Chapter 19

Now the investigation begins.

Windracer was glad to find his friends waiting for him and Auburn in the Feasting Hall that morning for breakfast. What he didn't like was that Blister was there, too, sitting on the second-highest chair next to Queen Coral, who was in the highest chair herself. Those empty, black orbs that were the SandWing's eyes seemed to be burning a hole into Windracer's mind.

She killed Kestrel, my aunt. She can just as easily kill me, and all my friends.

He sat down between his mother and his girlfriend, the two dragons he knew would protect him as much as he would protect them. He spotted Lagoon sitting across from him, cradling a green egg with blue spiral patterns on it. A quick peek into her mind told him everything he needed to know.

It was so nice of Riptide to teach me some Aquatic...that Whirlpool is a terrible teacher...I have to protect this egg...it's the only one left that's female...maybe my friends can help me find the assassin?

Windracer looked down the table towards Queen Coral and Blister. When they spotted him staring, he quickly shifted his eyes to a plate of herrings in an effort to not look too conspicuous. He grabbed one of the slippery little squirts and swallowed it whole, then reached out to grab an octopus tentacle. A tap on his shoulder made him turn around. He jumped when he realized that Queen Coral was standing right behind him.

"Before I forget," said the SeaWing queen, "I was wondering if you would be interested in being Anemone's animus tutor."

Because she had said this while the SkyWing-NightWing hybrid had been eating the tentacle, he started choking on it in surprise. When he managed to spit it out, he stuttered, "W-what?!"

Coral gave him a somewhat amused smile. "Queen Blister suggested we have her learn from an older animus so she will be more prepared for ending the war. You're the only other animus I know, so of course you're the obvious choice."

Windracer looked over at Blister, who was wearing a sinister grin. He bowed his head to Queen Coral. "With all due respect, Your Majesty, Princess Blister has no authority over you here in the Kingdom of the Sea." He made sure to put a lot of emphasis on the word 'princess.' "Perhaps you should try making those kinds of decisions on your own? Anemone is your daughter, after all." He ignored the look of pure murder that was now on Blister's face.

"You don't have to teach her any new techniques," Coral promised, "Just some advice will do just fine." She pulled on the chain that was connected to the harness that kept Anemone tethered to her mother. The little princess padded over obediently.

"You want my advice?" Windracer asked. When Anemone nodded, he stated, "Don't use your magic unless you absolutely have to. Try every solution you can think of first. If that doesn't work, you can try a spell. And make sure you're using your magic for the benefit of others, not just for yourself. That's what I've been doing. I like to believe we have these powers for a reason, and I want to make mine a good one."

Anemone frowned. That wasn't the kind of advice she was hoping for. But, as they say, you take what you can get. "I want mine to be a good one, too."

Windracer gave her a warm smile before looking up at Queen Coral. "Have you ever considered the possibility of there being more than one animus in your family, Your Majesty?" He figured that if she was going to learn about Turtle, he'd want it to be under the best possible circumstances.

"Nonsense," Coral said, shaking her head. She looked down at her daughter with a proud smile. "Anemone is the only animus we need."

But she isn't, Windracer couldn't help thinking. Turtle is the real animus. He at least deserves some recognition for giving Anemone her gift. He wanted to tell this to the SeaWing queen, but he was sure that he'd be betraying Turtle's trust, and friendship, if he did. So, he said nothing.

"I'll leave you two to talk magic," Coral said, gracefully padding back to her seat at the table.

This could very well be the kind of opportunity Windracer needed. "Listen," he said to Anemone in a whisper, "Someone's been smashing all of your sisters' eggs, and we need to find out who and why. Is there anything you know that might be able to help us?"

Anemone shifted her talons nervously. "Well, there was one other princess that made it all the way to their hatching time," she said. "Orca. She was Mother's oldest daughter."

"What happened to her?" Windracer asked.

"I only know what the other dragons have told me," Anemone explained, "They said she challenged Mother to the throne almost the moment she turned seven. She nearly won, too, but Mother killed her in the end. She was devastated, but a lot of the other SeaWings still hate Orca."

"Probably because of how close she came to killing the queen," Windracer reasoned. "Is there anything else you can tell me? Any new piece of information could be useful."

Anemone pointed to some of the carvings that decorated the feasting table. "Mother says that Orca was very talented at sculpting. Apparently, a lot of the statues in both palaces were carved by her."

Windracer picked up one of the carved, stone seahorses and examined it carefully. A few pieces he hadn't known about before were slowly starting to come together in his head.

