Wings of Fire Book Three: The Hidden Kingdom (12 page)

Why was there a NightWing here, of all places? Glory glided quietly away and landed softly out of his sight. Her curiosity was too strong to resist, so she needed a disguise. The only logical dragons that should be wandering around here were IceWings and maybe some of their SandWing allies.

She closed her eyes and remembered the IceWing who had fought Clay in the arena. Fjord. The first dragon she’d killed with her venom. She’d had no choice; he’d been moments away from kill ing Clay. Plus she’d had no idea what her venom would do. She’d just known instinctively that she could do something, that she had to do something — that she had a weapon she’d never known about.

Starflight thought that perhaps she couldn’t have used her venom under the mountain anyway. He said it might have been activated by finally exposing her scales to full sunlight, the way Clay’s fireproof abilities had come to full strength once he’d encountered mud for the first time.

Glory couldn’t help but wonder how different life might have been if she could have threatened the guardians the way they threatened her.

Focus. Fjord.

His pale blue scales, the color of sky-filled snow. His darker blue eyes. She felt the changes shimmer across her scales. The hardest part was the extra horns IceWings had around their heads. She concentrated on making her ruff look like it was made of icicles and hoped that would do. She also couldn’t make her claws ridged like IceWing claws, and her tail wasn’t as whip-thin at the end as an IceWing’s would be.

Maybe this is a bad idea. Maybe there’s no way I’ll get away with it.

But it was still pretty dark out . . . and she really, really wanted to know what a NightWing was doing out here.

Well
, she thought ruefully,
if he figures me out, I guess I’ll just kill him.

Somehow it didn’t sound as funny as she’d hoped.

She leaped into the air and flew back to the spot where she’d seen the strange dragon. For a moment she was afraid she’d lost him, before she realized that he was lying down, his black scales half-hidden in the long shadows.

Confidence
, she told herself.
It’s all about attitude.

“Hey!” she barked, landing with a thump beside him. “Who are you, and what are you doing in our territory?”

The NightWing leaped up in surprise and stared at her. He was a lot younger and smaller than Morrowseer, wiry and graceful in his movements even when he was startled. The silver scales sparkling under his wings caught the morning light like trapped stars.

“Great moons. Where did you come from?” he asked. He looked up at the sky with a puzzled expression.

“Where do you think?” she said. “And I’m asking the questions here. What are you doing in the Ice Kingdom?”

“Technically this isn’t the Ice Kingdom yet,” he said. “Or didn’t you know that?”

It isn’t?
she thought. The map she’d memorized didn’t exactly have borders drawn on it, not that those would have helped her out here anyway.

“You’re close enough,” she growled. “Explain yourself.” She wished she had a spear or something she could poke at him.

“It
will
be Ice Kingdom territory one day,” said the NightWing. “If Blaze wins the war, that is. She’s promised Queen Glacier all the land you can see from here to the southern horizon — basically where the desert starts.” He pointed, but Glory stopped herself from looking and kept her eyes on him.

The NightWing smiled. “I suppose you know all that,” he said. “But it’s interesting, isn’t it? That’s a lot of land Blaze is willing to hand over. But not exactly useful land to either tribe, so what would Queen Glacier want with it? Do you think there’s trea sure under these rocks? That would be my guess. A diamond mine, perhaps. Maybe you know. Maybe all the IceWings know and are wisely keeping it a secret from Blaze and her SandWings.” He gave her a wry, clever look as if he’d just opened up her mind and spread it out on the rocks for them to admire together.

A horrible sinking feeling shot through Glory. She’d forgotten that NightWings could read minds.
Some
NightWings, she reminded herself. Certainly not Starflight. And she thought not Morrowseer, judging from his lack of reaction to all the thoughts she’d had about him. Maybe this dragon was one who could see the future instead.

Still, she forced every thought out of her mind except
What are you doing here?

“Answer my questions, NightWing,” she said. “Or I’ll take you to Queen Glacier and you can explain yourself to her.”

