Shadow's Rising {Wing 5} Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Hearth the Flame Wing Princess

“M-mother?” Smolder stammered. The queen gave an exacerbated sigh as she adjusted the hatchling in her lap.

“Yes. This is your baby sister. You knew I was trying to sire a legitimate heir ever since you hatched. I simply couldn’t find a male worthy of me. After you were taken, I had no choice but to choose the next best male. As it turned out, count Scorch was eager for the roll. He tried to find you for weeks after you disappeared and comforted me whenever he could. It must have been good fortune I choose him since the first egg we had together was female. She hatched just over a year after you left,” she said, petting Hearth on the head.

Smolder’s face twisted with a look of disgust and fury, but he quickly hid his emotions the best he could.

“He left some time ago saying this place didn't deserve him and never returned. He hardly did anything important as a noble anyway. After giving me an heir I didn’t much care for his company. In the end it seems all he wanted was my gold anyway,” she hissed bitterly under her breath.

“Who’s that?” Hearth asked pointing at Smolder who still seemed to be reeling from this revelation.

Jarid couldn’t possibly know what was going through his friend’s mind after hearing he had a sister, and she was the daughter of the one who betrayed him. Jarid put his hand on Smolder’s shoulder to let him know he was there.

“That disgrace is your brother Hearth.” Queen Sear said looking down her nose at her son. Jarid could feel his blood beginning to boil. This cruel tyrant was no mother to Smolder.

“Brother? Then why haven’t I seen him before?” Hearth asked curiously. The little dragonet was so pure and innocent Jarid couldn’t be mad at her for a moment. Her mother on the other hand.

“He let puny humans keep him from his duties. Probably letting them give him treats while he ignored his obligations.” Jarid could almost see the hot daggers that were the queen’s words stabbing his friend.

Smolder was still too stunned to reply and Jarid wanted to give her a piece of his mind, but he knew that would probably only make things worse.

“Oh.” The little dragonet said looking disappointed. “Will you still let him play with me? I…”

“No.” The queen cut her off. “You can go play in the corner with his human pet. Just don’t disturb us until we’re done talking.”

“Yay!” Hearth yelled in delight as she leapt off the queen’s lap and rushed towards Jarid.

“It’ll be alright. I’ll be here if you need me.” Jarid whispered before running to a corner of the room with Hearth hot on his heals. He wanted to help Smolder but had no idea how to do it. Dragon culture in general was still a mystery to him and he worried that he might make things worse. So, for now he would play with the young dragon so Smolder could explain things to Queen Sear.

Hearth was quite fast for such a young dragon and quickly caught up with him. Jarid had been too focused on the Queen to get a good look at her before. She was about as big as a large pony and had golden yellow scales speckled across her whole body. The rest of her was bright red except for her cheerful blue eyes and pale red wings.

“Aha!” She cried as she pounced at him. Jarid smiled and leapt to the side as Hearth flew past. Now that he was focused on playing with Hearth her childlike joy quickly helped him forget his anger at Queen Sear.

She was a feisty little dragon, and it wasn’t long before she was trying to wrestle with him. Jarid rolled around with her. Sometimes letting her win and sometimes tripping her up with a clever move. Hearth was growling happily and laughing as they played and soon Jarid was laughing as well. It reminded him of when Shadow was still a hatchling and all the games they used to play.

After a few minutes Hearth tired and sprawled out on her back. Jarid crouched down next to her head with a big smile.

“Wow. That was awesome,” Hearth panted. “You and Smolder must have a lot of fun. I wish I had some real friends like you,” she said wistfully. Jarid felt sad that she didn’t have any friends.

“Why don’t you have any friends? You’re great!” Jarid encouraged her. Hearth smiled sadly.

“I’m going to be queen someday and the queen must be un… um… un-biased. I think. They always say that if I have friends that I’ll treat them better than everyone else, and that will lead to favoritism and people not liking me and lots of bad things. But why? That’s not fair,” she pouted. Then her eyes widened, and she sat up so fast Jarid stumbled back. “You just talked!” She exclaimed.

“Uh… No, I didn’t.” Jarid quickly denied before realising just how dumb saying he couldn’t speak dragon using the dragon language was.

“Yes, you can. I just heard you. Hm, hm.” Hearth laughed with a wide grin. “You must be very smart to talk. Even I can’t speak words right all the time,” Hearth said with a smile.

