Chapters 5 and 6 were originally meant to be one chapter, but I split them up because it got too long and decided to focus more on Auster in this chapter. Next chapter is Bering's turn. To -shirzadym, I'm glad you noticed that detail. I can't say much without spoiling the ending, but keep an eye out for Auster's and Walrus's behaviors.
Also, I have decided to make a stylistic choice and change the dialogue between Auster and Walrus to be completely in italics, to aid reading. From here on out (and I will edit previous chapters to reflect this as well), Walrus's speech will have a dash in front of it, while Auster's will be normal italics.
Anyways, I hope you enjoy - MAG
The chamber Bering acquired for me turned out to be quite comfortable. Large and spacious, with a massive window overlooking a small courtyard, this was a room fit for a noble, which I was officially, even if I still occasionally bowed my head to anyone I met out of instinct. I was getting used to it, slowly.
The room had two shelves lined against the wall, empty apart from my meager possessions, and a desk with parchment and special ink that didn't freeze even on the coldest nights. The desk was carved out of wood, with ornate little dragon motifs that told some ancient tale just as interesting as the novels in the library. Still, these were materials I had only ever seen my superiors use.
There was an area with soft furs that felt so comfortable compared to the unyielding ice shelf that I fell asleep on my back almost instantly, a vulnerable position that no careful guard would ever put themselves in.
When I heard the wind rustling and the biting wind filled my nostrils with cold moisture, I awoke to greet Stream. She leaned into the wind, letting it run past her. From my vantage point, I could make out details I hadn't noticed before.
For one, despite her diminutive size, Stream had massive wings, larger than mine, at least on par with Alpine, even though Alpine was twice her height.
"Good day Auster. It's a lovely day to be outside isn't it?" She leaned further into the wind, inhaling the currents and eddies of the gale, clearly enjoying having her snout blasted with the violent air.
"Stream, can we go somewhere the wind isn't blowing so hard? I had to raise my voice substantially to transfer my message over the howls of the wind.
"And miss out on this fabulous breeze? No thank you! I am staying right here where the wind is absolutely thrilling. And you don't need to shout, I can hear you just fine."
She must have had magical ears, because I could barely hear myself.
Almost as if Stream noticed my discomfort, she cast a sympathetic glance my way and said, "Alright. We can go into the cave."
As the SkyWing settled within the damp cave, I noted that she had acquired a golden vest with rubies embedded in it, which was a much more refined choice in my opinion.
I was perfectly content to sit in silence, but Stream had other ideas. She piped up almost immediately after sitting down. "How has guard life been?"
Maybe it was indecisiveness or paranoia, but I decided not to disclose my promotion. "It is fine. There's nothing of note really. Nothing to guard against, it's just staring at walls everyday."
"That sounds just as boring as the first time you told me. Are you sure you don't see anything interesting happen?" she inquired.
"Absolutely not," was my curt reply.
"Shame that such a lovely dragon like you should be locked up in such a boring position. But I can help you with that. How would you like to know a little secret?"
Intrigued, I perked my ears forward to hear what she had to say.
Stream continued without waiting for my response. "There's a small outpost in the foothills of the Claws of the Clouds mountains that has a nice stash of newly forged weapons. Rumors say that the SkyWing army is amassing supplies for an attack. Perhaps if the weapons were to disappear, well, I wouldn't know anything about it."
"I suppose I could investigate these 'nonexistent' weapons. Except it sounds like a trap. I'm not that dumb."
"Oh, did I mention that currently there's only a single guard there? The rest of the forces are quite busy fighting SeaWings."
"And why should I trust you?"
Stream chuckled merrily. "I'm not forcing you to do anything. If you want to limit yourself to wall staring all day, then that is your choice. You could also seize the opportunity, be ambitious, achieve new heights, be a hero."
"As if finding some rusty spears is going to make me a hero," I sneered. "I'm not risking my position for a lousy pile of useless junk."
Stream took offense to that statement. "RUSTY? JUNK? I WILL HAVE YOU KNOW THAT THE SKYWING FOUNDRIES PRODUCE THE BEST WEAPONRY IN ALL OF PYRRHIA." She flared her wings and smoke poured out her snout.
"I apologize for hurting your feelings. I did not know you were so sensitive to such minor slights," I said, trying to goad her into possibly revealing something more useful. "You should control your emotions better. It's highly undignified of the nobility to give in to such frivolous behavior."
