Glorious Politics
AN: Almost didn't get this finished today, but I stuck with it just for you guys. Not much to say about this one yet, just that there's a lot of set up and teasers for stuff down the road.
And thank you, guest reviewers, for the reviews!
Disclaimer: I do not own Wings of Fire. My OCs Horus and Mistral belong to me. Bloodwalker belongs to SpyroAndSisuFan.
Chapter Twenty-Five:
Glory just stared at the empty shoreline, her expression blank. "Really? I literally almost died getting here, and they aren't even here? So all of that was for nothing?"
Winter and Bloodwalker stared at her in surprise. "When did this happen?" Winter wondered, but Mistral just waved him off. The Icewing Prince looked between the two before dropping it. For now, at least. She imagined that he'd want to hear the story later. "So what now?"
"It'd be stupid to try and fly after them," Thorn commented. "They have Skywings, as we all saw. Not only would it be impossible to catch them, it'd also be impossible to figure out where on Pyrrhia they were headed."
"That's if they actually have left the island yet," Bloodwalker replied, studying the path to the interior of the island. Everyone went quiet as they pondered that possibility. Then, the assassin began walking away. "You guys should head back to the portal. I'm going to stay here for a while, make sure there's no one else here."
Seeing how her feet hurt from running on the sharp, hot rocks, her throat hurt from breathing in the toxic air, her wings hurt from catching that thermal, and her spine hurt from dangling off the side of a cliff, Glory didn't really argue that suggestion. "Probably a good call," she nodded, eyeing the two Icewings who were really starting to feel the effects of the heat. Both were pretty much panting in an effort to prevent themselves from overheating. Besides, she didn't want to be away from her Kingdom for much longer. As much as she trusted Qibli and Anemone to handle things, they weren't her. It was her Kingdom that was attacked, and her subjects needed to know she was doing everything she could to make sure this never happened again.
There was no arguments from the others, so the five of them all began walking back up the coast, there being no need to rush this time. Well...not as big of a rush, at least. They picked up the pace a bit when Winter began coughing really bad. Both Thorn and Glory started coughing soon afterward, with Mistral beginning to succumb by the time they reached the portal. Greatness wasn't too bad since she was more accustomed to the island's poisonous atmosphere than the rest of them.
It was only when they crossed back through the portal that she realized they'd never found the survey team. "You guys should go get checked out by the healers," Greatness advised them. "I doubt that cough will last long, but it's better safe than sorry."
Glory agreed, sending them all off to the healers, even Mistral agreeing without any kind of argument. She, however, stayed behind for a moment to speak with the Nightwing. "See if you can find the members of the survey team. Maybe they made it back, but we just didn't notice." As unlikely as that scenario probably was, it was still worth pursuing. Greatness seemed to agree, so the two went their separate ways.
A quick trip to the healer's hut later confirmed that there were no long-lasting complications for any of them. Both Qibli and Anemone dropped by when they heard they'd returned, and the group gathered in Glory's pavilion afterward for a debrief. It was a bit crowded with all seven of them in there, but they made it work. It was also a bit awkward to have Skywings posted outside of her door, too. She wasn't allied with their Queen, so she didn't really trust them to protect her.
"Qibli, let's start with you. What's the military situation here?" Glory started, getting right down to business.
"Horus and his troops have already worked out guard schedules and patrol routes. They've also commandeered the Arboretum as their barracks and training grounds and have refused to let civilians in." Glory narrowed her eyes at that. If the Skywings' presence wasn't bad enough, now they were taking the largest public building away from the populace.
"There's a lot of unhappy dragons because of that," Anemone supplied. "Especially the ones who frequent that area and the ones who've lost their homes." Other than the guest huts, there were quite a few shelters built within the Arboretum itself, but they were mostly unused. There were no furnishings in them at all, either. "They, uh, took the beds from a lot of the guest huts and moved them into their new barracks. Mistral's included." Understandably, the Icewing wasn't too pleased to hear that.
"What about the Sandwings I sent here?" Thorn asked.
"All but three died in the attack," Qibli reported sadly. "Since they were really the only professional soldiers here, they got swarmed pretty early on from what I've been told." Thorn audibly growled at that but didn't say anything. After a few seconds, her anger disappeared and she sighed, rubbing her eyes with the pads of her claws.
