A/N: Yes, I know this one is a long time coming, but it's also the longest chapter so far. And with that in mind, I won't distract you from it any longer than necessary.
Anyway, if you like the story, feel free to favorite/follow and leave a review. And, as always, enjoy the chapter...
Ch. 31: Fall
Darkstalker stood peacefully on the sands of the sea, the waves lapping at his claws as he looked out over the water. It was a familiar beach—the one just outside of the special cave he loved to visit—even if it somehow looked different than usual. It was more pristine, less seaweed than normally washed ashore, and the waves out in the distance seemed almost perfectly still, the waters calm to a point that neared impossibility.
But it was nice, and the sand beneath him was comfortable, and Darkstalker was content to simply sit and watch the scene. Far overhead, he could hear the squawks of gulls. It was pleasant, then got annoying, then conveniently disappeared. That was nice.
It was somewhat odd, actually, how comfortable this beach was. Not too long ago, a place like this would have offered little peace or solace to him, the simplicity of it a far cry from the elaborate palace life he'd craved for so long. Even now, perhaps it wasn't the scene itself that felt so inviting, but rather the fact that so often when he was here, there was another that made being here so special.
Darkstalker grinned and looked over the sea. Somehow, he knew without knowing that Indigo was swimming somewhere beneath those waves. She'd probably make a show out of leaping and spinning out of the water soon, and Darkstalker didn't want to miss it.
Away, over the horizon, the sun was rising, and Darkstalker gave a yawn. Not a yawn particularly indicative of being tired, but rather one of waking. Indeed, despite his comfort, he suddenly felt restless, the sun shining in his eyes, making him blink, and unlike the gulls it did not vanish at his will. He shifted in annoyance, and he felt hot and uncomfortable. The longer the sun seemed to rest over him, though, the more it seemed to demand his attention, and out of the corners of his eyes he could see the rest of the sea and sand beginning to melt away.
And even if he didn't truly know it, his body could feel it: he was waking up.
"Darkstalker!" a voice yelled, and he turned and looked behind him. From over a hill behind the beach, a purple Seawing was running towards him.
That's odd, he couldn't help but think, I thought Indigo was swimming.
"Darkstalker, thank goodness you're asleep!" she called out, "Listen closely, I need to tell you something! You need to—"
"I'm asleep?" he asked, glancing down at himself. Yes, he supposed that made sense, come to think of it. Dreaming would explain why he was on a beach and not in the Sand Kingdom. He looked back out towards the sea, the sunlight getting stronger, the scene around him fading away.
"Yes, you're asleep," she yelled, continuing to run towards him, although she remained in place, her claws not actually taking her anywhere. "I'm using a dreamvisitor. Now listen, Darkstalker. You can't…" she said something, but Darkstalker couldn't quite make it out. She seemed to flicker in his mind, vanishing for a second along with everything else that went black. Or was it flashing white?
He blinked, coming to himself a little more. If this was a dream, and she was using a dreamvistor, then that meant she was real, right? It was a little hard to tell. He was drowsy, and the sunlight in his eyes (since when was the sun coming from the opposite direction it had been just a minute earlier?) was making it hard to focus.
"I can't what?" he called back.
"…They're going to try to kill you," Indigo screamed, apparently never having stopped, "Darkstalker, don't trust…" she seemed to blip out again, a flash of light erasing her before she reappeared once more. "Snow…meeting…Scorp…guards…Arctic and Diamond…" her voice was skipping words, the dream crumbling around them. The sun was shining brighter than ever.
"Indigo, I don't understand," he called back, now very worried, "What are you saying."
"Be…safe…" she tried again, to no more success, "Don't…"
"Indigo!" he yelled, and the sun grew brighter, enveloping the entire landscape, then her, then finally himself. "Indigo, wait, Indigo!"
"Indigo!" Darkstalker's ears rang with the sound of his own voice as his eyes shot open. From the outside, the desert sun shone through the window, brightly illuminating the room. He glanced around wildly, looking for her, but she wasn't there. She had been in his dream, nothing more.
He swallowed and cautiously stood, lifting his claws from the bed—he noticed that his claws had cut deep into it—and setting them down on the floor. He gave a shaky breath as he continued to look around, slower now, his senses on high alert. He could feel a familiar heat in his chest and throat, his body instinctually readying his fire. Yet, around him, everything seemed natural. His room was exactly as it had been when he'd fallen asleep. He looked out through the window and saw nothing unusual, just the Sandwings that made the town their home going about their day.
