Despite Arctic's outrage and terror about being asked to use his magic again, he had spent his years away from the Ice Kingdom ruminating about what might have been.
Being far from home, in the midst of a war, his thoughts had gradually settled on the transportation of troops.
He called his idea the Arctic Pearls. A set of eight silver necklaces, each showcasing a single pearl at their center. These pearls would transport any dragon wearing one – along with anything or anyone the dragon was touching – to a specified geographic location. There would be eight Pearls. In theory, IceWing troops could use them to surround an enemy from the North, East, South, West, and everywhere in between.
The Arctic Pearls would return to a locked chest in the Ice Kingdom if unused for three days. That would prevent them from being lost – like the Gift of Diplomacy had been when he and Foeslayer ran away together.
Hmm… why hadn't Arctic thought to bring the Gift of Diplomacy back from the NightWings when he returned home? Arctic shook off the thought. Foeslayer was the one with a mind for details, and she wasn't here. So obviously he wouldn't have thought of that.
But Arctic did think of one detail: he could use his spell to create nine Arctic Pearls – eight for the IceWings, and one for himself.
—-
Queen Diamond lost no time ìn assembling the IceWings of her palace. They milled about the large central courtyard anxiously, not knowing what was going to happen. Was there news about the war? Was Queen Diamond adjusting the rankings?
Queen Diamond stepped onto a glittering balcony that overlooked the courtyard. The assembled IceWings grew still and quiet as only those highly-ranked, well-disciplined IceWings of the main palace can.
"My fellow IceWings," Queen Diamond announced. "We are gathered here tonight to witness an event that happens – at best – once in a generation. Welcome to the animus gifting ceremony."
The assembled IceWings exchanged confused glances but remained quiet.
"Tonight, Prince Arctic, my son, will present his Gift to our tribe." She motioned Arctic into the foreground and stepped back, allowing him center stage. The audience failed to stifle a collective gasp. Arctic nervously gazed upon the sea of pale blue eyes staring up at him. Would his Gift be their salvation or their undoing? Would this be the spell that hurtled him into the footsteps of Albatross and an IceWing version of the Royal Seawing Massacre?
But Foeslayer needed to be rescued. And Darkstalker had to be stopped. This was worth the risk to his soul.
"My fellow IceWings," Arctic's voice cracked before the assembly. "As my Gift to you, my tribe, I present the Arctic Pearls." He held up the chest where they would be kept. He closed his eyes and bowed his head theatrically. Lifting his head slightly, he looked at the notes he had written on a bit of scroll attached to the rear of the chest. He had one chance to get this right.
"Within this chest, I enchant–" nine, he thought "-necklaces to transport the wearers, along with any dragon, animal, or item in their grasp, to any geographic location they specify, and for the necklaces to return to this chest if unused for three days." Arctic took a breath. Was that it? Did he get it right? He felt the familiar sudden chill of magic, deeper than the pleasant chill of the Ice Kingdom. His soul – was it okay? He didn't feel like murdering his family yet, so surely he still had some soul intact.
He announced loudly, "I call them the Arctic Pearls." Arctic opened the chest and pulled one out dramatically. "They will stay in this chest within the Ice Kingdom so they will not be lost to our tribe even as they travel throughout Pyrrhia. There are eight – so our soldiers can surround an enemy from North, West, South, and East, and everywhere in between."
His IceWing audience stared. Whether awed, shocked, or terrified, or some combination thereof, Arctic did not know. They were silent for several long moments. Finally, perhaps realizing that Prince Arctic was not leaping into a killing spree, the IceWing assembly erupted into a booming avalanche of cheers.
Queen Diamond approached the chest, an excited gleam in her eyes. She picked up one of the Pearls.
"Brilliant work, Arctic," she said. In spite of himself, Arctic filled with the pride. His hyper-critical mother finally approved of him! At least for this moment. "I'll try it," she said. She swiftly put the Pearl necklace over her head, mumbled something nobody could hear, and disappeared.
The audience gasped and erupted with cheers.
Snowfox seized the moment to rush onto the balcony.
"My fellow IceWings," she shouted to be heard. "Tomorrow you will see another spectacle – Queen Diamond and I will battle for the throne." The audience quieted immediately. "Queen Diamond is attempting to distract you from her disastrous war and traitorous son with showy bits of magic. We all know that Prince Arctic has squandered his magic before and ought not to have used it again. She has put us all in danger tonight. Tomorrow, when I win– if I win the throne, Prince Arctic and his halfbreed offspring will both be banished from our kingdom for our safety and purity. The war will end. Our soldiers will come home. We will have peace in isolation once more."
The audience crackled. This magic had been incredible; the war had been terrible. Diamond was still their queen, but she was absent – and she had disregarded IceWing law about animus magic in allowing Prince Arctic to present a Gift.
Snowfox turned on Arctic menacingly. Too quietly for the audience to hear, she said, "Your mummy isn't here to protect you right now. You'd better get out of here before my dragons make you disappear, too. You have one hour."
Arctic didn't argue. He took Whiteout's talon in his and hurried to their room. They quickly loaded their few belongings into their bags. Arctic slipped on his Arctic Pearl; he was easily able to carry it away in the commotion following Snowfox's speech. He also slipped on the armband he had created some time before – the one that makes its wearer invisible.
"Ready?" he asked Whiteout. She nodded. Holding her talon, he turned his armband. They both became invisible, and she gasped in surprise.
Arctic used his free talon to touch the Arctic Pearl around his neck. "We're going to free your mother." Hold on Foeslayer – I'm on my way.