Wings of Fire Tales The Sovereigns Cults

Chapter 5 Secrets and Lies

    (Glyph)

It had been a year since Sovereign's death. It's been hard for Glyph's mother, normally she had him anytime she had needed him, but now she doesn't. The winter of his death was washed away by the spring showers, yet the family was still scarred. Everyone, but Sigil that is.

For a year, Glyph had watched his brother slip away from the family. Deeper and deeper away from him. Every day he would go to the library, what for? Glyph wasn't sure.

His mother had wanted him to come into his late father's room. So he went and when he enters the room his mother and the Queen stood in the room together. One helds his father's cloak, the other with a locket and a dagger. He cautiously makes his way next to his mother.

"What's going on, Mother?" Puzzled Glyph, as he gives his aunt an uncomfortable glance.

"It's been a year since Sovereign's death." Duskstar answers looking down at her talons with sad eyes. "And I know that my brother, your father, would want you to have these." She gently passes Glyph the locket and the dagger he held.

"As well, this." His mother sighs placing the cloak in his arms. She wipes a tear form her eye. "The cloak and the locket were to go to the first hatched and the dagger to the second, bu-

"But considering Sigil's recent state of mind, plus you being twins, it would be best for the kingdom for you to hold on to it." Duskstar finishes her sentence.

"Why? My brother is fine!" Glyph protests a little more overprotective of his brother than he had expected.

"No, no he isn't." His mother's sorrowful voice makes Glyph's heart drop. "Your brother is unstable, his mind is currently focused on one thing and that's power."

"We have tried to reach out to him to show him the dangers of his magic. He pretends to listen, Sigil is closer and closer to doing something, and we just don't know what."

Glyph scoffs, "How would you know?" Glyph asks doubting that his brother might do something, yet a part of him tugged at his brain.

"It's the prophec-"The Queen starts to say, but Nightseer cuts her off.

"Duskstar! Is he really ready?" His mother has fear in her voice and actually guilt in her eyes.

"Yes, I believe he is. Even if he isn't, he needs to hear it. So, Nightseer, please tell your son. Or I will." The Queen says in a firm voice.

"Tell me what? What prophecy?" Glyph demands starting to feel anxious. "Mother, what is it?"

"Skullvsift..." They say at the same time.

Glyph was already lost in the conversation. He had heard the name once or twice, but he wasn't a major subject in school. Glyph starred at them both with a lost look.

"Skullvsift,s prophecy." Nightseer says bowing her head with sad eyes.

"What?" Glyph raises an eyebrow at both of them.

"Skullvsift the first had some of the most strongest visions in the IceWing Kingdom. His prophecy...it mentions your father?" His mother replies.

"The House Sovereign torn
by pride and blood...

what chaos finds
darkness will rise...

for two twin brothers born by
fates moon light...

one shall learn of
evils true might...

for the other shall learn
through lights sacrifice...

for one shall come to us with the powers of truth and knowledge..." The Queen finishes her voice booming as she spoke the prophecy.

Glyph had never heard the full prophecy; He would hear bits and pieces when his parents would talk about it. He didn't think it was anything important about him though. Knowing this made his eyes go wide and he can feel the weight of responsibility closing in on him.

"We know what you're thinking, Glyph. It's a lot to take in, but your brother has gotten more and more distant from you and your family. Do you know where he has been going this past year?" Duskstar asks taking a step forward, towards Glyph.

"He's been going to the library...I don't know what he's been reading though. He never comes back with a scroll or anything."

His mother and aunt exchange nervous looks.

"What are they hiding? Are they not telling me something about Sigil? Do they know what he's been up too!" Glyph asks sounding panicked in his head.

"He already knows doesn't he?" His mother asks putting a talon over her mouth. Queen Duskstar nods solemnly. "Oh yes."

"Glyph, you must listen carefully. That dagger can't fall into your brother's talons. You need to keep this away from him at all costs. If this gets to him, there will be chaos." The Queen makes his talons wrap around the dagger.

"This is Life and Death, Glyph. Don't make a mistake. You can not trust him anymore. Banseblood enchanted that dagger, he was a corrupt dragon, Glyph. That dagger is cursed." Nightseer, their own, mother says grimly.

***********
That night...


Sigil had come home about an hour after the Queen left. Glyph had time to put all of his father's belongings away and out of sight of Sigil. However, he had decided to put on the locket his father had.

"Hey, Sigil. You're back earlier than usual." Glyph says not looking up from the scroll he was reading.

"Oh, yeah, I-uh-I had a question to ask mother." Sigil replies, sounding as if he was trying to think if he should tell Glyph or not.

"Oh, what about?" Glyph asks taking his eyes off the scroll and looking at his brother.

"Nothing important." Sigil shrugs and looks towards their mother's room.

Sigil was always a bad liar, but Glyph never expected him to lie to his own brother. However, Glyph kept his mouth shut on the matter and let Sigil walk away.

But his curiosity got the best of him however, and he followed his twin into Nightseer's room.

"Mother?"

Nightseer gasps. "Yes dear?" She replies nervously.

"Do you know anything about Wintercast and Banseblood? Like what they were involved in or something?" Sigil asks tilting his head to the side.

"I'm afraid I don't know much at all..." Nightseer answers shaking her head.

That was a lie. She had told Glyph about that dagger that Banesblood had enchanted. Also about what he had done.

"What about Wintercast?" Sigil takes another step towards her narrowing his eyes.

"I know he was an IceWing King. His wife was killed by Banseblood." She tells him trying not to let her voice shake. "Why do you ask?"

"I read a scroll and it mentioned them..."

"Well, didn't you learn anything from the scroll?" Glyph butts into the conversation.

"No not really." Sigil adds a small chuckle at the end of his sentence.

"What have you been doing at the library?" Nightseer wonders lifting her head up to look at Sigil.

He hesitates. "Reading."

Why'd he hesitate if he was just reading? Glyph wants to ask badly, but doesn't.