Wings of Fire: A Destiny Found

~CHAPTER 22~

       When Fjord finally died and Clay was returned to his tower, Frigga snorted and turned around to face Scarlet. The queen's lip was twisted into a sinister grin. Frigga dipped her head to the queen in respect. "Thank you. This particular match was rather...thrilling, as you say." The IceWing paused. She glanced over at her dormitory. "I think I'll go back to my chambers. I'm still rather tired." Frigga mumbled.

       Scarlet nodded and waved a talon at her. "Very well. I'm glad you enjoyed the fight. It was rather exciting, wasn't it?" She cooed, smiling at Glow.

       Frigga placed a cold tail on Glow's back. "I'd like you four to stay with me in my chambers. I've–" She paused once again. Her face then wore a weak, yet genuine, smile. "I've missed speaking with you." Glow nodded, smiling back at her. That's a good sign, right? She then remembered the attitude that Frigga had shown toward Fjord in the arena, and grimaced. Hopefully we can help her get better. She looked back toward Peril, her eyes filled with longing, yet also excitement. Glow dipped her head at her. I'll talk to you again, soon.

       The IceWing's apprentices followed their master back to her dorm and settled down beside her. She placed her head on a pillow stuffed with eagle feathers. Kite crawled in her arms and Evenstar laid down behind Frigga, his snout draped across her neck. Glow laid down behind Evenstar and Frigga and craned her neck across her master's wing, and Corona sat quietly near them in front of Frigga's snout.

       Frigga let out a sigh and Glow nuzzled into her master's chilling scales. Moments of silence passed and Glow was beginning to nod off to sleep when her master's voice interrupted her. "So, what has happened these past few days?" Frigga asked. "I feel guilty for having spoken little, if at all, to any of you. Perhaps learning of all of your activities will take my mind off of all that's happened recently." She admitted.

       Glow nodded, feeling more optimistic in her master's recovery. "Not really much to say from me, Frigga." Evenstar's quiet soothing voice murmured. "I pretty much stuck with you. It would be rather dangerous for a NightWing like me to walk around freely in a foreign kingdom, after all." He said with a chuckle. "Especially a kingdom run by Queen Scarlet." Frigga let out a delighted snort.

       "What about you, Kite?" She asked the small yellow-orange SkyWing.

       Kite looked away. "Nothing, really. Just hung out with Corona and Glow most of the time and sold stuff." Kite muttered. Glow felt like she knew what he really wanted to say. Trying to avoid being seen by my mother.

       "And Corona?" Frigga asked hopefully. Corona smiled and chuckled. "Same thing, really. Although I did a little more than the little bird, here." Corona joked, earning a silly pout from Kite. "Glow can tell you way more than I can." Corona suggested.

       Glow suddenly felt very awkward. How much do I tell them? What do I tell them? How much is Frigga really ready to hear right now? All eyes were glued on her, but Frigga's smiling face reassured her. "W-well, first of all, I made friends with Vermilion, one of the four SkyWing princes." The room gasped. Glow felt more comfortable talking to her friends again. She only wished that Whitecap and Willow were here to hear it. "We then met the manager of the Merchant Plaza, Umbalite. And she looked after us while we were selling things there. Then, that night, I went to the Sky City Tavern with the queen's champion, Peril." The whole room practically jumped.

       "You made friends with that dragon? B-but– but why?" Kite asked, bewildered.

       "Yeah. You told me the night after, but if you ask me, isn't that a little dangerous?" Corona asked, coiling her sheathed tail. Evenstar and Frigga were listening intently.