Wings Of Honor: Heart of Ice

Chapter 14: In the Shadow Of Death

Wind bristled the trees, juxtaposing in context. Drops fell onto my nose. Some sharp hissing as a few fell onto what remained of the fire. Pyrite mumbled and shifted herself, still asleep.
"Scarlet is close enough to watch this valley," Moon said again.
"Kinkajou's right. You were right," Grace nudged me. "We''re being spied upon."
"She said my brother will die in the morning," Winter said. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. Like a private trying to recover after an intense stint of training. "She said now that she's seen me, she knows I'm not going to kill anyone for her."
I nodded morbidly.
"That's a good thing, that you're not that kind of dragon," Moon reminded him, nudging him with her wing.
"Did you see any clues?" Qibli asked. "About where she is now?"
Winter shook his head. "We were in a cave, in my dream. It looked like any other cave, underground or in a mountain somewhere. Except ... at one point, her face seemed to change in front of me, and the face I saw underneath — apart from being horrible — it looked like it was lit by moonlight."
I took a sharp breath, Grace did the same.
"Half the mountain range is in shadow right now," Qibli said, scanning the mountain peaks. "We fly to the other side and search. Everywhere in view of this valley. We go now."
She was in defilade. That's why I missed her. I didn't have line of sight. Damnit!
Moon took a step toward Kinkajou, planing on waking her up, before Winter reached out and stoped her. She slept peacefully, a half smile still on her face, her scales shaded in silver, shimmering in the moonlight that fell through the leaves to rest on her wings.
"This is what your queen said not to do," Winter reminded Moon in a low but strict whisper. "We're going to confront Scarlet. She could rip Kinkajou apart in a heartbeat. Glory would want her to stay out of it — and you too."
"I'm not staying out of it," Moon said fiercely. "You need me if you're going to find her. I'm not going to hide. I don't do that anymore."
Grace stood alongside her and nodded. There was an unspoken conversation between them.
"Then keep at least half your promise to your queen," Winter bargained. "Leave Kinkajou asleep and safe."
"He's right," Qibli said, walking up to us. "Glory would definitely not want you both marching off to find Scarlet."
Moon huffed, sending a blast of air that ruffled the overhanging shrubbery around her. "She's going to kill me," she whispered, glancing back at her sleeping friend.
"Better that than Scarlet killing her," Grace pointed out. Winter looked like words had been stolen out of his mouth.
"All right," Moon said. Then shook her head. "All right. Let's go."
Winter was in the air by the end of her sentence, climbing up to get a better position. I swung onto Grace, and we climbed up after him. We swooped down back to the eye shaped spire. From there, we had eyes into all defilade positions that could look into the valley. We could look over the hills to see where she was.
"Marvin! Please respond!"
I hadn't realized McManus and Travers were still on the radio.
"Marvin! I heard shots! Are you okay?"
"Yeah Yeah. I'm fine. Over."
"Jesus Christ, then what was that?"
"Winter got dreamvisited, by Scarlet. Long story. She's a confirmed enemy, and she has a VIP as a hostage. We're trying to find her before she kills him. Over."
There was a brief silence.
"O-okay Captain. Just... tell us next time."
"Yeah, this one's on me. I'm sorry. I'll keep you posted. I'm fine. Grace is fine. With all luck. 1-1 out."
"Godspeed. 2-3 out."
"3-1 out. Good luck Marvin."
Proper radio procedure. But I digress.
Qibli had winged up beside Winter.
"Let Moon go first. No offense, but you're glowing like a fourth moon up here, and I'm not exactly the most shadowy dragon myself. She's practically invisible in the night sky. That's kind of the point of her whole tribe, after all."
He looked back at Moon with a peeved understanding. Qibli was right, our NightWings were best suited for this mission, especially Grace and I. Although, I could tell he wanted to find Scarlet. He wanted to lead, hell, he's been doing it all his life. Actually, by that logic, I should lead, since I have the longest experience; but I'm also not a dragon, and have been kind of winging it since we touched down... I don't even have a concept of time anymore. This is all very confusing.
Winter fell back. He and Qibli took advantage of cloud cover. It would mean more restricted sight, but it also served both ways. Moon and Grace flew alongside each other, although careful to avoid nicking the other's wingtips or disrupting each other with swirlies. They somehow coordinated to scan in alternate directions. When Grace looked to the left, Moon was to the right. I did the same, focusing on any place that fit Winter's description, prioritizing positions of cover and concealment.
I noticed they made an effort to glide as much as they could, only providing power to keep speed or altitude.
It's quieter that way. Grace explained.
Although, our window was closing fast. I slowly exhaled as I scanned over the valley again.
"Wait. There."
The two dragons flared up. I pointed at a small series of overhangs jutting out from one of the peaks. They were small and high enough to go unnoticed, but still had a view over the Vally. How could I have been so stupid! I missed the one good position! It was an amazing overwatch position, I would be there if I wanted to see me. How could I have missed it!
