Wings of Fire - Court of Lies

34 - Fatespeaker's Surrender

The fight was over the moment is started, at least for Fatespeaker.
Flame slammed into her with all his might, sending her sprawling on the ground.

<< You stay down. >>

Growled the young SkyWing.

<< I can't kill you, but that doesn't mean I'll hold back if you interfere. >>

His attention turned to Squid, who was cowering against the wall in a futile attempt to look smaller, like he was trying to disappear.

<< You can't even imagine how long I've waited for this moment. >>

Smiled Flame.

<< You were so pathetic, so annoying. Whining all the time about your daddy, like that made you better than us... >>
<< Flame, I'm sorry I was so annoying. I'm sorry my father and his group kidnapped you, but killing me isn't going to bring back all those years on that island. >>
<< No, that's true. But it's going to entertain my queen and my tribe. >>

The SkyWing lunged at him with outstretched claws.
Squid tried to shield himself with his wings, hissing in pain as Flame's claws scratched the membrane and trying to push him back spreading the wings. It didn't work well, his opponent saw right through him and backed away to avoid the wings, jumping forward again to grab him by the nack and pulling him on the ground, delivering a strong punch right on the muzzle.

<< SQUID! >>

Screamed Fatespeaker as she saw her friend getting punched again and again, until blood started pouring from his mouth a fang fell from it.
The crowd was cheering and roaring in joy for the young dragon.

<< Stop it! Please! Just stop! >>

Begged the NightWing.
Prayers that fell on dead ears and Flame kept hitting Squid with mad joy, stopping only at the flames that Fatespeaker breathed on his face.
Of course her fire didn't hurt him, he was a dragon from the breed with the hottest fire and while she was worried for Squid, the young dragoness was still holding back.

<< You're worse than him... >>

Mumbled Flame as he let go of Squid's neck.

<< Fighting to defend someone that never cared about you and not even trying to hurt me? >>

The NightWing was trembling.

<< You're just angry and desperate for attention, now that you've found your family. You're no- >>
<< Are you calling me a whiny brat?! >>

Growled the red dragon as he fired at her.
Fatespeaker rolled out of the way, trying to run and getting stopped by Flame's claws on her tail, piercing the scales and pulling her toward him.
She waited for him to pull her close enough, then rolled on her back and kicked the SkyWing in the chest with both her hind paws, freeing herself and pushing him away from her.

<< We're pathetic? Then what are you? You were the first of us to be defeated and scrapped as a Dragonet of Destiny! >>

Growled Fatespeaker, pointing at the scars Glory's venom left on Flame's shoulder and paws.

<< You were so stupid, underestimating your opponent like a little hatchling that doesn't know how the world works. And look at you now! >>

She gestured for the crowd, ignoring the SkyWing's hateful stare and his deep breaths.

<< You fight to entertain a crowd? You are not a dragon, nor a future assassin. You're a trained pet, like those monkeys Morrowseer told us about, those the Scavengers keep on chains and train to dance for coins. >>

Flame was full of rage, roaring at her as fire erupted from his maws.
Fatespeaker raised a wing to cover herself, the burning sensation on her membrane making her flinch, but she forced herself to stay still.
"If I make him angry enough... yes... he won't control himself. The queen will have to stop him from killing me!"
She hoped.
If Queen Scarlet wanted her alive, that strategy might have been her best chance at survival.
The fire suddenly stopped, the roar of rage turned into one of pain and she peeked from behind her wings, noticing that Squid wasn't laying on the group anymore. The SeaWing had snuck up behind Flame and was now on his back, sinking his claws in the enemy's flanks and his fangs in the shoulder's scar, where the scales couldn't grow up after the venom melted them, leaving the skin and the muscles open and vulnerable to the attack.
The crowd was going crazy with twisted pleasure as Flame tried to grab Squid's head and throw him off, resolving to throw himself on the back and crashing the smaller dragon under his back, but the SeaWing was persistent and didn't let go, not even when the red dragonet turned his long neck and bit down on his head.
Fatespeaker got closer, looking at her opponent's vulnerable belly, killing him would have been terribly easy in that position and she knew it would have make her and Squid's life easier, but she couldn't do it.
She couldn't force herself to kill another dragonet like that, but she couldn't back down and let Squid be killed either, he wasn't a great fighter after all, not as much as Flame at least.
She had only one solution.

<< Queen Scarlet! >>

She roared.

<< I surrender! I will give you my prophecy and every other vision I'll get! >>

She said as Squid finally let go of Flame's shoulder to growl: << Don't do that! >>, leaving Flame all the time he needed to slam his claws on the SeaWing's paws and retreating his head, ripping the crest on the green dragon's head and leaving him on the ground to scream in pain and hold the aching spot.
The young SkyWing spat the ripped crest on the ground, his eyes darting from Squid to Fatespeaker as he waited for the young dragoness's next words.

<< Just let Squid live! I'll be your prophet and hold no secret from you, in exchange for his life! >>

Queen Scarlet seemed to ponder her offer for a bit, then turned to her soldiers.

<< Guards! Escort Flame to our healers and send one down in the dungeon to check on Squid! He looks pretty beaten up. >>

Flame growled at them, seemingly uncaring of the fact that the crowd was still complimenting his performance, he glared at Fatespeaker one more time before flying up to the guards signaling for him to follow.

<< Thank you, your Majesty! I shall never forget your mercy and your kindness! >>

Roared again the young NightWing, bowing to the queen as Squid looked at her both in gratitude and disappointment.

<< I'm sorry... >>

Murmured her.

<< I couldn't just watch him kill you Squid. I'll try to look for another way out of here when- >>
<< You will find one, you're almost free. But down in the dungeon? I won't be so lucky... >>

Two guards came down and got a hold of the SeaWing, who whispered a single: "Thank you, Fatespeaker" before following them, not even looking back.
Fatespeaker turned back at the guards still in the sky, two of them were flying in her direction.