The skywing swiftly closed his wing, careful not to touch the rainwing. He pulled out a metal collar- it having two chains coming off and a small weight for the guards to hold. It was long enough that the two would be able to fly well enough, but when they got to the ground it would be hitched on metal in the arena. He put the wooden end of his spear over the rainwing's snout, pinning them to the bars long enough to get the collar on. He removed the spear as fast as he whipped it out, growling when it was slightly burned from remaining acid. He grabbed the chain and the other skywing unlocked the ones for the prison.
They each grabbed the chain on either side of the collar, closing the prison door and locking it when the chameleon came out.
"It might have been more fun as a surprise, but...this isn't the
Mudwing or
Rainwing kingdom."
He said the other tribes with an air of disgust, nodding to the guard and the two possibly dragging Wonderberry to the edge.
"We're flying there. The entrance."
Pretty busy with all the your highnesses and whatever other jeweled idiots are visiting. You're lucky, rainwing, won't have to wait at all.
He nodded his head at the bustling arena bellow, loosening his grip on the chain slightly to grab onto a farther part of it.
"Try anything, and you won't have to worry about living or dying in the arena."
The other butted in, fastening his darts to his armour. It was clear he didn't mean running home free.
Below, the ringmaster was waiting, looking up at Stratus's looming shadow.
"Take this shift, they said. It's always fun when it's busy, they said."
He wiped his sweaty palms, eyes flicking up nervously.
-*-
Stratus, Arena, Alptraum and Crocodike
Stratus let out a thin air of smoke, relaxing her muscles and thrumming her talons against the stone. She knew this was bad news. She also knew what no escape routes found might mean when the guards are looking for any explanation to save their heads, glancing and narrowing her eyes for a split second at the king. She turned to the guard, breath hot and tone stiff, rising at intervals.
"The king has already sent another to search. I hope you know how close you'll be getting to the best view of the fighting below if she comes back with the seawing in tow. Kill every rainwing on the third pyre's second stage and have those guards go out and
search. The King's relative
will be found, and this little misunderstanding
will be cleared. You
will find out how she escaped and you
will have the problem fixed. You are dismissed. And
you, I don't know what you're still here for. I'm giving you a single chance to clear things up on the notice I'd rather keep as many of you alive as possible, but I might change my mind and throw you down in this arena myself if you keep dawdling like a lost cow."
She whirled around and pointed a polished talon at the clumsy guard for the last part, before turning to the two other royals with an expression of deep calm, as if she hadn't just threatened the two behind her.
This is beyond embarrassing.
I need to talk to whoever is running the training these days, get someone competent to take over. Guards, overlooking when someone escapes, without a trace or not. I have plenty of proof my guards are idiots, but. A seawing royal. This time it may not even be a scam.
She put a talon under her chin, looking slightly annoyed and clearly thinking about how her guards were incompetent. She took another sip as Crocodile spoke.
You try gathering up prisoners that aren't rainwings without starting a fight. You don't even think about the fact I had to find records on every seawing or icewing that claimed they were important and kill any that weren't seen as traitors. Do either of you have a full time running arena? That's what I thought.
"I believe you said Possibility was the main trading town of the sandwings, Alptraum, but others might try to spare aid for the sandwings. Though they would be crippled already, I plan to also keep an eye on that, although I wouldn't take action for fear of retaliation unless things get out of talon. The sandwings will be seeking allies desperately-, I am disgusted to say I have not contacted anyone else about alliance. Perhaps one of you have?"
She looked into the goblet's liquid, swirling it.
Not thought of it until now? Is he trying to stumble his way into being a good ruler? No wonder he gave part of his kingdom to Alptraum. The whole thing could be falling apart.
She pressed her mouth together, trying not to lower her expectations of the king too much. It was clear he ruled well, and his ruthlessness towards the sandwings showed how far he would go to keep his kingdom on top and the others far below. It was a useful skill in an alliance, not so much alone with the royal line gone and no animus's. She snorted, amused. She might have laughed if this wasn't her ally saying a few forms of self doubt.
"Well, it couldn't have clicked in a better moment. Grasp the opportunity you see, fear it turns and bites you in the eye later on, hmm?"
He must have something planned. He is smart to ally with those already against the sandwings, but how he was willing to part with control, I'll never know. Perhaps he's even dissapointed in himself that he turned out to be a king instead of a queen.
She drilled her talons on the stone again, before looking at the two before her. She leaned towards the arena.
"Tell you what, I was hoping to have a finally of sorts, but there's a few in the cells I was debating on I can save for that. Evergreen, tell the ringmaster to throw in the ones for the next round all together. Actually, the winners of the next two rounds can fight Bittern. Throw in Irone after that, work them to death, I have no doubts whoever wins will put on a show. I hate to bore my guests."
She waved a guard off, signaling for another to take their place this time. She lowered her head, smiling slightly with the thought of the fight.
—