The sound of talons scraping on the floor warned him that Blister was heading their way. He set the statue down and looked the other way. The SandWing princess patted Anemone on the head. "I've heard you're coming along rather nicely. I can't wait to see what new spells you've learned!"

"Why?" Windracer asked, "So you can use her to win the war for you?"

All of his friends turned their heads to look at him. He hadn't been speaking loud enough for everyone to hear him, but at least they had.

Blister shifted her glare to the hybrid. "I take it you didn't understand my message to you earlier," she hissed, "Do I have to remind you?"

"No," Windracer said, boldly, "You made yourself very clear. You killed Kestrel, and now you want to kill us because you know we don't want you to be queen."

Auburn looked at Blister with wide eyes. She knew the SandWing was dangerous, but she hadn't considered the possibility of Blister being the one who killed her sister.

"You seem to have a habit of talking when you're not supposed to," Blister said with a snarl. "Filthy half-breed!"

A furious and tail-lashing Arid threw herself between her boyfriend and the sadistic princess. "Don't you dare talk to him like that!"

Blister gave the IceWing-SandWing hybrid an amused smile. "And just what do you think you're going to do about it?" she asked.

"Anyone who messes with me, or Windracer, will end up with a face full of flames and frostbreath!" was Arid's response. Strong and fearless, like her.

A grinning Mango whispered to her twin brother, "Try saying that five times fast."

Of course, Marmoset had to give it a try. "Face full of flames and frostbreath, face full of flames and frostbreath..."

"Brave," Blister complimented the female hybrid. "But sadly misguided. You all know, deep down, that I'm the best candidate to be queen." She lowered her head down to Arid's eye level. "But if you favor Burn, I'm sure she'd love to reserve a spot for you in her Weirdling Tower. Your white and yellow mixed scales would look so pretty with all the other décor. After all, it's not every day you find a IceWing-SandWing hybrid that's lived past three years. Most of them are killed in their eggs, you know."

Windracer saw the princess's tail rise up behind her, ready to strike. Letting out a silent gasp, he dug his talons into his bag and grasped at the thing he was looking for.

The next moment was all a blur. Blister's tail sprung forward, aimed at Arid's heart. At the same time, Windracer flung himself towards his girlfriend, grabbing her talons and slipping something over her wrist.

"NO!"

He had no need to shout, as the venomous barb on Blister's tail grazed harmlessly off of Arid's chest. It hadn't even left a scratch.

Arid and Windracer simultaneously looked down at the female hybrid's wrist. Her boyfriend's talons were grasping hers tightly, and a set of brown beads on a string were clashing against the white color of her scales.

It was the bracelet Windracer had enchanted to protect its wearer from harm. That was what saved her life.

All eyes were on them now. Even the SeaWing queen couldn't hide her shock at what had just occurred. Surely she wouldn't allow Blister to stay in her kingdom very much longer after what had just happened.

Coral didn't get the chance to say anything before Blister suddenly flapped her wings and lifted off of the floor. She flew out of the Feasting Hall faster than any SkyWing Windracer had seen.

She can't be running away, he thought to himself. She's too clever for that. She might be getting a hostage to threaten Queen Coral with. But, then she would have stayed and used Lagoon or Anemone, or even that poor little egg. She must be up to something else.

But there was still an even bigger mystery to be solved. The princess murders. Now with ample time to think, Windracer grabbed the carved, stone seahorse on the table and examined it again.

Animus magic runs in the royal family...the murders started after Orca was killed by her mother...Orca had a talent for sculpting...what if...?

He didn't have time to finish his thought before Blister suddenly returned with a dragon in her talons. "Found this fellow hiding in the canopy. A spy, most likely."

Windracer saw Queen Coral's eyes flash dangerously as she recognized the dragon the SandWing princess was clutching. "Not a spy." She grabbed the dragon by the neck and shook him. Her green eyes were sparks of rage and triumph. "This is Webs, our tribe's biggest traitor. I've been looking for him for years."

"Your Majesty," Webs croaked, scrabbling at his throat. "Please. I've come to beg for mercy."

"Mercy," Coral hissed. "After what you did." She shook him again, harder. "Mercy denied." She flung him to the floor and slammed her tail into the side of his head. Webs went limp, his eyes closed, and he fell over with a thump.

"Stop!" Windracer yelled. "Don't hurt him! He never meant any harm!"