Darkstalker snorted and sat back on his haunches. That was…concerning, he thought to himself, his mind replaying what it could remember of the events that had just transpired. He had to ask himself what it had been. Was it just a dream, or had that really been Indigo trying to contact him? Already his mind was racing, trying to come to a conclusion. Sure, it had seemed like Indigo was really there, and she'd said herself that she'd been using a dreamvisitor, yet with it all happening right in the throes of him waking, he really couldn't be certain. He just hadn't had the time to be certain. In that state where he'd been, right at the edge of consciousness, it didn't take much for a dream to feel real when it wasn't.
Still, something didn't feel right, and he didn't like it.
He gave a small hiss to himself and walked over to the bag he'd brought his belongings in. He reached inside and pulled out his own dreamvisitor, staring at the sapphire. Really, he hadn't used it near as much as he'd expected to, only using it with Indigo on a couple of occasions, and he'd almost left it in the Night Kingdom. The only reason he had brought his, actually, was in case he needed to speak with his mother. Still, with such limited experience with it, he couldn't tell for sure if it really had been Indigo or not. And unless she was asleep, which he highly doubted she was at this time of day, it was useless for him to try to contact her back now.
Of course, if Indigo really did know of any danger, she'd probably have come woken me up instead of using a dreamvisitor, he reasoned to himself. After all, if something had happened, then how would she even have the dreamvisitor to contact him with?
Sighing, he glanced down at his claws, wondering what he should do. With his animus magic back within himself, he could easily do any number of things to see what the matter was. He could enchant himself to relive the memory, or go to sleep and see if she contacted him again. If he really wanted to, he could even summon her here to him. Yet, considering all that had been going on and his commitment to bring peace without his magic, he was loathe to anything so severe. Not when it was so likely that it was nothing. No, he'd do the reasonable thing; he'd just walk to the Seawings' housing like any other dragon and make sure everything was fine. The more he thought about it, the more certain he was that it was just an unpleasant nightmare brought about by the stress of the past couple of days and nothing more.
He nodded to himself and stood. Glancing out the window again, it was hard to get a good sense of what time it was, but it seemed early afternoon. He'd probably have time to go see Indigo and Fathom before any of the day's meetings started. Hopefully they wouldn't take forever, and he'd have some free time to spend alone with Indigo later.
He made for his door, but was interrupted by a knocking on it. Only a little taken aback, he quickly scanned the mind of the dragon demanding his attention and saw it was one of the aides of the queen. Frowning, he opened the door and instructed the Nightwing to state his business.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, Darkstalker," the aide began, "But your presence has been requested by Queen Diamond of the Icewings. Queen Scorpion of the Sandwings has just arrived to witness and help oversee the meeting, and it is Queen Diamond's wish that you would join the Icewings in greeting her."
Darkstalker paused, then snorted, a small puff of smoke escaping his nostrils. "I see," he said, "And when and where is this to take place?"
"In roughly half an hour," the aide informed him, "Queen Diamond said that it would be in the same room that you met in yesterday. Apparently, she's made it into her own throne room here in the desert."
He tapped his tail, "And does Queen Vigilance approve of me going?" he asked. Not that he particularly cared about what Vigilance thought, but he found it somewhat curious that she'd be okay with him spending time with the Icewings in this manner before peace was officially declared.
"She does," the aide nodded, "Arctic will be there as well. Apparently, it will be a positive gesture to show how the tribes have already begun to heal."
"Very well, inform Queen Diamond, or whoever you're reporting to, that I will be there," Darkstalker said with a huff and dismissed the aide, who hurried off. He gave a growl to himself as he turned back into his room. If this meeting with Queen Scorpion was in about a half an hour, then he'd need to be getting there rather quickly to prepare and talk with his grandmother to see if anything else needed to be done. That meant that he wouldn't be having time to stop and check on Indigo like he was hoping to. Which shouldn't matter, because he was sure she was fine, even though he still felt very uneasy about the situations. He didn't like it when his dreams unnerved him like this.
Not wanting to keep anyone waiting on him, he only took a brief moment to freshen himself up. He adorned his scales with a few pieces of unenchanted jewelry to appear a bit more prince-like and diplomatic, then left his room and made for the hall, sparing hardly a glance towards his fellow Nightwings who were up and about.
