Chapter Twenty-Four

                                    

                                          
When Nightfire finally got back to her pillar, it was almost dawn. Barely visible streaks of blue were hidden among the pale gold and orange of the dawn, and Nightfire caught herself thinking it was pretty even through what was on her mind.
I should really talk to the others about Sunchaser's supposed 'alliance', Nightfire thought. That would be the right thing to do, wouldn't it?
"Wakey wakey!" Cadmium called gleefully. "Wakey wakey sleepy dragons! It's a special day today, so WAKE UP ALREADY!!!"
At Cadmium's shout, most of the dragons around the arena jumped up or jerked awake.
"That's better," Cadmium said. "Now, we're here to celebrate the hatching of my son's, Ridge's, daughter. As you know, that means she is a heir to the Skywing throne. So, all of you, best behaviors."
"You should have left her alone!" A prisoner shouted out. Nightfire didn't know what they were talking about, but it appeared that Cadmium did.
"SHUT UP!" Cadmium howled. She flicked her tail, and two Skywing guards flew over to the prisoner who had shouted.
Nightfire noticed in amazement that it was a dark blue, almost black dragon splotched with light blueish colour like Adonis, a, what did Adonis' thoughts say she was? Oh, right. A Silkwing.
How in the three moons did he or her get over here? Nightfire wondered. I thought the Silkwings live with whatever those 'Hivewings' and 'Leafwings' on Pontala or whatever.
"You," Cadmium said reproachfully, "are going to die. WILDFIRE!" Cadmium bellowed. At once, the unusual bright orange wisping Skywing appeared at Cadmium's side. "Kill him," Cadmium said, seemingly without a second thought.
Wildfire flew off to the pillar of the Silkwing, and Nightfire felt her stomach clench. If me or my friends aren't careful... that could be us.
Seemingly seconds before they appeared on the Royal Pavilion, Nightfire sensed a dragons thoughts, as well as another bumbly, garbled mind Nightfire guessed belonged to a dragonet.
"Cadmium!" Ridge called out as his bright orange scales appeared on the Royal Pavilion, beside the yellow scales Nightfire was surprised to see belonged to Saffron.
What's she doing here? Nightfire thought. Surely she can't be the mother to Ridge's dragonet? And how did I not sense Ridge's mind?
Nightfire carefully glanced at Ridge; Trying to awkwardly make it so it didn't look like she was staring. 
If Nightfire wasn't mistaken, around the bright orange sky dragon's neck was a strand of black rocks, similar to the ones that Nightfire had seen on another bright orange Skywing.
Oh toad spit, Nightfire thought rashly. Ridge is the bright orange Skywing from before. They're the same dragon. How come I didn't notice that?
Nightfire sat back on her haunches; watching Cadmium with interest as she spoke quietly with Ridge.
"ABSOLUTELY NOT!" Cadmium bellowed after a moment.
"But it's our dragonets hatching day!" Saffron said woefully.
"I DON'T CARE." Cadmium said flatly. "Now get out of my sight before I seriously consider having Wildfire burn you to a crisp."
The two dragons shared a look, then quickly retreated back into the palace; Saffron holding an orangish rusty coloured dragonet.
"Now," Cadmium said, seemingly regaining her composure after her outrage, "I need y'all to do something for me," she said coldly. "You keep your mouths shut about anything you've seen in here, you don't talk to anyone. I have the other Queens coming for the celebration of Summit's hatching day, and I don't want anyone screwing it up. Especially you, Seawing," Cadmium said to Barnacle. "No tipping your Queen off that her daughter is here."
Cadmium doesn't want the Seawing Queen to know Algae is here? Nightfire wondered. Surely.... oh, what was her name?... Cobalt would know her daughter is here; I can see it in all of the guards' heads that Cadmium sent a letter to Cobalt about if she would negotiate for Algae's freedom.
Nightfire was more surprised that Cadmium hadn't sent a letter to Cobalt demanding the Seawing Queen pay a price for her daughter's safety than the fact that she was telling the prisoners to keep quiet, or even the fact Cadmium had a Silkwing prisoner.
"Look," Cadmium said, clearly trying to relish the feeling of power she had over the prisoners, "I want... need... you to keep quiet. You hear me?" Cadmium said menacingly.
There were a few unhappy grumbles, but no one else called out. Cadmium scorched the arena with an eagle-sharp gaze, then, seemingly satisfied, turned and flew back into the palace.
A roar from where Cadmium had just flown was the first sign that something was wrong.
Skywing guards from around the arena quickly dispersed from they're multiple tasks, and ran towards the sound. Even Wildfire, who was toying with the Silkwing prisoner, had paused and turned her head towards the place where the roar came from.
Eventually, after agonizingly slow suspense-filled moments, Cadmium appeared on the entrance to the arena from the palace. Blood dripped down her scales, and Cadmium was limping.
Nightfire craned her neck, suddenly eager to see what had attacked the Skywing Queen. Her rush of surprise eagerness faded when Nightfire saw the dragons the Skywing guards were bringing to the arena.
It was Gaia and Hydra.