The Ghost Crown - FlashWing Chronicles

7 - Shanti

I squinted as we emerged into the light, wondering if this is where my story ended. Moonsong seemed to have revived after coming out of the dungeon, and I was glad. If we were going to escape, I was going to need her help. And her cooperation.

"Your Majesty!" The maroon SkyWing called out suddenly, sinking into a bow. I held my chin high as the queen of the SkyWings emerged, gold sparkling off of her bloodred scales.

I had heard stories of the notorious SkyWing queen. Her army was spread out all over the SkyWing kingdom, ruthlessly enforcing rules and spying on her own dragons.

'Her' meaning the dragon who was standing in front of me.

Queen Garnet surveyed both of us, and flicked her tail, beckoning a dragon behind her forward.
My eyes narrowed as Crow emerged, his dark scales flickering in the light. He flashed me a smile as he took his place beside Queen Garnet. "You found these two on the outskirts of the Seawing territory?" she asked him, her eyes fixed on me. I stared back unflinchingly as Crow nodded. "When we captured them, there was a flash of light, unnatural in every sense." I followed his gaze to Moonsong, who seemed to have disappeared in the guard's arms, though you could still see her leash.

That light I saw...was it...her?

"She calls herself a princess of the...FlashWings." Crow turned back to Queen Garnet, who asked, "What's her name?"

"Her name is Moonsong. And if you could just let us go now, we'll be on our way." I said, tugging at the leash and shooting daggers at any SkyWing that met my eyes. "Such a hurry. Where will you be going?" Queen Garnet's voice was soft. "We-"

"I'm going back home." Moonsong cut me off. "What?" I whirled to her, my chest and leash tightening. "I can find my own way home, thank you very much." Moonsong's eyes were hard with determination. Crow's eyes darted back and forth between us, his eyes darkening. He whispered into Queen Garnet's ear, who started to smile.

I know that look. I thought, gazing at him with a mix of anger, worry and fear. Queen Garnet pulled away, making her jewelry clink together. "Release her." she waved at Moonsong, and I gaped at her. The SkyWing guards stepped away, and Moonsong shook out her wings, glancing at me briefly before backing away from the SkyWings. "What about her?" she asked the queen. "Aren't you going to release her?"

I held my breath as the queen turned to me, her eyes triumphant. "Shanti is going to stay." Queen Garnet announced, and Moonsong looked confused. "She...what? Why?"

"She's committed several crimes that she has to pay for. Here. In the SkyWing kingdom." Crow cut in, and I flinched as he walked closer to me.

"But she...Shanti, was going to help me." I blinked in surprise as Moonsong stepped in front of Crow, halting his advance. "I was? I mean, yeah." I quickly corrected myself, but I could tell Crow had heard my mistake. "Shanti was going to guide me around...Pyrrhia." Moonsong's voice grew steadier. "She was going to help me return."

Crow looked suspicious, but Queen Garnet waved at my guards to take the leash off of me. "Your Majesty, you can't be serious..." Crow trailed off as the queen gave him a sharp look. I gave Crow an arch look as Moonsong smiled. "Let's go then." she said, turning and launching into the air. I followed her, and we spiraled higher and higher above the red figures, with the lone black speck in their midst. Once we were shivering from the cold air, Moonsong turned to me. "Trust me." she whispered, then she grabbed my talons, and stopped beating her wings.