By now he had a good feel of the streets of Redstone and made his way quickly to the large building where he'd had the fateful meeting with Diamond less than a day ago. He paused at the entrance, casting a glance across the street to the building that housed the Seawings. For an instant, he almost turned and made his way over, but instead he shook his head and entered the hall, making his way to the room he'd met Diamond in before. He was sure Indigo was fine, and she would not want him to miss this chance to bring peace even closer on account of a mere nightmare.
He entered the room to find a collection of Icewings milling about, most sitting still but a few servants hanging a few decorations that included a portrait of the Queen, making the room appear more extravagant than it had before. He supposed that made sense; considering Queen Scorpion's tendencies towards wealth, it would serve to impress her, he was sure.
Darkstalker caught sight of Queen Diamond sitting across the room watching them, then took note of his father near her, looking remarkably at ease. Whatever conversation the two of them must have had the night prior must have alleviated Arctic's doubts about the whole thing, as the Icewing prince no longer seemed to be worried about being stolen away. In fact, he seemed comfortable and confident among his own tribe, perhaps showing a side of him that Darkstalker had never had a chance to see. Every now and then, Darkstalker had to remind himself that his father was indeed a prince and was trained for these kinds of things.
Crossing the room, he approached Queen Diamond and gave a respectful bow of his head to her. She acknowledged him with a nod of her head and a small, almost nonexistent smile as her eyes looked him over.
"Ah, Prince Darkstalker," she said evenly, "I'm glad that you could make it."
"Thank you for inviting me," he told her respectfully, not sure how formal he should be in the face of his grandmother but deciding to be more so than less, "Although I must admit I'm a bit confused as to why we should gather like this for Scorpion's sake."
Diamond snorted, but in an amused way. "Queen Scorpion is an odd one," she answered, "And prone to interfere if she thinks she can profit by it. Best to let her know that things are already handled without her need." She paused and tapped her tail. "It's why I was pleased to hear your friends the Seawings were willing to arbitrate for us. I would not have trusted the Sandwings to remain impartial."
"You and Queen Vigilance have that in common, then," Darkstalker observed, "She did not trust Scorpion either."
"Indeed. When it comes to politics, one should never trust a Sandwing," the corners of her mouth twitched up for a moment, then fell to a frown, "In truth, I worry about her presence. Queen Scorpion has profited greatly from us and the Nightwings paying her for the 'privilege' of fighting in the desert. I fear that her reasonings for coming are not to assist in ending the war, but ensuring it continues. Keep a wary eye on her, Darkstalker."
He nodded. "Yes, I will." Internally, he couldn't help but feel a small shiver as his mind went back to his dream. Had Indigo mentioned something about Queen Scorpion in that warning? He felt like she might have, or at least said something that might have been it. It was difficult to say, since the dream had occurred on the edge of his waking mind, not to mention that he wasn't even sure he should consider any of it real.
Still, he would follow Diamond's advice and keep a very close eye on the Sandwing Queen.
"Anyway, do you have any need for me in the meantime?" he asked, "Are there any statements to prepare, or responsibilities to carry out?"
She gave a shake of her head. "No, not at present. You will merely stand by me at her arrival, and I will introduce you. She may ask you a question or two about the present situation which you may answer, but that should be the extent of it. I hope to keep this brief."
That was his hope as well. "Very good."
Diamond tapped her tail lightly against the ground, her eyes roaming him for a second as a pause fell. "I must say, Darkstalker, you are not quite what I expected from my grandson."
"Oh?" he asked, not sure how to take it, "And what did you expect?"
"To be honest, I thought you'd more resemble your father," she answered, "Although, from what he's told me, the truth is anything but. Still, I'm pleased to see you've turned out well, despite the clear Nightwing influence. I look forward to continuing to get to know you better; we've been deprived of much time."
He gave a small smile at that. "I look forward to it as well." Certainly, Diamond had not turned out to be what he had anticipated, and he could not deny that he was already somewhat fond of the Icewing Queen who had already taken to calling him "grandson".
"Perhaps, once this is over, we might—" the queen began, but was interrupted by the arrival of an armor-covered Icewing who bowed in apology.
