by Marc Secchia
As the others of their group from Royal Amarinthe made to depart to other regions of the Arabaxa Jungle, he was gratified to see them approach his father to thank him for his leadership. All came to him and to Rhyl and Shanryssill as well, those not travelling on the same route to Faifarathi Elvenholme, to wish them the richest of Santazathiar’s blessings upon their onward journey. They tickled Storm behind the ears or patted her back – having to be mindful of the sharp double row of spine spikes – and told her how exotic and enchanting she was.
Somewhat sourly, he wondered if it was possible for a creature to literally burst with pride. However, at the end of it all, even Miss Mischief-Paws heaved a bit of a leaden sigh and sat beside him with a subdued air.
“Och aye, had enough attention for one day?”
She hissed slightly between her fangs.
“I mean, how many times can a girly Dragon be told she’s the most gorgeous creature beneath Mauve? Were ye counting?”
Keee-irr frr-nee.
“Aye, I am being silly, but also truthful.”
What an amazing homecoming!
She rubbed her muzzle against his cheek. Keee-irr rr … rrr-ough!
“Eh? I dinnae exactly need to shave, ye ken. Smooth as a baby’s – ah, never mind. Awful comparison, never mind the everlasting embarrassment. Here we go. Ready for the last leg of our journey home, my diamond?”
Keee-irr rrr-ooo.
Oh, what … what do you mean?
She tried again. Keee-irr rrr-ooo … he shook his head. No idea what that sound meant.
Keir nodded to his four litter bearers, all male cousins he knew by name. Well, most had been doing a smidge of growing, as far as Elves went, but that still left him fairly much the tallest person in the Aryssillati Clan. And the one with the messiest hair. He might feel like the one wearing an Ogre-hide shirt at all this attention, coupled with the need to be carried everywhere, but his relatives acted more cheerful than a whole flock of parakeets. Several uncles had called him a hero, and they all knew his nicknames of Wyvernslayer and Kestrelfoot.
Well. Change that to Purplefoot, perhaps?
His family was secure at last. That was heroism enough for this day. Keir wrinkled his nose at nothing in particular. Just wait until they caught wind of his baby’s appetite!
Keee-irr rrr-ooo … she purred meantime, insistently enough for him to pause to catch her eye and inquire one more time what she meant. Rrr-ooo!
I’m sorry, but I don’t quite understand, darling. Be patient with me. Try again?
Reaching out, she laid her right forepaw upon his heart and stared solemnly into his eyes. Keee-irr … rrr-uv ooo.
His eyes flew wide. Whaaa … I … I love you too, Auroral Storm Diamond!
She made her cheeky, gurgling laugh. Rrr-uv. Rrr-uv ooo!
Delightful little rascal! Just when he imagined he knew something about Dragons, the world flipped him a cheeky salute and swerved off in an unexpected direction.
Love. Wasn’t that just the true meaning and the best part of this Dragonmas miracle?
THE END
Join Keir and Storm as they enter the mighty, treacherous Elven Jungles in the next thrilling volume:
A Fledgling for Summer’s Rising
About the Author
www.marcsecchia.com
www.dragonsglory.com
Marc is the bestselling author of over thirty-five books and is published in five languages. Born in South Africa, he lives and works in Ethiopia with his wife and 4 children, 2 dogs, a rabbit, and a variable number of marabou storks that roost on the acacia trees out back. On a good night you can also hear hyenas prowling along the back fence.
When he’s not writing about Africa or dragons, Marc can be found travelling to remote locations. He thinks there’s nothing better than standing on a mountaintop wondering what lies over the next horizon.
If you enjoyed this story, please consider leaving a review on Amazon.com. Every review matters and I read them all!
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Twitter: @marcauthor
Email: [email protected]
Other Books by Marc Secchia
Call me Dragon: Spill-your-coffee hilarious!
Blitz the Devastator has never done a decent day’s devastating in his life. Fireless, artistic and shunned by his Dragon Clan, he struggles to pillage even the meanest village. A future full of misery and failure beckons.
This much is true until the day the burly brown Dragon successfully – imagine that – kidnaps the Princess Azania. As a black Princess of T’nagru, this spirited beauty is by definition the most unforgettable woman in the seventeen realms. Knights errant, men-at-arms and sundry Princes expire at her feet in drivelling worship.
Unfortunately, they all want his scaly head on a platter shortly thereafter. Goes with the territory.
To Blitz’s consternation, the royal nuisance refuses to behave herself and be a typical pampered Princess. With humour, unconventional flair and the odd stomp of her diminutive slipper, she sets out to reform her Dragon.
One question remains. Who will save the Dragon from the Princess?