“Thanks… I guess.” Jarid replied awkwardly. He didn’t know what he had been expecting to happen when these dragons learned he could speak their language, but this definitely wasn’t it. Surprise? Definitely. Fear and a desire to squash him? Probably. But not excited curiosity. Hearth was probably just too young. She was still innocent and accepting.

“Are there any other smart humans like you?” Hearth asked curiously. Jarid smiled and chuckled sadly to himself.

“There are a lot of humans smarter than me, but I think I’m the only one who can speak dragon.” Jarid answered.

“Really?! So, you’re like… super smart AND super special.” Hearth’s eyes widened with childish wonder.

“Yeah. I guess so.” Jarid replied shrugging. Hearth put her talons to her cheeks breathed in with amazement. Her mouth forming a big O. Then she ran across the throne room towards the throne.

“Mommy! Mommy! Brother’s human can talk! He really can! And he says that he’s the only one that can do it!” Hearth shouted excitedly. Interrupting the queen yet again.

“I told you to go play Hearth. No more silly stories either. You are a princess and princesses shouldn’t tell lies.” Sear reprimanded.

“But it isn’t a lie. I just talked to him,” Hearth cried as Jarid came up beside her. Hearth turned to him. “Please tell my mommy I am not lying,” she pleaded with tears in her eyes.

Jarid glanced from her, to the queen, to Smolder. The queen was looking at him with a bored expression while Smolder was staring at the floor with a resigned expression. His wings were drooping and his head hung down. Seeing him like that reminded Jarid just how annoyed he was with the queen.

“The princess is not lying your grace. I can indeed speak.” Jarid spoke defiantly. The queen was taken aback and seemed to be stammering as her whole world was overturned. Her wings fluttered and tail twitched uncontrollably for a moment while she sat on her throne. Jarid took the opportunity to speak his mind before she could recover.

“I have listened to the way you speak to Smolder. Disregarding the suffering your own son has endured in the hellish place I helped him escape from. I do not know how dragon’s treat their children, but I cannot stand by and watch the one who is supposed to support him through difficult times harm him any further. Smolder is my precious friend, and he should be treated with respect,” Jarid declared. The anger slowly fading as the queen absorbed what he had said.

“You… you dare speak to the queen of the Flame Wings in such a manner?” The queen seethed with barely controlled rage burning in her eyes. But Jarid didn’t let her intimidate him.

His own anger at her unjust treatment of Smolder burned in his own eyes as he retorted, “Yes, I do. Because I have seen how much your words have hurt Smolder, and I cannot stand by any longer to watch you hurt someone I respect and call my friend. He is worth nine of any other dragons and no one, whether it be the lowest beggar or the dragon queen, will convince me otherwise,” Jarid replied, standing his ground as he stared down the Flame Wing queen. Strangely, this seemed to calm her down a bit.

“Hmph. I suppose I should commend your forwardness and courage. Few could have stood before me and said what you did. I do not know what this foolish son of mine did to give such a brave creature that opinion of him, but I will give him a chance to prove himself to me,” Sear declared.

Jarid breathed a sigh of relief before the queen continued. “You intrigue me human. You seem quite at home around dragons yet most of your kind would attack or flee at the first sight of us. I know not why you have come, nor do I care to learn at the moment. It is obvious to me at this point that I will not be able to finish talking to Smolder while you and my daughter are in the room.”

She clapped her talons. “Guards,” she called, and the three guards entered from a side door.

“Yes, your majesty?” They asked bowing.

“Take my daughter back to her classes and ensure she doesn’t interrupt us again.” The queen began. The guards nodded and two of them took Hearth by the talons and dragged her out of the room. She complained and struggled for a bit before giving up and allowing them to lead her away.

“And take this human to the temple. Make sure no one tries to eat him. I have given the prince my word he will not be harmed. Then have the keeper of the temple provide him with whatever he needs while he is there. I may call upon him later for questioning and should he be in a worse condition your horns will be removed,” she said warningly to the guard who nodded stiffly.

“Yes, your majesty. This human will be delivered to the temple unharmed,” the guard replied as he turned to Jarid.

Jarid quickly grabbed his saddle and other belongings and strapped them to his back. He patted Smolder comfortingly on the shoulder one last time before following the guard out of the throne room.

