And that concludes part 1! More incoming! -MAG
Prison was not actually all that bad. The guards let me wander about freely, presumably because they were guarding the only entrance and I couldn't rely on Walrus to conjure up a magical solution.
-What gave it away?
Gave what away?
-How did you guess that I might be more than just your conscience? I thought I did a really good job of hiding it.
You did, until you slipped and showed me that memory. I don't remember that memory, yet it is in me, a part of me, that is why I resonated so much with it. And importantly, you are in that memory. As a separate dragon. The specific details are fuzzy, but if you showed me the scene again, I could piece together the missing facts.
-Ah, very clever, and foolish on my part. I should've masked the memory more.
What else are you hiding from me? Did you wipe my memories? Did I have a life prior to this?
-Oh my. Let's not assume too many things here. We should focus on the current situation first. How are you getting out of here?
Without your magic, it's impossible. I can't take on both guards at the same time. Plus, they have spears and I have nothing. Your bracelet enchantment does us no good here.
-Then do you plan to sit around until queen Glacier has a change of heart? Good luck convincing her. From what I see, she doesn't understand your plight at all.
Understand.
-That's what I said.
I have the gift of understanding! Both armbands! Glacier never bothered to check if I put them back.
-Right, but what do they do? You never explained.
When you put it on, the world acts like you don't exist. You can have a completely private conversation without anyone knowing. Then, when you take it off, it puts you back where you were.
-Is that why I thought you didn't put it on? It just put you back to the moment when you did?
Correct. So, if I can get one of the guards to wear this.
-You might be able to convince them to let you go.
That is the plan.
"Hey, guards," I called out. Out of the two IceWings, I chose the one on the right to zero in on, as he had a slightly more relaxed posture instead of the rigid perfect position of the other. He turned to me, curious, but the other IceWing intruded as soon as I took a step forward, brandishing her spear.
"Step back," she ordered.
"Look, I don't mean you any harm," I replied using the friendliest voice I could muster. "I just want to share something with you." I held out one of the armbands.
"What are you doing?" the guard asked, more confused than irritated.
I glanced down to realize that the armbands were invisible. Mentally I smacked myself.
-Congratulations. I can't undo the invisibility either.
Yeah, I know that. Thanks.
"Um, these are invisible bracelets. Take one," I held out my talons beseechingly.
The male IceWing appeared amused. "Hilarious. What do you say, Tarm, should we play along?"
The other IceWing scowled and stomped on his talons. "First, don't call me Tarm, you know my full name. Secondly, Her Majesty ordered us to keep the prisoner secure. That means no playing games."
"Fine, Ptarmigan. Always the party pooper. We don't have anything else to do down here. And it's not like the prisoner can get far," he pointed out.
"The prisoner is an animus dragon, idiot. She could enchant your eyes to turn into moss the moment you touch her."
"Her Majesty said magic doesn't work down here."
"Rules are rules, we follow the most stringent protocol and don't mess up," Ptarmigan insisted. "Sorry, but we do not negotiate with criminals."
"If you can at least humor me, I will make it worth your time," I pleaded.
Ptarmigan swung her spear back to me, placing the razor-sharp tip right up against my throat. "We don't want anything. We are incorruptible. You are stuck here until the queen says otherwise."
"All I'm asking is for one of you to put this invisible armband on."
The male IceWing pushed aside Ptarmigan gently. "The queen would probably prefer her prisoners be kept alive until trial. Until then, it doesn't hurt to have a casual conversation with our guest." He held out his talons. "Come on then, where's this invisible armband."
Ptarmigan watched with intense distrust but didn't interfere as I slid the armband over the guard's talons. I grabbed the other armband and put it on as well.
"What's so important about this armband?" asked the guard. "I assume this is enchanted, but it nothing's changed."
"Try poking your partner," I suggested.
"Oh ho, if I do that, I'll end up sleeping outside the igloo tonight."
"Just try it."
The guard scrunched up his snout and made an exaggeratedly comic motion to poke Ptarmigan, however his talons never made contact; they passed through her completely.