Call me Dragon
I am Dragon
Thunder o Dragon
Santaclaws: Discover the true origins of Santaclaws in this seasonal Dragon tale.
When a boy brings home a Christmas miracle to his suffering family, everything will change. Wishes are different when it comes to Dragons. Wishes take wing, and come true.
A Dragon for Christmas: Santaclaws #1
A Hatchling for Springtide: Santaclaws #2
A Fledgling for Summer’s Rising: Santaclaws #3
A Talon for High Summertide: Santaclaws #4
A Fang for Autumn’s Richness: Santaclaws #5
A Dragoness for Winter’s Storm: Santaclaws #6
Shapeshifter Dragons: Be the Dragon!
Five allied series of bestselling epic Dragon adventures. Prepare to wing away to a unique world of mighty Dragons and volcanic Islands above the deadly Cloudlands! In chronological order (Island-World timeline):
Dragonfriend series: Dragonfriend, Dragonlove, Dragonsoul and Dragonstar
Scrolls of Fire series: The Dragon Librarian, The Dragon Loremaster
Shapeshifter Dragon Legends series: The Pygmy Dragon and The Onyx Dragon
Shapeshifter Dragons series: Aranya, Shadow Dragon, Song of the Storm Dragon and Beautiful Fury
Shapeshifter Dragons linked book, read after Song of the Storm Dragon or after Beautiful Fury: Chaos Shifter
Standalone Books: Dragon Thief, Tytiana
Set in the same world as the Shapeshifter Dragons series, join Zhialeiana in an oceanic adventure with Whales and Sea-Dragons:
IsleSong series: The Girl who Sang with Whales, The Girl who Loved the Whales, and The Girl who Swam with Whales, after which this series connects with Shapeshifter Dragons above in Dragons of Sea and Sky, coming soon.
Mister Drainpipe: The power of dignity and redemption.
Contemporary literary fiction. A wrenching story of a homeless man living in a drain in modern Ethiopia.
Mister Drainpipe
Whisper Series: Enter the canyon maze!
Conjured by the sadistic Warlock Sanfuri, Whisper faces a stark choice. Run with his message, or die. Bound by the Warlock’s unbreakable magical imperative, Whisper is forced to navigate the tortuous pathways of a labyrinth twenty miles deep, riven by Dragon-infested canyons and scorched by sunstrike. An extraordinary legend is born.
Whisper Alive
The Equinox Cycle: Amputee, survivor, heroine!
Trapped in a car wreck, crushed by a train. In seconds, Zaranna’s world is torn apart and she must start life anew, as a survivor. A double amputee. Yet why does this promising equestrienne remember a flash of sulphurous fire, and a crimson paw hurling her mother’s car onto the train tracks? Why does a tide of beguiling butterflies f
lood her increasingly chaotic dreams?
As Zaranna Inglewood adjusts to life minus legs, plus gorgeous Alex, the paramedic who cut her body from the wreckage, she learns the terror of being hunted. Relentless and inimical, the enemy lures her to a world where dreams shape reality. Equinox. A world of equinoctial storms; lashed by titanic forces of magic, dominated by the Pegasi and their centuries-old enmity with Human Wizards and the Dragons. This is a world where a girl can Dream her destiny. Where her soul can fly, or be chained forever.
She is Zaranna, the Horse Dreamer. Survivor. Fighter. A girl who doesn’t need legs to kick an evil fate in the teeth. All she needs is courage – the courage to Dream.
The Horse Dreamer (Equinox Cycle Book 1)
The Shioni of Sheba series: Discover ancient Ethiopia!
Unique African historical fantasy adventures set among the myths and legends of ancient Ethiopia.
Shioni of Sheba #1: The Enchanted Castle
Shioni of Sheba #2: The King’s Horse
Shioni of Sheba #3: The Mad Giant
Shioni of Sheba #4: The Sacred Lake
Shioni of Sheba #5: The Fiuri Realms
Shioni of Sheba #6 – The Night of the Hyenas
Shioni of Sheba #7 – The Secret of the Simiens
Shioni of Sheba #8 – Storm over Sheba
Shioni of Sheba Box Set – Books 1-5
Epic fantasy (New Adult and Adult readers) Epic length tales of unique worlds and powers.
Feynard
The Legend of El Shashi
Foreign language editions
Italian – Dragonfriend, Il Drago Pigmeo, Aranya
Spanish – Dragonfriend, Aranya, El Dragón Pigmeo, El Bibliotecario Dragón, Tytiana
Portuguese – Aranya, Shadow Dragon, The Pygmy Dragon, The Onyx Dragon
Chinese – The Pygmy Dragon (US, China) Aranya (US, China)