"Your majesty, I'm sorry to interrupt, but I wonder if I may have a word with you," the new arrival spoke, his voice carrying some authority. The fact that Diamond did not immediately berate him for it made Darkstalker assume it was a dragon of some importance—the captain of her guard if he had to wager a guess based on the armor.
She gave Darkstalker and apologetic look before telling the other Icewing to proceed, and Darkstalker dismissed himself from the conversation. After all, he now knew what he needed to for the meeting, little as it was. Apparently, all he was to do was sit and look regal, which was easy enough. He'd done it plenty whenever Vigilance wanted to show off "her" animus to any visitors. It did make him wish he'd known that in advance as it turned out he could have used a few minutes to check on the Seawings, though. Ah well, it was too late now.
He approached his father next, who he saw talking to one of the few other Icewings that he could recognize. Princess Snowfox looked at bit bored as she conversed with Arctic, her tail twitching impatiently behind her as they waited for the announcement that Queen Scorpion was arriving. The princess and general also looked particularly...lethal, perhaps was the word for it. Her scales were well-polished and shone in the light of the room, each talon on her claws and spike on her neck and tail looking sharp and deadly like a collection of daggers. Her eyes caught Darkstalker as he approached, and he saw a sharpness in them not unlike the intimidating glare of Diamond from the night before.
"Hello father, cousin," he greeted each with a nod, "I see that greeting a Sandwing is not a private affair."
His father snorted, amused, while Snowfox only frowned.
"Snowfox and I were just discussing times before the war," Arctic told him, a small smile on his face. He looked oddly content, at home among his old tribe. "The last time we were together in the desert, we snuck away from a meeting not dissimilar to this and got lost in the streets of the Sand Capital. If I recall correctly, I wasn't allowed to leave my room for the rest of the trip after that, then for another week once we returned home. My mother was furious."
"You got off easy from that," Snowfox huffed, her voice just shy of a hiss, "I spent the next month working as hard as I could so that it didn't drop me out of the first circle. My own parents were not as lenient as the queen."
Darkstalker could hear some resentment in her voice, although her mind was silent. He'd noticed that before, the kind of block that she had reminiscent of Queen Vigilance's own way of shielding her thoughts. It wasn't like Queen Diamond's, which had been more of a force of will and overpowering resistance that had melted once she had allowed it, but a more passive and almost subconscious guard that he couldn't quite break through. It reminded him more of the Nightwings who intentionally trained themselves to be hard to mindread, but the notion was ridiculous—how would she have learned the Nightwing tactics?
"We had some good times, though," Arctic spoke, not very mindful of her tone, "I have to say, I've missed you, Snowfox."
She tilted her head back and forth. "I guess I missed you as well," her voice had a bit of a teasing edge in it, and Arctic chuckled.
"I suppose things have changed quite a bit since father left," Darkstalker spoke, adding his voice to the conversation, "Not that I would know the workings of the Ice Kingdom."
Snowfox gave a soft snort, "Yes, well, a war will do that," she said, "They seem to bring about the winds of change faster than any other diplomatic meeting full of words and devoid of action."
"From what I heard in the meetings of the Nightwing war council, you've seen plenty of action yourself," Darkstalker observed. Since he'd started paying closer attention to those matters in the lead up to the meeting, he'd heard Snowfox's name quite a bit. She was the head of the Icewing forces in the eastern desert and had the wiles to always maneuver herself out of the traps that Clearsight's visions set for her. "…Although I suppose it wasn't enough to overcome the defenses of the Nightwings," he couldn't help but add a subtle jab.
Snowfox frowned and lashed her tail, irritated. "That may be so, but I've proved myself in battle," she boasted, "I'm the head of Queen Diamond's war council, and I bear her signet," she flashed a ring on one of her talons to Arcitc, who looked impressed. "For all purposes, my word is as strong as hers."
Darkstalker gave an interested hum. He glanced down at her claw and caught sight of the ring, which bore a symbol that looked vaguely familiar. He tilted his head to get a better look, and the image came to him: it was the seal that had arrived on all of Queen Diamond's letters to Arctic.
Funny. He'd have thought Queen Diamond herself would be the only one to have such a thing.
