Purple Dragon [REPUBLISHED]

Chapter 23: Reunion

"What's that?" Everett asked, gesturing to the scroll in Xaria's talons. They were all huddled in the dungeons.

"It's an order from the Chief," Xaria said, her mouth pursed.

"An order from the Chief?" Sabra asked. "Not for an execution, I hope. We've had enough of those."

"I agree," Edin said, his head bobbing up and down. "Wassit say?"

Xaria's eyebrows raised. "It's an order for a feast. A huge celebration for all members of court."

"Feast?" Edin's eyes got round. "Feast? Food? As in, actual-food-that-doesn't-taste-like-the-dirt-smelling-gruel-they've-been-feeding-us food?"

"Yes," Xaria said, chuckling.

"YIPPEE!" he squealed, dancing up and down. "I'm so hungry!" He bumped into Judd who grumbled.

"A little gruel never did anyone any harm," he mumbled. "You youngsters are too soft. Need to get tough."

"That's okay, Judd," Edin said, patting the old dragon on the back. "I'm already as tough as I can get." He flexed his muscles and struck a pose. Darrock rolled his eyes.

"Nice try, Edin," he said. "But this feast is for court members only. Which means prisoners do not partake in the festivities."

"What?" Edin's tail drooped. "No feast for us?"

"Sorry, bud," Xaria shrugged. "I'll try to sneak you a seal, but I might eat it." Edin scowled at her.

"Xaria," Amasya said. "They don't expect me attend, do they? The feast would be the perfect time to escape. We need to get out of here."

"No," she replied. "Chief Eira excused you from the celebration. You're in the clear."

Amasya was surprised, but relieved. "Why did she release me?" she asked suspiciously.

"I think she wants to keep you on the down low," Xaria said. "You're what she calls a 'valuable prisoner'."

"I can't think of what for," Amasya snorted. "I mean maybe she thinks I can use the magic of the Amethyst Egg. She has to know something about it. Naysa told us that she did."

"I have to go check on Cass," Xaria said hastily. "Maybe she knows something about this. It didn't say who are guests were. Eira only ever throws a celebration for special things: events or guests."

"Special guests?" Judd mused. "Who could they be?"

...

Eira stood silent and tall at the entrance of the Ice Palace. A nervous dragon flitted by her side.

"Stop fidgeting, Seal!" she hissed to her personal advisor. He was Cass's replacement, but she had done a much better job. Eira was eager for Cass's probation to end so she could take Seal's position. Though, the blubbering idiot had served her faithfully for years. Still, loyalty didn't exactly make up for stupidity.

"S-sorry M-mistress," he stuttered, fidgeting with his talons. The snot-slobbered dragon couldn't stand still for a moment. Eira rolled her eyes in annoyance.

"Talk to me," she demanded in a booming voice.

"Y-yes, well the i-ice on the l-lake is n-nearly melted. W-we will have to st-start water f-fishing soon and-"

"I couldn't care less about the lake! Talk to me about useful things, you no-good lump!" she snapped. She stood straighter, squinting her eyes to see if the Keslin troupe had arrived.

Seal jumped at her loud words. "Of c-course, M-Mistress. The K-Keslinians are t-two la-la-leagues away a-c-cording to my precise c-calculations and-"

"Aha!" Eira interrupted, her eyes glinting. "There they are!" Over the horizon a flag of green, blue, and white stripes waved. The official flag of Keslin. Rippling next to it, a white flag of truce waved. Figures appeared dotting the colorless landscape brown, green, and grey. The Chief strode in front followed by six guards.