"Hmmf! You have injured my honor and my tribe. How dare you insult the SkyWings in this way!"
"Being at war, I suppose. Or did you forget about our tribes being enemies? And aren't you the one who wants to betray her tribe? I didn't know short term memory was so prevalent amongst the SkyWings." It felt so good to be in command of the conversation. Sooner or later, Stream should succumb to her emotions and let something slip.
Stream glared at me while I effortlessly maintained my mask of disinterest. In an extra step to provoke her, I pretended to fiddle with my bracelet, not deigning myself to pay attention to the furious SkyWing. A lowly guard, ignoring a high ranked noble. The
"Grrrr. Fine," she said through clenched teeth. "I would personally flay you for your insubordination, but I've calmed down now. The stash of trash is located thirty leagues east of the SkyWing border at the foothill of a twin peak mountain. Just find the small oak strand and that's where the weapons are."
"I really like how you are still trying to convince me to take your bait. That's quite the perseverance."
The SkyWing turned her snout up in indignation. "It's your prerogative. Throw it away at your own peril because everything I have said is true. You have caused too much aggravation today for an old lady like me, so I bid you farewell. Hopefully, our next visit will be more productive." She waved her talons and our meeting was over.
Sunrises were spectacular in the palace. The gentle rays crept over the horizon until the sun came into view and illuminated all the complex designs in the ice. This morning was made even more fabulous by the fact that I didn't have a schedule to stick to and I was free to move as I pleased.
Still, my eye twitched and my talons itched from standing at the balcony of my room watching scenery, and I leapt off the ledge for a morning flight. If there were no guard exercises, the least I could do was maintain my agility in case Bering decided I was no longer necessary.
In fact, I was still confused as to why I was promoted over the dozens of other highly qualified ambitious guards. What about me in particular caught his fancy? I was just a regular guard, with absolutely no political leverage or special ability.
I swooped over the western half of the palace, overflying the laboratory before coming up on the marketplace. It was still crowded and noisy but the smell of freshly caught prey did remind me that I hadn't had breakfast yet.
Landing in a slightly less crowded area, I was assaulted from every direction by colorful banners, pungent food smells and a general sense of happiness. It was very different from the orderly nature of the palace guard, and I regretted my decision to stop by.
There was a small food stand nearby that wasn't as crowded as the more popular ones, and I lined up behind a family with two small dragonets. They finished their business quickly and departed into the crowd, allowing me to approach the shop keeper, a brawny male who had an eyepatch covering his left eye.
"Ai lady, what can I get ye today? I sold out of ye seals but the crebs and feesh are available." He had a strong peasant accent about him, not that I was going to point that out.
-Auster, you're forgetting something.
"I will take whatever is fastest for you to make."
-Seriously? Have you forgotten what you need to bring?
The shopkeeper nodded and shouted at a small dragon sitting by some crates. "Ai kid, get ye off the boxes and get this fine lady two herring and make ye beeg ones."
I could've sworn I heard my boss's name. "Bering? Where?"
-Did you bring any coins with you?
No. Why?
"Nah missus, herring, a real meaty feesh with tons of fat to keep ye full." The small dragon brought over two gray fish, slightly larger than my talons and very oily.
"Here miss, enjoy your meal," she squeaked.
-You need to pay them.
Oh. That's what I forgot. Why didn't you tell me earlier?
-I TRIED.
I picked up my purchase, but hesitated, causing the shopkeeper to angle his head sideways. "Need anything else, lady?"
I was incredibly embarrassed, having forgotten the coins necessary to compensate for the goods I currently held in my talons.
-Your jewelry. That has to be worth something.
Are you joking? That is nobility jewelry, I could buy a whole fish stand for one of the gems in my bracelet.
-Well who forgot to bring coins? Are you just going to swipe from a peasant family? How dishonorable is that?
I stared at the two dragons, who waited patiently for my response. "Uh, I don't have any coins on me. But maybe I can offer a gem?" I held up my bracelet for the two to inspect.
The old burly dragon, Feesh as I called him, leaned in close with his good eye to examine the deep red gemstones. "Looks real pretty, lady, saw a couple myself when I was doing patrols in the mountains."
"Yes, can I pay with this?"
"Pay? Oh nah lady, it's aurora day, beeg party and everything is free. Tell ye what though, my daughter here carved a fine statue, she would love it if you voted for her."
"Dad, please, it's a sculpture and it doesn't look that good," the young IceWing said, abashed.
