Rain and Night - A Glorybringer Story

Chapter 8

Deathbringer followed Glory as they dodged past vines and branches, heading for the prison. He saw the ring of guards as soon as they neared.

Good. Those traitors won't be escaping anytime soon, he thought. He would love to guard them personally, but protecting Glory 24/7 was way more important. As soon as Glory and Deathbringer approached, the guards turned in their direction, alert. 

"I'm here to interrogate the prisoners," Glory said to the NightWing guard, Galaxy. She looks so regal. "Are they behaving?"

"Well," the NightWing guard said. "They haven't tried escaping, but the one called Fierceteeth keeps hissing threats at us." He gave the NightWing prisoner a mildly annoyed look. 

Glory nodded in satisfaction. "Alright. I'll just interrogate them from here."

Looking royal and serious, Glory walked up to the cramped, makeshift prison, where the four prisoners were sitting. Fierceteeth, who was holding her head high, looked remorseless and defiant, while the SandWings sat there looking sullen and angry. 

"Fierceteeth," Glory said loudly. The NightWing stared back fearlessly. "You have kidnapped Sunny in an attempt to kill me, Clay, Tsunami and Starflight, your own half-brother, and you were ready to make an entire tribe die. Now, you have taken four other dragons and tried to assassinate me. You will be punished for these crimes, but first you're going to be interrogated."

"Fish will fly before you can get anything information out of me," Fierceteeth responded angrily. 

Don't speak to Glory like that, you disrespectful traitor, Deathbringer thought, giving her a deadly look. But at least there was no way any of them could hurt Glory. 

"Well, first I'd like to know exactly who these SandWings are," Glory asked with an angry expression. 

Fierceteeth stayed silent, glaring at the RainWing queen with hate. 

"We were guards in Thorn's dungeons," One of the SandWings said in a raspy voice. Fierceteeth snarled at him, but he continued anyways. "Saguaro convinced us to help him and Fierceteeth. We agreed because we thought the plan would work," The other SandWing glared resentfully at Saguaro, who looked down in guilt. "But we didn't want to harm you."

"Thank you," Glory said regally with a nod. The SandWing prisoner sighed in regret. "What is your name?"

"Jackal," he replied. 

"Okay," She said calmly. "Now, Saguaro," Glory turned to the SandWing who was guiltily carving patterns in the dirt. "Tell me something. Anything."

"I wanted to take down Thorn," she admitted, but with a voice that was steady and deep. "I was guarding the dungeons, and Fierceteeth told me that she would help me take down Thorn if I helped her assassinate you."

"Very well," Glory said, narrowing her eyes at Fierceteeth. "So, Fierceteeth, I guess you're the one to blame for the attempted assassination?"

Fierceteeth was silent still. You traitor! Deathbringer thought. He could not help but despise Fierceteeth, who was stubborn, angry, and refused to even consider changing her mind. How dare you try to kill Glory. 

But this time, the female NightWing snorted and replied, "So? I was defending my tribe."

A hint of red was showing on Glory's tail. "They don't need defending. They can defend themselves, and I will defend them," the RainWing queen said as calmly as she could. 

Fierceteeth barked a laugh. "Ha! You're not their queen. You're no NightWing. You have no idea what we've been through and you never will!" The NightWing said furiously. "I know everything about those NightWings. I can lead them. You don't deserve to." Deathbringer glared at Fierceteeth, and she noticed, before glaring back. "And you," The NightWing growled at Deathbringer. "You are no NightWing either. You're a traitor."

"I think it's clear who the traitor is, Fierceteeth," Glory said, her wings red now, too. "I gave shelter to your tribe and offered them a second chance, but you weren't grateful for any of that and decided to try and assassinate me in return. Considering that I am also now the queen of your tribe, your actions are considered treason."

Then, with incredible speed, Fierceteeth lashed out at Glory, extending her sharp claws  out between the bars and almost scratching at the RainWing queen's throat. But, Deathbringer was ready, and quickly pushed Glory back.

Deathbringer growled at her, and she bared her teeth at him. The guards were now crowding around them, some of them shouting at Fierceteeth, some of them checking on Glory to see if she was hurt. She was not, thankfully, and no one else was, either. 

That was a close one, he thought, as Fierceteeth hissed at him. 

"I think that's enough interrogation for today," Deathbringer said to Glory. Strangely, he was feeling a bit sick again. But not intensely sick like the SandWing venom made him. So he just ignored it. 

"Alright," Glory agreed, and then at last they flew away from Saguaro, Acacia, Jackal and their treasonous ally.