"Nothing you do right now has an effect on the actual world. The armbands make it so everyone else pretends you stop existing," I explained, seeing the befuddled expression on the guard's face.
"That is a very strange enchantment. Are you saying I could run off and steal all the treasure from the treasury and I won't get caught? What's the catch?"
"When we take off the armband, we will be transported back to the moment we put them on."
"Huh, how interesting."
"What's your name?"
"Oh me, I'm Polar. I'm sure you know about my partner Ptarmigan already. I like to say that I'm the fun guard and she's the grumpy one, but don't let her hear that," he winked.
"Alright. So let me cut to the chase. What would it take to convince you two to let me go?"
"Woah. Escape? What did you do?"
"Nothing. I did nothing."
"Surely you must've done something bad. Queen Glacier is a just queen from what I can tell."
"Is there anything I can do for you?" I asked, changing the subject. "Glacier probably told you that I had animus magic. Imagine all the problems in your life, gone with a tap of my claw." Technically Walrus's claw but Polar didn't need to know that.
Polar contemplated for a moment. "I suppose it would be nice if Ptarmigan wasn't always complaining about me, or our daughter, or the igloo, or the nobles, or well, mostly me."
"A compliant mate, I could make that happen."
"But I kind of like our bickering. Not really the kind of problem that I need magic to solve."
"Fine. What about you? I could enchant you to become impossibly handsome, strong, smart, promote you to first circle, maybe even make you king. Think about it, King Polar. The whole tribe would bow down to you and you would take your rightful place as ruler."
"Nah, I would make a terrible king. And I don't need to be handsome, or smart or strong or in the first circle to be with my loved ones."
"How about I enchant something that lets you get out of doing boring jobs?" The stubborn IceWing frustrated me immensely. There had to be something I could do to make him tick.
"Now that's very tempting."
My hopes rose.
"I would much rather hear your court case though."
My hopes dove off a cliff. Three moons this dragon was impossible to please.
"This was a super interesting experience, um… I didn't catch your name," the guard said.
"Auster," I sighed. "My name is Auster."
"Right. I think Tarm would love to try this out. Can we trade?"
Seeing as there was nothing I could do to convince Polar, I conceded and decided to try Ptarmigan. "Just slide the armband off."
Ptarmigan reappeared with her glare right where we sat before. Polar blinked a couple times and surveyed his surroundings. "Did you put it on?"
Polar skewed his snout sideways. "Hmm, I guess it worked. You try it on, dear." He slid the armband onto his partner's wrist in one swift motion and I put mine on again reluctantly.
Ptarmigan inspected the invisible armband, then continued glaring at me. "Doesn't do anything."
"The armbands erase you from the world, like you never existed. Right now, it is just you and me."
"Polar is literally standing right there."
"Try poking him, you will find that you cannot interact with him currently."
Ptarmigan regarded her partner with acute suspicion, waving her talons in front of his face. She grabbed her spear and tried to tap him, but the head of the spear passed cleanly through his body. The guard screamed in terror, while I smacked my forehead in disappointment.
"What did you do to him? He's a ghost!"
"No," I tried to explain, "We cannot interact with dragons not wearing armbands. We are wholly separated from the real world. When we take off the armbands, everything will return to normal."
"You ruined everything!" Ptarmigan's voice began to climb in pitch and fury. "Stop it you hag, three legged seal brained monster!"
"CALM DOWN," I shouted. "You are being ridiculously immature. Can't you see that nothing you do right now affects the real world? Just stop and listen to me!"
The guard stopped moving and stood still. "Fix this now," she ordered.
"Fix what? There is literally nothing wrong."
"What do you want from me? Why are you tormenting me like this?"
"I want you to set me free. I have a very important mission to save the queen's brother."
"Is that the best excuse you can come up with? I'd much rather bite my own talons off than disobey my queen. Just set me free and I won't stab your heart," Ptarmigan warned, brandishing her spear.
I placed my talons on my armband to slide it off and Ptarmigan did the same. Before taking it off however, I had one final thing to say. "You are incorrigible. It's no wonder your mate hates you."
