or anything of the sort.

She descended the stairs and headed to her room.

"Hello, Adeline," a voice said from behind her.

Adeline gasped before she realized who it was. "Oh, Magnus. Do you need my husband? I believe he is almost done with his work."

"I cannot seem to find him," the merchant said, glancing around a bit. "But I figured I could run my proposition by you. And you might be a little more sensible than your husband."

"Oh? What proposition?" Adeline asked.

"Well…" the merchant started.

Milton had just finished recounting the books in the royal library. He wished he could tell Jane about the amazing stories they held, but that was privileged information that he swore to keep to himself without the king's expressed permission. Jane had just returned from patrol, and all was right with the world.

He walked down the halls to his room. When he arrived, his wife was sitting in a wooden chair, working on some embroidery.

"Milton!" Adeline said, standing up. "I have wonderful news!"

"Yes, my dear?" he asked.

After Adeline had explained Magnus's proposal, Milton balked.

"But Jane is going to be a knight. You think she would have time to devote to home and family?"

"It would be difficult, yes. But not fulfilling her utmost duty to society would be a horrible insult. I know about these things, Milton."

"That is true, but…I do not trust Magnus, Adeline," Milton said as firmly as he could. "I have dealt with him many times. He is a cheater, liar, and drives a very hard bargain."

"The son is not the father."

"Still, I do not believe Magnus would ever suggest something mutually beneficial."

"How could this not be mutually beneficial? This would be as good for his son as it would for Jane."

"I suspect he has secret reasons behind his suggestion we do not know about."

"What secret reasons could he possibly have?"

"I…do not know."

"There. You do not know. So we will accept Magnus's proposal."

"But Jane complains about the boy constantly. She says he is untrustworthy, arrogant, and mean."

Adeline scoffed. "She exaggerates. Children do that all the time. She thinks she must compete with Magnus's son since he is training the same as she, but if she were to truly get to know him she would recognize his son's good qualities."

"Perhaps…" the chamberlain hesitated. "I am not sure she would want this though."

"Fine. Fine. Jane can live a hard, loveless life all alone. I will tell her I tried. And I will also tell the ladies at the court when they laugh at me for not being able to convince my own daughter to at least be a proper lady knight. I will try…" Tears graced Adeline's eyes.

"Oh. My dear." Milton placed a hand on his wife's arm.

"I know what she says. But she does not understand how hard and cruel life can be. If we do not accept this proposal now…Jane might never have another chance as good as this one." Adeline wiped at her eyes. "Think about it at least," the lady in waiting said, taking Milton's hand.

"I-I will," the chamberlain responded. "Be assured Adeline I will think very hard about it tonight. And I will consider everything you have said."

"Thank you," his wife said.

Three days later, Jane was practicing in the courtyard. She had made sure to practice her fencing every day ever since she had lost to Gunther last spring. She hated when he gloated, and that day he had gloated a lot.

But lately, Gunther hadn't really been bothering Jane. After all, how could he when she was winning everything? He had nothing to brag about.

"Jane."

Oh dear, mother, Jane thought. She loved her mother, but sometimes she could get quite irritated by her mother pestering her about things that didn't matter. At least not to Jane. She was training to be a knight; she should not have to worry about dresses and proper lady etiquette.

"Yes, mother?" Jane asked, putting down her sword.

"We have to talk," her mother said. "In private."

What had happened? Was father okay? Her mother sounded so serious. Jane followed her mother over to the side of the wall.

"What is it?" Jane asked. "Is everything all right?"

"Yes. Everything is all right. Even better than all right. Your father and I have decidedit is time you start courting," Jane's mother said. "It is for the best."

"Mother," Jane said politely. "I appreciate you looking out for me, but I am not going to court anybody."

"You are, and your father and I have already picked your suitor. I trust you will come to understand…in time."

"Can I please just talk to father myself? I am sure I could change his mind. How do you expect me to follow father's instructions without talking to him myself?"

"You do not need to talk to him. Your father and I have already thoroughly discussed the issue. We are in one accord. Jane, just as you obey the king you must obey your parents. Your father is much too busy preparing for the grand ball next week."

Jane could see she was not going to be able to convince her mother to rethink any decisions her parents had made, at least not right now. "Alright. Who is it?" Whoever it was, he couldn't be that bad, Jane supposed. Perhaps it would be someone she knew.

"The merchant's son, Gunther."

"Gunther?" Jane yelled, practically at the top of her lungs. If she had not been shocked completely out of her wits, she would have been very dangerously angry at the moment. Him? "Mother! Of all the young men in the castle, you picked him? You know how I feel about him. He is childish and lazy and—"

"I thought you had changed," her mother said. "Jane, you need to stop acting like a child."

"I am not acting like a child! Mother, if you only truly knew what he is like you would understand."

"I know that you only know him from training and competitions. Maybe it is you, Jane, who needs to get to know him better."

