Chapter 2

Bay of a Thousand Scales

Slipstream was swimming in the ocean, which was not uncommon of a Seawing, However, Slipstream was anything but ordinary. For one thing, Slipstream was a royal Seawing. He was one of the sons of Queen Coral and King Gill. For another, he was an animus dragon. Animus magic ran in the royal Seawing family and the Queen's only living daughter, Anemone, was the only known animus Seawing. However, there were two others, Slipstream and his brother, Prince Turtle, both secret animus. Both had purposefully failed the animus test. They had both learned that they were secret animus and had bonded over it. Slipstream never told the Queen about his powers because he feared that she would try to use them in the war. He had told his father, Gill, who had advised him to keep it secret and he also gave Slipstream a suggestion to make animus protection for his soul. Gill also gave him a beautiful yet plain silver neckband which he enchanted to protector her from losing her soul.

He was always close to Gill; they both shared a love of peace and a hatred of war. When Gill was captured by Queen Scarlet's army, Slipstream was heartbroken. He had become distant from everyone, taking to swimming for long periods in the ocean, alone. He and Turtle also grow apart since they were both broken after Gill's capture. Turtle had many regrets regarding his father especially that he had not told Gill about his animus powers, while Slipstream felt like he had been blown into a distant sea with no other dragons and one-way home. He felt like all the reasons he had for staying in the Kingdom of the Sea or the sea at all was gone. Slipstream had taken to exploring the land as well as the sea.

Suddenly, Slipstream felt a light tap on his tail that broke him out of his thoughts Turning he saw Riptide, one of the Queen's soldiers and the son of the infamous traitor, Webs. Almost everyone distrusted Riptide, Slipstream did not think he should be judge by his father.

"Yes, Riptide?" Slipstream flashed in Aquatic

"Commander Shark has requested your present on Island Palace," answered Riptide with a small smile, "I am here to escort you there in case you 'forget the way' as Commander Shark said."

Slipstream smiled a little in return and swam towards the Island Palace.

When he arrived, Slipstream surfaced and landed on the beach. Slipstream looked around and shivered, this place gives him the creeps. The Island Palace used to be the Palace of Queen Lagoon and is the site of the Royal Seawing Massacre. Slipstream wondered why he was here and what his uncle wanted.

"Ah, Slipstream, you came," said Queen Coral landing next to him with the rest of her court.

"Yes, mother," said Slipstream with a kind smile, rather impressed that Coral remember his name, "might I asked why I am here?"

"Shark though that it might be good if you started to learn how to court works early," replied Queen Coral

"Oh," said Slipstream, his father and mother had planned for him to have a place in court like all royalty. Gill had always encouraged him to follow his passion for teaching. He told him, truthfully, that he had a gift as well as a passion to learn and share his knowledge in a kind way that makes dragons want to listen. However, this plan had like almost every other plan of Slipstreams had been discarded when his father had been captured. Recently, his mother had been trying to reignite his passion for learning and teaching in hopes that Slipstreams would someday replace Morey, when she stepped down, as Queen Coral's scroll publisher and the Councilor of Communications.

"Here they are," said Queen Coral turning to look to her right

Slipstream turned in the same direction and saw a large group of Sandwings approaching.

"Queen Blister," said Queen Coral to the leading sandwing

Slipstream looked the Sandwing over with mild interest and more than mild hatred as he considered this Sandwing as partially responsible for Gill's capture and probable death.

"Coral," greeted the Sandwing in her usual disrespectful way, "it is good to see you here."

"It is good to see you as well, Queen Blister," said Queen Coral ignoring the blatant rudeness of the sandwing Princess, "might I ask why you did not want to meet in the Summer Palace?"

"I am just planning a short visit and I did not want it to be known to the entire Sea Kingdom," answered Blister curtly

Slipstream tried and fail to stifle a snicker at the same time as another dragon in Blister's group snickered as well.

Blister turned to Slipstream and said sarcastically,

"Oh dear, I don't believe we have had the pleasure of meeting."

"Oh," said Coral, "this is one of my sons, um, Slipstream, I think."

"Slipstream," repeated Blister

"Who might this ask is this?" asked Coral pointing at the Sandwing who had snickered

"Who?" said Blister turning around to find the dragon who Queen Coral was pointing at.

"The funny-looking gold dragon, is she a Sandwing or some sort of dessert pet?" asked Coral

Blister looked for a moment like she was going to murder Coral on the spot, she had a look of pure rage on her face when Blister saw what dragon Coral was talking about.

"Come," said Blister barely concealed rage in her voice

The dragon or rather dragonet came forward hesitantly to stand next to Blister.