Chapter 7: Accommodations

The present...

"IceWings, dead ahead," one of the guards reported to Blaze and Thorn. Blaze flinched slightly. She really wished he hadn't used that word-she'd seen enough 'dead' dragons on her first visit to the Ice Kingdom.

Blaze had finished recounting what she'd promised Queen Glacier in exchange for her help and Thorn now had a troubled frown on her face. "This is going to be difficult," she said grimly. "However, I'm sure we'll think of something eventually. But now let's go meet the welcoming committee."

Blaze winged her way over to where the IceWings were waiting-still as ice sculptures. She and Queen Thorn landed, followed closely by their bodyguards. Blaze recognized some of the IceWings.

"The one in the lead is North," she whispered to Thorn. "He's a royal guard and a cold one at that-all business."

"All business? Good," Queen Thorn said. "I was afraid we'd be received by some simpering sycophant." It had happened plenty of times before. Thorn found she actually preferred cold silence to pretences of flattery and fawning-it was more sincere.

"Your Majesty," North said, inclining his head slightly. His almost-emotionless voice sent a chill up Blaze's spine. "Welcome to the Ice Kingdom." Blaze certainly didn't feel comforted by those words and it must've shown because Dust put a comforting claw on her talon and stepped forward protectively.

North's beady eyes drifted to Blaze. "Ah, Princess, so good to see you still alive and well. Not that I ever had any doubts of course." The way he spat the words made them sound like an insult which didn't help things.

"Watch yourself, IceWing," Dust warned. He looked like he would've continued but Queen Thorn shook her head and he fell silent.

"Look, we're not here to start another war," Queen Thorn said. "So the sooner we get these 'pleasantries' over with and the sooner I get to see Queen Glacier to get this sorted out, the better."

North might've been considering retorting to Dust but Thorn was a Queen and her rank made him think twice about it. Instead, he swallowed his pride and said, "Indeed. As you wish, Your Majesty. We will show you to your accommodations. Queen Glacier is indisposed at the moment and will see you after you've settled in."

He turned without waiting for a reply and began walking through the snow, the retinue of IceWings following close behind.

"You okay?" Dust asked Blaze concernedly.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Blaze said, though she didn't feel fine at all. "I'll never understand what that guy's problem is."

"You know him?" Dust asked.

"Yeah, he was one of the three regular messengers Queen Glacier used to send over to update me about the war's progress. He always seemed so angry to be there. Honestly I was more scared of him than any of my sisters at the time. I mean, I don't think I did anything to get on his bad side."

"Well, I guess some dragons are just hatched like that," Dust assured her. "But don't worry, you have half the royal guard watching over you if he tries anything. And if he somehow manages to get past them, I won't let him hurt you. I guess that's one of the few benefits of being a berserker-nothing ever survives an encounter with us."

"Dust, remember you have to keep your 'condition' a secret," Blaze told him seriously. "If somebody finds out, I might never see you again. I can't live with that."

Dust nodded. "Understood," he said. "But if your life is on the line, I'm not going to hold back. I'd rather you be heartbroken but safe than the alternative."

North spoke up, interrupting their conversation. "We've arrived," he said flatly. They were standing outside the small fort Blaze had stayed in during her time in the Ice Kingdom.

"The guest rooms have been prepared for your use and the cellar is fully-stocked if you have need of it. Now I must take my leave and report back to Queen Glacier. My comrades will remain here for your security."

The IceWing rose into the air with a powerful beat of his wings and soared into the dark skies, leaving the SandWings and IceWings standing in awkward silence.

"I guess we'll show ourselves in. Unless of course the rest of you want to freeze to death out here," Thorn said, already heading for the door.

The inside of the old trading post was just as Blaze remembered it-warm and cozy, with sand scattered across the floor and small pots of cacti nestled in the nooks and crannies. The little desert in the Ice Kingdom, she had called it.

The SandWings relaxed noticeably, already more comfortable in their natural environment-even if it wasn't really the desert.

"We'll give you some privacy while you get settled in," an IceWing told Blaze. He was nervous, almost apologetic. How unusual. The other IceWings followed him outside.

"Well, that's settled then," Thorn said. "Blaze, go pick out a room for yourself. Dust, stay with her. I don't expect anything to happen-after all we're in allied territory-but better safe than sorry." She began giving directions to the other royal guards who hurried about to carry out her orders.

"I guess we'll take our leave then, Dust," Blaze said, tugging the bodyguard along as she hurried off down one of the corridors. "We'll take my room."

"We?" Dust said, shocked.

"Aww, you mean you don't wanna bunk together?" Blaze asked cheekily, pretending to sound disappointed.

Dust's face reddened and he shifted uncomfortably. "Blaze, you know that would be highly inappropriate."

"Would it?" Blaze gasped innocently. She liked watching Dust squirm a bit.

That's the spirit, Blister's voice chuckled in her head. You're becoming more like me every day, her sister continued proudly.

If that means dead like you are, then that's not a good thing, Burn retorted testily.

Blaze rolled her eyes. Her sisters had the worst sense of timing. A little peace and quiet up there please, she thought to them. They fell silent. Or at least it seemed Blister tried to say something only for Burn to clamp a talon over her snout. Thanks Burn, she thought quickly.

"Oh stop fretting-you promised you'd loosen up a bit," Blaze reminded Dust. "Come on, I'll show you around-you'll like it."

Author's Note:

Sorry about the delay in updating-had a temporary case of writer's block but I am back! And so is Blaze! I realise she hasn't been spending much time with Dust in the previous chapters so the next chapter's going to rectify that.

Anyway, thanks for a the support this far! I can tell you that Blaze and all the other characters in the story really appreciate it! Keep reviewing-feedback's the surest way to improvement! See ya next week for the next update