(updating after i finish others)Wings Of Fire: Invincible

Prologue

THIS IS THE EPILOGUE OF DRAGONSLAYER

UNDAUNTABLE

From the window of the throne room, Undauntable could see half the world, and he found it aggravating. 

There were the jagged teeth of the mountain range stretching north to south, full of dragons who might eat Wren. There was the blue-green river winding away toward the sea, the one Wren always followed when she left. There was the forest that was supposed to magically produce her again, any moment, but there was no sign of her and she kept not being there, moment after moment, day after day. 

It had been fifty-nine days he'd proposed to her and she had stormed off. If she stayed away a full year again, that meant hundreds of days like this, long and boring and Wren-less.

But she can't, he thought to himself. She didn't get the supplies she needed. She doesn't have any books to read So she has to come back sooner.

It was not all right with him that she cared more about the books than seeing Undauntable, but she'd have to come back to the Indestructible City.

And maybe next time, she'll stay.

The spiked helmet was oppressively hot and the spikey jacket was worse, jabbing him at weird places whenever he shifted his weight. He could feel sweat rolling down his back and gathering in his armpits. But he was only allowed to sit by the window if he wore his spikes, and this was where he had to sit if he wanted to see her coming. 

Sometimes, Undauntable wondered what it would happen if he decided to leave with her one day. What if he snuck away from his guards and followed her to wherever she went when she left him? He had no idea where that was. He'd always imagined a  small village down the river somewhere, but sometimes she would say and buy things that made him think she lived alone, travelling around instead of staying in one place. 

What would that be like? Seeing a new place every day, instead of the same walls over and over again?

It would be terrifying. Without the walls, the dragons could get you. Without the catapults and spikes and guards and weapons, you'd be the easiest prey they ever ate. Staying in the Indestructible City was the only way to stay safe. Undauntable knew that was true. Hew was terrified for Wren all the time; every time he heard a dragon overhead, he wondered if it had Wren in its claws. It made no logical sense that she'd survived all these years out there. 

It made even less sense that she would choose that life instead of safety with him. 

He heard movement behind him and turned to see his father entering the throne room with his usual entourage of councillors and sycophants. The Invincible Lord spotted Undauntable and beckoned imperiously.

Undauntable sighed and took off his helmet. he knew his hair must be slick and dishevelled, and that his father was judging his appearance as he approached. The lord looked perfect as always, each dark hair combed into a thick royal mane, rings on every long thin finger, ruby-red robes without a wrinkle in sight. 

They reached the throne in the centre of the room at the same time and Undauntable made a polite bow. 

"Father, "he said.

"Sit with me, boy, "his father said, indicating one of the stools beside the throne. "Apparently we have a visitor with a story worth hearing."