“That wouldn’t be a good idea,” he said. “You really don’t want the rest of my tribe to come looking for me.”

“And
you
really don’t want to sit in a dungeon made of ice until they show up, which would most likely be sometime
after
you froze to death,” she pointed out. “So tell me what you’re doing here, and perhaps I’ll let you go. Win-win.”

He tilted his head, looking amused.

“All right,” he said after a moment. “I’m waiting for someone. Well, a few someones.”

“Who?” she asked.

“I can’t tell you that,” he said. “NightWing business, I’m afraid. I’m on an assignment.”

“I didn’t know NightWings had ‘business,’ ” Glory said. “I thought you just skulked around in your secret location congratulating one another on knowing every thing and doing nothing.”

The NightWing started laughing. “Nobody talks to us like that!” he said. “Where’s your sense of awe? Your terror of our powers?” He spread his wings majestically, but his eyes were teasing.

“If your powers were that impressive, you’d do something to stop this war,” she said. “Also, I’m the one with the — uh, the freezing death breath here.” She’d nearly slipped and said venom . . . but either way, it was true; NightWing powers weren’t that spectacular when it came to an actual battle. Starflight’s were downright pathetic.

“Maybe we’ll help stop the war someday,” he said. “Maybe we haven’t picked a side yet — like the dragonets of the prophecy.”

Glory kept her face calm and bored. “That old thing,” she said. “I don’t believe in prophecies. Sorry, I know they’re a NightWing specialty, but seriously? If you can actually see the future, why be all cryptic and vague about it? Why not give us a prophecy that’s like, ‘Oh, by the way, Blaze is going to win the war, so give her the crown now and don’t even bother fighting about it.’ Skip all the death and bloodshed. And leave a bunch of poor dragonets out of it.”

The NightWing laughed again. “You feel sorry for the dragonets,” he said. “That’s interesting. I’ve seen a lot of that around Pyrrhia, actually. Everyone expects so much of them, but they also think it’s a heavy burden for five young dragons. I wonder if the dragonets would be surprised by all the sympathy for them.” He looked thoughtful for a moment, then yawned. “You haven’t seen any sign of them here, have you? Rumor has it they were headed for the Ice Kingdom next.”

“Really?” Glory said impassively. “Why?”

“To meet Blaze, I suppose,” he said. “So . . . are they here? In Queen Glacier’s dungeon already, perhaps?”

“Nope,” Glory said. “No sign of them. None at all.” She thought of snowstorms and sheets of ice, blocking the way to all her other thoughts.

He studied her for a moment. “Right,” he said. “Well. They couldn’t have gotten here that fast anyway. It’s a long way from the Kingdom of the Sea.”

“How do you know they were there?” Glory asked. “Oh, wait, I forgot. NightWings are all-knowing, all-seeing, and all-brilliant, right?”

“Don’t forget all-wonderful and all-handsome,” he said.

She snorted to cover her laugh. “How would anyone know that, when you all stay hidden away like turtles?” she said. “Seriously, come hang out with dragons in the real world sometime.”

“Is that an invitation?” he asked. “I probably have a day or two before the — before my work can begin. I wouldn’t mind seeing the inside of an IceWing tavern, if you’ll be there.”

Glory felt a shiver of danger slip along her spine.

“So let me get this straight,” she said. “You’re telling me nothing about why you’re here, but you expect me to bring you into our kingdom and buy you a drink. NightWings really do think highly of themselves, don’t they?”

“What if I bought
you
that drink?” he offered.

“Oh, then I’m sure Queen Glacier would understand, no problem,” Glory said. “She loves strange dragons in her territory. It’s her very favorite thing.”

The NightWing smiled a little wistfully. “All right,” he said. “Never mind. But maybe you could come back and see me sometime. I’ll be here for a few more days at least, probably, and it’s pretty boring just sitting here.”

“Waiting for your mysterious someones,” Glory said. “Which you’re not going to tell me anything more about.”

