This got Jasper curious.
"What kind of arrangements?" she asked.
"I've captured a human from the nearby castle. She shall tend to the hatchlings while you brood over the six little sweethearts you have just laid so bravely."
"A human nanny?" asked Jasper, bewildered.
"Yes. A dragon one would have been better, true, alas they are atrociously hard to find and time was short. I seized a maiden from the castle not too far away. I've chained her up and have promised her freedom once your eggs hatch."
Jasper wondered if he'd known the girl back when he had been a prince. But he fell asleep at once. He was really exhausted after all. The rest could wait for later.
It turned out he had known this girl in the castle. She had been a servant. Good-looking, but not enough to make her a mistress for his own pleasure. Also, people said she was smart all the time and it had annoyed him. So he had insulted her and been mean to her, certain his position guaranteed him a safe way to be a bully. Now, he was just plain jealous of her. She was human and he was not anymore. She did not have to lay eggs at an unbearable rate. As a girl, she would withstand that humiliating experience hew was subjected to again and again. So he hated her and snapped at her each time she approached with food. He hated when she called him "Lady Dragoness". Argent noticed her attitude and demanded to know why his mate was so mean to her when she did a good job. Of course Jasper refused to offer an explanation and huffed in exasperation. Argent just ordered the mother of his hatchlings to be more understanding with the help.
It was true that Dawn, the servant, did her job, even if chained at her ankle all the time. She fed the hatchlings, played with them and looked after them, even if being boisterous, she got bruises, bite marks and scratches. Her clothes became tatters and Argent gave her too loose replacements he had stolen from somewhere. She would have been filthy too if not for the baths she gave the baby dragons. Jasper said without fail that she stunk, was stupid and incredibly ugly. Argent just sighed at his mate's unjustified anger at the human girl.
Then, at long last, the eggs hatched. Two of the pink eggs were female, one male. The reverse held for the silver ones. Argent was a very proud father indeed. He showered Jasper with compliments.
"So now you can get rid of that idiotic girl," snapped Jasper.
"I guess so," mumbled Argent.
"Kick her out. Now," demanded Jasper rudely.
"I cannot. She might betray us and tell of us and of the location of this cave."
"Kill her then. Eat her. I don't care. I want her gone."
"No," simply said Argent. "In fact, get used to Dawn's presence, my dear. You have no reason to be so mean to her anyway."
"What?" said Jasper angrily. "What do you mean?"
"I mean I shall make her a dragon baby and you WILL take care of her and pamper her. If you do not want to see me angry."
"You cannot do that!" shouted Jasper.
"I certainly can. And you better be nice, my dear, or she'll be your next egg to lay."
Jasper spluttered but shut his mouth. This was unfair! He'd have to take carte of that girl as if she was his own???!!! As if his current situation was not degrading enough. Argent, for one, hoped he wouldn't have to enforce his lesson too much towards his mate. Yet if he had to, he would not hesitate doing so.