Hell. I counted two shapes. One an orangish red, and another...
Grace instantly found a covered position from their scrutiny. Moon beckoned the rest to follow, and we all swooped down into a narrow cliff shelf just underneath them. I kept eyes on the two.
"She's up there," Moon whispered.
"Her and someone else." Grace clarified.
"Hailstorm?" Winter asked, trying to stuff his anger down.
"I don't think so," Moon said. "It doesn't have the bright glare of an IceWing mind, although it feels a little familiar. I can't actually read it — like there's a wall of humming between me and it."
"Someone with skyfire?" Qibli asked.
I sensed she shook her head. "A bit like that, but not exactly the same. It might just be the distance. They're near the top of this mountain."
"W-w-wait. Shh." Grace hushed them
I made my palm parallel to the ground, lowering it to signal quiet. The voices were faint. And barely on the cusp of my effective range. I could barely make anything out, but the conversation obviously wasn't pleasant.
"They're arguing," Moon said. "Scarlet's mind is loud and angry and all over the place. I think we can get closer without her noticing."
"Lead the way," Qibli said.
Grace took point. We camouflaged partly, just enough to be seen behind us. Grace padded her steps, being as quietly as she could. Almost suspiciously so, for her weight.
You sure you didn't cast a spell?
Are you calling me fat Marvin?
I shook my head vigorously and avoided scoffing.
I cringed when Winter sent a small avalanche of rocks down the mountain.
Jesus. Christ, are you trying to be sneaky?
We had gotten close enough to make audible contact.
"I absolutely hate these narrow-nosed IceWings," spat a voice that was unmistakably Scarlet's. "This one was worse than his sister! He barely groveled at all. I don't think he ever had any intention of murdering anyone for me! The nerve!"
"You couldn't convince him otherwise?" said the second voice. "Usually you are very ... convincing."
"He was obviously a lost cause," Scarlet snapped with a snarl. "Kept making this hero face at me, like I'm the bad guy and he's coming to right all the wrongs. Excuse me, who got attacked by her own artwork and then kidnapped by her ally and then blackmailed by her champion midrescue while meanwhile her own daughter was stealing her throne?"
From what I read ma'am, you brought that upon yourself.
Grace silently giggled.
"Who's the one with the hideous face-maiming? Whose throne is currently OCCUPIED by a PRETENDER who could NEVER have beaten me in a challenge before? WHO had her whole life RUINED and demolished and shattered by those STUPID HORRIBLE DRAGONETS?"
There was a break before the other dragon could answer, Scarlet shouted. "ME, THAT'S WHO! I'm the victim here! Someone should be all heroically trying to help ME right all the wrongs! Where's my rotten cavalry of loyal idiots?"
"Well ... you have me," said the voice, with a notable lack of enthusiasm. Like a certain Captain Sobel I was introduced to.
"You barely count," said Scarlet. "You're weird. And unreliable."
"Ahem," the voice bristled. "I believe my talents have proven to be very useful to you."
"Not as useful as if you were a proper animus," Scarlet grumbled. "One limited power is not going to get me back my throne."
An animus? Me, Grace, and—in the background—Winter, all thought at the same time.
The rest of them had advanced far enough to get a view of Scarlet. She was impatiently pacing on the ledge.
I felt Moon tug Grace back, finding Winter and Qibli on either side of Moon. Grace slid up between Moon and Qibli, spreading her wings alongside Moon, and turning them to chamo. No way would they be spotted now.
I slid down, running up with my rifle. I'll go scout. You stay here.
Okay.
"You are welcome to dismiss me from your service," said the stranger in a colder voice. "Once you have paid me everything I am owed, of course."
Scarlet growled low in her throat. "What do I do now?" she demanded. "I have this IceWing pawn who should be thrillingly useful, and it turns out nobody will do what it takes to get him back. ALL I AM ASKING FOR IS A LITTLE VENGEANCE. Is that so much to expect?"
Probably need to change strategies lady.
"Perhaps a new strategy is in order," said the stranger drily.
Ha. Definition of insanity is literally doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Scarlet let out a deep but quick sigh. "I suppose I do have to kill him," she said. "Now that I've promised to about eight times. It will serve all of them right. Or maybe it won't, since nobody even seems to care enough to commit just a LITTLE murder for me. THREE MOONS."
She fumed in silence for a few minutes. Smoke curled from her nostrils up to the sky.
"So?" the stranger said after a while. "Are you prepared to kill the prisoner?"
Scarlet flung a rock off the edge, just off me, and watched it bounce and clatter down the hill. I held my breath. Not betraying a single anything. But the way they talked. The way she mentioned Halestorm.
"Yes," Scarlet said. "Very well. Bring me Pyrite."