He spread his wings. “Sorry. I wish I could. I bet my job would impress you.”

“I’m not easily impressed,” Glory said, and was surprised when he laughed again. “Well . . . good luck with your assignment, I suppose.”

“What’s your name?” he asked as she took a step back.

“Sorry, I can’t tell you that,” she said mockingly. “IceWing business.”

“Who knew sarcasm could grow in a place this cold?” he said with a smile. “Will you tell me your name if I tell you mine?”

“Nope,” she said. “Frankly, I’m not that interested.” She turned her back and spread her wings.

“I’ll tell you anyway,” he said as she lifted into the sky. “If you’ll come see me again! Will you?”

“Maybe,” she called back. “I’m pretty busy.”

“My name,” he called. She slowed down to listen, but didn’t look back.

“My name is Deathbringer.”

Deathbringer.

Waiting for someone. A few someones.

You haven’t seen any sign of the dragonets, have you?

Glory’s head was spinning as she flew away. Was the NightWing here waiting for
them
?

Deathbringer.
Seriously?

The only dragon she knew of who the NightWings wanted dead was her. As soon as Morrowseer had laid eyes on her, back under the mountain, he’d decided she was going to mess up the prophecy. So he’d ordered the guardians to kill her, which was why she and the others had escaped. Had he sent Deathbringer to finish the job? Why waste all that energy hunting her down?

But Deathbringer had sounded as if he was waiting for more than just her. She wondered if that meant the other dragonets were in danger, too. Surely the NightWings wouldn’t kill off any of them.
That
had to mess up the prophecy much more dramatically than Glory could.

She landed next to her friends and nearly gave Starflight a heart attack.

“IceWing!” he yelped, flailing over backward. Tsunami leaped to her feet, teeth bared. “Look out! It’s — oh.” Starflight took a deep breath as Glory’s scales shifted back to brown and gray. “Glory! Why would you
do
that to me?”

“Because it’s hilarious,” she said. “And shhh.” She thought they were far enough away from Deathbringer, but she wasn’t completely sure how far sound would carry in the cold, crisp air.

“You looked very sparkly,” Sunny said sleepily.

“I nearly clobbered you with my tail,” Tsunami said in a severe voice.

“And I nearly bit your snout when you were snoring last night,” Glory said. “So I guess we’re both models of self-restraint. Jambu, wake up.” She poked her brother, who was the only one who’d slept through Starflight’s alarm.

“Too cold,” he mumbled, flopping one wing over his head.

“Too bad,” she said and poked him again. “Besides, if you get up and move you’ll feel warmer.”

“More sleeping,” he insisted, folding the other wing over his head as well.

Glory sighed and left him alone. “Starflight,” she asked, “do you have any idea how literal a NightWing’s name is? Like, does it always signal something about what they do?”

The other dragonets started getting up and stretching. Starflight scratched his head. “Well, there’s Morrowseer,” he said. “He can see the future and deliver prophecies, so that’s what ‘seeing’ the ‘morrow’ is about.”

“Yes, thank you,” Glory said. “I figured that one out.”

“But did they know he’d be a prophet when they named him?” Sunny asked curiously. “Not all NightWings are. So how would they know that?”

“Maybe another prophet foresaw it,” Tsunami joked.

Starflight poked at the frozen ground with one claw. “I don’t know any more than that,” he said. “Morrowseer hasn’t told me any NightWing tribe secrets. And you’ve read all the same scrolls I have.”

“True,” Glory said. “Lots of epic nonsense about wonderful NightWings. They all have these awkward mouthful names. I think in the stories their names do usually match their skills, if I remember right.”

“Why are you asking?” Starflight tilted his head at her.

“Because I just met one,” Glory said, “and I thiiiiiiink he’s here to kill us. Well, me, at least.”

That
got their attention in a hurry. She told them about Deathbringer and every thing he’d said. Almost every thing, anyhow. She didn’t want them to figure out that she’d thought he was kind of cute. That is, before she realized he was there to kill her.