"Tell the survivors to go home," the Sandwing Queen said after a moment. "Queen Glory, will you have the bodies sent to the Sand Kingdom?" Glory nodded. "After this I'll be heading back to prepare for their funerals. Diamondback's, too. I...want you to be there for him." Glory nodded. She wouldn't miss it for the world. Even still, Thorn continued. "You don't have to, of course...this is just a personal request. Diamondback has no surviving family, but...he deserves to have someone there to see him off." Then, she looked at the two Icewings sitting next to each other. "I'd like to have you both there, as well."
Both were quite surprised by the request, to be sure. "Me?" Winter pointed to himself skeptically. "I didn't even know him."
"But you were there when he sacrificed himself," Thorn replied. "It's only right you come by to honor that sacrifice."
"We'll be there," Mistral promised, speaking for the both of them. Winter looked at the other Icewing curiously, but Mistral just nodded at him, a silent assurance that this was the right thing to do.
"And Horus?" Qibli asked. "He was there, too."
Thorn huffed at the Skywing's name before shaking her head. "Tell him he can if he wants, but I don't care either way." Glory could understand her annoyance with the Skywing. While he was nice enough, he was causing the both of them a lot of problems right now. Yes, he was under orders, but that just made him easier to blame.
"Now that we've got our Skywing and Sandwing problems out of the way, why don't we discuss our Nightwing problems," Anemone spoke up. There was a nod of agreement from most of the gathered group. "Based on the fact you guys came back without him, I assume Peacemaker is actually gone." Glory didn't remember telling Anemone about the hybrid's significance, but she supposed either Qibli or Moon probably filled her in. "Fortunately, animus enchantments like the one Darkstalker was put under are pretty difficult to reverse. Unfortunately, I don't think it's completely impossible. However, they would need an actual animus and someone really smart to come up with the right spell. That being said, Turtle's coming to the Deep Palace with me. With us out of the way, that just leaves Stonemover in Jade Mountain...as far as I know, at least."
"Probably best to let them know of the danger," Qibli nodded. "The last thing anyone wants is a bunch of students getting killed."
"I can dreamvisit Sunny or Tsunami and let them know of the situation, but I'd rather someone go and check on them, too," Glory replied. "I'd also prefer if these Skywings went there instead of staying here."
"Something to talk to Ruby about," Thorn commented. "In fact...I'll send a full garrison of soldiers to Jade Mountain. We'll convince Ruby to send these Skywings there, and then my Sandwings can take their place here."
"A good plan," Mistral agreed. "I'd also suggest all three of you send out feelers to search for either the cult or Peacemaker. I'll ask Snowfall to do the same, and you can convince Ruby to help if she hasn't already committed troops to it, which I imagine she has after the cult ruined her wedding."
"Nobody's allo—Hey, what are you doing!?" A sudden commotion outside had everyone on edge as it very clearly sounded as if someone was very clearly beating the stuffing out of the two Skywings outside. Two solid thumps later and the perpetrator was revealed.
"Where's my son!?" Foeslayer snarled at the lot of them, her furious glare landing squarely on Glory.
"We don't know," the Rainwing replied calmly, figuring she deserved to know that much. Angry she may be, but Foeslayer didn't pose much of a threat to anyone her. Mostly because there were dragons like Mistral, Winter, and Anemone in here. "But we plan on correcting that as soon as possible."
Foeslayer was easily the largest dragon in the room, probably around Burn's size if not a smidge bigger. She also came from a time where Queens were a lot less trustworthy and wars were a lot more common. Still, she was able to exercise restraint as she glared at her Queen. "When you find the ones responsible for taking my son from me, I want to be there."
"As long as you agree to follow orders," Glory countered, making the Nightwing huff.
"I was a soldier once. I know how things work." With that, she turned to leave. Before she did, though, she paused. "I love Peacemaker, arguably more than I ever did Darkstalker. Perhaps that's why my first son strayed so far down the path of evil. If he returns, a lot of dragons will die. Don't let them win...whatever the cost..." She had all but whispered the last part before leaving.
Glory stared at the door, the Nightwing's words repeating in her head. She was under no illusions what that request meant. "Whatever your personal feelings..." she began quietly. "I have no desire to kill an innocent dragon in front of his mother. Make sure I never have to."
Taking that as the dismissal it was, everyone began to file out only for Greatness to run straight into Thorn's chest as the Sandwing Queen began to leave. The Sandwing wasn't harmed, though Greatness had fallen onto her rump from the impact. A quick shake of her head later, the Nightwing sighed in relief. "Thank the stars you haven't left yet! A message just came through from the Sand Kingdom, Your Highness...Mastermind has escaped."
