Frostbane

Chapter 2

4 years later..

Pevim soared above the canyon, scanning the dark rocks and steep cliffs.

Where is it? He said a blue lantern in the window of a watchtower, but I don't see a—

A glimmer in the corner of his eye caught his attention, and Pevim turned his head to see a lone watchtower standing vigilant in the night. A flickering blue orb of light sat in the windowsill.

There.

He took a sharp turn towards the large watchtower. Diving down, he carefully maneuvered through the large window overlooking the canyon and landed inside the circular building.

A shadowy figure waited inside. Invisible eyes from where the dragon waited roved over Pevim, appraising him.

"Well?"

"I cashed in a lot of favors for this. Apparently, your whelp was taken in by Thawe, Your Majesty, but there's been," Pevim hesitated, knowing the dragon didn't like bad news very much, but continued, "a complication. Apparently, Thawe has two other daughters, both older than her. Shamrock and Lonyl are their names."

"Morsel frost," the outline muttered, turning away from him. "This completely overthrows my plans. If she doesn't take over the throne.." The voice drifted off into silence.

"What do I do?"

There was silence for a moment, then a dark form emerged from the shadows, purple eyes glinting with the light of a thousand fires.

"Kill the sisters, but leave my daughter be, unless she becomes a complication. If she does end up dying, I still have a son. The backup plan will be set in motion, and things will commence as they should."

Pevim ducked his head in a sign of acknowledgement before turning and leaping onto the windowsill. Killing fledglings wasn't his exact bargain of the devil, but he was getting paid his weight in gold to finish this job.

"Oh, and one more thing." The black dragon called after him.

He turned back to see the figure had once again retreated to the shadows. "Yes?"

"Don't fail me. I don't like failures very much, Pevim. You of all dragons should know that." Purple eyes flicked to a scar slicing across Pevim's right eye.

He shivered a little, remembering the way the shadow dragon's claws had ripped across his face after he had nearly been discovered in Glacies territory by a patrolling guard.

"Of course." Pevim murmured, nodding respectfully before crouching down and taking off into the air.

He didn't know what the bizarre dragon's plans were, but Pevim could feel an uneasy prickling sensation inch up his spine as he surfaced above the clouds.

-

Nocturne awoke to silence and darkness.

Where was she?

A cold wing curled around her more securely, and she remembered.

She was in the ice castle, with the Thawe's daughter.

He was nice, like her mom was. Maybe he was her dad, like he said he was.

Maybe.

Nocturne nestled against Shamrock's side and closed her eyes again, content.

The door creaked, jolting her awake again. She moved her head a little and saw a shadowy figure slip inside the room.

Nocturne's heart lurched in fear.