Hello everyone. We're fast approaching the climax. Falling action? Resolution? Or something I don't know I didn't do too well in literary analysis class. A lot of your freezing questions should be answered soon. The story will continue at a much faster pace from here on out (note: the story will be ramping up, not my writing unfortunately). I foresee 6-8 more chapters in this tale, and I want to thank everyone for reading and your excellent support so far. -MAG

Mink flopped in front of me, weakly raising a talon in protest before hitting the floor unconscious. I listened close and was relieved that she was still breathing. The effects would wear off after a while and leave the victim unharmed, if Manta were to be trusted.

I threw the used needle away into a dark corner of the cave and sat down next to my former captain. How would Hvitur react when he came back and saw his mate dozing away? There was a chance that Hvitur would become distracted. The more I thought about it, it might be best that Hvitur didn't see him, lest his presence put the mission in jeopardy. I tried to drag Mink's body deeper into the cave, but the IceWing was quite a bit larger and heftier than me, and it was futile to try. The best I could do was prevent Hvitur from coming into this part of the cave, so I moved up towards the front of the cave.

I watched the sunset carefully for any stray SkyWings. We were still near the border with the MudWing swamps, not that it mattered much. If we were captured, we would be speaking to Burn.

It took a while before Hvitur returned with two rabbits. "This land is sparse, seems like all the prey have run off elsewhere. I've also seen some tracks nearby, which might mean that SkyWings might be patrolling the area. We need to be careful."

I nodded in reply, picking apart the rabbit he tossed to me. "What's your plan to sneak into the palace exactly?"

"Kestrel told me that the southern side is the least guarded, and if we wait for Queen Scarlet's party to commence, then there should be a direct path to the nursery tower, where the eggs are kept. You will watch my back to make sure any guards are neutralized. I will have my talons full with the egg."

"Understood. When is the party?"

"Tomorrow. If all goes well, we will be in and out within an hour, and everyone will be none wiser." Hvitur pulled out a strap and proceeded to wrap it around his shoulders. "This is the egg harness. If we get caught, whichever one of us is free will take the egg and meet at the rendezvous point. Follow the river upstream and stay low to the ground. Look for Webs or Kestrel."

"With all due respect, Hvitur. I don't think that I will be leaving the palace."

"What do you mean?"

"My destiny lies within there. I will help you infiltrate and get the egg. I can cover your escape, but then after that there is something I must deal with and thus I cannot accompany you."

"That's strange. You're not a mole, are you?"

"Excuse me?"

"Never mind. That would be silly. If you wish to stay within that death trap, it is your choice. Queen Scarlet isn't known to be kind to her prisoners, which is probably where you will end up."

"Wait, prisoners? Scarlet keeps enemies alive?"

"Our spies have confirmed that the SkyWing queen does indeed keep prisoners. They're being forced to construct some sort of arena. The purpose is unknown currently. I won't be there long enough to find out."

-Auster, no. You know that won't work.

I have to try. I am the reason why those IceWings were captured in the first place. It would be so satisfying to free them after Scarlet taunted me.

-Yes, sure it would be a noble task, but it is impossible. Queen Scarlet keeps very close tabs on her prisoners. I don't see how you could possibly free them. Like your fellow IceWing friend said, the longer the stay in the palace, the more likely you fall into Scarlet's talons.

Who said that I would be doing this? You're helping too. The right thing to do is to free those prisoners, and I want you to help. Perhaps queen Glacier will forgive me.

-I can help you if you come to me.

Fine.

"Explain to me," I said, "why are you stealing this SkyWing egg anyways?"

Hvitur donned on his sad heroic mask. "A NightWing seer delivered a prophecy a while ago. He foretold the coming of five dragonets that will hatch on the brightest night and stop this useless war."

"But why would you believe a random NightWing?" I asked. "Winning the war outright is also an option."

Hvitur's wistful ambition turned to sour displeasure. "Have you ever fought a SkyWing? Fire is a nasty weapon, and they fight dirty. Not a shred of honor amongst those SkyWings, and from what I heard about the army from other tribes, our chances of beating the SeaWings and MudWings aren't much better. Our situation won't improve, this war will drag on and on forever. More innocent dragons will die. I make more of a difference on this mission that I ever will on the front lines."

"How do you expect five dragonets to save us all? This prophecy sounds like a fraud."

"I don't know how exactly these prophecies work. But I believe in it, I must. If you have a better plan, then by all means, save us all. I'm listening."

I did not, in fact, have a better plan.

Hvitur sighed and settled his weary frame onto the cave floor, turning away from me having reached the end of the argument and not wanting to discuss matters further. We would have a busy day tomorrow, and yet as I started to doze off, I couldn't help but wonder why Hvitur had been chosen and not one of the apparently effective SkyWing spies that were already in the palace.

