The Secret of the Simiens (Shioni of Sheba Book 7) by Marc Secchia

Author:Marc Secchia [Secchia, Marc]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2019-02-20T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15: Zippy Zaptrix

DRAMA. CHAOS. ROARING. Plans, plans, plans. The remainder of the morning was spent in a wild flurry of plotting that would have had General Getu chuckling like a satisfied rooster. Bluff, double bluff and triple bluff were planned and executed, involving almost all of the remaining Crystal Inferno Dragons – right up to Lord Sehi himself, who orchestrated all the political shenanigans from his central command. Time for two non-existent Black Ice rebellions to spring up, eight different marauding parties of Crystal Inferno Dragons to depart in different directions with instructions to annoy as many Black Ice tribes as possible without doing any real damage, and four conflicting messages to pass via various unofficial channels to the Black Ice Councillors, each accusing a different Councillor of collusion in the Storm Fiuri affair.

<Just don’t do anything foolish, father of my fires,> Zymi said fondly as they departed.

<What, like murdering some backstabbing, two-timing … ha ha! My daughter, time anon for thoughts of vengeance. Now is not that time. We are far from strong enough, far from secure. Fly well. And behave yourself! I have eyes …>

<Father! Shioni, time to fly.>

Wow. Zymi actually blushed right up through her scales, becoming a flaming pink colour in keeping with her fiery nature.

Shioni checked her own coterie – Zi, Viri, Iri and Char with her on Zymi’s back, and a whole posse of Blue Fiuri magicians on Spike’s back. Perfect. Time for a deep dive.

Spike and Zymi dropped over the side of the ring-trunk just after noon. They spread their wings to control the speed of descent against the upward breeze inside the upwelling. Soon, wind was hissing over Spike’s sleek body and whispering musically over Zymi’s rippling wings. With visibility being good, the Dragons manoeuvred languidly to slip between the huge, spiky crystalline plants that floated at different altitudes depending on their weight and buoyancy. Many zany, fanciful and downright improbable forms of insect and animal life made these gleaming spars their home. Most had wings or some form of jet propulsion. Shioni stared at a crawling cactus thing that flashed mauve lights from near its mouth and drifting birds that appeared to be comprised solely of sapphire twigs. Wow. And here was a wriggling carpet thing fighting with a flaming green pincer which had popped out of the middle of an innocent-looking yellow flower ball.

Deeper and deeper they dove. Spike deployed magical pressure shielding, a unique Deepdweller skill, to protect his companions. <Especially the delicate ones,> he teased, tickling Zymi’s frilled wing fringe with his wingtip.

<How’s about I delicately thread a few spikes out through your nostrils?> she chuckled.

<Stay close to me,> Spike said.

<I’m taking notes for Lord Sehi,> Azurelle announced.

Spike seemed to be steaming icily from his ear canals as he replied, <For reasons of safety, o Queen. No ulterior motives whatsoever.>

<Ha,> said Azurelle. <I hope you do have a few motives, Dragon! Some creatures would be most disappointed if you did not – not implying anything, mind, but

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