Summer's Fall by Carol E Leever & Camilla Ochlan

Author:Carol E Leever & Camilla Ochlan [Leever, Carol E & Ochlan, Camilla]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-05-24T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9: The Golden Voyage

DEV

Devastation Machelli leaned against one of the wooden posts lining the path that led down to the Melian docks. All around him, scores of dockworkers and wharfies hurried along, going about their morning business.

The first rays of early sunlight fell on scores of tall ships moored in the port of Melia. Their bone-colored sails fluttered and snapped in balletic unison as a mild summer wind played across the water. The ancient pier sparkled like a kaleidoscope as laborers unloaded cargo from all over the world and filled cavernous holds with valuable Melian treasures. Merchants bustled from ship to ship like bees flitting over lavender fields. But despite the constant movement around the port, no ships set sail, all firmly anchored in the bay.

They are still a little worried about the Widow Maker. Not as naive as I thought.

Most of the Melian fishing fleet had remained in port as well. A few brave souls had ventured out for a predawn run, but none had gone beyond the protective ring of the bay. Their haul, small in comparison to most days, was all the more precious, and the lively bray of workers resounded through the upper and lower fish markets.

Several workers tipped their caps in greeting as they passed. Dev nodded back, bemused by the overt friendliness. Melians! They'd invite the thief who robbed them to stay for tea.

The short time he'd spent in Melia had convinced Dev that the Sundragons had to be out of their minds for opening the border to outsiders. Sweet, innocent Melian souls.

It was obvious to Dev that unscrupulous sailors from far away places like Kharakhan and Terizkand would easily take advantage of the overly trusting Melians — were it not for the enormous, terrifying dragons stationed in strategic places throughout the city.

At least the Sundragons keep vigilant watch over their people.

One such dragon waited upon the cliffs near the port to greet arrivals. Blinding sunlight glittered off the creature's golden scales, making the behemoth impossible to miss; nor could anyone discount his sword-like talons as he gripped the rocky perch.

"Keep away from the dragons," Avarice had warned Dev when he'd first arrived in Melia. "They'll smell the Shilvagi in you immediately and know you for a Machelli. And lies won't fool them."

Considering most words Dev uttered were lies, he imagined any number of interesting conversations he could potentially have with the dragons. Interesting conversations I don't need. He had no desire to speak to a dragon, interesting or otherwise. Where he'd come from, dragons were mindless, terrifying grotesques who devoured people; he wasn't quite ready to believe that somehow the Melian Sundragons were different.

Civilized. Educated. Kind. Whatever faerie tales they've spread, I am not buying it. Dragons are predators, pure and simple.

He'd been somewhat surprised when Avarice had summoned him from Terizkand the day before, sending a servant to lead him through the transfer portal in the Terizkandian royal palace. While Dev frequently found himself infiltrating the various parties and decadent gatherings of the Terizkandian upper class, he'd avoided the castle and the nobility.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.