"Oh, Snowfox, I've been meaning to ask you something," Arctic spoke, nudging her with a wing, "It's about Foeslayer and I. I remember, back when we made our plan to escape, that you said that you'd talk to Diamond about it. You told me you'd tell her that—"
"Snowfox," a commanding voice interrupted him, and none other than Queen Diamond was approaching. Arctic glanced to his mother, then stepped aside as the queen stepped in his place beside Snowfox, fixing the princess with a sharp gaze. "I've just talked to Captain Snowcap," Darkstalker's eyes flickered to the armored dragon from earlier, "And he tells me that nearly half the guards on normal rotation are off. He says you gave orders to relieve them."
The Icewing princess gave a huff. "I caught sight of some of the guards in a Sandwing tavern last night," she told the queen, "And I thought it wise not to put full faith in them for this meeting. I had Snowcap give me a list of your palace guards—which, really, are unsuited for this work so far from the palace—and I replaced half with some of my personal guard that are used to the heat and miserableness of the desert. It was for the best, I thought, for all our safety."
Queen Diamond's eyes narrowed as she stared down her snout at Snowfox. After a moment, though, she gave a nod. "Very well. Next time, inform me before you do something like that," she hissed, "Remember, Snowfox, you are not queen."
She turned and left, making her way back to where she'd come from, and Darkstalker noticed Snowfox's eyes following her all the way. He might not be able to read her mind, but he could see the spite in her eyes. Snowfox, it seemed, did not like his grandmother one bit.
An uncomfortable silence fell, and Darkstalker shifted on his claws. Arctic, too, seemed confused, glancing between Snowfox and his mother. Mercifully, the silence was broken by the arrival of an Icewing at the entrance (one Darkstalker noted as the same one who'd bade him enter when he met with Diamond) who announced that Queen Scorpion had arrived to meet them.
There was a brief flurry of activity in the room, with Darkstalker more or less just following his father's lead as they prepared. Non-essential servants left the room as guards took their posts, and Darkstalker caught sight of Diamond composing herself, looking relaxed and regal as she sat in almost the same place and position she had when they'd first met. This time, however, two guards flanked her sides, each with lethal spears in their claws.
For his part, Darkstalker was stationed to the right of the queen, facing the door. He was furthest from the queen, he noticed, with Arctic next to him on his left and Snowfox seated closest to his grandmother. He looked over the scene for a moment, suddenly feeling a bit ill at ease. No matter how he tried to dismiss it, the dream from earlier played in his mind, a constant warning of a danger he could not quite perceive, if indeed it existed at all. Despite the guards that surrounded them, and the animus magic he held in his claws, Darkstalker couldn't help but feel exposed—unsafe.
He wished in that moment Indigo was there to guard him.
"Tell Queen Scorpion she may enter," Diamond instructed her attendant once she saw they were all settled, then added under her breath, "Let's get this over with," before speaking up a little louder. "Guards, watch her carefully."
A few moments later, about a half-dozen Sandwings entered, their scales covered in a golden armor laced around with a red silk and matching red plumes on the helmets that covered their faces. Each bore a long spear and had a sheathed blade visible at their side, the metal flashing as they split in two groups taking positions of their own. Then, at last, Queen Scorpion entered.
Darkstalker would be lying if he said that she was what he was expecting. Her splendor was glamorous enough—red silk matching that of her guards adorned her like a cape, brilliant golden necklaces hung from her neck filled with rubies, and a great crown that looked far heavier than he would have thought her neck could lift were just a few things that caught his attention—but he couldn't help but think, when he saw her face, that Queen Scorpion looked quite…plain. Like if her jewelry and crown were stripped, he could easily mistake her for any other Sandwing he'd ever seen.
"Ah, Queen Diamond, how lovely to see you again," Scorpion spoke, her voice full of the empty cheer that only a diplomat could voice, "It's been too long since we've seen each other, hasn't it been? Is it three years, now? Four?"
"Not since the beginning of the war, I believe," Diamond answered evenly, "It seems a lifetime ago, now."
"It does, doesn't it?" Scorpion asked, "But if this scheme of yours succeeds, then it should allow for more time. I've just opened a new royal garden with the prettiest red roses. You should come see it sometimes."
"Thank you, I'll keep that in mind," the Icewing queen nodded.
"I look forward to it, then," Scorpion smiled, her eyes wandering now and taking notice of Darkstalker and his father, "Well, then, I just wanted to stop by and see if there was anything I could do for you on this historic occasion. When I heard that your only mediator was a Seawing prince hardly old enough to be whelped, I just knew that I had to come and see things go smoothly."
