Wings of Fire: A New Regime (Book 3)

Chapter 13

“What?” Bermuda cried. The threat of death had been looming above her since Aconi stole the Heart, but never before like this.

“I’m so sorry,” Dart said. “I tried to give you as much time as I could.”

Iodine was pacing her cell, anxious. “It’s good though, because you wouldn’t have known we have two hours to escape.”

“Yeah, TWO HOURS,” Cloudy yelled. “We can’t even get out of our chains!”

“Did you guys even try the key?” Dart asked. “They unlock the chains, too.”

Iodine and Beige stared at him. “What?” Beige asked.

“Yeah. Didn’t I tell you that?” Dart said.

“No?!” Iodine yelled. She grabbed the keys and stared at the chains. “There’s no keyhole, dumbass.”

“Yes there is,” Dart said ever patiently. He opened the cell door and took the key, and flipped the chain to uncover a secret link in the chain. Behind it, there was a key hole. It was on both cuffs, and before long, Iodine was free. She grabbed the keys and ran to each cell, releasing all of her jailmates.

“Okay, one problem solved,” Cloudy said. “Now, the hard part.”

Bleach burst out of his cell, and in two big steps, crossed the aisle diagonally and spun Beige around by his shoulders.

“Beige,” Bleach croaked. Beige’s eyes went very wide, and welled with tears. Bleach pulled him into a hug, crying quietly.

Now that she saw them together, realization hit Bermuda like a truck.

These SandWings were father and son.

“Dad, Dad,” Beige cried, wrapping his arms around Bleach. Their scales were the same- Beige’s pale gold was almost as white as Bleach’s scales, and they both had narrow, sharp jaws.

“I thought you were dead!” Bleach cried.

“I thought you were as well!” Beige said.

“Where are Mirage and Antelope?” Bleach asked.

Something old and run down flashed in Beige’s eyes, as if he resented his dad for saying that. But he responded kindly. “They’re back at our home. Safe, don’t worry. What about Mom? And Sting and Adobe?”

Ah, Adobe, Bermuda thought. They were names he was saying.

“I don’t know,” Bleach said, placing his palms upwards. “I was flying through the mountains when I was captured. That’s where we live now. Adobe, her husband, and their daughter live with us. Me, your mom, and Shrew.”

“Shrew?” Beige asked.

“Oh. Oh,” Bleach said, sadness coming over his face. “Shrew is your younger sister. I think I wrote to you saying your mother and I were having another dragonet. You never got to meet her before… the Last Day.”

“Oh.” Beige said.

“Guys, I get this is very touching,” Iodine said, rubbing her palms together. She and Dart’s wings were touching. “But can we save family reunions and catch-up for after we escape an evil overlord?”

“Iodine’s right,” Bermuda said. “We have to escape.”

“Dart,” Cloudy asked, staring out their window. “What’s outside this window?”

“There’s a grassy ledge that surrounds the outside of the palace, including the dungeons. The outer walls of the dungeons are covered with spikes, broken glass, razors, pretty much anything Aconi found to inflict pain. There are spearguns mounted on the roof, armed by RainWings, to shoot anything other than a RainWing or Glass that flies within the area around the dungeons.”