Wings of Fire: The Forbidden Dragonet | ✔️

~ The Forbidden Dragonet: Chapter 16 ~

Three large iron rings were twisted into the ground with thick chains attached to them.

"What is this about?" Hare whispered to Copper.

"A traitor from seven years ago has been found," the prince explained. "So now we must have a trial to decide their fate."

"Won't Scarlet just kill them?" Hare asked. "I mean, I don't mean to be rude or offensive, but she seems like the kind of dragon to do that. Why bother with a trial?"

"She thinks it makes her look like a fair and just ruler, and she likes the performance of them," Copper replied, looking at the middle of the arena. "How she looks is very important to her. If she makes the SkyWings think they have a fair and strong queen, nobody will dare challenge her for the throne or question her authority. That's part of why only SkyWings get trials"

"If looks are so important, why have an arena?" Hare asked. "Why show everyone that death is your source of entertainment?"

"Fear."

Hare blinked. It sort of made sense, but it was confusing at the same time.

Finally, two guards hauled a dragon into the ring. The dragon was hissing and spitting at them. Hare recognized Alder and Fire. Alder was stumbling a little, but Fire held a firm grip on the chains they were using to bring her into the ring. Hare held her breath as she realized she recognized the red dragon they were forcing into the ring. It was Kestrel.

A chain was looped around Kestrel's snout to keep her from biting or using her fire. Heavy chains weighed down her talons and tail.

Once Kestrel was fixed in place, Alder and Fire flew out of the arena, side by side. Kestrel glared at the queen, smoke seeping out of her bound mouth and nostrils.

"My loyal subjects," Queen Scarlet said, her voice echoing around the arena. "This dragon, Kestrel, once of the SkyWings, has been accused of the highest treason - disobeying me. Vermillion, speak for the prosecution."

Vermillion bowed. "Your Majesty, the facts are cleared. Kestrel disobeyed your orders, then fled from the kingdom. Even she knows what she did wrong. She deserves a long and painful execution. There's no need to drag this trial out."

"Well said," Scarlet said, clapping her talons together and nodding to her son.

"Your Majesty," Osprey rasped, raising his head a little to look at the queen. "I'd like to speak now, if I may."

Queen Scarlet scoffed. "If you must."

"Kestrel may have disobeyed you, but did you not reverse the order after she was gone?" Osprey said.

"Osprey," Scarlet snarled, "speak plainly or do not speak at all. Otherwise I'll rip your tongue out."

"Hold back on the threats," Osprey hissed. "I must speak, you know that. That's why I'm here. Kestrel was one of your most loyal soldiers. She obeyed your every word, and she took on a partner due to your orders. As a result, she brought on an egg. Upon hatching, this egg was revealed to contain twins."

"We know this," Queen Scarlet said, yawning. "Get to the part where we execute her."

"Hold your tongue!" Osprey snapped. "The dragonets were defective. One had too much fire, while one had too little. You ordered Kestrel to kill them both and never take on another partner again."

Too much fire? That sounds like Peril. Does that mean... is Kestrel Peril's mother?

"Kestrel tried to escape," Osprey went on. "She took the dragonets and tried to flee down the mountain. You caught her at the Diamond Spray River, where you issued a new order. You told her if she killed the dragonet with too little fire, you'd spare her life and the others. So she obeyed and killed the dragonet right there with her own claws. She killed her dragonet on your orders. And then you switched the orders again."

"I'm the queen, I can do that," Queen Scarlet hissed.

"You told the guards to kill the other dragonet and bring her back for trial. I know, I was among them. Kestrel made an attempt to grab her dragonet and flee, but you intervened and blocked her off from the dragonet. Kestrel had no choice but to fly away and leave her only dragonet at your mercy."

There was a heartbeat of silence. Hare stared at Kestrel, who looked heartbroken.

"Sounds guilty to me," Queen Scarlet said cheerfully. "We'll execute her tomorrow."

"No!"

Hare looked up as a burst of fire shot through the sky. A dragon suddenly landed on the sand beside Kestrel and glared at Scarlet with piercing blue eyes.

"It's not true!" Peril cried. "Tell me it's not true!"

Kestrel stepped back and stared at Peril. From the look in her eyes, Hare could tell she'd thought Peril was dead this entire time.

"Surprise!" Queen Scarlet chirped, waving a talon toward Peril. "Your daughter's alive, and she's working for me!" She turned to Peril and narrowed her eyes. "You're not supposed to be here."

"You lied to me!" Peril screeched. "You said she was dead, you said she wanted to kill me!"

"She did," Scarlet said, standing taller. "How would you feel knowing your mother was still out there, wishing she'd killed you instead of your brother? Why do you think she never came back? She didn't want you, Peril, that's why she ran off to raise other dragonets instead."

Liar! She probably only took off to raise us because she couldn't raise her own dragonets. She did it because you're a heartless monster who took her family away!

Kestrel reared up on her hindlegs and roared unintelligibly through the chains, clearly thinking the same thing as Hare.

"Who's kept you alive all these years?" Queen Scarlet went on. "Who's kept you fed and alive and given you everything you need? Who raised you? Who acted as your mother because the other left you?"

Peril hesitated for a moment, then stood at her full height. "You're no mother. You never have been." She looked over at Kestrel. "I call upon the Champion's Shield. It says the queen's champion may stand forth for any dragon sentenced to execution. I will fight any dragon of your choice, and if I win, you'll let her go." She met Kestrel's eyes for the first time. "I want to stand for my mother."