Darkstalker bristled at the comment towards Fathom. Sure, he wasn't exactly the most experienced diplomat, but the Seawing prince was older than he was! Of course, Scorpion had no way of knowing their friendship, and it was likely standard talk to disrespect the royalty of other tribes in private conversation. He'd heard such things plenty of times in Vigilance's court.
"Thank you for your generosity," Diamond said, "But as you can see, we have things figured out amongst ourselves already," she gestured to him and Arctic, "Queen Scorpion, these are Prince Arctic, my son, and Prince Darkstalker, my grandson, respectively. I had believed them stolen, but it turns out that was not the case. Now we need but to set things right."
Scorpion looked them over. "Ah, Darkstalker," she said, her eyes widening with interest as she saw him, "I've heard your name. The first animus of the Nightwings. Your reputation precedes you."
"He's hardly just a Nightwing," Darkstalker heard Queen Diamond say, "And you will address him as 'Prince Darkstalker.'"
The Sandwing queen tilted her head. "My apologies, Prince Darkstalker." The title was odd to hear, but he liked it. Despite knowing his heritage for so long, Darkstalker had never considered himself a prince, even if he'd wanted to become king. He'd certainly never called himself prince, and no Nightwing had ever used the title for him. Now, suddenly, after less than a day after meeting the queen of the Icewings, he was receiving an acknowledgement that he had never received from the Nightwings.
His mind was so preoccupied with that thought that he almost didn't quite catch how Snowfox, out of the corner of his eye, turned and said something inaudible to one of the guards. He wondered if it was one of hers, or the queens.
"Still," Scorpion pressed, "I hear this is not the first time you've been in my desert. There are reports that you made your first expedition not too long ago, on a mission of mercy."
Darkstalker frowned, confused. "What do you…" he began to ask before he realized what she meant. "You mean when I saved my mother? How did you know about that?"
"A good queen knows all of what goes on in her realm," Scorpion flashed her teeth in a smile, "Frankly, I'm surprised at how quickly you would forgive the Icewings after what they tried to do."
He narrowed his eyes now; he could see what she was doing. Scorpion was subtly digging, trying to bring up the old hate, to make him doubt. If Diamond was correct, then it likely all a play to keep the war going. He would not fall into her claws.
"That was a different time," was all he answered.
Scorpion snorted, but dropped it, turning back to Diamond and saying something that he didn't really listen to. Instead, Darkstalker took a moment to look her over even closer, and he didn't like what he saw. Or what came to his mind. The dream…Indigo had what sounded like Scorpion, and the now he thought about it, the more he remembered there being a meeting mentioned as well. His eyes went to the Sandwing guards, standing still and tall, and he began to try to read their minds, to see if they were waiting for something. Perhaps it was only a matter of moments, and they would strike.
But the only thing he heard from the Sandwings was boredom as they held their positions. Not a hint of maliciousness in their minds as they waited on their queen, who was chatting again with Diamond. In fact, the largest concern of at least two of them was what their next meal was going to be.
But then he did hear a nervous thought, not from the Sandwings guards, but from one of the Icewings that stood next to him. Can I really do this? The soldier was thinking, Killing on the field of battle is one thing, but this?
Darkstalker sifted his eyes over towards the guard in question, who stood motionless, looking on at the scene. There was no outward hint of whatever was going on in his mind. At least, not until the guard's gaze fell on Darkstalker and quickly shifted away when he saw he was being watched.
I don't like this, Darkstalker thought to himself, now sufficiently unnerved. The nightmare—which he was fearing more and more was no mere nightmare—had shaken him enough, and now one of the guards was thinking about killing. He tilted his head, listening in to the minds of the other Icewings around. Most were the same as the Sandwings, devoid of anything interesting, but at least a couple stray thoughts caught his mind.
It will be over soon, one thought ominously, although that could easily be in reference to the meeting. Yet another was more concerning.
My spear is ready, I need only wait for her sign.
Darkstalker looked around, trying to locate which of the guards had thought that. With each wearing armor and standing still, it was hard to tell. But more importantly, who was giving a sign? And who was the spear ready for?
His gaze flickered once again back to Queen Scorpion, who's conversation with Diamond was coming to a close. Her mind, too, seemed unassuming of any treachery, at least, nothing immanent. Perhaps he'd been wrong.
"…All the same, Diamond, we are at your beck and call," the Sandwing was saying, giving a small bow of her head, "If there is anything we can do, please let us know."
