Wings of Fire - Court of Lies

28 - The Outclaws

Author's Notes: the fanart in the cover belongs to Luci and you can find her in ARTSTATION (https://www.artstation.com/artwork/KrBw5R).

- LaraEndlight
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The Scorpion's Den was one of the worst places for a princess to roam.
Yet Burn felt no fear, nor worry, she knew how to defend herself and she had her guards, a few of her best soldiers, but she knew she still had to keep an eye focused on the few shadows around, covering tents and stands with their dark embrace and hiding outlaws of every kind and with the worst intention. It was exhilarating the thought of finding a bunch of pacifist in a cove full of snakes far more dangerous that the dragonbite vipers, any dragon coming from the outside would have thought that it wasn't possible, just like finding fire in the Kingdom of Ice, yet they were there, in the big oasis in the middle of the place.

<< Be ready to fight, but don't kill if it's not necessary. I want them alive. >>

Ordered Burn as she looked around the place, her black eyes filled with hatred and disgust at the view of the many SandWings hiding from the war instead of fighting for her and all the hybrids that lived already in the area.
"Cowards, traitors and disgusting half-bloods..."
Thought the princess as she held back a growl.
None of them looked scared of her, they were proudly keeping their heads up and staring back like she didn't belong there, adding fuel to her rage.
"When this war will end, this place will be too and you all with it."
Contemplating the only few hybrids that were "interesting" enough to be put on display in her museum, Burn finally saw the dragoness she was looking for.

<< Ah! Thorn, my dear friend! >>

The word "friend" left her lips like a hiss.

<< What are you doing here, Burn? >>

Asked said dragoness as she stood proudly in front of the Outclaws.

<< Being the boss of this bunch of criminal scums clearly made you forgot who I am... >>

The princess spread her wings and took a proud yet defensive pose as she raised her voice for everyone to hear.

<< ... I am the future queen of this kingdom. >>
<< You are nothing but a mere monster Burn! And an idiot as well! >>

A crowd of dragons got closer, trying to take the best spot to look at the display, waiting for a fight to start and the best occasion to take a piece of the princess.
Thorn and her group helped those in need, kept the place safe from becoming the lair of heartless criminals and even with the water under her absolute control, she never abused her powers, everyone in there was ready to fight for her (except the few dragons that feared the Outclaws).

<< You came with only a few guards, in a place where even the worms in the ground you're walking on want you dead. Unless you can perform miracles, you clearly want to die. >>
<< Believe me or not, I came here to make you an offer. >>

She didn't even had the time to listen to the few milliseconds of silence following her words, Thorn was already roaring her laughs to the sun and soon all of the Scorpion's Den followed right after.
The princess clenched her fists in the scorching sand as she tried to stay calm and ignore the laughs and the words the others were screaming at her, she would have to deal with those after her coronation.

<< Oh and what could the mighty and only "queen" offer to me? Except your head on a pike I mean... >>

Thorn slowly advanced, stopping only when the guards lowered their heads and raised their tails, like they were ready to strike at any moment.
Burn was not impressed, not even amused for what mattered to her interlocutor.

<< I can offer you Dune, still alive... >>

Thorn's eyes became as big as the sun itself, a light full of hatred spread trough them at the thought of the one that she considered a dear friend and that stole her egg, leaving her heartbroken and taking her daughter away from her, after everything they had done for each other.

<< ... and your daughter. >>
<< Careful with words! >>

Snarled the SandWing at her royal similar, Burn just smiled at her, a grin that was increasing in evilness.

<< Your little spies should be good at their job. >>

The princess sat down in the sand and talked like she was speaking with one of her subjects as she explained everything, from the "rescue" of the Dragonets of Destiny and the arrest of four members of the Talons of Peace, to the current plan that she and her allies came up with.

<< As you can immagine, once this war is stopped, I'll come here to destroy whoever will try to stand in my way... >>

Continued Burn.

<< ... and that pretty daughter of yours is one of the few hybrids that I could consider interesting enough for my museum. Maybe I could stuff her up along with her friends, or keep them alive as living attraction until they die. Luckily for them, Scarlet and I take good care of our pets. >>
<< Pets? You're talking about dragonets! >>
<< You're disgusting! >>

Shouted Six-Claws as he took a few steps to stand near Thorn.
Burn's eyes quickly fell on the interesting paws of the dragon, those paws with six claws instead of five, those that she wanted to expose so bad in her museum.

<< How could you leave my army? >>

Asked the princess ignoring the insult (it felt more like a compliment to her).

<< How could you betray your future queen? Throw away the glory of winning the war and the honor of becoming one of my precious treasures? >>
<< You are crazy if you think getting killed and put in a glass case is an honor! Especially after fighting for a monster! >>

Burn was about to snap and hit him, but Thorn was quick to go and stay between them, even to avoid Six-Claws doing something suicidal.

<< What do you want then... >>
<< Thorn! You can't believe her! >>
<< If it's true and my spies will prove it, what do you want in exchange for my daughter's safety and Dune? >>

Burn only stared at her like she was saying: "I think you know the answer to that question".

<< You are pretty skilled in killing all the guards infiltrating in here and those criminals trying to bring chaos to your "little paradise"... >>
<< Yes... >>
<< Killing my sisters should be easy then. >>