I am Dragon (Dragon Fires Rising Book 2) Marc Secchia (most read books .TXT) 📖

In silence, they winged up into the great dome of the sky, where Dragons reigned supreme.

Juggernaut said, Chalice spoke highly of you, Dragon.

She did, he replied, keeping his tone neutral. Interesting how he brought her name up.

Show me. Race me to that peak.

Only if you will promise to hear me out on a particular subject when I beat you wings and paws down, Master.

The warrior glared at him. What is this?

A promise I made to someone.

Huh. See if you can keep up, youngster!

With a great clap of his wings he was off, surging into the lead with the power and grace that Dragon expected of him. Juggernaut was a subtle, effective flyer perhaps out of keeping with his name, but definitely in keeping with his combat philosophy. Never waste energy. Efficiency increased speed, keeping one alive.

For half of the three-mile flight, he struggled to find that novel rhythm again. He fell five Dragon lengths behind, then ten, as his ineffective exertions snarled him up. The orange Dragon powered ahead, indefatigable.

Twizzling his neck, Juggernaut roared, Don’t make a fool of Chalice, youngling! Fly!

Second time.

Perhaps he was right, and Chalice’s intuition was on target …

Shutting his eyes – decent sight was overrated, anyways – he set upon painting swells upon an imaginary ocean. His body began to undulate. Suddenly, as if something clicked, his parts all began to work together and he accelerated past Juggernaut as if the older Dragon were hovering in place, not making his maximum effort. Gruff laughter! No chance even of matching him. He hurtled toward the peak and around it while the older Dragon was yet more than half a mile off, his own laughter thundering out of his chest for sheer elation.

Stalling and swerving to fall in line with his slower wing companion for the return journey, the Master said in a tone of clear approval, Old Dragon, new tricks. Is that a swimming stroke? Could you teach it to me?

So that you can impress her? he said lightly, before he thought the better of his words.

A fiery growl thundered across his bow. If we are talking about whom I think we are talking about, Dragon, then it is more than clear that it is you who stokes her fires.

I thought so, too. By my sire’s egg, I was badly mistaken.

What? Last night, her eloquence rose for your fires. I am not mistaken.

Dragon met Juggernaut’s gaze with all the honesty he could muster. Do you want to know why?

Surprise me.

Why could he never approach these matters in a sensible way? He had just thrust his talons into all the arguments he had been so carefully mustering, and ripped everything apart. Blitz the Fritz in full cry. How he hated that old nickname!

He said, She hoped to gain favour by supporting your position.

The older Dragon gave this argument short shrift, barking out a rude response.

Dragon said, Hear me. I went to Chalice the Grinder this morning expecting that she favoured me. As it turns out, that is a common mistake males make due to a muscular issue with her eyelids. What she wanted to know, was why you shun her? She asked me to speak with you, since we share –

This discussion is over!

You promised you would hear me.

Not on this subject – GNARR!! I must. Teach me the wing stroke before I clout you around the ear canals. This is how we do it.

With a limber barrel roll, he suddenly left his position at Dragon’s right wingtip and turned up directly above him. By his wings, had those Talon Clan greens been capable of such a manoeuvre, he would not be here today to remember their meeting. In a second, he felt the older Dragon’s paws touch and grip his shoulders. His hind paws rested four feet above his haunches, also holding on without any use of the talons. Double Dragon. He had not known this could be done, either. Juggernaut still worked his wings, but the connection allowed him to sense exactly what the lower Dragon was doing.

After a short struggle, he worked out how to demonstrate the stroke pattern without snarling up both sets of wings.

Faster, Juggernaut ordered. This uses the muscles very differently to what I am used to.

It’s strange, isn’t it?

A very different dynamic. I will have to study this. I’m not sure I could ever do the stroke as naturally as you, but it does appear to offer incredible speed over shorter distances – given high energy output.

Surprise value for combat? Dragon suggested.

Aye!

Together, they passed over his training ground, whereupon the warrior Dragon broke off and led the way to a hot spring that fed a wide, mauve-tinged pool. Here, they settled into the steaming waters. Only then did he growl that he was ready to listen.

Chalice the Grinder was older than Dragon had supposed, thirty-six years of age. She had been mated before, but her mate had perished of a brittle bone disease. She had cared faithfully for him during a long, lair-bound illness of eleven years. She described herself as socially awkward – rather similar to someone else with a brand new white hide, one might argue. The tic in her eyes, which manifested when she was stressed, often led Dragons to believe she was flirtatious and coy. On the contrary, she was shy and often unsure of herself. Juggernaut’s behaviour toward her had struck her as particularly harsh and unjustified.

Everyone knows I desire no mate, Juggernaut said quietly. However, I may have encouraged her … that was a mistake. I don’t dislike Chalice. I was not fully aware of her story.

Sinking deeper into the pool, Dragon muttered, I’ve no idea why she asked me to speak to you. I’ve no talent at relationships.

The Princess seems to have survived your