Wof: Under a Scarlet Banner

Chapter 8

Scarlet left me on one of her cushions and walked over to one of her mannequins. She was undoing the clamps that held her amour together while I was getting another look around the room. There was a heap of treasure next to a dragon sized mirror that stood next to the mannequins. There was assorted necklaces, cuffs, rings of different kinds and sizes, gemstones, and other such jewelry. I looked to the other side of the room and saw a large window with a equally large curtain. There was obviously no way I could escape through that. Not only was it at least ten feet above the floor, there was most likely no ledge to stand on, and what could I do if there was one? Jump down one hundred stories? Yeah, no thank you.

There was also a side room with a beaded string doorway. What was in there was a mystery to me. Scarlet finished removing her amour and walked towards that room. She told me to wait for her as she passed through the doorway. After a few minutes she returned and picked up the cushion I sat on, with me still on it. I held on tightly to the soft pillow as it was lifted up several feet off the floor. If I were to fall from the height I was now suspended in, best case scenario, I would break a limb.

Scarlet obviously paid no heed to my visible distress, and probably thought it to be humorous. As she walked into the room the scent of perfumes enveloped my senses. I was honestly surprised to see how beautiful this room was. In the center was a smooth stone bath, that was currently full of water. Little flower and their petals, floated peacefully on the surface of the water. The room was dimly lit, with several candles being the only source of light. Scarlet carefully set the cushion down, a little ways away from the pool, and daintily placed each of her legs into the water, one by one. After all of her legs were inside of the pool, she sink slightly and let the bottom half of her body remain submerged underwater. A little bit of water did manage to escape the bath and a stream of it flowed next to me. I from the scent coming from it, I could tell that the water had been mixed with a special perfume and maybe some oils.

Scarlet sighed as she floated in the water. I would imagine having to walk to and fro around the castle would make anyone have aches and pains. That and there probably was a lot on her mind, with the dragonets being here and all...

"I am very disappointed with Peril's performance today. That fight wasn't half as entertaining as I had hoped."

...or she could be more concerned about her entertainment. What was I expecting? Anyway...

"How so, my queen? Peril performed well enough, it was that cowardly Sandwing that ruined the fight."

I hate talking like this. Horizon was a great fighter, but he was thrown at a invincible opponent. Having to undermine him, especially when he is dead, just feels wrong.

"Perhaps, but Peril is our champion, it's her duty to make sure her fights are as entertaining as possible, and it's even more important that she does her job correctly with my hatchday so close. This week has to have the most entertaining fights of the year. I'll have to speak to her after this."

"Very well, and what of the Dragonets?"

Scarlet smiled wickedly at the mention of the dragonets. "Yes, the Dragonets of Destiny. Seeing them in the arena will be the most thrilling experience any of my subjects will witness. Who should we send first, my little seer?"

"Why not let the dragonets decide?"

"Oh, now there's an idea. Honestly, I don't know how you fit such delightful things in that little head of yours, but I love it."

There was a certain, sadistic tone in her voice that sent a chill up my spine as she spoke. I really felt awful doing and saying the things I was saying. I don't know where the line between what was in the books and what I had direct influence in was. I just want to know if I really can fix all of this in the end.