“Let’s get out of here,” Starflight said when she finished. “Let’s fly south right now and get back to the rainforest as fast as possible.”

Jambu poked his nose out hopefully. “I like that plan,” he offered.

“It does sound like the warmest plan. But what about Mangrove?” Clay asked with a shiver.

“I saw something else,” Glory said. “I think it’s where Blaze and her army must be camping out.” She described the building she’d seen. Starflight and Tsunami both nodded.

“Makes sense to me,” said Tsunami. “Blaze would need a place of her own. She couldn’t survive a day in Glacier’s palace.”

“Right. It’s built mostly of ice, so she wouldn’t even be able to use her fire there,” Starflight mused.

“So here’s what I’m thinking,” Glory said. “I’m sure Mangrove saw this place, too. He’ll head right for it, probably camouflage himself and sneak in looking for Orchid. So I’ll go after him and bring him back, while you guys hide somewhere Deathbringer won’t find you, and then we all fly south as fast as possible.”

“Wait, by yourself?” Clay said. “Can’t one of us go with you?”

“Who?” Glory said. “Who else can disguise herself as an IceWing?”

Her friends all looked at Jambu, who blinked sleepily.

“
And
be helpful,” Glory added.

“I can be helpful,” Jambu said with a yawn. “I bet I’m better at spotting camouflaged RainWings than you are.”

Glory hesitated. That actually did sound useful. She wasn’t really sure how she intended to find Mangrove on her own.

“You can do that?” she said.

“It’s a game we play starting when we’re dragonets,” Jambu said. “One dragonet camouflages herself, and whoever sees her first, wins. So no guarantees, but it’s probably more practice than you’ve had.”

She thought for a moment and shook her head. “It’s too dangerous. I can take care of myself, and I don’t need any help.”

“Glory,” Clay said in a sort of amiably threatening voice. “You take him, or we’re all coming with you.”

Glory could tell by the looks on their faces that this was true. Stupid heroic we’re-a-team idiots. “All right, fine. We’ll go in camouflaged, but I want to make sure you can look like an IceWing, too. Try matching what I’m doing.” She let her scales shimmer back into her IceWing disguise.

Clay winced, and she guessed he’d recognized which dragon she’d used as a model. Watching Fjord die in front of him couldn’t have been any easier for him than for her.

“Now make your scales a bit whiter,” Glory said to Jambu, “so we’re not exactly the same. And shift around the fake icicle horns.” She stepped back and studied him. “I think that’ll do. Can you remember that if we need to become IceWings?”

“Sure,” he said. He held out his wings and looked at them. “This is a pretty cool color. I’ll have to remember it once we’re home.”

“We also need IceWing names. You be Penguin; I’ll be Storm. That should be easy to remember.”

“I still think one of us should go with you,” Tsunami interjected.

“MudWings and SeaWings are the enemy here,” Glory pointed out. “And no offense, guys, but it’s not like Starflight or Sunny would be much help.”

“No
offense
?” Sunny squeaked. “How am I not supposed to be offended by that?” She lashed her tail and scowled.

“We’ll get in and out faster if we just keep our scales hidden,” Glory said. “Don’t worry. We’ll be back by tonight.”

“What if you find the missing RainWings in there?” Clay asked.

Glory flicked her tail, letting her scales shift back into the color of the rocks. “We’ll free them and come storming out in a big invisible herd. All right?”

Clay and Tsunami nodded reluctantly.

“Come on, Jambu,” Glory said. “The rest of you stay hidden. I mean it.” She sprang into the air with her brother beside her and let her scales adjust to the sky around them. As they beat their way north, she glanced back once and saw Sunny staring after them while Tsunami waved her talons bossily.

“It’s still cold,” Jambu moaned. “Even with my wings beating. I think it’s even
colder
.”

“Well, we’re up in the air,” Glory pointed out. “And the wind probably isn’t helping. But this will be over soon, don’t worry.” She pointed to the building ahead of them. “Just to warn you, there will be snow. But hopefully the SandWings keep the inside warm with their fires.”