"Trust me," Jane said. "I do not need to. And I certainly do not want to."

"Even if you do not like him now, you will in the future."

"Mother, I really do not think so."

"This is how courting works. You do not understand the complexities of it."

"You are right; I do not understand how—"

"Jane. We are doing this for your good. Please try to understand." Jane's mother looked her in the eyes, softly putting a hand on Jane's shoulder.

"Please, mother," Jane pleaded. "Not him. I will court anyone but Gunther."

Jane's mother sighed. "I am sorry, young lady, but your courtship has already been arranged," Jane's mother said before walking off.

"Mother!" Jane yelled. "Just let me talk to father!" She followed her mother for some time trying to convince her Gunther was the worst possible choice for a suitor. It was no use. Jane left her mother's side and slumped down beside a castle wall. How could this happen? How could this ever be "for her good"?

Ever since you messed up. His father's words from yesterday echoed in Gunther's head. Yes, I am always the one who messes things up, am I not?

Gunther had just checked the last of his father's shipments. He had worked more diligently than usual, hoping to get done earlier and practice his horse riding. He did not intend to lose the race next week.

"Gunther!" he heard his father yell at him.

"Yes, father?" Gunther obediently replied.

"I am pleased to announce I have found another young lady for you," his father said with a chuckle.

"Of course," Gunther said with a nod. It has only been a month! Gunther thought. He had been growing fond of the last girl too, and now his father expected him to go through the actions of courtship all over again. He had already forced himself to fall in love two times, just to have the girls' parents backtrack on their promises. He could not do this again—

"Jane Turnkey," his father whispered and then let out uproarious laughter.

Gunther stood there at the docks, stunned. Jane? Had his father gone mad? "Father, excuse me, but I do not understand your reasoning for this…arrangement."

His father sighed. "If you court Jane, we get control of her and her dragon. And once she's married, we can convince the king that she cannot be a knight. She will be too busy with wifely duties and your children. It is a brilliant idea, is it not?"

Gunther stared open-mouthed at his father. He was sure he was going to vomit all over his father's new doublet. His…children? With…Jane?

"Well, it is a brilliant idea, boy. Do you not agree?" His father glared at him with that look that said he'd better agree or else.

"Yes, very," Gunther muttered. But in fact, he thought it was the worst idea his father ever had. Jane? Her. Of all the people his father could have taken advantage of. Gunther sat down and groaned as soon as his father was out of hearing range. If the last two courtships had been difficult, then this one would kill him.

Jane stormed through the halls of the castle. She did not care if her father was busy with preparations. She needed to talk to him. How could her parents expect her to go along with their decision if she had not even explained her perspective?

Jane turned the corner into a long, stone hallway. Her father stood at the end of the hallway.

"Father," Jane said, stomping up to him. "Is what mother said true?"

"Uh—Jane, what a pleasant surprise," the chamberlain stammered.

"Is it?"

"I am far too busy to talk at the moment."

Jane lowered her voice to a mere breath. "Did you really decide that Gunther and I should court?"

"Yes," her father said quickly before walking down another hall.

"Why?" Jane asked, angrily running after him.

Her father said nothing.

"Father, listen to me! I do not want to court anyone right now. And certainly not Gunther. Please, change your mind."

"Jane, I cannot do that so easily."

"But—"

"Return to whatever you were doing before," Jane's father said. "I will not talk about this issue further."

Even Jane's father would not listen to her.

"Aauuggr!" Jane cried as she attacked the training dummy. It was old and even more patched now. When Jane hit it, straw flew out of its head.

"Practicing our battle cries I see," someone said behind Jane. "Much better than last time."

Not Jester, Jane thought. There is no way I can face him. "Hello."

"You seem a bit…upset?" Jester inquired.

"Yes, I am," Jane admitted. "I just cannot believe it!"

"Believe what?" Jester asked.

"Remember two years ago when the entire castle thought Gunther and I liked each other?"

"Did Dragon bring it up again?"

"No. Jester, I am so, so sorry. And I do not want to do it, but…my parents are making me court Gunther!"

Silence. "Ah. Well, that must be quite…awkward."

"What must be awkward?" Pepper had just walked into the courtyard.

Jester stepped in front of Jane. "Nothing."

"It does not sound like nothing?" Pepper said. "Jane?"

"It is not anything," Jane said, stepping up beside Jester.

"Are you sure?" Pepper asked.

"Yes," Jane said.

"Well, if you are not going to tell me then I will find out for myself," Pepper said, twirling around to walk away.

"There is no need!" Jane cried out. She did not want Pepper hearing rumors that she and Gunther actually wanted to court. She did not need a repeat of the day Pepper had made the assumption she liked Gunther. "Do you promise not to tell anyone? No one in the castle or friends from the villages or people from far away kingdoms. No one at all."

"Jane, would I ever do something like that?" Pepper asked.

