Wings of Fire: The Forgotten World

chapter 13

By CamsterDragon
Hemlock's POV

Looking down at the unconscious Sunwing, Hemlock felt sorry for what he had done. She had really put up a good fight, and he had only attacked her for fear of what she might do. This won't turn into what happened with the Darkest Flame. He winced as he recalled the terrified look on Razorrain's face.

Turning to the sheet of paper, he asked, "What is this dragon's name?"

A pause and then, "Hemlock, Cloudwing prince, this is the Sunwing Pleiades who was smuggled out of her tribe for having too much poison."

Hemlock nodded his head. "Did my sister come to see her?"

Another pause. "Your sister came here once while Pleiades was sleeping, but didn't do anything of harm."

"Thanks." Then, after a moment of pause, he asked, "How can I get my animus powers back and save the world from the Darkest Flame?"

"By my knowledge, the only way to get back animus powers is by another animus dragon, the best option being your sister Frost, giving them back to you. As for the Darkest Flame, my analysis shows that your best option would to either let the authorities handle it after you tell them you provided the animus touched objects," Hemlock crossed that option out in his mind. "Or to gain back your animus powers."

Hemlock groaned. "So I lose both ways."

"Yes." Hemlock glared at the paper, not needing an answer.

Once again, he looked down at Pleiades. I can't just leave her here. The authorities would arrest her for using animus weapons. But... He sighed and looked to the ceiling. "Is there any way my sister won't realize I'm here?"

"She already has." Hemlock whipped around to see the furious Frost standing in the doorway.

Hemlock grinned weakly. "If I said I was trying to stop her, would you believe me?"

Hemlock remembered all too well the cold look in Frost's eyes of grim determination when she had condemned him before. Seeing it again sent a shiver of fear up his spine. "No. I have enough evidence in front of me to show you clearly used your animus items. As such, I'm putting both of you in jail for a day."

"Both of us?" echoed Hemlock. Then, he frowned. "And, only a day?" asked Hemlock, slightly confused.

"Do you want me to add more?" she growled. Hemlock shrunk back. Once again, he was surprised at the sudden shift in Frost's mood.

"No," he replied meekly.

"Good." She picked up the iron staff lying on the ground and held it out to Hemlock, making sure it also touched Pleiades. "Have this transport us to the dungeons." Hemlock nodded and quietly imagined the place in his mind. Almost instantly, they arrived, Frost grabbing back the staff as though Hemlock would try and use it again. "Put her into that cell," she commanded, pointing at the cell to their left.

"But, she'll burn me," Hemlock protested.

"Do. It. Now." Sighing, he carefully grabbed Pleiades by the horns and dragged her into the cell, grunting as her heavy weight slid across the ground. Once he was finished, Frost pointed to the cage in front of her, and Hemlock reluctantly went inside.

After Frost locked them up and left, Hemlock sighed and leaned against the wall. This time, I'm not sure what I did wrong. She didn't even give me a chance to explain.

A shifting noise next to him caused him to look over at the cell to his right. Pleiades was obviously stirring from the horrible shock she had received. Bracing himself, Hemlock stared ahead of him stiffly.

"Where am I?" Pleiades croaked. She tried again. "Where. Am. I?"

"Cloudwing prison," Hemlock replied, still staring ahead of him.

"WHAT?!" she yelled, then calmed herself. "No prison can hold me." Hemlock waited as Pleiades got up and walked over to the bars. He smelled burning and then, nothing. "Why can't I burn through these bars?" she asked coldly.

"They were enchanted by my sister to be indestructible by both animus and physical attacks."

"Your sister? Is she the one who locked me.." she paused. "Wait, you're locked up too? Aren't you a prince?"

"Yes."

"So why are you here?"

Hemlock took a shaky breath in and finally turned to face Pleiades. Her face was still enraged, but her eyes also shown with curiosity. "I wasn't supposed to go in that cave." He shrugged. "Too many of my animus weapons could've been in there. But.." He knew he should stop talking, but Pleiades was so easy to confess to. "I didn't want you to use the weapons. No dragon should have them." He hung his head and whispered. "Not even me."

"So your own sister locked you up for using your animus powers?" she asked dryly.

"Yeah, pretty much." Hemlock sighed and looked forward again, smelling many dragons coming their way. Great. Just great.

Around the corner came all the tribal leaders, placing their furious glares on him. "Consulting with the enemy, were you?" sneered Razorrain. "Of course a pathetic weakling who couldn't even keep his powers would go back to the most powerful animus wielder." Hemlock winced. He was only slightly relieved that they didn't know he was said powerful animus. He was more concerned that they thought he was in league with the Darkest Flame. Did Frost lie to them? That's new, even for her.

Glancing over at Pleiades, he saw she was digesting this new piece of information about him. If I can put all the blame on myself, maybe she can go back to how she was living before. I'll be condemned either way. "Shatteredmoon probably managed to get a spy in each one of our tribes," growled Dragonkiller. "He's grown more powerful than I could've thought he could be."

"Well, we know the slime in Cloudwing kingdom now at least," replied Nova. "Not very surprised. Some Cloudwings just don't have a backbone." Hemlock took the scorn with a bowed head, for once not having any anger to back his words.

"Surely you can't let him stay in this cage," scoffed Sidewinder. "Your daughter was too kind sentencing only one day. He should have a harsher sentence." Hemlock winced. So that was Frost's plan. Play innocent while everyone else gives me a much harsher sentence.

"I'd say leave him here for a week, maybe question him too," Nova said.

"He deserves worse, but I guess that's good for now," replied Razorrain. Murmurs of consent came from the other leaders.

"Well then, I sentence Hemlock to a week in jail for treason," decreed SnowyOwl.

The leaders left shortly after. Hemlock let out his pent up breath. At least they didn't blame Pleiades...