Once the spell was broken, Ptarmigan immediately grabbed the armband and put on the ground and stomped on it. I watched, in horror as she smashed the invisible armband. She spat on it and gave me a triumphant grin. "That's what I think of your witchcraft."
The rest of the stay in the prison passed uneventful. Ptarmigan and Polar whispered about some secret that I was not privy to and largely ignored me while I palmed the destroyed armband.
-Not successful?
None at all. One of these dragons refuses magic even if it would make his life easier. The other one panicked and didn't understand that the armbands didn't affect reality. And now one of the armbands is destroyed.
-I can't do anything until you are out of the room.
I think it is best to see how the trial ends up going. It may be in my favor, especially if I get a sympathetic judge, or a judge who is open to bribes. Either one would work. Perhaps you could enchant the judge?
-I cannot.
Then you may have to help me if the sentence is bad.
-We will see.
The sound of marching resonated from above and the two guards assumed their positions as two familiar IceWings appeared.
"I hope you have a good defense," Mink rumbled. "My paperwork can't save you now. Tusk, escort the prisoner to the high judge's court room. Guards, bring up the rear and ensure the prisoner does not escape."
Tusk smiled wickedly and prodded me with his spear. "They're trying you for treason. If I were in charge, I would flog you in the courtyard and then slice your wings off and drop you off a mountain."
"No conversing with the prisoner," instructed Mink. "Unless you want to end up in front of the judge as well."
Tusk changed his verbal assault into obnoxious and incessant spear poking but otherwise remained silent.
I wondered who my judge would be. Maybe an old timer who would be compassionate and hear out my case. The judge had not yet entered the room when we arrived, so I sat patiently in front of the bench awaiting my trial. Mink sat down beside me, calmly consulting her scroll.
"What are you doing here?" I whispered.
"I am your assigned legal counsel, though not even the most prudent attorney can save you from the charges. If you wish to dispose of me and request another attorney, you may."
"No, I'm fine with you, but what am I being charged with? I didn't do anything!"
Mink inspected her scroll carefully. "It says here: theft of royal property."
-Oh no. You shouldn't have taken those armbands.
Shut up, saying that now is useless.
I scanned the audience. Polar and Ptarmigan sat together, Tusk aimlessly picked at his spear. Alpine and General Fox sat on opposite sides, engaged in a mean stare war and a couple more IceWings that I did not recognize filled out the rest of the benches. Queen Glacier was nowhere to be seen. And neither was another dragon.
"Where's Bering?"
Mink wrinkled her snout and folded up her scroll. "I was going to ask you the same question. However, given you have spent the last little while in the dungeons it is unlikely you know the answer. I haven't seen my brother since the council meeting."
"He should be in his lab, babysitting Princess Crystal."
"I did check his lab. They're missing."
"I might have a way to find them."
"Considering that the punishment for treason is execution, I would say you have bigger problems to worry about."
"I have a solution if it comes to that," I assured Mink.
Right?
-Uh… right.
The quiet murmuring in the room hushed as the judge's door creaked open. A recognizable snout protruded followed by the rest of the dragonet's body as she shuffled her way to the judge's stand. Tern scanned the ice pads, her snout turning from mild delight to horror as she lifted her gaze and saw me. Her expression must've asked why I was here, though I was not at liberty to answer.
"Ahem," said Tern. "In this court case, Auster stands accused of the following charges: Theft of royal property."
"Your honor," interrupted Queen Glacier, who had just entered the room. She held an ice pad in her talons. "There have been some updates to the charges."
Tern took the ice pad, read it and paled. "Additional charges include: Treason, conspiracy with enemy tribes, and endangerment of the royal family. I call the plaintiff to the stand to present their case."
Queen Glacier herself rose and approached the stand.
"Oh no," muttered Mink.
The IceWing queen ruffled her ice spikes and settled down. "It has come to my attention that the gift of understanding was stolen from the treasury," she nodded significantly at Polar and Ptarmigan. Polar nodded back enthusiastically. "Furthermore, I have first hand recount of a betrayal. I present to Your Honor, the eyewitness account of General Iceberg.
