A Symphony of Dragons by Lisa Shambrook

Author:Lisa Shambrook
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: collections, short stories, short fiction, steampunk, fantasy, adventure, love, romance, dragons
Publisher: BHC Press
Published: 2017-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

Oakenthorn soared across the outcrop settling on the slippery scree as the copper sun dropped behind the Western mountains. He shook his wings and stood – fully aware of the impact his silhouette made as he balanced high on the ridge. The dragon’s belly growled and shivers streaked across his body. Smoke swirled as he caught a shimmering glimpse of her and he could barely breathe. She stood down by the lake, her buttermilk scales and shot-silk wings catching the burnished light before it sank.

Oakenthorn waited, his muscular body gilded, until she raised her head and stared up at the ridge. His wings rippled then he launched, gliding across the tor, floating down and landing noiselessly beside Briar. Quivering noses touched in a moment of electricity before Briar opened her wings and lifted high above her suitor.

The final moments of sunlight glinted with scintillating rays of gold in stark contrast to the long, dark shadows of the range. She circled and swooped, her tail brushing low over his head, and her intoxicating scent wafted on the breeze, making him reel with heady excitement. As the sun gave way to the dusky gloaming, Briar softly touched down beside Oakenthorn and the two stood with nothing but a sigh between them. Water rippled across the lake and the long grass whispered, and as night’s indigo deepened the pair stood silent, waiting.

Far in the distance, glowing torches lit up the night, drawing closer, until a procession of dragons flew low across the vast, shimmering expanse of water. Dragons sailed across the sky above the pair, breathing passion, and the valley blazed with yellow and white Noctilite fire. Smoke swirled and danced up into the night, and sparks and burning stars rained down in cascades of fiery confetti. Oakenthorn and Briar launched up into the horde and they danced through fireworks, their hearts alight with flames of love. They twirled and waltzed amid the throng and one-by-one the dragons peeled away, gliding off into the twilight, until only the ardent couple were left wheeling and spinning together in the glowing dusk.

Night’s rising moon glinted across their scales and silken wings, and Briar let out a lingering, low growl before shooting up into the snow-capped peaks. As Oakenthorn whirled and darted after her, she vanished amid veils of cloud, every drop of vapour tingling with sweet anticipation. Oakenthorn followed, every sense heightened and sharp, and he glided into the shroud to hunt his feisty wraith. Silver moonbeams danced and the dragons twisted and weaved through pale shafts of light, flying close enough to kindle passions and ignite sparks that flashed like lightning atop the steamy crags. They circled, and rose above the mountain tops before bursting out of the feathery plumes of mist into the inky sky, and tumbling together, looping and rolling before dropping down to the soft, mossy grass.

Briar trembled and Oakenthorn puffed out his chest. Both released flames that danced, and whirled and tangled, and then Oakenthorn extended his quivering nose to touch Briar’s flared nostrils.

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