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

Her scales were burned and blistered in wide patches. Her paws gripped the hilts of her twin kaniaxi blades as she snarled, So, your true agenda is revealed. You would overthrow the order of law and rule around my Isles. Traitors! This is what you planned all along.

That is not the case, honoured Dragoness, Dragon said respectfully. These are my demands. One, grant me permission to court your daughter with the honour and in the fashion she deserves. Two, allow us to attend the annual migration in peace, where I hope at last to find my dam. Three, support us in taking forces to King Azerim’s aid, and condemn those Dragonesses who helped stage or abet the coup against the Human Kingdom. Four, permit me to recruit a warrior force to fly back to the mainland in support of those kingdoms beset by the Dragon-enslaving Skartun.

She snarled her hatred deep in her throat.

He said, I’ve zero desire to overthrow your rule. However, if a mistake has been made, I expect redress of fitting nature – not to me, but to these fine Dragonesses and Dragons you lead. We shall leave you now to your deliberations. May your fires burn with all wisdom this evening, Charielle Seaspray.

Her fury burned, but she could find nothing to say. Not immediately.

Azania? Aria? Are you with me? he said.

Always, they chorused.

He could not even feel his wings as he stroked up and over the rim, and set course for a beach just a mile to the north. This time, it was not the tiredness.

* * * *

Just like old times; only, it was not. Aria, Azania and Dragon camped on the wide white-sand beach, watching the cream crabs scuttling up and down into their holes above the high tide line. Clumps of boulders the size of Human houses dotted the beach and the nearby ocean, giving each pocket of sand a cosy, sheltered ambiance.

He felt as awkward as a fledgling experiencing his first flare of fires for a Dragoness. The cobalt marauder clearly felt exactly the same way. They lay close upon the warm sands, but could not quite bring themselves to touch.

“So, did you –” they said at the same time.

Awkward grins.

Azania said, “May I describe what we saw in Zunityne, Aria? So, we flew in. There was fire rising from three buildings, and soldiers all over the city wearing crimson jackets and gold helms decorated with a tuft of red feathers – like that parrot we saw, weren’t they, Dragon?”

“Gazaram!” Aria spat.

“Aye, that’s right,” he said. “We landed at the Palace. They lied, telling us that Azerim was up here at Mykita Lair – where is the actual lair, by the way?”

“That headland up there,” Aria pointed with her left wingtip. “More sea caves.”

“Oh. I guess we didn’t notice, as we were in such a flaming rush to arrive.” Dragon settled his wings deliberately. Dignity and gravitas mingled with the tingling urge to crash through the waves in jubilant dance. “You see, we arrived in Zunityne just after mid-afternoon. They also told us that the King and Queen were not receiving visitors, and that all the Dragons were here at Mykita Lair – surprising you?”

“Surprising me is one way of putting it.” The radiance of her eyes dipped toward darkness, before strengthening once more. “I never expected my dam to act so … ruthlessly, and decisively. I have been avoiding Charnal – that’s the male whom I was promised to. Inventing errands, flitting here and there, helping Azerim and his parents, who are much better, by the way. Weak, but recovering. That poison was brutal. We hope they’ll be able to walk again.”

How he wished now that they had brought Inzashu up to the Isles!

“I’m glad they’re better. Where do you think Azerim could be?” Azania asked.

“Best guess? Lord Gazaram will be holding him hostage in his high-security tower. He’s very proud of it – a metal-clad stone tower that’s part of his fortress. It lies on the northern tip of the Human Island, as far from Zunityne as one can get and still be on the same landmass. He’s long had ambitions regarding the throne.”

The Princess said, “Aria, do you also think that the timing stinks?”

“Like a week-old fish.”

The early evening was wind-still, but the waves kept lapping and hissing on the seashore, foaming gently as they arrived and pulled away. Looking out to sea, Dragon noticed white breakers at the edge of the reef, about two hundred Dragon paces offshore. Another magical location. What lay out there? The Sea Dragons must know. Would they be able to see the migration from here, or would they have to fly out to wherever they rested and could be found? How did a Dragon live all their life in the water and never leave it?

Aria touched his paw. Today’s best surprise was you two. I just couldn’t believe it; first that yell – I had no idea where that came from – then, ‘I am Dragon. I object!’

That was the objective, he joked gruffly.

Around you, he loses all objectivity, Azania put in.

Dragon pretended to smack her as Aria’s eyes brightened toward gleaming yellows and zesty blues. He growled, Must I confess?

A definite edge entered Aria’s voice. Did you … mean it, Dragon?

Which bit?

How are the fires of a Dragoness’ hearts a topic for joking? Her talons scraped the sands with a rough, rasping sound, reflecting the turbulent state of her emotions. I didn’t give you the chance to finish before leaping in – you do feel the same way, don’t you?

Dragon growled, With respect, razor wings, we nearly killed ourselves crossing a small ocean for you! Ugh. And now he sounded like a grumpy grand-sire. Deliberately risking life and limb, he shuffled closer and extended a wing over her sharp spine spikes