When I opened my eyes however, I was no longer in the cave. I was back in the SkyWing palace, in the throne room and queen Scarlet sat on her mighty throne with all the smugness of a pompous noble IceWing. "Hello, darling."

"What do you want?" I hissed.

"Oh, nothing. Except a teeny-weeny little favor."

"Explain."

"Come to me, we can discuss terms over a lovely afternoon tea."

"And trust that you won't just kill me? I'm not stupid."

Queen Scarlet's smile somehow became even more egotistical. "I need you alive, dear. You don't know it yet, but you are quite important to my plans. Oh, and I also hold your good friend captive. He came along with quite a special package too! Imagine Glacier's reaction when she finds out that her daughter is enjoying my excellent hospitality."

"Wait, you don't mean…"

"Indeed. I do believe you when you say that you aren't stupid, but I'm afraid I can't say the same about this drunken mess that ran straight into a MudWing patrol. But anyways, do as I say, and they both live. I will be waiting."

The SkyWing queen waved her wing gleefully as the dream faded.

I looked up to see Mink patiently waiting. "Good morning. Encountering you was quite unexpected, but a happy coincidence. You injected me with some kind of sedative, I presume?"

"Yes," I affirmed. "But it wasn't on purpose, I thought you were an intruder, and I didn't recognize you fast enough before stabbing you. Why are you out here anyways?"

"I should ask you the same. I just processed your death papers yesterday, and yet here you are, still alive. However, I am willing to put that aside as you are probably the best assistance I can get. Bering has gone missing."

"Was Princess Crystal with him, perhaps?" I asked hesitantly.

Mink nodded. "Fantastic parenting. Any time he's presented with responsibility, Bering bolts. Queen Glacier should really know better than to leave her daughter with my dolt brother."

"Three moons, my day just keeps getting better and better. I know where they are, but you won't like the answer."

Mink raised an eyebrow.

"Queen Scarlet captured them. And that's where we're going."

"We?"

Just at that moment, Hvitur trudged into the cave carrying a fresh deer. He and Mink locked eyes and a contortion of pain, longing, relief, and joy flushed through their expressions. Mink approached her mate slowly. Hvitur dropped the deer aside and embraced her, settling their snouts on each other's neck, entwined together. I took it as my cue to give them some private time and made my way further into the cave.

You get your wish, Walrus.

-Uh oh. Don't make your insane plan even more insane.

Queen Scarlet has the IceWing princess in her clutches.

-And you want me to help rescue her. Before you respond, you should know that this is going to be messy, and it probably won't work.

Absolutely, but I feel responsible, and since you seem to be the only one able to perform miracles, I need your help.

-Miracles? What miracles do you have in mind?

Killing Scarlet would be an effective solution. Solves pretty much all our problems in one fell swoop.

-I cannot do that.

Why not?

-It's a restriction. I can explain more when you arrive, but for the time being, come up with a different plan. I suggest you think of a less morally questionable action, perhaps a gift that will benefit you specifically.

Fine. What's something that can draw the attention of an entire tribe?

-How about free currant juice?

I don't get it.

-I'll make some currant juice float around during the celebration and have the SkyWings follow it to a common room where then I can lock them in and trap them temporarily. However, knowing Scarlet, freeing the prisoners won't be so easy. Even with your topaz key.

I glanced down at my wrist, at the enchanted topaz bracelet. I hadn't considered using enchanted objects. If Walrus could cause the distraction, then Hvitur's job would be easy, and thus I could focus on finding Bering and the rest of the IceWings.

I peeked back around the corner. Mink and Hvitur had finished their cuddle session and were sitting on the cave floor eating the deer. I trudged back.

"Did you come up with a brilliant plan?" asked Hvitur.

"As long as you do your part, then there is a nonzero chance of the plan succeeding. Have you told Mink?"

"I still don't understand why you're suddenly obsessed with dragonets, when you didn't want any before," Mink stated. "However, I do not see a way to convince you otherwise."

"It's for the greater good, dear," Hvitur replied. "I promise when the war is over, we will settle down for good and we can have our dream family then. Besides, I would not want to raise dragonets when there is still the threat of war."

Mink sighed. "I still fail to see how this prophecy is supposed to solve the war. A bunch of dragonets are going to choose one of the sisters to sit on the SandWing throne and the other two just surrender? Sounds about as likely as Bering actually being responsible for once."

"We must believe in the prophecy," Hvitur affirmed. "Don't worry, I'll visit you often. Our old hideaway cabin, remember?"

"If that is the way it will be," Mink said, resigned. "There are more pressing issues at stake right now. Auster, how do you plan to rescue Bering and the princess?"

