Wings of Fire: Greed and Glory

Chapter 8

Scorch had been flying for a day now and his leg had not gotten any better. Maybe if her wrapped it, tight, in some cloth when he got home, then it would stop the blood from spilling out and it could heal.

At least the scenery had changed from the lush hills to a barren landscape with golden grass. He knew he would arrive anytime, so he started drifting lower, towards the ground.

First, he saw the outskirts of the palace, where he lived, then the volcano and the castle came into view. He glided down in the outskirts of the palace, next to his home.

He walked inside and as usual, no one else home. His father and mother were both warriors for Queen Ember, but both died in battle. It was a conflict over land between the HeatWings and the CloudWings. It didn't mean much now, but lives were lost. Now Sulfur thinks it's up to her to live up to their parents bravery.

Scorch kicked a stone and sat down. He didn't like thinking about his parents because it made him want to cry. He tried to keep them out of his mind as much as possible.

He shook out his wings, grabbed some cloth resting on a table, and started wrapping his leg. He made sure he wrapped it as tight as he could.

He stood up and walked around a bit inside his house. It felt much better. From what he knew from Synthesis endlessly talking about medicine, it should heal now that it already has the medicine and its wrapped.

He walked outside and looked at the castle resting on the volcano. He had to sneak in there somehow. Maybe if he looked like he knew what he was doing, the guards would let him pass.

Scorch walked through the open gates to the inner part of the palace, trying to think of a plan. Maybe if he could get close enough to Queen Volcanic, he could overhear her plans or something. He's always know Volcanic was a cruel dragon. He overheard some of the guards walking though the outskirts say that she treats her sister like dust.

He looked around in the palace. Inside it was mostly homes and a couple of shops. He wandered through the buildings towards the castle, trying to look like he belonged here.

Funny thing though, ever since Volcanic became queen, he felt like this wasn't his home; like she had changed things for the worse. She had doubled up on battle training for the army and was always hiding in that castle of hers. She hadn't made any contact with the other kingdoms at all. Now he was beginning to see why all the other dragons in the Ring of Wings were suspicious of him and the other HeatWings.

Scorch saw that the entrance to the castle only had one guard, but he guessed there must be more inside the castle, wandering though the halls. The guard outside was wearing the same black, fireproof rock that the castle was made out of, but as armor. The guard had a chest plate, a helmet that covered her face, and was holding a black spear.

The black rocks were a good resource for the HeatWings because it grew all over the Kingdom of Heat. You could find the rock as large spikes, bigger than dragons, sticking out of the ground.

Maybe if I wait for the guard to turn around, then I can sneak in quickly, he thought. He tucked in his wings close to his body to he wouldn't bump the guard as he ran by. He shook out his legs and waited for the perfect time to bolt past the guard.

When the only guard turned her head the other way to keep watch, Scorch sprinted for it. He passed the guard swiftly and quietly, but then was jerked back suddenly, making him loose balance and crash to the cold, stone floor of the castle hallway. He looked up, behind him, and saw the the guard that had yanked his tail back.

The guard lifted the helmet, which covered her face, and held a talon out to Scorch, to help him up. He was utterly confused because he knew that dragon. He lifted his head.
"Magma?"