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

Then, I plan to have a little snooze, somewhere out of the way – but beware, I shall have one eye open. If the two of you dare to emerge without some kind of deal, I will be a deeply frustrated, irritable, nasty piece of Dragon you won’t want within a hundred miles of your forge. Do we understand one another?”

“Dragon, you are evil,” Azania said primly. “I apologise –”

“Oh, be quiet. You are my captive Princess and you will do what I say.”

She folded her arms and tapped her right foot.

Reaching out, Dragon pulled the door shut, making Yardi jump to get out of his way. He called, “I mean it! Talk. Deal! Positive or negative, I don’t care, as long as you explore the idea properly. As for you, Princess –” he winked massively at her “– I think we need to have words over here.”

She shook her head in consternation, but her smile had never been more brilliant.

“What?” he growled.

“You’ve turned into quite the despot.”

How he purred!

Chalice said, “Truly masterful, Dragon. That’s how to treat Humans.”

“Aye, I agree. Every now and again, these silly little Humans just need a subtle paw to shove them in the right direction.”

The Princess giggled, “Oh, you were inconceivably subtle, Dragon. I mean, I had no idea what you were doing. Oh, I get it now! You don’t think they still like each other, do you? I must have completely missed that.”

He snapped toward her hair. “Shut it, pipsqueak.”

“Bully.”

“I know. Isn’t it marvellous how one can learn new skills?”

“Indeed. After all, I aggravate Dragons for a living.”

* * * *

Garan’s capable apprentices could sharpen Dragon talons with the best of them. They were also a dab hand at buffing and burnishing scales. He and Chalice positively gleamed by the time they were done.

However, their friend was nowhere to be seen.

Still talking?

Hmm. Rising, he padded over toward the office despite Azania’s quiet protest. The door was shut, but the office had a window covered by curtains inside, only, they had been left open a crack. Putting his eye to the right spot, he peered inside … and almost shed his scales laughing.

He padded back to Azania. “It’s going well.”

“Well?”

“They aren’t talking.”

“No? Is something wrong? What could we have –”

“Princess, I understand it is a positive sign when two people start sucking one another’s faces, correct?”

“Dragon!”

“Grotesque, I know. What about when she grips his rump like this and squeezes so?” He made the appropriate motions with his paws.

“Dragon! They are not … are they?”

“No, it’s not what you are thinking. They are still fully clothed. Unless Humans –”

“I was not thinking – you wicked reptile!” she squealed. “Will you stop pulling my leg? You’re terrible. Oh … Jossun, was it?”

The dark-haired youth smiled uncertainly at her. “We’re meant to be closing up. Is Master Garan still in there with the lady? They must have a lot to discuss.”

“They’re friends from long ago,” the Princess said. “Tell me, is he a good Master?”

“Oh, ma’am – the best! I do hope you have some work for us, though. The Master has been very worried lately. He keeps it to himself, but I hear him walking up and down sometimes at night. He’ll say he’s looking after the little ones, ma’am, but …”

She said, “We hope they can agree. Please, call me Azania. We’re of an age, aren’t we? I’m seventeen.”

“Seventeen? But you look like a doll, barely twe – uh, sorry, ma’am. I just thought –”

“That’s alright. A lot of people say that. My people are petite to begin with, and I am one of the smaller ones of a small nation. I’m tough, though.” She flexed her right bicep. “See?”

“Impressive,” he lied.

“What’s impressive is this place,” she smiled back. “Quite the team.”

“We all look after each other. We have to. Most of the kids here don’t know their parents, or they lost them in the wars. Sometimes kids are just dumped on our doorstep. Not everyone is as good as the Master – ah, here he comes.”

The pair were taking pains not to look as if anything had happened, but Dragon saw his fingertips brush hers as they approached.

Garan flicked his head. “Jossun. Gather the troops, lad. We’ve something important to discuss. Yardi-mae, please come by tomorrow evening. We should have an answer for you by then – but I’d like to invite you for dinner, to … ah, meet the children and learn about what we do. Princess, I expect you’ll be wanted at the palace?”

“Indeed. This evening.” She wrinkled her nose. “I might have to dress up, I guess. Or, what are your feelings about women wearing trousers, Garan?”

He almost jumped out of his skin. “Uh … you’ll find I’m quite progressive, ma’am.” He tried and failed not to glance at Yardi’s legs. “It was most certainly an interesting proposition, as your Dragon suggested.”

Dragon put in dryly, “Did you clinch a deal?”

Azania gave him a warning glare which Yardi picked up on. The blacksmith’s pulse flickered wildly in her neck.

He added, “Well, I hope you explored her options, Garan – I mean, by my wings, what a slip of the forked tongue! I hope you’ll have a positive reply for us tomorrow evening. The Dragons will need all the help they can get, or I’m afraid the Skartun may choose to rearrange the seventeen kingdoms to their liking.”

The minute they were out of sight of the forge, Azania slapped his neck – hard, for her. “Dragon, I can’t believe you said that!”

Yardi growled, “What did I miss?”

“Oh, you didn’t miss anything, I believe,” he purred archly.

Azania spluttered, “Dragon! What’s gotten into you today, that you must –”

“Me?” Turning to Yardi, he said,