“Snow!” Jambu said. “And fire! You know, I’ve never seen either of those.”

“I’ve never seen snow up close either,” Glory admitted.

“It looks fluffy,” said Jambu.

* * *

It wasn’t fluffy. It was wet and piercingly freezing against their talons as they landed outside the walls. Jambu let out a yelp of pain, and Glory nearly tackled him to shut him up.

“Who’s there?” called a voice from above.

They both froze, their scales the color of the white ground below them.

A SandWing head poked out a window. “Did you hear that?” he asked.

Another SandWing head wriggled out beside his. “No. And I don’t see anything. You’re imagining things again.”

“When Burn’s army shows up to crush us —” growled the first dragon.

“We’ll see them coming from miles away,” said the second. “And they’ll be frozen and weak from the cold, and we’ll have IceWing backup by the time they get here. Stop interrupting our game.” The second guard withdrew into the room. The first glanced around suspiciously, his gaze trailing across the snow where Glory and Jambu crouched. Finally he huffed out a snort and retreated back inside.

Glory flipped her tail into her brother’s talons and led the way, slipping around the thick stone walls until she found a dragon-size door. Locked, of course. She glanced up, but she’d already seen from above that there was no inner courtyard or openings anywhere on the roof, other than the chimneys, which were too small. The windows were all too narrow for a dragon to squeeze through as well. This was a proper fortress. She wondered if it had been built early in the war, when Blaze first came to Queen Glacier for protection and an alliance.

This was a pretty generous gift for Glacier to give to her ally — a whole fortress right in IceWing territory. Deathbringer’s words came back to her . . . Blaze had promised Glacier all this land if she won the war.

Glory thought of the other two SandWing sisters. She wondered what Burn had promised the SkyWings and MudWings. And whether Blister had promised the SeaWings anything, or if she’d just manipulated Queen Coral into supporting her.

“I’m not seeing a way to sneak in here,” Glory whispered. “Do you have any ideas?”

She felt Jambu shrug. “Sorry,” he said. “I’ve never done anything like this.”

They tried circling the walls one more time, but there was only the one door. Glory couldn’t see any gaps in the fortress’s defenses anywhere. Their only choice was to wait for that door to open and hope they could slip inside . . . but who knew how long that would take?

The sun was finally drifting up the pale blue sky, reflecting off the glittering snow. Glory did not want to stand out here all day. For one thing, Jambu would probably freeze to death. She didn’t like the cold either, but he’d never been out of a tropical environment before.

Same goes for Mangrove
, she realized. In fact, how would
he
have gotten inside the fortress? Maybe he wasn’t there at all. Maybe he was lying in a snowbank somewhere, slowly disappearing into the ice.

Glory shook her head. Mangrove wasn’t the type to give up, if she read him right. And neither was she.

“We’ll have to go in as IceWings,” she said. “Just follow my lead.”

Jambu’s head appeared, nodding agreeably, as his scales shifted color. Glory let her scales change as well, then turned in a circle to check herself as best she could. It wasn’t a perfect disguise by any means. But hopefully these SandWings wouldn’t look too closely. And between her camouflage scales and venom, she felt like she had a pretty good chance of escaping even if they did catch her.

She marched up to the door and rapped smartly.

“Try to look like a soldier,” she hissed at Jambu, who was slouching and rubbing his neck behind her.

“I don’t know what that looks like,” he whispered back just before the door swung open.

A heavyset SandWing with broken claws on one talon peered out at them. “Eh?” he muttered.

“We have an important message for Queen Blaze,” Glory announced. “Take us somewhere we can wait until she returns.” Surely, like her sisters, Blaze would be off leading a battle somewhere. Once they were shown into a waiting room, they could change back to camouflage and search the fortress for Mangrove without being seen.

“Eh? Until she returns?” The SandWing looked at her as if she were mad. “Blaze is here. She’s always here. I can take you right to her.”