Wings of Fire: Alliance of Queens

Chapter II: News of the Century

Chapter II: News of the Century

The next morning, there was a knock at the door right as Oasis had made up her mind to visit the gardens. "Queen Oasis," called a servant's muffled voice.

"Yes?" Oasis responded. "What is it?"

"Pardon me, milady, but your scouts have returned. They are requesting an audience with you immediately."

Immediately? Something must be very wrong if the scouts dared to be that bold. In regards to the queen, they normally didn't raise their voices at all, nevermind wanting an audience immediately.

"I'll be right there," the queen promised. Oh, well, she thought. I suppose the gardens will have to wait. She paused just long enough to glance at herself in the mirror to make sure she looked presentable before hurrying out and following the servant to the throne room.

The three SandWing scouts were waiting in their usual V-formation (or a triangle, Oasis could never tell which) and when they saw her approaching they bowed in unison, but the queen was so disturbed by this sudden change of life that she ordered them back up almost immediately.

"Is there something wrong, Qibli?" she asked the lead dragon.

Qibli was trying to catch his breath as quietly and quickly as possible, and accidentally gasped aloud when he heard his name. "Very disturbing news . . . my queen," he panted. "Several dragons in the Scorpion Den . . . have gone missing. Worse, there was a group of NightWings right . . . in the area just before they . . . disappeared."

"Was Smolder one of them?" Blister cut in suddenly. No one had noticed that she'd been overhearing the whole conversation. Oasis gave her daughter a scolding glare before turning back to Qibli, who shook his head. "No, Smolder is alright. He managed to escape."

"Didn't you fight?" Oasis asked, and Qibli's face turned mournful. "There was no time to. It all happened so fast, one moment everyone was standing around like normal, and the next . . ." He trailed off.

Oasis went still for a moment, thinking. Then she said, "Can you estimate the number of captured dragons, Qibli?"

"Around twenty, Your Highness."

Twenty?! What sort of conniving, low-fallen dragon got away with twenty captives? This truly was an urgent case.

"Do you want to go straight for the NightWings?" asked Thorn, the second-in-command. Her voice was soft and respectful, but a trace of genuine anger shone through. "You are the High Queen. You could demand they hand over the captives immediately."

"No," Oasis replied, surprising them. "We do not know if the NightWings are truly at fault. For now, gather the rest of the scouts. Send messengers to all the queens. Tell them what happened and say that I've given you orders to inspect their dungeons, in case a lie tries to surface. Now go!"

Qibli nodded and led the other two out. Once they were gone, Oasis turned to Blister, who wisely drew back. "Why did you sneak up on me like that? I've told you time and again not to disturb me when I have matters such as those."

"I wasn't going to," defended Blister, "but I overheard and I was concerned. Is that so wrong?"

"Concerned about one dragon in particular?" her mother countered. "Why should Smolder be any of your business?"

"Because I love him!"