"Well, um, if you are the Princess Cimorene, I've come to rescue you from the dragon," the knight said.

Cimorene set the point of the broadsword on the ground and leaned on it as if it were a walking cane. "I thought that might be it," she said.

"But I'd rather not be rescued, thank you just the same."

"Not be rescued?" The knight's puzzled look deepened. "But princesses always-" "No, they don't," Cimorene said firmly, recognizing the beginning of a familiar argument. "And even if I wanted to be rescued, you're going at it all wrong."

"what?" said the knight, thoroughly taken aback.

"Shouting, 'Come out and fight,' the way you did. No self-respecting dragon is going to answer to a challenge like that. It sounds like a child's dare. Dragons are very conscious of their dignity, at least all the ones I've met so far are."

"Oh," said the knight, sounding very crestfallen. "What should I have said?"

"'Stand forth and do battle' is the usual challenge," Cimorene said with authority, remembering her princess lessons. She had always been more interested in what the knights and dragons were supposed to say than in memorizing the places where she was supposed to scream. "But the wording doesn't have to be exact as long as it's suitably formal.

You're new at this, aren't you?"

"Rescuing you was going to be my first big quest," the knight said gloomily. "You're sure you don't want to be rescued?"

"Quite sure," Cimorene said. "I like living with Kazul."

"You like-" The knight stared at her for a moment. Then his expression cleared and he said, "Of course! The dragon's enchanted you. I should have thought of that before."

"Kazul has not enchanted me, and I do not want to be rescued by anybody, "Cimorene said, alarmed by the knight's sudden enthusiasm.

"This place suits me very well. I like polishing swords and cooking cherries jubilee and reading Latin scrolls. If you don't believe me, ask anyone in Linderwall.