"Thank you, Scorpion," Diamond said, "We have things well in claw, I believe, but I will keep you appraised."
"Lovely," the Sandwing smiled, "I look forward to seeing how things go."
"Before you leave, your majesty, a quick question," a voice that was not either queen's spoke, and Darkstalker saw Snowfox step forward. Beyond her, Diamond looked annoyed.
Scorpion looked at her for a moment, then her eyes lit up in recognition. Apparently, they'd met before. "Certainly, general. What is it on your mind?"
"A matter of gold, actually," Snowfox answered, and the Sandwing lifted an eye ridge, interested. Of course, she would be interested in gold.
"Your crown," Snowfox continued, "How did you manage to come by it?"
Scorpion gave a huff. "I thought you would know. I took it like all queens do. I killed my predecessor."
"Indeed," there was a different tone in Snowfox's voice now as she stood a little straighter. Darkstalker heard a shifting and glanced back to the guard next to him, who'd moved in closer. His eyes flickered to the others; several of them had moved positions as well. Their claws were on their weapons. "It must be a great weight, to have that blood on your talons."
Scorpion frowned, narrowing her eyes. "I don't…"
"I'm sure it takes a toll," Snowfox continued, and she looked back at Diamond, a small grin on her face. "After all, it is not easy to kill a queen."
In an instant, Darkstalker made several connections that he would have berated himself for missing if he'd had the time. Arctic had told him in his stories that Snowfox had promised she would plead his and Foeslayer's case, but Diamond had been shocked by the implication that Arctic had left of his own accord. Diamond also denied writing letters that bore her seal that asked his father to kill him and return to the kingdom, and Snowfox was a dragon that bore the seal of the Icewing queen to write such letters in the queen's name. Furthermore, there was Snowfox's skill in protecting her mind…her seeming displeasure at making peace…her words towards Diamond. Even now, the warning of Indigo seemed to finally make sense and echo the one important fact that he'd almost missed.
Scorpion was not the one that he should fear: it was Snowfox.
But in the same instant his mind made that connection he saw that it was already too late. Several of the guards had their spears ready, Snowfox's words of killing a queen was apparently a signal to strike. Diamond's back was to the threat, and so was Arctic's—he was the only one who saw the danger. Yet he was too far away. Even if he were to rush as fast as he could, he would never reach the queen in time to stop the weapons that were already inching closer as every millisecond seemed to creep by.
There was only one option, and though he loathed it his body was already working before he could second guess it. Any moment wasted thinking would mean death, and the Icewing guards would skewer not only Queen Diamond, but his father and likely himself. And so Darkstalker opened his mouth, and he yelled out the first spell that crossed his racing mind.
"Spears! Freeze!"
Before any dragon could even process what he'd said, the weapons did just that, stopping still in their positions despite the guards pushing them forward with all their might. Though the tips hovered mere inches from Queen Diamond's scales, no force could move them. They were frozen in place; one would sooner move a mountain.
Both Queen Diamond and Snowfox whipped their heads towards him, then Diamond saw the guard that had been behind him, the spear in the air as the Icewing struggled to land a killing blow with a weapon that would not move. She looked behind her, then jumped back as she saw the similar situation that had almost ended her. She hissed and lashed her tail, looking around at the shocked faces of all the other dragons in the room that had certainly not been expect the situationany more than she did.
The treacherous guards were just beginning to realize that their efforts to kill were useless, letting go of their spears and reaching for different weapons, when Diamond found her voice. Her eyes landed on the captain of the guard from earlier—Snowcap, Darkstalker remembered—and issued an order to all who were still loyal.
"Seize them!"
A second clamor rang out as the loyal Icewing guards went after the others, some in their eagerness tripping up over their own spears that remained frozen in place, creating a barrier. But the confusion of the situation kept the traitors from taking advantage of it to achieve their original plan, and within moments those loyal to Diamond were upon them.
There were some shouts and the sounds of claws tearing through flesh and scales as a brief battle commenced, Darkstalker himself taking part only enough to slash Snowfox's guard behind him in the face before one of Diamond's rushed in to help, and within minutes the traitors were subdued. Two were dead (the ones that had tried to kill the queen, Darkstalker noticed), and the rest were kneeling on the ground, having surrendered to Captain Snowcap. A few of the Sandwing guards had even gotten involved on the side of Diamond's guards, too, likely fearing for the safety of their own monarch. Their golden spears hovered in the air, lined up in the formation they'd been standing in but with nothing to hold them up.
