Yearling and Beelzebub touched down lightly on the stern of the airship, just outside the windows of the captain’s cabin on a balcony that ran around it. Beelzebub reached up and checked each window before finding one that was unlocked and opened it.
The two stepped inside, to the startled gasps of the crew and Captain Celaeno inside.
“Yearling!” she hissed, glancing towards the door. “And…” She frowned at the crimson changeling. “Elytra, is that you?”
Beelzebub flashed a sheepish smile. “Elytra was a cover, Captain. My real name is Beelzebub, and I’m a demon, not a changeling,” she explained.
“What?” Celaeno blinked in confusion.
“Captain, there’s more pressing matters at hoof.” Yearling looked between her and her crew. “Why aren’t any of you tied up?”
“Door’s being guarded. I suppose they thought it a waste of rope, seeing as we can’t fly the coop,” Celaeno explained. She frowned at Beelzebub. “We’ll discuss this later.”
Beelzebub nodded, though she averted her gaze from her and the crew. Yearling did a once over of the captives.
“Where’s Azazel?” she asked. “Have you seen her?”
“No, I haven’t. She wasn’t brought in here at all,” Celaeno huffed. “I hope she’s alright.”
“She’s probably still in the hold where we were then,” Yearling speculated. “She’s the one with knowledge of the Tears and these islands – if anyone knows how to end all of this, it’s her.”
“When we find her, I can take her place,” Beelzebub spoke up. “I can distract the Storm Queen so you two can put a stop to all of this.”
“You sure? When she find out you’re a fake, she has the Tears at her disposal,” Yearling said.
“We demons are stronger than we look,” Beelzebub said with a confident smirk. “Now, we best be off before the guards outside get suspicious.”
Yearling nodded, turning to Celaeno. “We’ll get back to you as soon as we can, I promise.”
“Take care, Yearling. You too, Beelzebub,” Celaeno said with a firm nod.
Yearling nodded back as she and Beelzebub crept out the window and shut it behind them. No sooner were they away than the door opened and one of the Storm Queen’s creatures grunted loudly at the prisoners.
“Keep it down in here!” It promptly slammed the door behind itself.
Yearling poked her head into the hold, and was relieved to find it empty, save for the still bound Pegasus in the corner, cowering and sobbing. She motioned for Beelzebub to follow her as she flew to Azazel’s side.
The ancient Pegasus gasped, sniffling. “I thought you were dead!” she exclaimed.
“Keep it down,” Beelzebub hissed. She looked around in confusion. “Why do you suppose there’s no guards?”
“Short staffed, probably. The Storm Queen needs all hands on deck,” Yearling replied, working on the ropes binding Azazel’s hooves and wings. When she finally untied them, Azazel hugged her tightly.
“Thank you!” Azazel whispered.
“You’re welcome. Now, how do we stop the Storm Queen and maybe sink these islands?” Yearling asked, pulling away from her.
Azazel tapped her chin as she thought, looking about the hold as her mind wandered. “I could make another Control Ring, like the one the Storm Queen took from me, but with only my magic, it would only be able to steal one of the Tears from her.”
Yearling sighed. “Well, I suppose one is better than nothing.”
Beside them, there was a flash of red, and a second Azazel sat down where the original had been cowering. The original Azazel gasped, eyes wide and sparkling with fascination.
“An incredible ruse!” she gasped.
“Tie my hooves and wings up,” Beelzebub said, her voice shifting to match Azazel’s. “If she asks me anything, I’ll stall for as long as I can.”
Yearling grimly nodded, taking the ropes and rebinding her wings and hooves. She was partially comforted that they couldn’t hold the disguised demon, but only partially.
“We’ll be back as soon as we can,” Yearling said firmly. “I promise.”
Beelzebub nodded, flashing her a confident smile before taking on Azazel’s previous look of fear and despair.
Yearling nodded in satisfaction before turning to Azazel. “Lead the way to where we need to go, and keep it low. We can’t be spotted.”
Azazel nodded, flaring her wings and diving out of the hold with Yearling in close pursuit. They glided away from the ships, making sure to keep clouds between them and the ships for cover.
“Where to first?” Yearling asked.
“The Central Temple would be the safest place to make the Control Ring. After that, I will tell you what must be done,” Azazel said, an unusual authority entering her voice.