I held up my topaz bracelet. "This gem can unlock anything. I will use it to free the IceWing prisoners. Hvitur is going to infiltrate the hatchery tower while my internal accomplice causes a distraction. All goes well, Hvitur will escape with the egg and Narwhal can lead the IceWings home."

"And you?"

"I will stay in the castle to complete my unfinished business."

"Explain."

"I need to know why my wings are oddly colored, why I have this voice in my head, the enchantments, everything. Someday, I should be able to explain it all to you. Perhaps if the prophecy comes true."

Mink scratched her chin. "Queen Glacier did mention that you possessed powers uncannily close to animus magic. She instructed me to keep a close eye on you and if your powers do manifest, do anything and everything to convince you to work for the tribe."

"But Queen Glacier ordered my execution."

Mink laughed, which put a smile on Hvitur's snout. "Queen Glacier knew you would survive. Or at least had a hunch. Contrary to her reaction at your trial, she doesn't hate you. She has to put on appearances for tradition's sake, but she loves a good mystery."

"And Bering happened to be one of those mysteries?" I blurted out.

The former commander frowned. "Bering wasn't a mystery, but a source of regret." She glanced at Hvitur. "Hopefully I'm not as similar to my brother. Actually, there are much more important things to worry about currently. Is there anything I can do to help you?"

"Maybe a distraction?" I suggested. "Honestly, we have everything figured out, it's just a matter of execution. We should set up a rendezvous so I can send Bering your way. I don't trust him to stick with rest of the IceWings."

"That is a completely reasonable thought. There is a scavenger den somewhere southwest of here, follow the river and he should find me."

"I will cross my talons and hope that is exactly what happens. Here, I have something that may be of use to you." I gave Mink the thought stick. "Wave it at someone and they will repeat that thought out loud."

Mink examined the nondescript stick carefully. "Hvitur, think of a color," she commanded. She waved the stick at her mate.

"Gray," he blurted out. "The color of your beautiful eyes, dear," he clarified. The IceWing blinked twice.

A sort of smile flashed across Mink's snout as she tucked away the stick. "Visit me, Hvitur. And best of luck, Auster. I'll leave you two to your own devices now. Don't get too caught up in your quest. Stay alive." My former commander clambered out of the cave and flashed us a rare grin and was gone.

"Alright, it's time to get to work, eh, Hvitur?" I asked.

Hvitur had a sad, forlorn expression. "Sounds good. Let's go then. No use moping around here. We have some destiny to fulfill."

The SkyWing palace loomed large in the mountain, but remained suspiciously quiet and deserted, with only a few SkyWings flitting about. None of them looked our way when we crept closer. They seemed preoccupied with preparations for the celebrations, which was perfect.

I pointed out a tall tower jutting out from a dome on the far side of the palace. "There's the nursery tower. The eggs closest to hatching are placed at the top."

"Great," replied Hvitur. "How do we get in?"

"Have your needles ready. And stay as quiet as you can. We can try climbing up the side of the tower and enter from the windows near the top. Or we could try going up the inside of the tower. What do you think?"

"We will be exposed outside. We don't really blend in with the stone. I would take our chances inside and using the needles. After we get to the top, then we can escape out the windows."

"You can escape out the windows," I clarified. "I will fly in the opposite direction and hopefully if anyone is looking, they see me instead."

"Right. I'll go first. If Kestrel is correct, then there is a service tunnel on the side of that mountain that leads from a food storage room into the hatchery." Hvitur clambered out of shrubs and glided over to a small hatch. He opened the hatch and slid in and beckoned me to follow.

The tunnel smelled damp and had weak lanterns placed every now and then providing dim illumination. It was excavated in a wide manner to accommodate larger wings suiting me just fine. Hvitur, on the other talon, kept bumping his head against the ceiling. "Blasted snow monsters," he grumbled when his horns caught on an outcropping.

Eventually, the tunnel widened up to reveal the food storage room. Various fruits and vegetables lined shelves next to racks of cured meat. As we scanned the rows, we heard a rustling sound coming from the sacks of grain. Hvitur dropped into a defensive stance and held a needle at the ready. A large rat climbed out of the sack and glared at the intrusive dragons.

Hvitur sighed and strode to the opposite side of the room and opened the wooden door carefully. Nobody jumped out from behind the oak door, and we continued along the path as it climbed in elevation, eventually coming upon the entrance to the nursery tower.

Straw covered all the ground surfaces, soft and cushy to prevent injuries from careless falls by careless dragonets, but also crunchy and loud, making stealth an arduous task. Two guards watched over the main entrance, oblivious to our presence. Unlike IceWing guards, these two SkyWings had no discipline, their spears resting against the wall and the two dragons playing cards and bellowing crude phrases and generally being unprofessional.

