Page 61 of Beneath Scales and Shadows
At least they weren’t shooting. Yet.
As they broke through the last layer of cloud, the full scene clarified. The royal carriage door opened, and Princess Jewels emerged, resplendent in armor of her own—silver plate inlaid with sapphires that matched her cold eyes. Behind her came Prince Markth, his expression unreadable even from this diminishing distance.
Ignis landed with surprising gentleness, his claws finding purchase on stone smoothed by centuries of wind. Around them, a half dozen of his most trusted warriors touched down as well, forming a protective semi-circle at his back.
For a moment, silence reigned—the Celestorian forces and dragon contingent regarding each other across a hundred yards of neutral ground.
Then Princess Jewels stepped forward, her voice carrying with unnatural clarity across the distance. “The servant returns, as demanded. Though her choice of escort leaves much to be desired.”
Sora felt rather than heard Ignis’s growl—a vibration that traveled through his scales into her body. With practiced care, he lowered his shoulder, allowing her to dismount. Her legs trembled slightly as they took her weight, both from the long flight and from the tension coursing through her.
“Stay close,” he murmured, shifting partially into his dragoon form to stand beside her, wings still fully extended to display their impressive span. The transformation itself was a show of power—his absolute control even in this hostile territory.
Sora pushed back her hood, letting the sunlight wash over her face. Let them see the changes—the silver scales now adorning her temples, trailing down her neck and along her arms.
Let them see what they feared.
Princess Jewels’s expression darkened. “So the baker’s daughter has become a monster’s whore.”
Ignis took a half-step forward, but Sora placed her hand on his arm, restraining him. “I need to see my family,” she called, ignoring the princess’s barb. “And your prisoner.”
The princess gestured carelessly toward the huddled figures. “They remain unharmed, as promised. For now.”
Sora’s heart clenched as she recognized them—Garth and Miranda, their faces drawn with fear and exhaustion, and Morgana, whose expression held something more complex than mere terror. Beside them stood Lyra, her scholar’s robes tattered, a bruise darkening one cheek.
“And Coal?” Ignis demanded, his voice carrying the weight of barely contained fury.
A smile curved Princess Jewels’s lips, cold as midwinter frost. “The spy lives. Though he proved remarkably resistant to our questions.”
She made a gesture, and guards moved to the cage on the platform, prodding the figure inside with spear butts. Coal stirred, raising his head with visible effort. Even from this distance, Sora could see the damage—scales missing in patches, wounds that hadn’t been allowed to heal, eyes dull with pain.
A collective growl rose from the dragons behind them. Ember’s, most distinct of all, edged with grief and fury.
“Let’s dispense with games,” Jewels said, stepping closer. “You know our terms. The servant returns to Celestoria. The spy and her family go free.”
“And we’re to trust the word of a family renowned for betrayal?” Ignis’s voice remained steady, but heat radiated from his form, warming the air around them. “Your grandfather murdered our omega queen during peace talks. Why should this exchange be any different?”
Prince Markth moved forward then, his hand raised in what appeared to be a conciliatory gesture. “My sister speaks harshly, but our intention is resolution, not bloodshed. Too much has been lost already.” His voice carried differently than Jewels’s—gentler, more measured. “Let us end this cycle of vengeance.”
Something about his tone made Sora study him closer. Unlike his sister’s cold calculation, his expression held what appeared to be genuine distress. He didn’t look at her with disgust or hatred, but with something almost like... curiosity?
“I’ll go with you,” Sora announced, drawing startled looks from both royals. “But only after my family and Coal are safely with Ignis.”
Princess Jewels’s eyes narrowed. “We could take you by force. Look around you, creature. You’re surrounded by the finest army in Artania.”
“You could try,” Ignis growled, smoke curling from his nostrils. “But at what cost? How many of your ‘finest’ would survive dragon fire?”
For all her bravado, the princess must have recognized the threat wasn’t empty. She glanced at her brother, some silent communication passing between them.
“A compromise, then,” Prince Markth suggested. “We release the family first, as a show of good faith. Once they are safely beyond our reach, we discuss terms for the spy.”
It wasn’t perfect, but Sora felt Ignis’s slight nod behind her. “Acceptable,” she called. “Send them now.”
Princess Jewels’s lips thinned with displeasure, but she nodded to the guards. Garth, Miranda, and Morgana were ushered forward, their steps faltering as they approached the space between armies. Lyra followed, her scholar’s gaze darting between Sora and the dragons with barely disguised fascination despite her predicament.
“Tell them to walk straight to us,” Ignis murmured. “Do not let them stray or stop.”
Sora raised her voice. “Come directly to me,” she called. “Don’t stop for anything.”
