Conquest : A Wings of Fire Fanfiction

20. Allies

 Only a few years back, Tsunami would've talked loudly and gesticulated unnecessarily and interrupted or whatever - Sandstorm knew that from experience, since she'd known Tsunami from the age of two, and Tsunami's son from the age of three. 

Now Tsunami was cultured and patient, and although her fiery temper still showed, she wasn't so brash anymore. Ivory began from the beginning, starting with Moon's injury and kidnapping. Tsunami's jaw clenched, but she didn't say a word. 

Ivory talked about everything smoothly until she came to the part about Sandstorm rescuing Moon from that cavern, and she couldn't say anything anymore. 

Sandstorm quickly butted in and continued the story, although she had to admit to herself, with an inward wince, that she didn't sound as convincing and charismatic as Ivory - and Maelstrom. 

Maybe it was a quality all of royalty was born with, along with a sense of obnoxiousness and arrogance, and a complete disregard for feelings. 

Not all royalty, of course - there was Prince Turtle, who was really sweet and nice and had been kind to Sandstorm no matter how rude and sarcastic she was. 

Then again, Turtle was a clumsy, stuttering, shy, turtle-like dragon with four left feet (no insult to Turtle, of course, but Kinkajou was much swifter on her talons). 

Perhaps all that grace and charm and ethereal, cold beauty came with a price - a price dearly paid by those around the said royal dragon. 

Sandstorm skipped all the touchy-feely, emotional parts, knowing Tsunami wouldn't care much for it. She also completely neglected mentioning Blizzard. 

When she was done, Tsunami stared at her for a long moment. 'So,' she said slowly, 'these - Mutineers - are like a cult, I suppose. And they have branches in every Kingdom?' Sandstorm nodded. 

Tsunami frowned again. She stood up and went towards the back, where the drawers and chests were located. 

After rummaging around in one of them, she pulled out several thick scrolls, all tied with fancy red ribbons and with official-looking gold crests stamped on them. Tsunami placed them on the wooden table. 

'You mentioned the Allies, right?' asked Tsunami, and when they all nodded, she untied one of the ribbons and opened the scroll. Laying it flat on the table, she said, 'I think you'll be interested in this.' 

Sandstorm leaned forward. 

At the top of the page, thick black letters boldly proclaimed 'The Allies'. 

Beneath it was written, We hereby proclaim that our sole duty is to offer protection and assistance for the benefit of the seven dragon tribes of Pyrrhia against all exterior threats with damaging intentions of any form. 

There was more minuscule writing under it, all of which looked formal and important and made Sandstorm's head spin. 

'A few weeks back, these were sent to every Kingdom,' explained Tsunami, gesturing at the other scrolls with the gold seal and red ribbons. 

'At first, I thought it was very - shady, if you may call it that. It seemed unlikely that these Allies would ever offer help to us. After all, the Talons of Peace had much the same intention, yet did nothing at all.' 

She said the words with a fierce conviction, as if daring them to challenge her. They didn't. Mostly because they liked themselves the way they were and didn't want to be disembowelled. 

'However, at a meeting with the other queens, I learnt that they had also received these offers of help. It all seemed highly suspicious - until there was an attack on a SeaWing town, and suddenly strange dragons appeared out of nowhere and repelled the attack with ease. They disappeared after the attack, leaving only a note signed the Allies.'