Darkstalker let out a sigh of relief, seeing his father and Diamond unhurt. He'd used his magic—he'd broken his vow—but they were safe. He'd saved them. And with them, who could tell how many potential more?
Surely, he thought to himself, there was no better use for animus magic.
Queen Scorpion was the first to speak, shaking her head and coming out of the shock that they were all in. "What is this!" she demanded, "Diamond, what is the meaning of this!"
"If I knew, then it would not have happened," Diamond hissed back, silencing the other queen.
"It seems to have been an assassination attempt," a voice Darkstalker had not been expecting spoke. It belonged to Snowfox. "Thank the moons they failed." The princess had been just standing there, watching the whole thing dispassionately, and now it seemed like she thought that she could simply feign ignorance.
But Darkstalker would not have it. He growled and approached her, challenging her words. "You knew," he hissed, "This was your doing."
"I don't know what you mean," Snowfox huffed, "I'm sure I was as much a target as you."
"Lies," Darkstalker spat, "You wanted this, you wanted to kill Diamond. Those were your guards, and they acted on your signal."
"You're delusional," the Icewing princess growled, narrowing her eyes, "I did nothing of the sort."
"Just as you did nothing when Arctic left, letting everyone believe he was stolen," he took another step towards her, "Just as you allowed this war to go on and on for nothing?"
"That's not true," Snowfox continued to deny. She looked to the queen. "Diamond, I have always been loyal—"
"Silence," Diamond growled, "I always knew you wanted this throne."
"I believe she sent those messages in your name, too," Darkstalker told the Icewing Queen, "The one that told Arctic to kill my sister and I and return home. She has your signet and authority to do it with."
"No, this can't be right," Arctic interjected, "Snowfox helped me, she allowed Foeslayer and I to escape when no one else would. She'd never do this."
"She did," Darkstalker gave his father an apologetic look, "She used you. I'm sure of it."
Arctic's wings drooped. "But…"
"If you don't believe me, ask them," he pointed a wing towards the guards who had surrendered. "I'm sure they'll confirm that the order to try to kill us came from her."
One of the traitors nodded in response from where he knelt, and Snowfox growled.
"Well, Snowfox," Diamond hissed, anger blazing in her eyes, "What do you have to say for yourself? Did you really want the throne so much you would stab us in the back? Was an honorable challenge too much?"
"Against you?" Snowfox laughed humorously, "I may as well have killed myself and made it easier. No, this was my only path to the throne. So, I took it."
"And you failed," Diamond lashed her tail, her voice low and threatening, "You tried to kill me, you tried to kill my son, and you tried to kill my grandson. I should have you slain where you stand!" She paused, snarling, looking as if she'd do exactly that. "Yet, if you are so set on this, then I shall give you an option, Snowfox. If you wish so badly for the throne, then challenge me for it as any rightful queen should. Challenge me now, Snowfox, for I swear to you that I will see to it that you never get a chance again."
Snowfox met Diamond's eyes, and for a brief moment the guard of her mind fell, and Darkstalker could see the fear that she held, the fear of facing Diamond in combat. It was a fear that had brought her to this, but it was nigh unescapable now. She weighed her options, and neither held a good end for her. Still, to her credit, she chose the honorable way to die.
"So be it," she growled, her voice raising, "Queen Diamond, I challenge you for the throne and the right to rule the Icewings!"
"I accept!" Diamond roared, and without any more words she charged, her claws reaching out towards her niece as the two locked into a battle only one would emerge from. One that, it seemed to Darkstalker, had been a long time coming.
In the end, Snowfox fought well. Her talons and teeth were sharp, and she made Diamond bleed. But the princess was no match for the strength of the queen. Diamond attacked with a fury, bringing her full power down upon the smaller dragoness, and Snowfox could not withstand it for long. As soon as the queen's teeth found purchase on her throat, the battle was over. Snowfox gasped for breath once, a silent scream as her life was crushed in her throat, then Diamond twisted her head and ended things with a sickening snap.
Princess Snowfox, a dragoness who had come so close to being queen, fell lifeless to the ground, her destiny reduced to blue blood staining the floor beneath Diamond's claws.