Bianca: Journey to Ryuugito: Princess Bianca Series, #2

By Meg Dendler

Princess Bianca the Brave and Percy the Merciful have settled into a comfortable life together as Bianca steps out of her sheltered, over-protected past. But a handsome visitor from a distant kingdom disturbs their peace. A rare dragon egg has been discovered, and it will hatch in a matter of days. Can Percy and Bianca keep the new dragonet from pillaging the kingdom of Ryuugito? And are they truly prepared for the journey to reach this egg and the dangers waiting for them along the way? With Percy by her side, Bianca will have to prove she is as brave and fearless as her kingdom now believes her to be.

 

This is the sequel to the award-winning Bianca: The Brave Frail and Delicate Princess. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Serenity Mountain Publishing
• Release date: Jan 17, 2022
• ISBN: 9781735608853

Meg Dendler

Meg Dendler has considered herself a writer since she won a picture book contest in 5th grade and entertained her classmates with ongoing sequels for the rest of the year. Beginning serious work as a freelancer in the '90s while teaching elementary and middle school, Meg has over one hundred articles in print, including interviews with Kirk Douglas, Sylvester Stallone, and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. She has won contests with her short stories and poetry, along with multiple international awards for her best-selling "Cats in the Mirror" alien rescue cat children's book series. "Bianca: The Brave Frail and Delicate Princess" was honored as Best Juvenile Book of 2018 by the Oklahoma Writers' Federation. Meg is an editor with Pen-L Publishing and also does editing work for independent and self-publishing authors. Meg and her family live in Northwest Arkansas. Visit her at www.megdendler.com for more information about upcoming books and events and all of Meg's social media links. You can also follow Kimba on Facebook and Twitter.

Book preview

Chapter One

The egg began to rock slowly from side to side. Percy threw his head back and spouted a jet of flame, lighting up the cave. Bianca and Kazu took a step back, but the wise men held their ground. Bianca wondered if that was a wise choice. Standing there next to the egg, they looked more like a dinner buffet than a greeting committee. Kazu must have had the same thought.

Stand clear, he said. Give the hatchling some room.

They obeyed the prince, stepping back until they were mostly in the shadows.

A moment later, the egg split in two down the center, the parts falling aside. The new baby dragon flopped forward onto the sand with a sad cry.

Awwwwooo.

Percy trumpeted a greeting with a bellow Bianca had never heard him make before. It vibrated the walls of the cave and the floor under their feet. Then everything fell silent as the gathered crowd stared at the newly hatched dragonet.

Bianca could only gape in stunned silence as the already good-sized dragon lifted its head and focused coal-black eyes on her. Its forked tongue flicked in and out like a snake—tasting her scent on the air. Bianca felt the hair on the back of her neck prickle, and goosepimples broke out on her arms. This new dragon was clearly nothing like her Percy, and it looked intent on having princess for dinner.

Chapter Two

FIVE DAYS EARLIER

Bianca smiled with pride while she observed the bridge workers in action. Percy’s wings rained water droplets through the air as he came to rest on the riverbank next to his beloved princess. Bianca wiped the water from her long hair, frowning at how the dampness would stir up her curls.

Sorry, Bianca, the golden dragon said with a chortle. You really shouldn’t stand so close to the work zone.

How else could I watch the final supports being put in place?

It should be finished soon, Percy said, his multifaceted green eyes sparkling with excitement.

He lowered his head, and Bianca reached up to scratch the scaly spot between his eyes. Percy made a low humming sound that was close to Miss Kitty’s happy purr. It made her wonder what the fairy cat was up to that day.

Another giant splash from the river distracted them. The pair turned to watch as the last of the massive rock columns was secured in place not far from the shore.

See, Percy said. Almost done.

Bianca used her hand to block the sun and gazed out over the expanse of Ariana’s Waterway, the river named in honor of the mother she’d never met. It was much the same view she’d had of the river when she first encountered it on her adventure almost a year ago—the same day she’d met Percy the dragon. But that day she was stuck at the edge of the river without any way to get to the other side. All the villagers had fled in fear of the expected dragon rampage. Only the talents of Miss Kitty—with her ability to fly and bring the raft back across the river—had enabled Bianca and her reluctant donkey, Sammy, to get across. Bianca had decided she would make sure a bridge was built over the river so all citizens could travel back and forth with ease, and that plan was nearly complete.

It had been a massive undertaking. Her father, King Dominic, had agreed to the expensive project, knowing it would increase trade between the country and the city. He could envision the traffic routes that bridge would provide. Figuring out exactly how to build the bridge was a different matter altogether. For that, Bianca had turned to her former math tutor, Suzanna.

Is it even possible to build such a bridge? she’d asked as they stood at the edge of the river several months ago.

Suzanna had been intrigued by the idea, and Bianca imagined geometric figures and mathematical equations bouncing around behind her tutor’s eyes as she pondered the challenge. Finally, Suzanna admitted it could be done, but she would need to confer with scholars from other kingdoms who had created similar bridges. King Dominic agreed to that conferring, and plans were soon drawn up.

Now Bianca filled with pride as she realized the bridge foundations would be in place before the spring rains. And it was possible due to the strength and flying skills of her golden companion.

In order to make a bridge that would take five minutes to walk across, enormous stone pillars needed to be cut from a quarry many miles away, brought to the river, and then buried deep into the ground at a dozen points along the span of the bridge. Transporting such massive pieces of stone was daunting, but Percy helped them accomplish it.

