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

“Quite ridiculous, aren’t we?” the other Princess snorted. She stood a full head taller than Azania, and had yet to let go of the other’s fingers. “I suspect I’m going to enjoy this visit a great deal. Princess in trousers indeed. You’d think that the world stopped turning a hundred years ago, the way we behave around here.”

She directed a glare at her brothers. “Stop blushing.”

They spluttered their way through a couple of sentences that contained not an intelligible syllable between them.

“Would it help if I wore a dress?” Azania inquired archly.

“A prerequisite for the slightest hope of intelligent conversation, it seems.”

Dragon put in slyly, “Ah, the trousers that slew a nation.”

Chortling behind her hand, Princess Yuali said, “The stories we’re going to have to put up with after this. Desert barbarians, wicked Dragons and outrageous trousers. Our poor kingdom has never seen a scandal to compare – but Princess, such a sudden visit … this isn’t just sisterly concern, is it? What happened, is something wrong?”

“War. The Skartunese invaded.”

“Oh no, that’s terrible. We’ll have to find a way to help T’nagru.”

He purred happily. It was becoming clear that this generation of Princesses must have thrown the rulebook out of the window. Another victim … mwaa-haa-hargh! Corruption being an integral part of the service.

* * * *

Princess Yuali not only had a pleasingly well-developed backbone, she was practical, too. She had messengers visiting all of the blacksmiths in the city before dark, choice portions of veal brought for the Dragons – one could hardly refuse such succulent offerings – and a chamber prepared for the Princesses which overlooked a small, private courtyard assigned to the Dragons. Her mind was clearly preoccupied with her father’s reported condition, however.

Late in the evening, Dragon leaned his forepaws upon the balcony just eight feet above the courtyard where he and Chalice had been resting, while he and Azania looked over the map and tidal almanac Aria had provided.

“You still game for this, Dragon?” she asked.

Sober question. “Aye. If this was only about me, I don’t think I’d do it. I must face the fear that she will already be gone – and no, I’m not sure there would ever be another. I couldn’t imagine as much, right now. I would make it clear to the Isles Dragons that we need an army, nothing more. You?”

“No Aria –”

“Would be brutal, aye. There’s a good chance we might also be able to wait for the migration. I’m not sure even the Skartun could cross the desert in the height of summer.”

“No. As for me, I guess I’d have to admit to feeling mildly terrified. Everything could change. Or nothing. Nonetheless, this is my duty to my kingdom. If we could come away with a small army of warrior Dragonesses who don’t have loyalties to other Clans but to you and me … I would feel a great deal better about the storm that’s about to hit T’nagru. As you’ve said before, fifty of Aria might make all the difference.”

They examined the map together.

“So, up to these islands on the northernmost tip of Mornine, which will give us the best angle to reach this pair of specks,” he said, tracing the route with the tip of his talon. “Then, we fly almost directly north for the worst and longest stretch of the trip.”

“And land on this gnat’s backside over here,” Azania agreed.

“Aye. It’s not even marked as a proper island, more a reef, which is barely visible even at the lowest tides.”

“The previous stop isn’t great either. Three feet above sea level if we’re lucky and it’s pretty calm, or we’re definitely getting our paws wet. After that, it’s fairly much west with the trade winds for the run in to the Dragon’s talons. We can choose to jump onto Wave Dragonhome on the first major island, or Zunityne on the second. Whose love life do we start with first, do you think?”

They stared at one another.

“Yours.” Both spoke at the same time. Chuckle.

Azania said, “We should ask after Ariamyrielle at Wave Dragonhome first. That makes sense. Depending on what we learn, we fly on to Zunityne, where she might be anyways, and snaffle me up a nice King for breakfast.”

“Ho ho, very draconic of you, Princess.”

“Rubs off after a bit, doesn’t it?”

“Roast royal thigh?”

“Mmm, tasty.”

“Man fillet?”

“Stop making me drool.”

“You are positively wicked, sister,” Inzashu complained from over at a desk, where she had been reading a tome from the royal library on healing herbs. “My ears are burning.”

He growled, “Younglings should learn to listen only when they are supposed to. It’s a terrible habit you’ve picked up.”

“Years of fearing how my mother’s ambitions would affect me. Ah, sorry.” She rubbed her temples tiredly. “Not the most cheerful soul, am I?”

“Inzashu, you’ve been through a great deal,” Azania said stoutly.

“The instinct for self-preservation runs deep,” Dragon agreed. “So, when are you planning to tell us that you’re thinking about staying here to treat the King?”

The girl gave him a startled, even frightened glance. “I …”

Gnarr, he berated himself. “I apologise. That was every bit as intrusive as I’ve always promised I would never be. Your feelings were so clear this time … still! Sorry. I wonder if working together has made us more sensitive to one another?”

“I’ve noticed a few things emanating from you too, Dragon, but I’ve been trying very hard to bite my lip.”

“Well, that definitely makes you the bigger creature.”

“Bigger? Bigger?” Inzashu spluttered.

Suddenly, they all saw the funny side of a serious conversation. Dragon sniggered at his slip-up, Azania pretended to become all huffy about how Inzashu was clearly the bigger, older and wiser person and she would forever be doomed to live in her little sister’s shadow, and with that,