Return of the Dragonborn Prequel
Page 6
All the trains were charmed so that the relative gravity inside the cars didn’t change. Everyone could walk around just as they would on level ground. The train seemed to reach the top faster than it had the day before, but she knew it was only her nerves. Once off the train, she was running again, almost leaping to catch the class that started in two minutes. She began to slow as she got closer to the front doors and then she looked up and took a good look at that magnificent black marble.
“You going to come in or just stare at the damn thing?” asked a voice beside her.
Andie turned to face a beautiful girl. She had a familiar smile. It took Andie a moment to realize that it was familiar because it reminded her of Raesh.
“Are you Carmen?” Andie asked. “Raesh’s cousin?”
“Guilty,” she said, looking coy as if she knew something she might or might not share. “And you’re the prodigy girl with the dad who spelled himself into an almost vegetative state.” She shook her head as if watching a kitten try to climb something it couldn’t understand was too tall.
Andie’s jaw dropped a little at Carmen’s complete tactlessness.
“Don’t feel bad, sweetie. This is the city. We’ve all got sad stories here.”
“Do you all say what you’re thinking without any concern for people’s feelings?”
“You’re upset. And you have a right to be. Look, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean any disrespect to you or your father. I barely have the semblance of a filter. The truth is, that no one in Vall is going to play by your country rules of hospitality and patience. It just won’t fly here. But, for my part, I apologize.”
“Thanks,” Andie said, not quite sure how else to respond to the girl.
Carmen looked Andie over from head to toe, scanning with intense concentration as if she were x-raying her skeleton. Then she looked Andie right in her eyes and smiled that beautiful, warm, familiar smile. Andie could tell that even if she was uncouth, she was genuine.
“I really should get going,” Andie said. “My class is starting practically as we speak.”
“Morning classes? Black the stars, girl.”
“What?”
“Black the stars. It means something like ‘I can’t believe it.’”
“Ah. Well, I’ll have to catch up on the language, I guess,” Andie laughed. “I’ll see you around?”
“Yes, you will. I’ll be looking out for you. Which is a big deal because it’s not something I would normally do, even for a girl my cousin has a crush on.” She winked.
“He doesn’t have a crush on me,” Andie said, suddenly defensive. She looked down at her feet as she felt her face redden, knowing full well that it was true.
“Not sure why you said that or which one of us you think is stupid enough to believe it, but he most certainly does and you know it, don’t you?” Carmen asked with a grin. “Just let him down easy.”
With that she pushed Andie through the front doors.
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Boxed Set
The complete Return of the Dragonborn Trilogy has been compiled into a boxed set, available exclusively from Amazon for a discounted price. The entire series is free to read in the Kindle Unlimited program.
FIND IT HERE.
About the Author
N.M. Howell is an author, publisher, and all-around nerd from the West Coast of Canada. She has an obsession with coffee, spicy food, and the rain, and she absolutely hates sleeves. (Seriously, they’re like little fabric prisons!) When not working on her latest book - or latest ten books, more realistically - she spends her time saving the world’s heritage and fighting with her micro-wolf pup over who gets the best spot on the couch. Hint: the dog wins.
Find N.M. Howell online:
www.nmhowell.com
nmhowell@dungeon.media
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Also By N.M. Howell
Winter Reign: Rise of the Winter Queen
Broken Gods:
Shattered Heir
Arcane Realms:
Portal
Return of the Dragonborn Trilogy:
Marked by Dragon’s Blood
Fueled by Dragon’s Fire
Called by Dragon’s Song
Return of the Dragonborn Trilogy Boxed Set
Brimstone Bay Mysteries:
Murder Any Witch Way
Witch Way to Hallows’ Bay
Bewitch You a Merry Christmas
Find all of N.M. Howell’s book on Amazon HERE.
N.M. Howell also writes under the adult paranormal pen name NICOLE MARIE. Find her books on Amazon HERE.
Acknowledgments
Thank you to H.F. Stark for your help in bringing Andie’s story to life through words, and to Leonardo Borazzio for bringing Andie’s story to life through illustration.