A Dragon's Clutch by Alica Mckenna Johnson

Author:Alica Mckenna Johnson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: urban fantasy, magic, family, teens, mythology, unicorns, mythical creatures, circus
Publisher: Alica Mckenna Johnson

Chapter Thirteen

“Why does that sound like a warning?” Nyota whispered.

“Could be fun, at least I’m hoping it’s fun,” I said.

“Please follow me. I’ll show you our village and then you can wash for lunch.” Mizuchi turned. His wooden shoes clipped in a steady rhythm on the hard packed dirt road.

“What is that smell?” Sasha asked his voice soft.

“It’s the indigo dye, not the best smell in the world, but once you wash it the smell goes away,” Mizuchi said, pointing to rows of hanging indigo blue kimonos.

Note to self: dragons have very good hearing. The kimonos flapped in the wind as they dried in the sun, hanging from a bamboo frame. Kimonos from those sized for babies to ones that looks as if they would fit sumo wrestlers hung three high, on four different structures.

Large, scaled, claws pulled a thin snake-like a dragon up on the structure. The dragon’s yellow fingers were stained with the indigo dye and their claws were almost black. Lifting one side of the top bamboo pole the dragon slid the kimonos off, then threaded the pole through the wide sleeves of the freshly dyed robes. Once the pole was secure against the frame the dragon let go. The bamboo structure shook when it landed.

“Dad,” Nyota squealed. “They’re really dragons, I mean we saw the other two but look, dragons.”

Long, thin, serpentine dragons of various colors, all about eight to twelve feet long, and when standing on all fours about five to six feet tall, filled the village. The dragons were busy painting, carving jade, spinning wool, and dying fabric, each in individual workshops with a store of their art attached.

I slowed at the raku pottery store. The hand sculpted vessels and earthy metallic rainbow sheen were stunning, very wabi-sabi. Gavin and Anali would have loved them. She would have admired their beauty, but would say they shouldn’t get one because they were traveling. Gavin would insist they get one and ship it to their house in New York. Anali would say no. Gavin would pick the biggest and/or most expensive piece, acting like he was going to buy it, until Anali gave in and told him which one she wanted.

Maybe I would buy them one and send it to them.

Next to the workshop three dragons worked, hissing and growling as they shaped the clay. They stopped when they saw us. Long forked tongues slid between their sharp white teeth tasting the air. They looked at Mizuchi, who through growls and hisses of his own told them who we were. The three dragons bowed to us before returning to their work.

We passed tea, ramen, sushi, and barbeque restaurants. Set aside from the main line of buildings were the blacksmiths. Thick walls made from stone and mud framed the workshop. Four dragons worked inside, the bottom half of their bodies curled like snakes while they heated metal in the fires and pounded the glowing blades against stone anvils.

Except for one. A smaller silver dragon held a length of steel in front of him and blew fire upon it.

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