"Nahsense, it's a lovely statue, and ye gonna win a prize, I tell ye." He winked with his good eye and smiled, which looked like he was asleep given his eyepatch.
I returned his smile. "Then I shall keep an eye out for the best sculpture." I waved the pair goodbye, and the shopkeeper turned to serve his next customer.
-Wow, free stuff eh? Must be some big celebration. Let's go check it out.
No, I am not going anywhere near that loud and obnoxious celebration.
-Oh come on, it will be fun, and we have never seen this before.
We have never gone to any of the parties because they are a waste of time and always involve some sort of silly dancing, loud music and too much currant juice.
-At least go see the sculptures, you promised to go judge them.
I said I would keep an eye out.
-Just think of the smile on that little dragonet if she wins the contest. Let's go see the sculptures.
Fine. But that's it. After that, I am leaving the marketplace.
The ice sculpture contest ended up being in the central portion of the markets, next to a massive statue of a certain obese marine mammal.
-Look, it's a walrus!
Looks fat.
-They and I share a philosophy of preferring to live a more comfortable existence, dear.
You're just lazy. You would die as a guard.
-I suppose I'm glad that I am not a guard.
I stomped over to the judging panel, where eight different ice creations sat atop stone pedestals, each one uglier than the next. There was a dragon with misshapen wings, a whale with three fins and a crude imitation of the Gift of Light tree.
-Wow, those are certainly unique sculptures.
Among the sculptures, a certain one caught my eye, not because of its beauty, but rather its lack of deformities. A fish, much like the one I was currently chewing, was the only sculpture that appeared to be made with any care. The proportions all matched up with each other and though it was simple and mundane, I thought it was the least terrible out of the selection.
Unbeknownst to me, a small crowd had gathered behind me as I carved my name into the small ice pad below, erupting into cheers when I turned around after placing my vote.
"Hooray!" yelled one of the IceWings, "Our fine lady judge has made her decision. Tern wins!"
The rest of the crowd responded with raucous shouts and cheers. The small IceWing from the fish shop bounded through the horde, beaming brightly at me when she finally got through.
"This is so awesome missus. I have never won anything like this before," the dragonet exclaimed.
"Wait, all I did was cast a single vote?"
"The deciding vote!"
"Really? My vote was that important?"
"Yeah! I mean, even if it wasn't the deciding vote, I think all the other dragons would have followed your vote anyways, you look really sparkly and posh and important," Tern gushed, her snout lit up with a grin bigger than Bering's.
"I am happy that I made a difference then. What's the prize?"
"Oooooo that's the best part! I get to wear this fancy dress and choose the dance style at the party tonight. Plus my dad gets a whole barrel of currant juice and he's gonna share it with everyone. Except me, dragonets can't have currant juice, we get raspberry candies instead. You are going to be there right?"
-You're going to be there right?
"Unfortunately, I have some business to attend to right now and I must leave."
"Aw, I guess you are really important after all. But maybe my dad could send you some fish as a thank you gift. He knows some guards who do delivery. What's your room in the palace? I assume you live in the palace right? Being dressed up so fancy." Tern jumped from talon to talon excitedly.
"I suppose I can introduce myself. I am Auster of the third circle and I reside in the Illumination Spire of the South Wing."
"Ohhh, in the same tower as Bering? He's super cool by the way, always comes and talks with everyone when he visits. He also buys a lot of currant juice and berries. No fish though. Really weird. It's like he only eats fruits."
"Yes, that is quite strange."
"Hmm, oh well, thanks for the vote, I will definitely have my dad send you some stuff. I'm really sad you can't stay for the celebrations."
"I am also very sad I can't stay, but business is business."
"Actually, one more thing, I promise it's the last thing. Can you judge my guard posture? I've been practicing because I really want to join the palace guard." The young dragonet assumed the standard posture of a guard, upright, wings out of the way and slightly flared, and neck curved elegantly. Her tail wagged all of the place, likely due to her excitement and I notified her of such.
"Tern, keep your tail still and wrapped around your talons. An overactive tail is not tolerated in the palace."
"Oops, sorry. What about now?" She calmed her cheerful tail and settled them on her front talons.
"Much better now. But I will tell you," I leaned in close and Tern's eyes widened at the secretive whisper. "The palace guard is not a pleasant task. It will kill the bright young spirit in you. I heard that the courts are looking for apprentices. Study your ice pads, and you will do well there."