"WHAT!?" Thorn roared in utter fury, pushing past Greatness and sprinting towards the tunnels. Qibli followed immediately after his mother, and Glory ordered both Mistral and Greatness to follow her as she sped off after them. She had to jump to avoid tripping on one of the unconscious Skywings.
"We'll stay here and keep an eye on things!" Anemone called after them, most likely referring to her and Winter.
Glory had to growl softly in frustration as she chased after Thorn. They'd literally just been reacting to every problem after they'd happened. The cult just seemed to constantly be one step ahead of them, and she was absolutely sick of it! And that's not even mentioning the ordeal she had been through personally. She'd been imprisoned and tortured for days, then thrown into battle immediately after. Then there was the adventure on volcano isle. And now this!
Her stomach was literally eating her spine she was so hungry!
But food would have to wait again. This was more important than her own comfort. Hopefully, this would be the last bit of drama she had to deal with before she could finally have a chance to eat some actual food and sleep on a proper bed. At least she was able to get some water while in the healer's hut. She ignored her headache and sore body and kept running.
Through the portal and into the Sandwing outpost they went, stopping just outside the building on the opposite side just as she heard Thorn roar, "SOMEONE REPORT! HOW DID MASTERMIND ESCAPE!?"
A familiar Sandwing with six claws came rushing around the corner of one of the tents. "Queen Thorn!" He paused in front of his Queen and bowed his head in clear guilt. "It was an inside job from the looks of it."
Glory grimaced at the bright sun, shaking her head at the slight dizziness. "You alright?" Mistral asked quietly, walking up beside her.
"Fine. It's just a headache," she assured him. He frowned at her answer but didn't comment further.
"What do you mean 'inside job'?" Thorn demanded, her voice dangerously low.
"Whoever was responsible knew our patrol routes and schedules. They were able to sneak in and out within the seven-minute window between each pass. The warden was knocked unconscious, as well." Six-Claws reported succinctly, Thorn's anger not phasing him in the slightest, for he knew it wasn't directed at him specifically.
Thorn growled before turning to one of the nearby soldiers. "Send word to the palace. Tell them to double the guard. I want the entire place on high alert." The young male saluted and took off immediately. Then, Thorn turned to Qibli. "I want six full Wings on their way to Jade Mountain immediately." Qibli nodded, likewise taking off towards the palace. Finally, she turned back to her most trusted lieutenant. "Was Mastermind the only one who escaped?"
Six-Claws shook his head, his expression grave as he watched Qibli's form shrink into the distance. "All of the members of Qibli's old Wing we arrested are gone...as is Cobra."
For the first time since Glory had known her, Thorn looked truly afraid. The color seemed to drain from her face as her jaw worked uselessly, unable to form words. The Sandwing Queen slowly turned to look at Glory and the others. "Things...just got a lot more complicated. If Vulture wasn't involved before, he most certainly is now."
It was Mistral who spoke up next, and everyone was floored by what he said. "I never thought I'd say this, but I wish you hadn't gotten rid of your former bodyguard," he told Glory, he himself seeming a bit shaken.
"Is she really that terrifying?" Greatness asked, studying the Icewing curiously.
"She used to be the most feared assassin on Pyrrhia for a reason," Six-Claws answered. "Of course, that was over twenty years ago. Still...I'd start sleeping with one eye open."
The mood significantly more tense, the group followed Six-Claws into the palace where the crime had been committed. Luckily, no one had died. Though, that just meant whoever it was that broke it was a highly skilled individual. "It can't be Sobek, right?" Glory asked as they stared into Mastermind's empty cell. "He was still in the Sky Kingdom earlier today."
"No, it couldn't be," Mistral agreed. "Which begs the question of who else could have snuck in without so much as being seen." The warden hadn't seen or heard anything useful, so there was no help there. "But Mastermind definitely qualifies as someone intelligent enough to properly word a complicated spell as Queen Anemone suggested."
"I should have killed them both years ago," Thorn snarled then sighed.
"Why didn't you?" Greatness wondered.
"...I had my reasons," Thorn answered hesitantly. Mistral gazed at the Sandwing suspiciously before studying the cell door.
"This lock isn't scratched up," Mistral observed. "Which means they used the key stolen from the warden. However..." They followed him all the way down to the end of the hall, where a solid iron door took up the entire wall. The small, barred window was only big enough to see through. "This one is. It was picked."
