Page 33 of Draekora

He dipped his body, circling once before he nosedived again towards an island almost entirely consumed by and overflowing with water but for a rocky mountain cresting the edge of it.

Hold your breath, Alex, Xiraxus told her, not pulling up despite the fact that they were falling closer and closer to the surface of the island. He stroked his wings back as if to push them faster downwards.And whatever you do, don’t let go!

Alex had only a wide-eyed moment to suck in a lungful of air and reinforce her grip on him, just as he dove them straight into the massive body of water.

This far above the clouds, she expected the water to be painfully frigid, but it was nothing of the sort. Instead it was almost warm, pleasantly so. But all this she only noted with half a mind because Xiraxus wasn’t guiding them back to the surface—he was swimming them deeper under the lake.

As beautiful as the crystal clear water was with rays of sunlight streaming into its depths, Alex began to panic when Xiraxus made no move to resurface.

Uh—I’m human, remember? Oxygen is not only important, it’s vital!Alex called out to him when they kept moving further down.

We’re almost there, he replied nonsensically.I promise, it’ll be worth it.

Not if I’m dead!Alex countered. But at that very moment, he moved his nose upwards and with a bubblyswooshof his great wings he propelled them into an underwater tunnel. The passageway led upwards and, within a few more pushes of the draekon’s wings, they broke out of the water and flew straight up what Alex recognised as the dried magma chamber of a dormant volcano. Bright gemstones veined along the walls of the rock as they flew straight up the channel and broke through the surface of the mountaintop, surging out into the sky.

Beyond words, Alex just laughed again, whooping in delight as Xiraxus soared back downwards and then spiralled underneath the water spilling over the edge of the great island, further drenching them in the spray.

See, flying’s not so bad, is it?he said in a semi-smug tone.

It’s wonderful, Alex admitted.I had no idea what I was missing.

What you’re both missing is a very important meeting, came the irritated voice of Zaronia as she glided up alongside them, startling Alex both with her presence and her mental link.

Sorry, Mother, we—uh—we got lost, Xiraxus said feebly.

Alex watched as Zaronia’s gaze swept over their waterlogged selves and, in a deadpan tone, the older draekon repeated,You got lost.

Even I could have come up with something better than that, Alex whispered to Xiraxus, hoping only he could hear.

Bite me, he returned, startling a laugh out of Alex.

Now, now, hatchlings, Zaronia said, showing that she could hear everything between them.Play nice and follow me.

Just how much of my language did you learn?Alex asked Xiraxus as he turned on his wing to follow obediently after his mother.

Everything you know came instantly with the bond, he replied.

And the same for me in reverse, Alex said, marvelling anew that she could now understand the Meyarin language. She wondered whether her new translation skills would remain with her when she returned to her time.

Yes, he confirmed.And because my race is mentally linked like a—what would you call it? A hive mind?—because of that, you can now also understand and be understood by all draekons. The knowledge of your language flows from you through me to them.

Then why does your mother sound so much more… proper than you do?

Somehow Xiraxus managed to turn his head but remain flying on course, pinning her with a telling look.Because Mother is nearly an Ancient, Alex, and I’m the equivalent of a teenager, just like you.

Are you implying that I’m ‘uncool’, Xira?Zaronia cut in.

Alex pressed her lips together in an attempt to suppress her laughter. Just hearing the word ‘uncool’ from the great draekon seemed wrong somehow.

Not at all, Mother, Xiraxus said quickly.You’re not uncool, you’re…

Sensing he needed help, Alex offered,Dignified.

Yes, dignified, Xiraxus said with a nod of his head.Dignified and sophisticated.

Definitely too dignified to use phrases like ‘bite me’, Alex finished, stifling a laugh when she felt Xiraxus’s body vibrate with a grumble.

Hmm, Zaronia said, but she left it at that.

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