by Marc Secchia
Chapter 25: Return
TWo HUNDRED BLUE and Green Fiuri magicians of the great clans gathered around Shioni in the Halls of Endless light. She did not want to leave. Planting a final kiss upon the top of Queen Azurelle’s head, she pushed herself to her feet–at least, she tried to. The best she could manage was to kneel, gasping, her every breath burning like fire.
“Quickly,” said Chardal. “She’s fading.”
Shioni only hoped she had not waited too long. A gentle resonance came to her ears as the massed magicians began to chant in unison, a singing not unlike the chimes of the Crystal Inferno Dragon, and Shioni suddenly remembered she had forgotten to impress on Azurelle and Chazziki the need to modify all of the Fiuri wards to stop killing Crystal Inferno Dragon larvae.
“Char–” she began to call.
A galaxy of stars shrouded her as though a robe had been pulled over her mind, and then there was a sensation of flying at an unimaginable speed. A faint scent that she recognised as Fiuriel lingered in her nostrils. Barely had she begun to think ‘I’m flying again’ when her knees struck hard ground and Shioni pitched forward on her face, thankfully striking a small bush which broke the worst of her fall.
She smelled juniper trees and dust, the fragrances of home.
Shioni felt ripped apart, as though her heart had been left in the Fiuri Realms. Moaning softly as she checked herself–two arms, two legs, one baboon-brained head by a miracle still stuck on her shoulders–she tried to focus her eyes. No good. All was darkness. Was any night truly so dark? No, for she could not even see her hand when she touched her eyes. Blinking was no help.
She heard the sound of running feet, a rustling of cloth.
“What?” shrieked a well-known voice. “Where have all my Fiuri gone?” The witch’s breath rattled horribly in her throat as she inhaled reflexively. “You! What have you done, Shioni of Sheba?”
Shioni turned toward the sound. “Lost your Fiuri, Kalcha?”
The witch’s furious screech scorched the air.
Author’s Note
Thank you for reading Shioni of Sheba: The Fiuri Realms! If you enjoyed this story, please consider leaving a review on Amazon.com or Goodreads, or reading one of my other works. Every review matters and I read them all!
Marc is the bestselling author of 12 fantasy books. 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 flying across the moon, 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.
Where you can find me:
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Twitter: @marcauthor
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Email: [email protected]
Other Books by Marc Secchia
Shapeshifter Dragons: (Young Adult and older readers) Chained to a rock and tossed off a cliff by her boyfriend, Aranya is executed for high treason against the Sylakian Empire. Falling a league into the deadly Cloudlands is not a fate she ever envisaged. But what if she did not die? What if she could spread her wings and fly?
Long ago, Dragons ruled the Island-World above the Cloudlands. But their Human slaves cast off the chains of Dragonish tyranny. Humans spread across the Islands in their flying Dragonships, colonising, building and warring. Now, the all-conquering Sylakians have defeated the last bastion of freedom–the Island-Kingdom of Immadia.
Evil has a new enemy. Aranya, Princess of Immadia. Dragon Shapeshifter.
Aranya (Shapeshifter Dragons Book 1)
Shadow Dragon (Shapeshifter Dragons Book 2)
Shapeshifter Dragon Legends: (Young Adult and older readers) A young Pygmy warrior is stolen from her jungle home and sold to a zoo, where she lives for seven years before being kidnapped by the Red Dragon Zardon. Now, the courage of the smallest will be tested to the utmost. For Pip is the Pygmy Dragon, and this is her tale.
The Pygmy Dragon
The IsleSong series: (Young Adult and older readers) A story for anyone who loves the ocean and its whales, salt water in their hair, and the gentle rasp of beach sand between their bare toes. This story will transport you to a beautiful, unspoiled ocean world where people have to rely on Whales to travel between the islands. A world where danger can, and does, lurk beneath any wave.
The Girl who Sang with Whales (IsleSong Book 1)
The Shioni of Sheba series: (Middle Grades and older readers) 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
Epic fantasy (New Adult and Adult readers) Epic length tales of unique worlds and powers.
Feynard
The Legend of El Shashi