I held up my needle and made sure the payload was secure. I motioned to Hvitur, pointing at myself and the guard on the left, and then at him and the other guard. He nodded and held up his own needle and took aim. Two swift throws and the guards were fast asleep. We crept as silently as possible up the stairs. There were seven levels in total and eggs lined each level in a haphazard pattern. At the top level, the setting sun shone through the windows, illuminating the eggs closest to hatching, some already with spidery cracks and restless dragonets inside.

Hvitur examined the eggs thoroughly, tapping each one gently and placing his ear to listen to the shell. After testing all the eggs, he chose a pale, yellow egg and rolled it to the edge. "Imagine," he whispered. "The dragonet in here is going to end the war and stop more dragons from dying." His excitement shone through his eyes, bright and sparkly. He held the egg up, revering the potential inside.

"You have your query now," I remarked. "I suppose this is where we part ways then?"

Hvitur nodded, still enamored by the egg.

"Before you go," I said, "I want to know anything you know about Bering."

"Hah, Mink always said Bering was a bit of a nutcase. Too smart for his own good, great in the laboratory, terrible at parties, or what passed for parties in IceWing nobility."

"He's part of the nobility?"

"Absolutely not. My mate and her sister came from bog standard families. According to Mink, Bering showed great promise in the science academy and became an apprentice under the previous headmaster. This was when I first met Mink, by the way. Back then, Bering was always excited to show off his creations and findings and Queen Glacier, well, loved hearing him talk and I guess something happened. One day, Narwhal and the rest of the royal family isolated Bering from us and made it clear if we said anything that we would be banished. Something about royal protocol and aristocratic traditions that us plebeians would never understand. I'd like to see that fat jerk try to enforce that now!

Anyways, one day we heard a loud boom from the laboratory, and while the cause was never specified, we all suspected that was how the headmaster died. The important thing that happened was that Bering suddenly became our problem. He ran to our apartment the day after, stupidly drunk and mumbling about a gigantic mess. Queen Glacier tried visiting several times but Bering could never make eye contact with her and she gave up after the fifth try. She sent a letter, reinstating Bering as the headmaster if he wished, and Mink practically ordered him to take the position because otherwise he spent all day in our room drinking every drop of currant juice in sight, which also interrupted more, uh …" Hvitur scrunched his snout here, "intimate activities. Bering went away, he got better as he was doing what he liked, but he wouldn't tell us what exactly happened that night of the explosion or what was up between him and Glacier."

The IceWing settled the egg down in front of him and scrutinized me closely. "Mink told me that he had a special affinity to you. She said that whenever you were around, he would become insufferably happy and that he bent over backwards to get you a promotion."

"See, I find that strange too," I responded. "Why me of all dragons? I'm just a lowly guard, nothing special."

"Apart from that, of course," Hvitur said, pointing to my red wingtips. "And your magic?"

"I don't have magic. Do you think Crystal is, well, you know?"

Hvitur shook his head. "That's everything I know about Bering. If you want my honest advice, never tangle with royalty. The result is always madness. I hope you find the answers in the palace."

"I hope so too. Thank you for answering my questions," I bowed slightly out of habit. If Hvitur was still in the rankings, he would be first circle, higher than my highest rank.

Hvitur nodded. "I'd better be on my way, Kestrel doesn't like waiting. I can't imagine spending seven years holed up with that angry cow."

"At least you can visit Mink. I can tell that she loves you very much."

"I love her too." Hvitur sighed. "But in order to build the future we dream, I have to make sacrifices. And-" The IceWing stopped talking and glared behind me.

I whipped my head around and saw a crimson tail disappearing out the window and the sound of panicked talons scrabbling on roof tiles. We had been seen, and now this SkyWing was going to alert the rest of the tribe.

I grabbed the egg and thrust it into Hvitur's grasp. "Go," I hissed. "Fly as fast as you can. I will deal with this. Now!"

Hvitur gave me one last glance and darted out the window on the opposite side of the room, flapping quickly into the sunset and I charged out the eastern side. The runaway SkyWing was gliding to another ledge, and I followed. When she landed, she turned around and saw me coming after her and started running down the hallway. She skidded around a corner and two guards stopped to intercept me.

I randomly grabbed two needles from my pouch and threw them at the guards. The first needle found purchase, but the second needle bounced harmlessly off the guard's chest armor. The guard watched in horror as his companion dropped to the floor, giving me enough time to stab another needle into his tail and continuing the chase after the SkyWing.

As I ran down the hallways, something odd pricked my memory. The statues adorning the walls, the inlaid gold talons on the floor, they reminded me of something. The crimson dragon turned on last corner and I found out why it seemed familiar. My quarry stopped in front of the magnificent throne room from my dreams.

"Hello, darling," said Queen Scarlet.