The project had moved quickly since winter, when the river was at its lowest. Percy had flown in logs to create a sort of beaver dam and reroute the water just enough to dig a series of holes and plant the pillars into the riverbed.

Bianca had been shocked by how deep the stone had to be buried. It seemed like more of the column was under the ground than sticking out of it, but the experts explained that the river would rise and fall and erode the earth around the pillars. If she wanted a bridge that would last for generations, this was how to do it.

The princess was fascinated by the process and grateful there were subjects in her kingdom who could make her vision a reality. A line of columns rose out of the water, reaching all the way to the opposite shore. Builders were working their way across slowly, piecing the bridge together with arches of stone between each column. Soon the whole country could flow easily from one side of Pacifico to the other.

I should check to see if they need my assistance, Percy said.

With two strong flaps of his wings, the dragon lifted off and returned to the workers.

Bianca sat down in the grass on the riverbank, lifting her face to the warmth of the sun. Even months after she’d proven to her father she didn’t need to stay confined in a tower, she still marveled at how the sun could warm every inch of her at once. So much better than just leaning out the window, like she had each day at one o’clock to greet her loving subjects.

Your Majesty?

Bianca reluctantly turned to face the young prince from Hautain, the kingdom to the west, who had brought his experts to assist in the project. They had already successfully built several bridges larger than the one Pacifico had underway. The prince himself visited the work site every few weeks. The help was invaluable, but Bianca would be relieved when the prince returned home again.

Good afternoon, Prince Trolius, she said politely.

Why is Your Majesty sitting in the dirt? And your hair has come undone. Is your carriage not here? Would you like to borrow mine so you can get out of the sun? Such beauty should not be left alone at the side of a river.

Bianca smiled and restrained the eye roll that wanted to burst from her face. Yes, she was sitting on the ground, but her hair was wild from flying through the sky on a dragon, not from lack of attention. Prince Trolius meant well, but he was as difficult and old-fashioned as her father.

Over the last few weeks, Trolius had become quite annoying with his judgmental comments and glances. He was overseeing a muddy building project while wearing his full royal uniform with a dark-blue jacket covered in military ribbons and medals he couldn’t possibly have actually earned because there hadn’t been a war of any kind for a century. His blond hair was slicked back, not a tendril out of place, and his blue eyes were narrow and critical.

Thank you, Bianca said, but I am quite comfortable. I enjoy the sun now and then. My carriage is back at the castle. Percy carried me here.

Prince Trolius winced. Apparently, the only thing more unladylike than sitting on a riverbank was being carried around by a dragon.

As if he’d heard his name, Percy swooped across the water and flapped overhead several times before landing a few feet away from the pair. Bianca took great glee in watching the prince muster enough courage to stand his ground in the presence of the massive creature. From the gleam in Percy’s eye, Bianca suspected the dragon had made the same observation about the prince. He flapped his wings a bit more than was really necessary.

I am done for the day, Princess Bianca, he said, being formal because Prince Trolius was there. I can fly you back to the castle whenever your heart desires.

Bianca made a silly face at Percy, who tipped his head slyly in response. Then she turned back to the prince.

You no longer need to have concerns for me, she said. My dragon will see me safely home.

As you please, of course, Trolius said with a half bow.

Bianca had learned enough courtly speak to know those words didn’t mean what it sounded like they did. Trolius was judging her, again. Not everyone was as delighted with the presence of a dragon as Bianca and her court. That consternation over Percy was clearly still felt in the kingdom of Hautain—or at least by its prince.

Prince Trolius extended his hand to help her up. She was tempted to ignore him, but her father had stressed to her the diplomacy required when interacting with royalty. She hadn’t had to worry about such fussing when she lived in her tower. It was often a hard lesson to swallow, but she didn’t want to risk her special project. She needed Prince Trolius and his crew of experts. At least for now. So she took his hand and let him help her up from the grass.

She dusted off her legs and bottom, which seemed to horrify the prince more than the presence of a dragon. He averted his eyes.

Goodness, she thought. You’d think he’s never seen a girl in trousers before. She would have to consult her books and see what styles women wore in Hautain.

Do you have everything you need to complete the work on the span of the bridge? she asked.

Yes. I only came today to see the last pillar installed and ensure that your workers were ready for the next steps. Have you spoken with your man about this?

Bianca rankled again. Surely he knew the individual in charge was Suzanna. Was he forgetful or just being rude?

The supervisor is on the far side of the river right now. I will have Percy fly me over to check with her before I head back to the castle. She didn’t stress her, even though it tingled on the tip of her tongue.

Very good. I’m waiting for the boat to take me across to the workers there. Maybe I will see you on the other side before you depart for the castle.

Bianca hoped not.

Good day, Your Majesty, she said in parting, adding a slight curtsy.

Your servant, as always, Prince Trolius said in proper courtly fashion before heading for the shoreline.

Such fuss and nonsense on the banks of a river in the middle of the forest, she thought. Fuss and nonsense!

Percy lowered his head when she approached.

Are you okay, my princess? he asked in his deep and slightly gravelly voice.

Yes, Percy. I’m fine. He just annoys me, treating me like a fragile doll. Like a princess, I guess. Still annoying.

Would you like me to singe off his hair to teach him a lesson about angering you?

No, but thank you.

She didn’t doubt for a second that Percy would burn off the prince’s hair if she requested it. Percy would do anything for her.

Bianca grabbed the straps that hung down from the riding harness around his neck, stepped onto Percy’s bent knee, and pulled herself astride the dip in front of his wings, wrapping her legs around his thick neck. She picked up the leather ties attached to the harness to keep her