The Rise of a Queen

A Royal Encounter

Queen Sunseeker watched Queen Tundra nearly squirt snow out her nostrils with surprise.

"She said that? How would she think that?" Queen Tundra stumbled, her horns raising in alarm. Queen Sunseeker flicked her ears. So it is true. Why would Tundra lie to me about her? Maybe to cover up the murder she attempted. Queen Sunseeker shrugged and nodded.

"She read her records I suppose." Queen Sunseeker replied calmly standing. She didn't wish to make an enemy of her long term ally, but as a Queen, she had promised to be fair in her judgement of all dragons, and to herself she had promised this would mean from any tribe. "If you would like them back, along with the other enchanted objects you may have them." Queen Tundra stood quickly. 

"Yes, I want them back! I will also have to ask you to hand over the IceWing. She will be dealt with as a traitor and a criminal." Queen Sunseeker noticed a few of her servants and guards glancing at each other with either confusion or scorn. The IceWings were avoiding eye contact. Well it seems quite obvious most of the IceWings don't know about Shimmer either. 

"Allow me to push back in saying that your IceWing does have her reasons. Abandoned as a two day old dragonet in the land of enemies hoping she would be killed will cause most dragons to seek retaliation." Queen Sunseeker tired persuading Queen Tundra. "Her own kind betrayed her, so she grew up a NightWing, and was adopted into a family." The other Queen growled, and Queen Sunseeker beckoned with her tail. Her guards and staff were watching carefully to make sure their Queen wouldn't be attacked.

"Surely you don't believe her?" Queen Tundra spat, spines flaring.

"I believe evidence." Replied the Sand Queen without flinching. "I am going to have to deny your wish to take the IceWing. Her treatment isn't fair, and she will be kept here as penance for thievery." Queen Tundra huffed angrily, but she didn't attack Queen Sunseeker. They waited for a while outside the treasury while two servants went in to retrieve the wanted items. Finally one of the servants came out a little shamefaced. 

"Your Highness, they aren't there." He said quietly. 

"What?!" Roared Queen Tundra lunging at the servant. Queen Sunseeker jumped in front of her.

"Hold up! No one attacks a dragon in my house without my permission. Queen Tundra, only magic could have taken them from my treasury." She said quickly pushing the other Queen away from her servant. Queen Tundra's eyes narrowed.

"Well then, lets go visit this renegade IceWing." She hissed. Queen Sunseeker locked the treasury, and led her guest to the room she had ordered Shimmer be sequestered in. "Is the NightWing here as well?"

"We released the NightWing. He had no dealings in the theft, just friend of the IceWing." Queen Sunskeeker sighed unlocking the door and pushing on it.

Shimmer watched the door jerk slightly as some dragon on the outside tried to come in. Most of her nights rage had melted into a large puddle on the floor, and was quickly turning to steam as the day warmed up. Only the door was still encased in ice. Beside her lay the objects she had stolen from the IceWings. The voices in the hall got louder, and one sounded angry. Shimmer stood as the door was broken inwards. An IceWing followed by Queen Shimmer stepped into the room. Both of their eyes flashed to the spears and sack beside Shimmer. 

"Shimmer, this is Queen Tundra." Queen Sunseeker said softly, giving her a warning look.

"Well, it's nice to finally meet the dragon who tried to have me murdered. Crazy that this same dragon happens to be my mother!" Shimmer laughed, fingering one of the spears. Both Queens froze. A guard from each tribe stepped in to watch.

"Insolent brat." Hissed Queen Tundra, "what proof do you have?" Shimmer pulled out the sheet tablet of ice and held it up.

"Maybe one of your guards would like to read it aloud for everyone?" She asked, looking at the IceWing guard, who was just staring, his jaw slightly slack.

Before anyone could react, Queen Tundra grabbed the slab of ice, and shattered in on the ground. "But it doesn't matter, does it? You aren't an IceWing." She hissed, lunging at Shimmer who leapt back and grabbed the spears. Well, this is going well. Queen Sunseeker thought.

"I am no tribe but my own, and I will not be treated like a scavenger!" Shimmer growled. "But, while you're here, all I have to do is kill you."

"You can't do that!" The IceWing guard shouted.

"You saw the records. I have every right to kill her, and when I do, I will be Queen of the IceWings."

"You couldn't kill me, you're a runt." Queen Tundra laughed mocking Shimmer as she circled her. 

"Please, both of you, stop this at once. If you wish to battle, we have a place for that, but not right now." Queen Tundra returned to Queen Sunseeker's side.

"Very well." As they were exiting she turned to Shimmer, who was scraping the shattered remnants of the record together. "You're afraid of me. You know you can't win without those spears, but don't worry, I'll take care of you once and for all, you homeless snake."