Talons of Power

Talons of Power

Cover artist	Joy Ang
Published	December 27, 2016
Page count	336
ISBN	9780545685405 (hardcover) 9780545685436 (paperback)
Preceded by	Escaping Peril
Followed by	Darkness of Dragons
Chapter Index
Prologue • 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • Epilogue

Talons of Power is the ninth novel in the Wings of Fire novel series and is the fourth book in arc two. It features Turtle as the main protagonist.

Blurb

The New York Times and USA Today bestselling Wings of Fire series soars to even greater heights in the ultimate battle between good and evil. For every villain, there is a hero ...Turtle isn't one of the heroes he reads about in stories. If he were, he'd use his animus powers to help Pyrrhia -- instead of keeping his abilities a secret, even from his own sister. Now that Darkstalker, the sinister and impossibly old dragon from Pyrrhia's most notorious legends, has returned, Turtle knows his own role is simple: hide. And stay hidden.The more he watches Darkstalker from the shadows, the more Turtle knows that someone needs to stop the powerful dragon. A real hero. But Turtle is running out of time to find one, which means ... he might have to try to save the day himself.

Plot

Prologue

Gill reached the Royal Hatchery, finding guard Abalone sick with a neck growth. Unable to leave eggs unguarded, he asked princes to fetch Snapper. Turtle volunteered, urged to hurry. Waiting, Gill grew angry as Snapper didn’t come, blaming Turtle and his own vague orders. Fetching healers, he returned to find Abalone unconscious, the growth burst, and female eggs destroyed. Furious, Gill saw Coral but couldn’t share the news in Aquatic.

Spotting Turtle, Gill grabbed him, raging about his failure. Turtle, scared, said he couldn’t find Snapper, unaware of her looks. Gill blamed him for the eggs’ loss, expressing disappointment, though guilty for scolding a dragonet. To Coral, Gill defended Abalone and Snapper, but she’d ordered their execution. Coral insisted their next daughter, Anemone, would live, assigning Gill to oversee the SeaWings, though he remained skeptical.

A Dragon Awakes

Darkstalker burst from Agate Mountain; Turtle enchanted a stick to hide from him. Recalling failed heroic stories for Queen Coral’s approval, Turtle renounced heroism. Darkstalker, claiming hunger, ignored Peril’s flames, citing restored magic and 2,000 years’ growth. Winter, spelled, sided with Darkstalker; Moon accused him of enchantment. Darkstalker invited them to hunt; Turtle went to Jade Mountain for help.

Turtle warned Anemone about Darkstalker; she sought him eagerly with Pike. Tamarin urged school-wide alerts. Turtle told Sunny and Tsunami, debating cactus bombs, about Darkstalker and Moon’s powers. In the library, Darkstalker sought Fathom and Clearsight scrolls, revealed as Sunny’s ancestor, and bonded with Anemone over her enchanted armbands.

Turtle saw his winglet charmed. Qibli suggested spying. Darkstalker and Anemone made soul-protecting jewelry, alarming Turtle. Darkstalker healed Flame’s scar; Moon introduced NightWings, who received enchanted powers. A vision led to a wounded Stonemover; Anemone’s spell named Flame the attacker, angry over his scar. Darkstalker trapped Flame with an enchanted card.

Darkstalker asked Moon to fly; she refused, Anemone volunteered. Turtle stayed with Qibli and Winter, discussing Darkstalker. Qibli sought animus powers; Turtle declined but enchanted Qibli’s earring for spell immunity. Darkstalker, sensing magic, questioned Anemone’s whereabouts; Qibli lied. Turtle trailed Darkstalker to the rainforest with messaging slates, seeing Peril’s accidental fire and her Clay conversation.

Rise to Power

Turtle followed Darkstalker, Anemone, and NightWings to the rainforest. Anemone and Turtle questioned each other’s motives. Darkstalker landed in the NightWing village, greeted by Glory, informed by Sunny via dreamvisitor. He boasted NightWing superiority, proposing a leadership vote. Glory allowed free choice. Darkstalker offered powers to followers, prompting Turtle to confirm a trust spell via Qibli’s earring, noting Moon’s immunity.

Turtle sought Glory with enchanted coral, stopped by Deathbringer. Glory noted Kinkajou’s coma, moved for sunlight, both charmed by Darkstalker. Turtle enlisted Anemone to heal Kinkajou, who teased his crush, enchanting skyfire. Turtle made Kinkajou uninteresting to Darkstalker; Anemone added a love spell. Darkstalker, sensing magic, approved Anemone’s healing.

Glory questioned Darkstalker’s village discovery; he warned of five assassins. He built an indestructible prison, giving Glory keys. Turtle and Kinkajou suspected Darkstalker’s spell. Kinkajou, upset, vowed with Turtle to stop him, learning his animus secret.

They saw Darkstalker with four prisoners—Fierceteeth, Strongwings, and two SandWings, claiming a fifth died. Fierceteeth sought the throne; Darkstalker offered exile. Glory spared her if she left; SandWings awaited Thorn’s ruling. Darkstalker locked them, planning to lead NightWings away. Glory doubted herself; Darkstalker lied about the assassin. Turtle and Kinkajou stayed in the pavilion, Turtle messaging Qibli about Kinkajou’s awakening.

The Lost City of Night

Turtle followed Darkstalker, Anemone, Moon, and the NightWings to the Night Kingdom on the Talon Peninsula, resting outside. Turtle trailed Darkstalker into a school, where he restored Clearsight’s portrait, mistaking Turtle’s marble for her, lamenting her absence. Turtle lied about checking Anemone. Moon shared a vision of Turtle pinning Anemone on a beach, deeming it unlikely. With Kinkajou, they entered the kingdom; Darkstalker shared plans, mostly with Moon, assigning Anemone to clean Fathom’s room. Anemone enchanted a broom to hit Moon, pebbles into jewels, and an earring to sway Darkstalker. He exiled her, ordering Coral’s death.

Using enchanted coral, Turtle followed, recalling hiding his animus powers by making Anemone an animus at the Talons ceremony. He warned brothers, then found Coral, apologizing for failing to find Snapper, who was fleeing. Coral noted his name. On a beach, Anemone attacked; Turtle revealed her animus origin, made his scales invincible, and bound her with spell-blocking kelp, stressing moral choices.

Darkstalker summoned animus dragons—Turtle, Anemone, Stonemover, and a vanishing SandWing. Sensing a hidden animus, he summoned Kinkajou. Darkstalker enslaved Anemone, silenced her. Turtle confessed his love, revealing Kinkajou’s spell. Mistaking Turtle for Fathom, Darkstalker attacked; Kinkajou’s venom hit his eye. He healed, banished Kinkajou with erased memories (failing), stripped Turtle’s magic, and jailed him. Turtle believed Anemone, Kinkajou, and Qibli would rescue him.

Epilogue

In the SandWing tribe, dragons wearing bird medallions attacked, enraging SandWings who questioned Queen Thorn’s protection. In the SeaWing tribe, a white light from the ocean enveloped dragonets, who claimed it was Albatross’s vengeful ghost attacking them. In the IceWing tribe, an unknown plague struck at least three dragons: Queen Glacier, Narwhal, and Tundra. Hailstorm inquired about his parents’ condition; the messenger reported Tundra and Narwhal were alive but worsening, while Glacier had died.