Page 26 of Fire Dragon
Amazing. Pure and simple.
Liam began to rise in the air, very slowly at first, no doubt allowing all the dragons to gain their wind-legs. One after the other, the dragons used their flexible wings to lift almost vertically into the air. The sound that followed, of so many dragons gathered together and moving their wings, was like hearing the wind in staccato.
That’s the most beautiful music I could have imagined.
I’ve always loved it.
She didn’t repress the sigh that followed. She knew, in the deepest part of her heart, that Liam was a fellow traveler. It was part of the reason she had to keep steeling herself against him. She knew there could be something magical between them if they were ever given a chance. But knowing the grief and guilt he bore about his family, an intimate relationship with Liam wasn’t going to happen.
When the forward motion began, she shifted her leg back to secure her seat with her knees. Her long braid bounced down the middle of her back then finally settled down as Liam’s forward movement became a very fluid flight. His wings did half the work while his energy performed the other half. The motion of both together kept his body in a perfectly level trajectory.
She hadn’t been in the air but a few minutes when the first thing she noticed was the verdant growth along the flight path.Somehow, I expected the land below to be barren.
It is in places, but at the tail end of a flight, there’s quite a bit of, um, caravan rain, as you might say.
It took her a moment to figure out what he meant, then she laughed.I guess I’d never thought about how dragons relieved themselves on these long flights.
It’s forbidden at the loading zones.
Right. As it should be.She couldn’t imagine the clean-up of dragon refuse on a paved loading path if it was a free-for-all.
The land opened up and this part of her world she knew well. On the vast mesa above the lake were hundreds of small farms. More than one river that fed Blue Lake travelled at least one-hundred-and-eighty miles from the distant snow-capped Hom Frieze Mountains over which they’d eventually be passing.
The rivers split more than once and two of the offshoots formed beautiful, deep gorges, one entering on the southeast side of the lake, the other the southwest.
She’d visited wealthy dragons who had exclusive properties in the gorges. The homes were amazing. She was pretty sure Liam owned a place on the southeast side in Dragonslip Gorge. He ought to be wealthy for all the caravans he drove.
A series of low hills led to a verdant valley that went on for miles and miles, occasionally punctuated with more low hills. The winds of Dusane tended to keep the hills trimmed back to bare rock. But occasionally swathes of green trees, called ironwood and aptly named, lent a forested appearance to long stretches of the land.
Farms came and went, each protected with mountainous walls of piled rock. The inventiveness of humans and dragons never ceased to amaze her, in this case the ways farmers produced food and cared for their animals despite the erratic, powerful winds of their world.
About the time she was able to see the Hom Frieze Mountain range, Liam began a slow climb in preparation for crossing the pass. The numerous jagged peaks were magnificent, tall, snow-capped and rose to about nine-thousand feet above sea level.
First, however, the farms gave way to a dense forest of Dusane pines. The trees climbed up to the altitude they could tolerate until the thinning air forced them to stop. The appearance of a natural treeline always surprised her.
The pass between two central peaks was broad enough to allow all the dragons to maneuver through easily. Each, as well as the tourists, would have a view of the snow-crested peaks on either side.
Emma could hardly wait.
Stop jumping around.Liam’s voice had a teasing edge, so she knew he wasn’t serious.
The view is so beautiful.It’s chilly up here though.
I can warm things up if you need me to.
Dragons had all kinds of ways to make fire, heat, and smoke. She had no doubt he meant what he said.
I’m fine for now. I’ll let you know. Oh, Liam. No wonder you warriors come back from caravan runs in an exhilarated state. I would, too.
He snorted, which sent some puffs of steam into the air. They crystalized instantly and made a tinkling sound as they fell to earth.We come back exhausted, nothing more.
But there’s always that light in your eyes. I see it in Logan. I’ve seen it in you, that is the few times you’d stay in the same room with me long enough to get a look.
Since working with him exclusively for over three weeks now, she’d gotten into the habit of teasing him about his former brusque behavior. They’d finally made peace over their one-nighter. He’d apologized but said it was the only way he could handle the situation given their chemistry.
That much he admitted: He desired her.
There was no question they were getting along better. He was almost relaxed around her. She also sensed he’d come to trust that she wasn’t going to go all giddy-female and throw herself at his head.