"Cobra's cell has a separate lock. There's only one key that can, and it's safely hidden in my room. No one knows where that key is. Not even Qibli." Thorn walked up to the door and studied the lock. "The greatest locksmith in the Kingdom, and arguably the entire continent, made this lock, so this burglar is obviously highly skilled at picking locks."
She opened the door, looking around at the empty cell with a frown. She took one step forward before immediately picking her foot back up at the sound of crumpling paper. "It's a scroll," she spoke, picking it up. "The burglar must've lost it.
"Or dropped it on purpose," Glory countered. Her headache was getting worse. Maybe she should get some more water pretty soon. This heat probably wasn't good for her...and why was it so hot down here at all? They were underground.
Thorn read the scroll in silence before glaring at the lone Nightwing in their midst. "Seize her," she commanded. Six-Claws and the other nearby Sandwing guards complied immediately. Greatness was too stunned to argue, not even attempting fight back.
"Woah, hold on!" Glory intervened. "What are you doing?"
Instead of answering, Thorn gave Glory the scroll, and she read it aloud. "Greatness has served her purpose. The documents we received from her will allow Operation Queen-Maker to resume." Both the Icewing and Nightwing had tensed at that name, Mistral audibly growling as he glared at Greatness with a level of hatred she'd never seen from him before. "Our first targets are already chosen. The assassins have been dispatched." Mistral snatched the document from her talons, and she glanced at him warily as he read it for himself. "That's all it says. But assassins, as in more than one? So Cobra and who else?"
"I'm more interested in what Operation Queen-Maker is," Thorn replied, studying the Icewing. "Based on their reactions, I'd say they both know what it is."
Both Thorn and Glory flinched at the sound ripping parchment and claws grinding against the stone floor. "Back to your old tricks again, are you, snake?" Mistral hissed. His expression, one of pure, unrestrained fury, and his cold, venomous tone made Greatness shrink back with a whimper. Then, he snapped that glare to Glory, who recoiled at the sudden motion. "I told you she couldn't be trusted!" he roared before launching himself at the Nightwing, the Sandwings scattering to prevent themselves from being tackled, as well.
Greatness screamed in utter terror and clear pain, blood already leaking down onto the floor. Thorn held up a claw, an order for her guards not to intervene, and watched the scene with cold, calculating eyes. Glory stared at the Sandwing in utter bewilderment. How could she let this just happen!? With no one else to stop Mistral from killing Greatness, for there was no doubting what his goal was, Glory was forced to step in.
Right before he could land yet another blow, Glory grabbed his arm, and he snapped his glare back to her. "What are you doing!?" he spat. Red blood already coated his ultra-sharp talons, and Greatness was whimpering in both pain and fear beneath the furious Icewing. She had some pretty large gashes on her chest, but she'd live.
"If you're going to kill her, give me a reason first. What's Operation Queen-Maker?" Glory stared him down, no longer afraid of him. He just growled when she didn't back down. "Talk to me, Mistral," she gently pleaded with him. "Queen Snowfall mentioned Greatness once tried to assassinate you." Mistral growled anew at that, ripping his arm out of her grasp as he stepped away from the injured Nightwing. "Is that what this is all about?"
He whirled around and jabbed a talon at her. "You want to know so badly, huh!? Ask her!" He pointed at the Nightwing. "She's the one who always has ulterior motives!" Greatness wouldn't meet either of their gazes when he said that.
Glory glanced at Thorn, who was still watching the scene with a passive expression. The Rainwing glared at her; they'd be talking about this later. Then, she turned to Greatness. "Is Queen-Maker the secret you didn't want to share?" Glory asked her, to which she nodded. "Well, I once swore I'd never ask unless it was a matter of life and death. Now, seeing as how he's probably going to kill you if you don't cooperate, I'd suggest you start talking."
Greatness sighed, her expression one of resignation and guilt. "Alright...I'll tell you everything I know. But can we bandage these up first?"
Glory looked back to Thorn once more, who turned to nod at one of the guards. After the guard returned and Greatness' wounds were bandaged, she began her story...
AN: Yeah, the next one's going to be special. We'll finally find out just what happened between Mistral and Greatness. The whole chapter will be a flashback done in first person perspective from Greatness' POV. And, uh...preliminaries suggest it'll be a long one.
So that, the final chapter of Dragons Change, and the prologue for a new non-WoF story will all drop on Christmas Day. And that will be my gift to all of you for the holidays.
Reviews are greatly appreciated, and I do read all of them, even guest reviews. I try to respond to all of them that I can.
Until Next Time
AdmiralCole22