The Onyx Dragon Read Online Free

gleamed like a rack of kitchen pots buffed to a magnificent shine–Pip giggled at this mental image. When he moved, the hand-sized scales of his flanks and shoulders rippled like molten metal, as though the hardest known armour in the Island-World was as pliable as soft, oiled leather.
    With a fond nip at the base of Jyoss’ modest ruff of skull spikes, each as long as Pip’s arm and as deadly as the fangs that briefly flashed against the Dragoness’ hide, Tazzaral whirled and appeared to pour himself off the edge of the balcony in a torrent of liquid scales and muscle. Truly? Pip blinked. A multi-tonne carnivore could glide with feline grace?
    On the balcony, the Dragoness’ soft, flaming pink gaze turned to Pip as if Jyoss sensed her regard. In telepathic Dragonish, the Albino purred, Just wait until your Silver’s soul-fires cascade over your Dragon-senses, little one. Then you’ll know the thrilling, consuming Dragonsong of soul-bonded love.
    No warning. Just flame bursting through her body, shockingly ardent; a stabbing fear that she must surely be scalded, blood boiling in her veins, the skin blistering and curling like scrolleaf tossed into a hearth fire … someone clutched Pip as she cried out, and a touch upon her shoulder doused the flames with coolness.
    “Easy, Pip,” said Kaiatha. “Yaethi, what’s the matter with her?”
    Pip glared across Master Kassik’s monstrous mahogany desk at the Dragoness standing framed within the doorway. Jyoss seemed amused. Pip pictured the Land Dragon, Leandrial, swatting the Albino Dragoness with a paw the size of twenty Dragons. She smiled right back at Jyoss.
    Orange flame curled between the Dragoness’ fangs. I saw that image, Pip.
    I … projected?
    You’re more powerful than you think. Hush, Kassik the Brown approaches.
    To her friends, Pip said, “I’m fine. Stop mothering me. Just a touch of inner flame, that’s all. Yaethi, did I feel–”
    “Healing magic,” her friend replied, with uncharacteristic diffidence. “Did it work?”
    “Ay.”
    Pip had no opportunity to say more, for raised voices behind the inner door of Master Kassik’s chamber announced the Master’s arrival. He was snarling at someone. Several people, in fact. There had been an inter-dorm raid between the Third Year male students, attempted hijinks which ended in a brawl involving hundreds.
    “–and don’t make me come down there in my Dragon form!” the Master roared, slamming the door. He rubbed his temples tiredly. “Heavens save those boys before I fricassee them in boiling lava!”
    Then, at a tiny clink from Yaethi’s wrist cuff, his eyes snapped to the waiting group. Pip anticipated his reaction with a curl of dread coupled with fascination. Master Kassik stood as tall and straight as a spear; a veteran Jeradian warrior of enormous dignity. When he spoke, it was in deep, measured tones, every aspect of his manner and character conveying the assurance that his words stemmed from a man worth listening to. Pip knew that for a truth. Yet, beneath the considered exterior lay the heart and temper of a Brown Shapeshifter Dragon. A wince accompanied Pip’s realisation that her friends must think she had made it her personal mission to reveal the Master’s draconic heart.
    Today, he appeared riled beyond anything Pip had seen before.
    Kassik’s brow furrowed severely as he took in the chains. Maylin and Yaethi hung their heads identically, Duri shuffled his feet and Kaiatha looked as though she would rather leap off the balcony than face the Master’s wrath. A fiery glint entered his eyes, searing the air between them. His colour deepened. Red. Crimson. Purple. The throbbing of a ropy vein across his left temple entrapped Pip’s gaze. Her breath snagged painfully in her throat. Oh no. This would not be pretty.
    Balling his fists, the Master clearly fought to corral his fury. He first looked away to Jyoss on the balcony, before dropping his gaze to Pip’s feet. There, he