Chapter Twenty-Seven

                                    

                                          
The sun was at its highest point the next day when Cadmium finally emerged from the Royal Pavilion. Golden loops hung from her scales, and rubies decorated the scales above her eyes. Why Cadmium was being super fancy and wondrous today, Nightfire had no clue to.
"Skywings!" Cadmium called out. "Sandwings and Mudwings! Today we have the final battle between the Jade Mountain Representatives and my champion, Wildfire of the Skywings!"
Multiple Skywings, all around the arena, came up and took Nightfire's, Boreas', Algae's, and Oak's chains off. Nightfire noticed with alarm that Torch wasn't on his pillar, and wasn't going to be fighting alongside the other four.
At least Thunderwing can get his job done, Nightfire thought with apprehension. Nightfire worried for a moment that Thunderwing might have been unable to complete the task, then shook herself vigorously. Thunderwing needed to succeed. If he didn't, that would throw Nightmare's entire plan into jeopardy.
As the others were being brought down to the arena, Kindle and Gale came and undid Nightfire's chains.
"Please win this," Kindle whispered to Nightfire as she paused for a moment from taking the chains off of the Nightwing-Skywing. "With Wildfire out of the way, I could finally challenge Cadmium! And end her reign!"
"So you want us to die killing Wildfire so you can challenge Cadmium to be Queen?" Nightfire spat at the kenyan copper Skywing. "Are we really that expandable?"
Kindle didn't answer, but her face changed from a happy-sad mix to a stony, guarded expression.
"Come on," Gale said, finishing taking off Nightfire's chains. "We got to get Nightfire down to the arena."
Kindle and Gale led Nightfire down to the arena, where Algae, Boreas, and Oak were waiting. After glancing at each other nervously, Nightfire glanced at Cadmium.
The Skywing Queen was watching them with narrowed eyes, as if she had noticed that one of them was missing. If Cadmium realizes that Thunderwing isn't here, then where does that leave us? Nightfire worried.
"Everyone!" Cadmium's voice called out. Nightfire realized with a start that Explosion was nowhere in sight, and that Cadmium herself would do the announcing for this battle. Although, Cadmium did already announce who would be fighting, so why would she need to make another announcement?
"This battle will be a little different! Either Wildfire will kill each and every one of these young dragonets, or they will kill Wildfire! The last dragon or dragons standing on either side will win. Now, talons up, teeth ready, FIGHT!"
Wildfire immediately sprang at Oak, seemingly deciding that he was the biggest threat. They rolled around for a moment in brown and orange scales. When Oak finally sprang away from Wildfire, his scales were smoking, but otherwise unharmed.
"WHAT?!" Wildfire demanded. "Why must every Mudwing be hatched from a blood-red egg?"
"Because everyone doesn't want you as a champion, you murderous toad!" Gale shouted from the arena stands. Everyone, including Wildfire, turned and looked at the falu red Skywing.
Nightfire glanced at Cadmium after staring at Gale like the rest of the dragons that were around for a couple of moments. The Skywing Queen's face was a stoney mask, but Nightfire could sense barely suppressed rage coming from the young Queen. Cadmium held her tongue, but Nightfire could tell she barely held it instead of saying a scathing remark.
"Permission to kill him after?" Wildfire turned to Cadmium after glaring at Gale.
"Permission granted," Cadmium said with a wintery smile. Cadmium's bright yellow eyes searched the arena like a hawk, clearly looking for anyone else who would dare defy her champion. When Cadmium glanced back down at the arena, she nodded at Wildfire.