Wings of Fire: A Destiny Found

~CHAPTER 9~

       As uncomfortable as Queen Scarlet made her, Glow couldn't help but take in the sights. The palace towered over everything and the arena was quite the centrepiece. There were towers that held prisoners surrounding the arena, tied together by a metal wire to prevent escape. The arena appeared to be lined with sand and on the other side were benches for audiences. There was only one word that could describe it. Glorious. Upon remembering a dragon who shared a name with that word, Glow reminded herself that any of the dragonets of destiny could be imprisoned here, and she began scanning the arena. She couldn't see Starflight, Sunny, or Glory at all, and she could really only pick out Tsunami and Clay.

       Worrying about Scarlet's piercing gaze, she decided to converse with the queen. Hopefully, she'd stay on the psychotic queen's good side and they'd come and go peacefully. The growing pit in her stomach told her much otherwise. "So, um..." She began nervously, the queen's ever curious gaze locked on her. "When does the match start, Your Majesty?" She asked casually with a small dip in her head. Scarlet's jowls twisted into a smile.

       "Oh, the matches actually begin tomorrow! We're preparing and setting up today. After all, my hatching day is coming up very soon, and I want everything to be absolutely thrilling!" She answered enthusiastically. Frigga answered her coolly, keeping a close wing tightly around Evenstar while Charcoal did the same for the recovering Kite.

       "I'm certain it will be, Queen Scarlet. What sort of plans do you have in mind for your celebration?" the IceWing asked.

       "Oh, actually, what thrilling news I have, my friend. You wouldn't possibly believe it, but I had the very good fortune of finding and capturing the prophesized dragonets of destiny after the MudWing and SeaWing were so rude to me!" Corona threw Glow a yeah, we noticed look. "You'll be pleased to hear that they'll be part of the main event tomorrow, as well as the following week. They really do have a NightWing! How thrilling!" She exclaimed joyfully. She then narrowed her gaze towards Evenstar maliciously, who was tucking into Frigga nervously. "Speaking of which, how about I trade a recent work of art I found for your NightWing? He'd make a thrilling addition to the entertainment."

       Evenstar shifted over uncomfortably and Frigga held him even tighter. "My apologies, Your Majesty, but Evenstar is not for sale. However," She paused, clawing around in her bag. She pulled it out and lifted it to the sun. It was an orange glass statue in the shape of the queen, adorned in gold chains and rubies like the real thing. "I do have this for sale, if you'd like." Scarlet was clearly impressed.

       "Oh my! This will make a thrilling addition to my palace décor." She grabbed a pouch of jingling coins from a golden bowl on the arm of her throne. She presented it to Frigga with a greedy glow in her dagger eyes. "Four hundred gold pieces sound alright, Frigga?" She offered. Frigga accepted and handed her the statue and Scarlet gave her the pouch of money.

       "Thank you for your gracious purchase, Your Majesty." Frigga answered calmly. Scarlet eyed it in the light and handed it to Flashover.

       "Put this somewhere where it will sparkle in the sunlight, won't you, soldier?" She cooed mockingly at him. Flashover obeyed without question, though a scowl was glimmering in his deep orange eyes. He placed it in the centre of the room on the table in front of Scarlet's throne. It was in the centre of all the windows in the room, so the light refracted through the statue and made the room shimmer with an elegant amber glow.

       Glow looked out of the corner of her eye and saw a red male SkyWing pacing about in contemplation. He looked rather handsome, his snout and jaws perfectly chiseled and his horns curving gracefully. He seemed to catch her gaze and walked over towards her, bowing to Queen Scarlet as he walked over. "Mother, you didn't tell me we had guests." He spoke. Scarlet turned around and addressed him.