Why did he just shout like that? Why was he defending Webs? He was the nicest of our guardians. Maybe we reminded him of his son. I want Riptide to have the chance to meet his father, just like I want to. Or, at least, I think I want to.

Coral shifted her gaze to the dozen or so other SeaWings in the room. "We'll take this somewhere else," she said, "There's been far too much of a scene here already."

Somewhere else turned out to be the cave Auburn and Windracer had slept in last night. Blister's cave.

Webs was awake and staring at all of the dragonets. Windracer could see the SeaWing's face light up with joy, and, quite honestly, he wasn't too surprised at that.

"You're all safe," Webs said, his talons twitching as he restrained himself from reaching out towards them. "I was afraid someone might have gotten to you...that message you sent...they'll be coming for you now."

"We know," Arid said assuringly. "And trust me, we can handle them."

Webs saw Queen Coral and the thunderous look on her face, and Blister coiled menacingly behind her. He shuddered. "I know I am not worthy of your mercy, Your Majesty. But the egg, it was so blue...I only did it for the prophecy."

"A prophecy that isn't real," Coral reminded him. "How did you get into the hatchery? I had guards posted every moment until the eggs hatched."

Webs hung his head. "I drugged the guards," he said. "I knew someone who helped me. It wasn't their fault."

"Well," Coral said, tossing her head a little, "I killed them anyway. As for that someone who helped you...your wife, I assume? Of course, that's why she was reassigned from the kitchens to the front lines. Too bad that first battle was such a bloodbath."

Webs looked as if all the light had been scraped out of his scales. The poor SeaWing descended into quiet sobs.

Windracer felt his heart ache. He couldn't imagine leaving behind the one he loved the most, but it had to be one of, if not the absolute, most difficult things Webs had done. And now his wife was dead, he'd never get to see her again. All he had left was Riptide, and he might not even know if his son was still alive.

Was he reading Webs's mind at that very moment? Because all of those thoughts were real enough to actually belong to the SeaWing guardian.

"Riptide's alive," said the male hybrid. Some of his heartache faded away when he saw Webs's face light up a little. "He helped us get here to the Kingdom of the Sea. He actually told us more about you, and himself, than we thought he could." He then turned to Queen Coral. "I know you're angry with Webs, but killing him now isn't going to change anything. All he's ever wanted to do is end this war, and he believed that following the prophecy was the best way to do it. He...he saved Lagoon!"

Saved her? Lagoon's life was most certainly ruined by the Talons of Peace. Kept in a cave under a mountain, never taught the SeaWings' underwater language, treated like a undeserving brat like the rest of her friends.

"He most certainly did not," Coral growled.

"He did," Windracer insisted. "All of your other female heirs, besides Orca and Anemone, have been killed before they could hatch. Lagoon would have died, too, if Webs hadn't taken her egg for the prophecy. I know it's hard for you to believe, but the Talons of Peace saved your daughter's life."

They all knew he was right. Lagoon's life had been saved almost like his and Arid's had. He would have been killed by Queen Scarlet if Auburn hadn't brought his egg to Kestrel, and Arid probably would have been killed and stuffed in Princess Burn's tower if Dune hadn't taken her egg from Ocotillo.

"Horrible lies," Blister snarled. "What more can be expected from a filthy half-breed?" She grabbed Webs by the neck and held him up for Queen Coral to see. "Before you send this fellow to the prison, why not wait and ask him about why he's killing off all your heirs?"

"WHAT?!" Lagoon nearly roared in shock. She jumped up so suddenly, she had to scramble to maintain her hold on the egg that was soon to be her baby sister.

"It's all part of his plan to make you the only living SeaWing princess," Blister said, her sinister smile making a return appearance. "With all the other possible heirs dead, you'd become more and more valuable. A bargaining chip, if the Talons of Peace ever needed one."

Windracer wanted to yell out in frustration and cower in fear at the same time. He was very much afraid of Blister, but it was hard not to get irritated at the fact that the SandWing princess was lying through her teeth.

"That's not possible," he finally said, his voice shaking with both anger and anxiety. "The murders started two years before Lagoon's egg was stolen. Webs wasn't even a Talon then. Also, he's been living with us underground, half a continent away. He couldn't have flown here and back just to kill those dragonets."

Blister shifted her gaze on to him in a very bone-chillingly slow fashion. "And you know who's really behind it, oh great prophecy-speaking dragonet?"

"I have a hunch," Windracer admitted. "But I'm going to need to look at the broken eggshells if I want to know for sure. Which I do. So, Your Majesty, if you wouldn't mind." He held out his talons to Coral.