The IceWing general treaded carefully towards the stand. Her left horn was broken, and she bore the trademark burn scars all over her snout. Upon closer inspection, I saw that she was limping, her rear leg full of lacerations. "The assassination attempt on Scarlet was an absolute failure, the SkyWings knew about the supposedly secret plan all along. The remaining IceWings were all captured, and I presume met a far worse fate than I, including Sir Narwhal." The general winced in pain as she sat down. Glacier patted her shoulder sympathetically.
I groaned internally. If only Queen Glacier had let me prevent this from happening. I could've stopped it immediately right after Stream's revelation.
"What is your defense?" asked Tern. Her eyes searched me for any explanation, any hope that I was not the one responsible, but as I stood to protest, Mink pushed me back down.
"It is unwise and ill advised to place the blame upon Auster," declared Mink. "The decision to send the IceWing force was merely proposed by my client. It was the collective council's choice to follow through. Perhaps you wish to ask the members who voted yes."
I looked for Queen Glacier's response, but her steely expression never shifted.
"Very well," said Tern. "Would you like to cross examine General Iceberg's eyewitness or call another testimony?"
"I would like to call Alpine to the stand."
Alpine had been one of the most enthusiastic supporters, but she no longer carried the radiant beaming smile. "I only voted in favor because of confidence in the information supplied by Auster," she told Tern. "Any support I held for the proposal was based completely on the persuasion by Auster. If Auster provided faulty information, then I argue I should not be held responsible."
I glared at Alpine. Why was one of my top allies here betraying me, shifting the blame to me?
Alpine shrugged back. "I'm a victim too, my son was on that strike force. Thanks to your idiotic plan, he's likely dead." The IceWing returned to her seat.
"That did not go as planned," Mink hissed, displeased.
"Does the defendant wish to bring any more evidence to my attention?" inquired Tern. She had the most pitiful and sympathetic expression plastered over her snout.
I thought back to who else had supported my plan. Narwhal voted in favor, but he had gone on the mission. Bering voted in favor, but he was conspicuously absent. I didn't recognize anyone else who had approved my plan.
"What's your plan now?" whispered Mink. "I sure do hope you have something in mind."
Perhaps there was a way to influence the judge.
-I know what you're thinking. And the answer is no.
An uncomfortable prickle wormed from my stomach to my talons. Just how responsible was I? But how else would I had known at the time. And I agreed with Mink that the council members who endorsed my plan were just as much at fault, but how would I convince Tern?
"Maybe there's some kind of technicality you could use," I told Mink.
Mink shook her head. "The queen is the plaintiff, any technicality could be instantly bypassed. Your only chance is to convince the judge that you are not at fault here. Remember, I voted against."
"Your honor," I pleaded with Tern. "Surely you can believe me when I say that I did not intentionally sabotage the mission. I was merely reporting information I acquired. The council members chose to vote based off that information. Therefore, they are at fault with their judgement. Also, the queen had the power to veto, yet decided to abstain."
Tern winced. "If you wish to make an objection, you must first call objection. But Your Majesty, do you have a rebuttal?"
"Of course, Your Honor. I abstain from potentially divisive votes to prevent the illusion that I favor any particular side." The queen shot a pointed glance at Mink. "You will find that this is proper ruling procedure and customary for queens."
"Is that true?" I whispered to Mink.
"If the queen shall ordain it, then it will be," Mink replied.
"Then come up with something else!" I hissed.
"The courts appointed me to be your representative, not your magical helper. It is highly unlikely anything I say now will turn your judgement. If there is anything you wanted to tell the world, now is the time."
My own magical helper is being useless.
-I am not your magical helper. And I can't use my powers right now.
We will discuss this later.
Tern looked expectantly at me. "Do you have any more evidence or perhaps a counterclaim?"
"No." What use was it to argue against the queen anyways? She always wins.
Tern tilted her head. "I really thought you had a better defense because these crimes really don't sound like you at all."
"If you consider me as a friend, then the evidence given should be enough to acquit," I stated bluntly. "I could perhaps offer you compensation if you could review the case." In my favor hopefully.
