First | Previous | Chapter Index | Next

Andrew was awestruck every time he saw Naria’s dragon form. She was nearly thirty foot long, beautifully sleek and serpentine, and her sapphire blue scales glittered in the sunlight. If it was possible he thought she was even more beautiful than in her human form.

Stop admiring me, Drew, Naria snaked her head around and touched the very tip of her nose to his like an extremely large cat. Given that her head was bigger than his entire body, it was slightly disconcerting. Now hurry up and get on. We don’t have time to waste. There was a pause. It’s nice that you think I’m beautiful, though.

“Oh, right.” He scrambled up her outstretched leg and positioned himself between two of her neck ridges. His father climbed up as well and seated himself behind him.

I hope you’re hiding us, Matthias-idan, Naria said. Because I’m rather noticeable in this form.

“I am,” he said. “That’s why I came along rather than sending the two of you alone.”

I thought that was it, she said. Hold on both of you, I’m taking off. She pushed off from the ground abruptly. Where to first?

The large hill over there. Matthias switched to mental speech as well. It was hard to speak aloud with the wind blasting into your face. That’s where Emily says the people running the operation against us on the ground are going to be. I want to see if they are setting up yet.

Okay. Naria banked slightly as she turned in the air to fly at the hill. I don’t sense anyone there but it feels odd.

Odd? Andrew pushed out his mind towards the hill and felt something brush over his skin pleasantly. You’re right, what is that?

Oh, it’s always felt like that as long as anyone can remember, Matthias said. It’s a pleasant place. Very energising.

It’s also a place where the barrier between here and somewhere else is naturally very thin. That energy is leaking through from the other side. She tutted to herself. But where? It’s not Talonyka or Kithra – I’d recognise either of those and I’m not sure a direct link to Kithra is even possible. It’s too far away. It’s not the void either because that would be unpleasant. She circled around the hill and Andrew got the sense she was tasting the air. But it does taste familiar somehow.

Familiar? Matthias asked.

It’s like something from my childhood, Naria said. But I can’t quite figure out what. I’ll send imps to Ystelyan-mirian and Halindan once the immediate crisis is past to see if they can place it, but it doesn’t feel threatening and we have more important things to worry about right now. There’s no one on the hill yet but there is a truck approaching from the east. Do you want to have a look?

Yes please, Matthias said. Though I imagine it is the military. It’s unlikely anyone else would be out here in the current circumstances.

—

If you enjoy my writing and haven’t already please consider becoming a patron via my Patreon page.

The Patron’s Page is now up. If you are a Patron waiting for access to Haventon Book 2 – I will be contacting you as soon as Chapter One is done. (Soon I promise – it’s slower going than I expected).

You can also help in none money ways. A vote on TopWebFiction would help. I’m not offering to answer questions in return at the moment as I am so far behind on them it’s not funny.  Or you can add some tropes (or a review) at TVTropes or you can review at the Web Fiction Guide.  Or just drop a rec and a link to the index page on your blog, facebook, G+, Tumblr or Twitter. So please help if you can.

Why yes, I am on a publicity kick. Why do you ask?

Thanks!

First | Previous | Chapter Index | Next