The SeaWing Queen turned to one of her guards, who was waiting near the cave opening. He flew off, and then returned moments later carrying several blue shards of the broken eggshell that had been found in the Royal Hatchery just that morning. Windracer grabbed the two biggest pieces and set one of them on the cave floor in front of him. He then held the other out to Lagoon. "Take this."

Lagoon passed the intact egg over to Bog before she grabbed the eggshell and held it in her webbed talons.

"Now smash it under your claws," Windracer ordered calmly.

Lagoon looked shocked. "What? Why?"

"Humor me," was all Windracer said.

The SeaWing princess did as she was asked. She placed the eggshell on the cave floor and, in one swift movement, slammed her talons down on it, smashing it into slightly smaller pieces. She and Windracer saw the queen flinch at the sound of the shell cracking and shattering.

Windracer held out his talons. "Now give it back to me."

Lagoon obliged. She looked shaken, but the SkyWing-NightWing hybrid guessed she'd get over it soon. Lagoon was like that sometimes.

Windracer set the eggshell Lagoon had smashed right next to the bigger piece that had remained in the spot he'd placed it. "Look at the edges," he said, tracing his talon along the jagged ends of the eggshells. They both had obvious claw marks, but there was something off about the one that Lagoon hadn't touched. It looked like it had been clawed, but by something stronger than a dragon's talons.

"The jagged ends don't match," Windracer continued. He held up the bigger piece so he could get a better look at it. "If I had to guess, I'd say whatever smashed this egg had to be made out of stone."

Blister scoffed. "That doesn't prove anything. It could have been smashed against a rock."

"Maybe," Windracer mused, "But that still doesn't mean that Webs is the one who did it." He turned to the SeaWing queen. "Did Orca carve any of the statues near the Royal Hatchery?"

"She dedicated a statue of herself to the hatchery specifically," Coral answered with confusion in her eyes. "It's been in there since before she challenged me to the throne." Then she glared at him. "How do you know about Orca?"

"Anemone told me everything," Windracer said, "Don't be mad at her, though, I was the one who asked."

Blister easily silenced him with a glare. "Nevertheless, I'm sure that with Webs locked away, or preferably executed, your egg will be safe, Coral."

"That's a lie," Windracer nearly yelled. "Blister killed Kestrel. She just tried to kill Arid. She wants Webs dead for her own reasons, not yours! Your Majesty, please, think for yourself for once!"

Queen Coral looked from him to Blister, then him, and back to Blister again. She knew the SandWing could easily kill her right then and there if she made a choice Blister didn't approve of.

"Sorry, young prophet," said the SeaWing queen. "But Webs has too much to answer for. Including why he thought Lagoon was an appropriate name for my daughter." That last sentence came out in the form of a snarl.

Webs bowed his head down low. "It was the only name I could think of," he said with every drop of honesty he could muster.

Coral turned to Lagoon. "Go put the egg back in the Royal Hatchery. It'll be safe there, now that we have the assassin."

Lagoon's eyes went wide. "I'm not risking a dragonet's life because you've fallen for some crazy story Blister just invented! I'm staying with this egg until it hatches, no matter what!"

"In the Royal Hatchery?" Queen Coral asked. "All night?"

Lagoon gave a firm nod before she left the cave, the egg still in her webbed talons. Coral grabbed Webs by the neck and dragged him out, allowing the guards to escort him to the prisons. Blister was the last to leave. Her sinister, lying mouth said nothing. But her eyes said, "You're next, half-breed."

It didn't matter, though, because Windracer had it all figured out the moment Queen Coral said that Orca had dedicated a statue of herself to the Royal Hatchery. It all fits!

"We need to find Prince Turtle," he said, and quite suddenly.

Auburn, Storm, Ocotillo and the dragonets all looked at him like he was insane. "What for?" Bog asked.

"I know who the assassin is," Windracer said with absolute, undeniable certainty. "And they're going to kill Lagoon, and the dragonet inside that egg, if we don't stop them!"

Leave it to Hiccup's smarts to save the day. Or, in this case, Windracer's smarts. Now it's all down to whether or not he can get there in time.

Auburn - Valka
Windracer - Hiccup
Arid - Astrid
Lagoon - Heather
Bog - Fishlegs
Marmoset and Mango - Tuffnut and Ruffnut
Killer - Stoick
Inferno - Snotlout
Scorch - Spitelout
Frost - Dagur