Three moons this was boring. Why did he have to attend a royal meeting anyway? It was just a bunch of old dragons, and his mother the Queen, exchanging pleasantries, discussing politics, and talking about….well, ANYTHING that couldn’t possibly be interesting.
Not one thrilling topic. Not one.
Idle chatter just filled the meeting chamber and seemingly berated the young skywing’s ears as he picked at the cracks in the arm of his chair with his claws. No one even glanced in his direction unless it was to cast an unnerved gaze at his sister Princess Glare, who was sitting next to him.
Personally he wasn’t sure if her name was more ironic due to the blinding color of her orange scales when sunlight hit them, or because she literally glared at everyone all day all the time.
That would certainly explain why the adults seemed so scared of her even though she was only 3. He was 6, but no one really paid him any mind.
Moons help them if she ever becomes queen, he thought with a passive glance. He wasn’t the least bit concerned about the idea. In fact, there just might be a lot more treasonous dragons caught, tried, and executed. None of this ‘life in exile’ malarkey.
Now THAT would be thrilling.
With a groan under his breath the skywing prince sunk down further into his chair and scowled across the table at no one in particular. This was truly becoming an insufferable bore. At least the queen didn’t seem to notice.
But of course someone else did. “Frown any more and your face is gonna look like a deflated hog,” Glare commented self-importantly in a sort of whisper.
“Sit any straighter and it’ll look like you got a stick shoved up your tail,” he retorted not-so-quietly.
She immediately snapped her blistering glare to him and flared out her wings in anger amd embarrassment. It seemed she was about to say something until she suddenly glanced in the queen’s direction. Then she clamped her jaws shut and forced herself to settle. Oh, he was glad to see she was too proper to argue back. But even more glad to know he ruffled her scales. Glare was always so busy trying to make herself look better than Mother that she didn’t want to waste time and energy on anything less. “You better watch your mouth, Taper,“ she hissed with a flick of her tail. “I’m gonna be queen someday, after all.”
“And I’m gonna be a fruit peddler.”
“One can only hope,” she sneered. “If you’re so bored why don’t you just leave?” After that she fell silent and went back to pretending she was enthralled by the babbling dragons once more.
Prince Taper hummed to himself. Now THERE’S an idea. After a quick look around the chamber to make sure no one was watching, the skywing slowly slid off of his chair and slunk quietly toward the door. His dark red and orange scales were perfect for blending in to the stone of the floor and walls. No one even noticed. If Glare did, she didn’t say anything.
Once outside he launched into the sky with his massive wings and fled the castle grounds. Soon he crossed the wide stretch of Diamond Spray River and disappeared into the nearby forest.
Taper didn’t want to sit in a muggy old castle all day. He wanted adventure! Excitement!
…At the very least to get away from all those dumb, bumbling adults and his sister. Just as well.
