I am Dragon (Dragon Fires Rising Book 2) by Marc Secchia (famous ebook reader TXT) 📕

“Usefully, I shall refrain from referring to your breasts as ‘hot’ around King Azerim. Deal?”

“Deal!” she chortled.

Keeping low in the water, he paddle-scrambled over the reef toward the rocks, approaching from the ocean side. He definitely smelled someone in there now – quite a few people, he realised belatedly. The scents of their emotions were not as he remembered from Gazaram’s castle. More … wary, perhaps, and not enemies or dark-hearted as he would have expected of men holding a young Prince. What was this? Could it be –

“Halt! Who goes there?”

In a second, the Princess scrambled to her feet, waist-deep in the surf. She called, “We are with King Varazim, searching for Prince tay-Varazim.”

Had she listened in to his thoughts?

“Who are you, o dark spirit of the ocean?” Fear trembled in the voice. “Stay back!”

Chapter 34: The Little Prince

AMONGST THE NAMES SHE had been called, to his knowledge, this was unique. Was it because she had emerged seemingly from the deeps? Easy to imagine how Archipelago Islanders might be superstitious about creatures which rose from the surrounding ocean. Most of the people they had met this day had never imagined someone being as dark as her; again, most found her an exquisite curiosity, like an exotic painting or animate artwork.

Bracing his paws upon the reef, Dragon rose. And rose. The quartet of roughly dressed men and women who had emerged from a gap high amidst the rocks, drew back in shock.

He said, “Dark, aye. Spirited, most definitely – but this woman is flesh and blood like you Humans, and no spirit. We are Dragon and Dragon Rider, and we seek the young Prince tay-Varazim, in the name of the King. This is Princess Azania of T’nagru.”

“T’nagru? That’s on the other side of the world,” one of the men exclaimed.

“They are said to be dark,” the other noted.

“Aye, and wont to dislocate men’s eyes from their sockets,” his female companion added sourly. “Be off with you both. There’s nothing for you here.”

“Lord Gazaram is dead,” Azania noted politely.

Dragon sniffed the air meantime, and listened intently. Was that a younger, faster heartbeat back inside the rocks somewhere?

“We’ll believe that when we see it,” the first man blustered.

“Unfortunately, I did not leave a great deal to examine, unless you feel like picking through his ashes.” He did not intend to threaten, but a hint of irritation was more than enough to convey that impression.

I’m sure they’re hiding him, he added for the Princess’ benefit.

Call Aria?

Aye. Might be the safest option. Aloud once more, he said, “Do any of you know Ariamyrielle Seaspray? And the other Princes?” A stifled gasp within the rocks. At their nods, he said, “Since you do not believe us – which I do understand, given the circumstances – shall I summon them here? They are nearby.”

“Aye, you do that,” said the sour woman.

Raising his muzzle to the sky, he almost lost it with a guffaw as the Princess stuck her fingers into her ears. Wise. He let out a wild, triumphal bugle that must have echoed for a mile about, and launched a bolt of white fire just as high into the sky, where – to his eternal shock – it exploded in a wide burst of sparks.

“Pretty,” his companion approved. “What do you call that Dragon power?”

“I have absolutely no idea.”

“It’s kind of an explosion … an artwork … of fire?”

“Fire-art-work?”

“Firework for short?”

He purred, “Excellent. Time to update the dictionary.”

To the men and women, who must be soldiers in disguise, he said, “Don’t go anywhere. We will not trouble you meantime.”

Within seconds, the bugle began to pass down the chain of nearby Dragonesses. They called to one another, summoning the whole force to the coastline. Eyes grew round as Dragonesses shaded the moons. At their forefront was Aria, and beside her in wing position, none other than Charielle. He was not aware she had joined the search.

Five hearts thumped together inside his throat. Hope he was right …

Azania pointed. “The Princes come riding on Dragons.”

Kerpoof. Little brains, blown. They clearly recognised both Ariamyrielle and her dam; the three Princes were a bonus. The fact that Anhoyal Rangers and Princes alike rode Dragons was too much. Jaws catching flies. He loved it!

Gathazim called down, “Isles greetings! Is our brother here? Have you found him?”

“Here!” A scream came from inside the rocks. “Here I am, brother!”

The Princes alighted as quickly as they were able; Gathazim was so keen, he almost took a very bad fall before one of the soldiers snapped out an arm to steady him, along with Dragon’s paw. Harazim and Tahluzim were more circumspect for the time it took their boots to touch rock. Then, they collected a little brown-haired thunderbolt in their arms. A big, scrambled brotherly hug with many moist eyes, backslaps, a surreptitious tickle or two and a great deal of yelling ensued. Azania dabbed at her eyes. Dragon discovered a boulder-sized lump in his throat.

This made it all worth it. He had begun to fear they would never find the little Prince, or worse discover a very small grave somewhere. As it turned out, these faithful soldiers had kidnapped him from the kidnappers and brought him here for safety.

They apologised at least fifty times to Azania, who remained gracious throughout.

Not so much to him, but it did not matter. Not when his Princess had a case of the sniffles, the brothers nearly had a small war over who would get to fly with the youngster back to the castle, and Charielle complimented her daughter on a job well accomplished.

Quite the day.

* * * *

Perfection would have been to return to news that King Azerim had woken and was doing much