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

or ankles with which to grip a Dragoness’ neck,” Azania explained.

He considered this for a moment. “Oh, that’s easy.”

More of the fiery eyeball. In tandem.

“My dear and very lovely females, all you need to do is to think like a male.” Holding up his talons, he said, “One, you stuff the girl into skin-tight leather Dragon Rider trousers, thereby wrecking the Sankir’s concentration forever. Two, you fit the material as snugly as possible to her – I don’t know how to say this politely – leg stumps. Three, you make appropriate attachments at the ends and waist to fix her to a saddle with strong ratchet straps. No need for actual calves. Balance? No problem.”

No end to the staring, apparently.

Reaching out his forepaws, he chucked them identically beneath the chins. Much softer for Azania, of course. “You know, when you two glare at me like that, you could be twins?”

“We are not twins!” Aria snarled.

“You’re so rude!” Azania snapped.

Dragon shrugged in the most annoying way he was capable of.

Dragoness and Princess glanced at one other. A second later, they were rolling in the sand, hooting uproariously.

“Glad I’m employed for my comedic value,” he snorted.

Azania clutched her stomach and nearly wet herself laughing.

As sunset drew corals, oranges and rose tints upon a faraway cloudbank, Dragon, Aria and Azania nipped up to the point to wait for the Sea Dragon music. It swelled right on schedule, making the waters physically tremble. How did they do that?

≈My wave is Sirensong! Wait! Respond!≈

≈My wave is Dragon! I will wait! Respond!≈

Twelve minutes! Only twelve – they must be around three hundred and thirty miles away now, he estimated. By his wings, how could he stand to wait?

≈We seek your song. Why not swim out tomorrow evening to meet us joyously beneath the waves?≈

≈Wait. How will we find you, mighty Sea Dragons?≈

For the first time, an immense, musical wave of guffaws arose from the pod.

Sirensong laughed, ≈You cannot miss us, strange one called Dragon. You will know us by our song, and our welcoming fire that sets the oceans alight.≈

≈We will come.≈

He translated for his friends. Both agreed this was a good idea. They could calculate to meet the Sea Dragons up to three hours offshore, depending on the weather, for both he and Aria could manage that length of flight and a similar return with no issues.

How he fretted! Having slept badly, he grouched his way into the morning, staring at an innocently glorious sunrise with baleful ire. Shake it off, Dragon! Today was a day for joy. Nonetheless, he could not help but fear that the Sea Dragons would not accept one who was only half like them. His egg had been born out of what must be tragic circumstances, stolen and raised by another dam; whatever had existed between his sire Blaze and his dam, Sirensong, had been shattered by a staggering act of treachery.

He and Aria trained with care. Neither wanted a wrenched wing joint to spoil the flight north.

At last, when he had nearly perished of impatience, the afternoon grew long enough that it was time to fly into the unknown. Azania mounted up upon his neck, and patted his scales. Quiet encouragement. He fitted his spectacles. No short-sighted Dragon wanted to miss this event!

Aria said, “Lead on, Dragon.”

They flew ten degrees west of true north, the direction he had most keenly felt their communication coming from. The last reefs and islets disappeared below the horizon. Nothing out here but ocean, vast and tranquil, but also a beast which could be roused to an unimaginable fury, the untameable power of nature.

A cloudless late afternoon coloured into a massive, fiery sunset as Ignis turned the waters into his personal bloodbath. Onward they flew. Dragon wondered if he should take to the waters to receive the usual communication, just as the upper curve of the sun disappeared beneath the horizon. Alright. Do it. After transferring Azania to Aria’s back and handing over his spectacles, he plunged into the cool waters.

≈Sirensong?≈

≈Dragon, why did you not reply? We’ve been calling for hours.≈

He did not know how to apologise, so he tried to communicate contrition in the tone of his reply. ≈Coming. Show the way, please?≈

Almost immediately, her response boomed all around him, ≈Of course, you’re flying above the water! How foolish we were to think otherwise. SEE US COME!!≈

Alright, that last bellow almost lifted him clear out of the water. Tingling madly, he popped his head up to see Aria pointing more westerly of where they had been headed. Out there, the Lumis Ocean glowed white, brighter than he had ever seen before.

He submerged and got a wriggle on, hurling himself free of the surface so that he could climb up to their altitude. As they flew onward, the glow spread. Miles wide and long.

How many of them are there? the Princess whispered.

How big are they? Aria gasped.

Mmm, I’m feeling in a bright mood. Look at me glow!

His companions chortled on cue. Azania sighed, O Dragon, truly, you are the luminary in our midst.

Groan. “Delightful pun,” he agreed.

Double groan!

Still, he had to admit there was something catching about whatever was making him radiate white light – could it be some kind of communal effect?

The brilliance tracked like a foaming wave rushing through the darkling ocean. The darker the night became, the stronger the incoming Sea Dragons shone. His wingbeat stuttered for awe; he had to consciously keep himself going. He was part of this? This was his heritage? Joy cramped his throat. Fires and chills ran rampant through his body. At their combined speed it seemed they rushed toward one another at least twice as fast as his brain was prepared to accept. Faster. Faster still!

The Sea Dragons must have been well aware