Jarid walked beside the guard as he was led out of the throne room and through the castle. This time he was able to admire the artwork that had gone into its construction.

Most of the walls were covered in a thin layer of gold and many of the golden pillars and walls had carvings or jewels in them while both the floor and ceiling were made of polished red-and-black lava rock. Some of the rooms they passed were open and revealed furnishings or open windows.

The guard turned one last corner and led them out a broad archway. Jarid hadn’t been paying much attention as they entered the palace, but he knew instantly that this wasn’t the way they had come in. Just outside the palace was a short stretch of stone ground before it dropped away into the lake of lava.

It had seemed a lot smaller when he was looking at it from the safety of Smolder’s back in the sky, but now it splayed out menacingly before him. The light and heat made him want to shield his eyes, but he could make out the temple in the distance.

There was one long road of black lava rock just wide enough for a single dragon to walk down which led out to an island in the center of the lake on which the temple was built. The heat rising off the lava rock made the air so hazy it looked like the temple was going in and out of focus.

The guard strolled out onto the narrow walkway without pause and Jarid followed after a moment’s hesitation. The heat seemed to double the moment he left the shore, and even allowing the magic to flow through him wasn’t enough to make the heat bearable. Jarid thought this must be how the horseshoes felt when he was holding them over the forge while his father worked the bellows.

His entire body was becoming slick with sweat, and he was starting to get dizzy as well, but he had to push through and hope that the inside of the temple was cooler than this. Otherwise, meeting the dragon born would kill him before it could save him.

By the time they were halfway across the lake of lava Jarid was panting and the saddle he had picked up with one hand before now took two to carry. He could see steam rising from every drop of sweat that hit the ground.

When they reached the far end of the path Jarid’s legs felt like jelly and even the Flame Wing beside him was getting tired. His scales were shining, though Jarid wasn’t sure if it was sweat or simply the heat making them look that way.

The doors to the temple were made of ruby inlaid with sapphire and diamond. Some great dragon craftsmen had put a lot of money and effort into making this door very grand indeed. Sadly, Jarid couldn’t stop to admire the temple as the heat had nearly overwhelmed him. The dragon guard banged loudly on the door.

“Keeper! Keeper, open the door! I have a guest here who wishes to see the temple!” The guard shouted banging the door again. Jarid came up alongside the dragon and stood shaking as his legs threatened to buckle beneath him. The only thing keeping Jarid on his feet now was the fear of letting his bare skin touch the sizzling ground.

Soon the door opened, and an old dragon, yet not as old as Vitrifon, peered out.

“Cease your banging I heard you the first time,” the dragon growled glaring at the guard for a moment.

“Now who might this guest be?” the dragon asked, looking around before his eyes fixed on Jarid. “No…” he whispered in shock.

“Yes. Now let him in so I can return to the queen. Her son has returned, and she is speaking with him even now so I must be off in case she needs me. Oh, and her majesty has ordered that the human be given food and accommodations until she calls for it,” The guard said pushing Jarid slightly to help him towards the door.

“Smolder has returned!” The old dragon exclaimed.

Jarid stumbled towards the door with the last of his strength. He needed to get inside the temple. His only thought being to get out of the oppressive heat.

“Oh right.” The old dragon said apologetically as he opened the door wider to allow Jarid entry. “And you must send someone to inform me of how the prince is faring. Hmmm. I may even drop by the palace myself. Please inform the guard that I may do so.” The old dragon continued as Jarid staggered inside.

The guard nodded stiffly and turned to leave while the old dragon closed the door.

The inside of the temple was far cooler than even the Flame Wing city. It felt like an enormous weight he had been struggling against had just been lifted. Jarid sighed with relief and collapsed on top of his saddle before rolling onto his back. The smooth floor of the temple was cool which felt nice, but the roof looked like it was spinning.

The old dragon peered down at Jarid with concern.

“How did you end up here?” he muttered to himself. Then he shook his head as if to clear it.

“Right. Let’s get you some water. I’m sure you must be dying of thirst.”

The old dragon started walking further into the temple. Jarid tried to follow but he could barely manage to flop over and reach out to the old dragon.

The old dragon chuckled. “Don’t worry. I’ll be back soon. Just rest up. You made it.”

Jarid let himself relax. His last thought was how wonderful the cool stone felt against his face