Tern nodded vigorously and I took off north towards the ocean to complete my morning flight, finishing the remaining fish in a single gulp, as there wasn't anyone else to witness me.
Having finished my morning circuit, I decided to pay Mink a visit. The old commander seemed to have dropped her cold shield after the trial yesterday and I wanted to see if she could tell me more about her unusual brother.
Mink's room stood opposite of mine in the tower, a quick glide took me to her balcony, where I alighted as gently as not to disturb her. She wasn't on the balcony, so I strolled over to her window to peer in.
My commander sat before a portrait of a handsome IceWing, examining a scroll. Occasionally she unfurled different portions, but generally kept her attention on a certain portion. I didn't want to distract her so I laid down by the entrance and preoccupied myself by fiddling with my bracelet.
Say, who do you think that handsome IceWing is?
Probably Hvitur, Mink's mate. He ran away or is missing or something like that.
-Hvi-what?
Hvitur.
-You IceWings come up with the darndest names ever. I thought you sneezed. Poor fellow, maybe he ran away because everyone made fun of his name.
That is not how an IceWing of the third circle would act. Besides, Hvitur definitely outranks 'Walrus.'
-Not fair. Walrus is a majestic name. The mightiest wild animal in the Ice Kingdom. Really represents me eh?
You're imaginary, so shush.
Walrus stayed quiet. I looked over to check on Mink, but she was standing right in front of me, having snuck over while I was debating with my imaginary friend.
"Welcome, Auster, to my humble residence. How long were you waiting for me?" she asked, without a single hint of animosity at seeing me invade her private home.
"I wanted to ask you a few questions," I replied, standing up. Now that we stood face to face, I saw that even though she stood slightly taller than me, with a bulkier build, my wings dwarfed hers.
"Then I shall answer to the best of my ability," she said in a neutral tone.
"First, is the IceWing in that painting Hvitur?"
"Yes. That is him."
"He looks handsome."
"Indeed."
-Just ask her already, stop stalling.
"Why did Bering choose me?" I blurted out.
"That sounds like a question you should ask him," she replied brusquely.
"But surely your brother wouldn't just choose anyone. There must be a reason," I pushed on, unsatisfied with her answer.
The corner of Mink's snout twisted in a slight smile. "You were a highly disciplined, ambitious and attentive guard, you know how the system works. Surely you can figure it out for yourself."
"Why won't you tell me though? Is it really some big secret?"
"I can tell you two answers. One you won't believe and the other you won't like. I don't wish to offend or lie to you, that is why I'm letting my brother tell you when the time is right."
"Eeyaarghh. That is not an answer. Can you please at least tell me the options?" I clenched my left talon in frustration at the ambiguous responses.
"As you wish. You are a highly skilled, talented individual whose striking beauty and strength caught the eye of my brother."
"That is the one I don't believe."
"Correct. You are also the cheapest pawn he was able to bring into his laboratory to satisfy the demands of the council. The bargain price means that he was not able to obtain a higher quality apprentice and is stuck with you."
I clenched my right talon, digging a deep groove into the ice below me. "Is that true?"
She shrugged. "I told you that you wouldn't like my answer. Ask Bering. Being the terrible liar he is, he will tell you the truth. He should be arriving soon, he told me that he had an exciting project for you today."
Sure enough, the dragon in question appeared on the horizon and moments later, alighted down next to me. But before I could pin him down with a question, he started babbling on about his plans.
"So this is where you are, I've been looking for you for a while now since you weren't in your room. Auster, you will love what I have planned today. I finally got the approval from the council to go explore my proposal in the mountains, and you are definitely coming with me."
"Bering, I need to ask you something important."
"No time for that! I heard that there's a storm moving in on the eastern plains, so we have to move quick if we want to test my hypothesis. Unless you want to fly in a blizzard."
"This is an important question, I must know-"
"We must not delay our departure. Mink, I have left some simple tasks in my lab if you want something to do while we're gone, but don't feel obligated. I know you're still recovering so I thought maybe some basic reading would help take your mind off recent events."
"Bering, please answer my-"
"Alright Auster, I have a few more things to pack, but go get refreshed, stretch a bit, it's going to be quite a long flight there. We depart by noon, meet me by the training towers."
And before I could muster a single word, he was gone, scurrying off to finish his packing.
Mink patted my shoulder. "You better go Auster. Remember the two choices I told you? It's up to you which one you want to be. Go fulfill your duty."