Jane considered if she should tell Pepper the truth. Pepper often talked without considering her words, but she decided to trust her friend. "My parents are forcing me to court Gunther."

As expected, Pepper giggled.

"But do not think that I like him," Jane said. "This is purely my parents' decision."

"Yes, I will try to keep it a secret," Pepper vowed. She walked into the garden.

"I will try to make my parents rethink their decision," Jane declared to Jester.

"I hope they listen," Jester replied. "For your sake and mi—well, just your sake, I guess."

Gunther stood beside his father, who was noticeably trying not to notice Gunther. His father kept talking to himself as he reviewed the inventory.

"All that I am saying is," Gunther continued, "under the current circumstances, maybe we should push the courtship off by a few months?"

"Tell me, Gunther," his father said, "do you have any reason to be in here?"

"No," Gunther said. "I just thought that maybe we could go through the shipments together."

"So, you want to help for once?"

"Yes."

"Then get to it. If you need me, I will be in the hall," Gunther's father said, handing Gunther a stack of papers, putting a key on a shelf, and exiting the room, leaving only Gunther and a dimming candle in the darkness.

Gunther sighed and looked down at his father's sloppy handwriting. He continued on with his father's work…or at least half of the time. The other half he spent sulking. After a while, he lit another candle. Then he heard a knock on the door.

"I am not done yet, father," Gunther explained, opening the door.

"I do not believe I am your father," the person behind the door said. "Twin would be more in the age range."

"Sorry," Gunther said. "Wait. Jester? What are you doing here?"

"I am here to talk to you," Jester said.

"About what?" Gunther asked. "If you did not notice, I am rather busy at the moment."

"About Jane."

"Did she tell you?" Gunther had hoped that Jane would not tell anyone. Apparently, that was not the case.

"Of course she told me. I am her best friend—next to Dragon. I asked you something once, and I am going to ask you again."

"I really do not have time for this."

"If you and Jane are going to court, promise me she will be safe and that you will at least try to be nice to her."

"Do you think I have forgotten her fire breathing lizard that would bake me alive if I so much as touched a hair on her head? I do not have a death wish!" Gunther asked. "Please leave now."

"Wait just a minute!" Jester said, still standing right outside the doorway.

Gunther closed the door in Jester's face and locked it.

The time had come. Jane's parents and Gunther's father had agreed on a time and place for Jane and Gunther to officially start courting. Jane wished her mother was not so stubborn.

Jane stomped up the steps into the gardens right outside the castle. She still wore her knight's tunic. She was not dressing up for courting and especially not for Gunther. She did not care how the meeting went. In fact, she hoped it went very poorly.

The softly setting sun could have made a first night of courting romantic; if it had not been Jane and Gunther. To them, the sky was the color of vomit.

When Jane reached the top step, Gunther was already there waiting for her. They locked eyes and glared at each other like two predators sizing each other up, waiting to see who would make the first move.

"My parents may have forced me to be here," Jane began, "but I will not talk to you."

"That is perfectly fine with me," Gunther replied. "I was not planning to talk to you either."

Jane sat down on a stone bench. Gunther sat on the one across from her. They both set their eyes on the ground, counting down the seconds until they could flee this absurd situation. The only sounds came from other people in the gardens and the fountain at the garden's center.

After what must have been a couple minutes, Jane heard Gunther laugh.

"What is it?" Jane asked, her head snapping up.

"Nothing much," Gunther said. "Neither of the other two women I have courted have managed to trip half as much as you do. And they were wearing dresses."

"I bet neither of them bested you in combat," Jane said. "And tripping is a natural part of training. Plus, I do not trip nearly as much as you do."

"Even if that were so, I would not look as ridiculous as you do."

"Really? You look quite ridiculous when your sluggish feet barely leave the ground. I swear your feet turn to lead whenever we spar. Now that I think about it, it is more probable your brain is filled with lead."

Gunther huffed and muttered something under his breath, loud enough for Jane to hear something about a "pig."

"What did you say?" Jane demanded.

"If you really must know," Gunther said. "'I would rather court Smithy's pig.'"

"Take that back!" Jane ordered, hopping up to her feet. She knew Gunther was only being Gunther, but she was not going to take any comment as degrading as that! "Or I will make you."

"I would like to see you try," Gunther said pushing himself off his own bench.

"Then I think I will!" Jane shouted, running towards him.

Gunther took off in a sprint and Jane quickly gained on him. They flew past the garden's other visitors. All of them gasped and whispered as they passed. Just as Jane and Gunther reached the fountain, Jane tripped over a loose stone in the path that sent her crashing into Gunther, who fell back over the lip of the fountain, grabbing at Jane as they went. Jane spluttered as water filled her mouth. She coughed and pushed wet hair out of her eyes to glare at Gunther.

"Told you," Gunther coughed.

"Lead legs," Jane insulted, resisting the temptation to splash him in the eyes.