Crowns and Talons

Chapter 2 ~Cinder~

“Papa! Papa!” A small Wyvern called out. “Quiet down Cinder, your brother’s asleep.” Her father replied. “Sorry Papa, I didn’t know where you went.” Cinder said. “Oh Cinder, I won’t always be around you know, one day you will be Queen and rule alllll of Wyveria.” He said. “But, the ember wyverns only control the forest.” Cinder said. Her father chuckled, “Cinder, let me tell you a story.” He said. Cinder crawled onto his claws and sat down on them, ready to hear the story. “Long ago, there was a great king, nobody knows what tribe he was from, here we believe he was an ember wyvern. His name was Xavier, he ruled this entire land in peace for many years, but when he died with no heir, his generals argued about who would rule next. Xavier’s Advisors told them what to do, for Xavier had put it in his last will and testament that they do so. They took the eight colored gemstones from his crown and made eight new crowns for the generals, then they hid the crown itself so that only one who found the crown and gathered the gemstones could be called the true Ruler of Wyveria.” He told her. “But Papa, where did they hide it?” Cinder asked. “Nobody knows, but legends say there’s a scroll with the clues to find the crown.” Her father said. “So, if I found the crown I would be queen?” Cinder said. “Found the crown AND got the gemstones from the other kings and queens, either by treaty or force.” He said, “it’s no small task.” He continued. “I wanna do it!” Cinder said excitedly. “Oh ho! Not if me and my gemstone have anything to say about it!” He said playfully. He grabbed her up in his talons and swung her around the room, her brother started to cry. “Oops..” Cinder said, they both laughed.

Cinder woke up, for a moment she was a child again, but then she remembered she was not. “Princess, your father wishes to see you.” A servant told her through a cracked door. “Tell him I’ll be there, riiiight after breakfast.” She said with a yawn. Looking away from him and out the window across the room. “He said it’s urgent, it’s about the scroll.” The servant said. She turned and looked at him curiously. “What?” She asked, her interest peaked. She followed the servant through the halls to her fathers suite. “Mi lord, I present your daughter, Lady Cinder.” The servant said. “Enough with the pleasantries, let her in.” He replied. Cinder entered the room. “We found the castle last night.” He told her. “WHAT? You said I could go once we did!” Cinder said angrily. “It was urgent, and you were busy, they would’ve been gone if we waited.” He said. She crossed her arms, “so did you get it?” She asked. “Their leader burned it…” he said. “WHAT?!?” She burst. “Now now, we did learn that there was a copy, but we can’t figure out who has it. All of the counsel members say their leader didn’t tell them, but I believe they are lying. I need you to do what you do best and loosen their tongues.” He said. Cinder grinned evily, “with pleasure…”

The poison counsel member sat in the dungeon, shackled and beaten. “You’ve got company…” the dungeon master chuckled. Cinder entered the room. “If that psycho couldn’t break me, what makes you so confident..” The wyvern said weakly. “Well, our people are known for their deadly fire, but my flame is the hottest of all.” Cinder said threateningly. “Ha! Like I care, kill me for all I care, I’d rather die then see the unworthy rule Wyveria.” She said. “Die? Oh no I didn’t say anything about dying, no no no, this is torture honey.” Cinder said. “Wh-what do you mean?” The wyvern asked. “Im going to start with your tail, then your wings, then your legs, and if you haven’t died of infection or something by then, then you die!” Cinder said happily. The poison wyvern hesitated. “F-fine, do it..” she said. “Do it? To your friends? Wile you listen to their screams???” Cinder said excitedly. “Ok ok!!! Please! Just don’t hurt them, I’ll tell you what I know..” she said. “Good, guess you and your buddies will live.” Cinder said. Cinder walked out of the chamber and walked up to the dungeon master. “Damn your good.” He said, they both started laughing. “What can I say, I played a lot of poker when I was young.” Cinder said.