"Are you trying to bribe the judge?" Mink scoffed.
"Does it work?"
"Far too often for my liking. I will be quite disappointed if she succumbs to your desperation."
"Wouldn't it be good if we won the case? Not only for me, but also for you?"
"As your representative I am obliged to disclose that I don't care what the outcome of this case is. If you go free, it will be on the merits of legal arguments, if you are found guilty, then so be it. Either way, justice will have prevailed."
-Harsh.
Any more ideas, genius?
-Can't do anything here, this room must have the same enchantment prevention as the dungeons. Depending on the result, we might have a few options. Influencing other dragons is not one of them.
Tern tapped the stand awkwardly. "Auster, I am duty bound to follow the rule of the law. No compensation is enough to overcome my vows. On account of the evidence presented, I find you guilty of treason, conspiracy with enemy tribes, and endangerment of the royal family. And of course, theft of royal property."
"You know what?" I blurted out. "You can have your dumb bracelet back!" I flung the broken armband at the queen. It clonked her square on the snout and I sat back satisfied.
The whole room gasped as Queen Glacier rubbed the spot where the armband had smacked her. "Auster," her voice dripped with hostility. "I was going to demote you and send you to the arctic outpost. However, assault on your queen demands execution."
Mink shuffled her scrolls and ice pads. "Well then, it appears we are done here. I shall meet you in the afterlife. May the snow monsters have mercy on your soul." She strode out of the room with the rest of the audience.
"Why did you do that?" asked Tern, approaching my stand. "Why in the three moons would you do something so idiotic?"
"Maybe I don't care anymore," I replied, pinning her down with my glare. "Why didn't you pardon me?"
"Because," the IceWing hissed, "that is immoral and goes against the course of law. I am not like the other judges, selling away their power with their insatiable greed and corruption."
"All that tells me is that you're a goody two shoes who would sell off their friends in order to gain favor with the queen."
"The true course of justice has been taken," Tern stated. "There is nothing I can do to help. You are responsible for the actions you took. I'm sorry it has to be this way."
I turned away from her and refused to make eye contact.
You better have something amazing.
-I can get you out of the Ice Kingdom, that's it.
Give me a spear. Some dragons need to be poked.
-I will deal with the guards, but you will need to follow my instructions carefully. And NO poking allowed.
Ptarmigan and Polar came by and put shackles on my wings. "Not a great trial for you, was it?" said Polar cheerfully. "I must say, you throwing that thingy at Her Majesty was the funniest thing I've seen in a long time."
Ptarmigan slapped her partner. "Keep on laughing and you'll end up with the same fate."
The guards paraded me out of the court room along the hallway. Not too long ago I had marched down this hallway with Tern. We headed out of the court area and into the courtyard. The commoners stared masterfully, that is to say they had one eye pointed my way while pretending to be involved in something else. I could feel their curious disgust ebb and flow as they wondered if they were up for promotion once my spot was vacated.
We went past them, into the throne room, then into a small side chamber overlooking the raging ocean below. Ptarmigan wrapped a few more chains around my wings and bound my front talons together. Then she brought out a muzzle that slide smoothly onto my snout. "I advise you not to struggle," she warned. "Drowning if the quickest and easiest way to go, if you float seagulls and killer whales will peck you insufferably."
Polar guided me to the ledge of one of the windows and once my tail was clear, he shut the window closed, leaving me stranded on the small ledge with only the waves crashing into the jagged rocks as the exit. One could either choose to impale themselves upon the rocks or drown themselves among the waves.
Walrus?
-Jump as far out as you can. You need to leave the palace premises for my magic to work. The animus who made the castle must've been very strong, their power is immensely difficult to penetrate.
Are you crazy? It's suicide.
-Do it. I promise I won't fail you. You don't have any other options.
Walrus was right about having no options. I glanced at the shimmering spires of the ice palace, and the deadly ocean. I positioned myself as far forward as I could and dug in my hind talons, winding up for the biggest jump of my life. As my talons left the ground, a warmth crawled from my core into my wings and talons, and I burst free.