Rennie can see what she is now: she's an object of negotiation. The truth about knights comes suddenly clear: the maidens were only an excuse. The dragon was the real business. So much for vacation romances, she thinks. A kiss is just a kiss, Jocasta would say, and you're lucky if you don't get trenchmouth.
Rennie realizes her current position in life as being subject to others’ negotiation, reflecting on her role and worth. She comes to understand that the romanticized notions surrounding knights and maidens were merely facades, masking the complexities of the real issues at hand—the metaphorical 'dragons' that people must confront. This revelation leads her to reevaluate her past experiences, particularly those deemed trivial like vacation romances.
The realization crystallizes in her mind that relationships, such as a simple kiss, can often hold deeper implications than they appear. Through the wisdom of her companion Jocasta, she grasps that such moments may come with unforeseen consequences, highlighting the often unromantic reality that lies behind seemingly innocent encounters.
