Spectro endured the queen's treatment to him, instead thinking of of escape plans. Lunch came, and he appeared to be ravenous. He filled his plate with plenty of food, cacheing them in a small bag he hid under his wings. It was heavy and bulging by the time the meal was finished. The Queen walked proudly through the hallways, showing off her new sapphire covered frill by sweeping majestically toward every servant that went by. Spectro sighed internally at how vain Dazzling was. He was so glad that he was running away tonight.
The clock ticked slowly toward dinner time.
Spectro tapped his claws impatiently on the pearly floor as the queen listened to the poets drone how awesome and beautiful Queen Dazzling is, and was annoyed on how she ate it all up.
Dinner came. Lovely cooked meat covered in the nectar of the flowers growing. Savory vegetables grown and cultivated for the queen especially. Then dessert. The cocoa from the trees crushed into a sauce and drizzled over the fruit. It was luxurious. Spectro made sure to stuff himself so that he would do well for several days. He filled several flasks of water and piled them under his other wing. After this was done, there was the daily throwing of the colors, where servants throw down brightly scented and colored flowers to the queen. Spectro brushed off a petal from his shoulder and stood up when the queen, full and intoxicated from the sweet juice squeezed from the fruits, got up and unsteadily walked down the hallway back to his room. He was let in, and the unsteady echoing of the talons faded quickly.
The clock rang for midnight. Spectro's orange eyes glowed in the dim light. He flapped his wings open, wriggled his bags on, and made for the door. All the guards would be asleep. The queen wanted a patrol on all the time, day or night. But the lazy soldiers would retire just after Dazzling was asleep. Now was his chance. Spectro dug his claws into the indent, pulled out a glob of wax, and fit his hand through. It was just his size. He felt around for the latch and grabbed ahold of it. Now or never, he thought and pulled the door open.
It swung open quietly and he ran out quickly. Spectro flew down the hall way. His shadow barely flickered the wall. He changed his wings to the grey like the rest of his scales. Now her was invisible in the moonlight. He continued flying quickly and quietly down the hallway, and did his best to muffle the sound of his luggage. A sky entrance was just up ahead. He flitted to it. Freedom was so close! He beat one last time, and made it through the hole. But Spectro did not make it unscathed. A single peach stone, small but hard, fell out of an open bag.
It fell to the granite and clicked. Once.
Spectro hissed silently and took off.
He was far in the distance, but he swore he heard a roar of a Rainwing queen.