ALPI

ALPI

HEAD IN THE CLOUDS

- Book 3 -

C.E. Wright

Copyright © 2023 C.E. Wright. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form without express written permission from the publisher except for brief quotes, approved excerpts, articles, and reviews. For ordering information, quotes from the author, or interview requests. contact the publisher.

Knoxville, Tennessee

crippledbeaglepublishing.com

Cover art created by bobooks, https://www.fiverr.com/bobooks

Manuscript artwork and cover art design created by C.E. Wright

Follow on Twitter @CE_WRIGHT8

Paperback ISBN 978-1-958533-48-2, 978-1-958533-49-9

Hardcover ISBN 978-1-958533-47-5, 978-1-958533-50-5

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023919636

Printed in the United States of America

Praise for Petrichor,

Book 1 of the Head in the Clouds Series

Wright is an eloquent writer whose imagery makes you feel like you are soaring in the skies of Petrichor with Hurricane, wind kissing your feathered body. […] I really enjoyed reading the dynamics of Hurricane’s relationships between family and friends, [which] translate to real life and can be quite relatable. I’m curious to see how these relationships will play out as the plot develops and what other characters may enter the picture.

—Clara H.

"Overall, a really enjoyable and quick read, and I think about the characters pretty frequently in my day.

Also, a dragon book without humans? Win!"

—Daniel A., professional animator

"I think Hurricane is a great character and has a lot of depth […] Windshift is a great character, and when Hurricane meets him is probably my favorite scene of the book[...]

All in all, very great story and I kept wanting to read to see what happened."

—Matthew L.

I’m excited to see more from this series! Would recommend to Wyvern and Dragon lovers, a new great fantasy series is taking flight!

—User cooooooool on Amazon

Petrichor is beautifully written. I went into it with high hopes and was not disappointed. It made me laugh, contemplate, and gave me one or two shocks. Altogether a pleasant reading experience and I look forward to more from Wright soon.

—Margaret S.

I would not have expected such a short book to give so much[...] The social abuse by members [of] the dominant priest caste, and a backstory forcing the [main character] Hurricane to earn her family’s keep, are cause for many hardships she overcomes as she can, doing what she must, unfaltering. And the progressive exposition delivers some good, unexpected slaps and surprises.

—Pierre K.

I read this in one sitting on the day of my birthday. What a treat it turned out to be! I love reading about dragons who can't bear to kill sheep. The setting is fascinating, too. There's lots of magic in it that separates it from the everyday, but at the same time a flawed society is depicted by an author who knows they are depicting plausible flaws.

—Ryan N.

I bought this book for my sister and she absolutely loved it. I have never seen her read a book so fast. She brought it with her everywhere. If you or someone you know is into well written fantasy books, then this is perfect. It also inspired her to start writing which is just amazing. 10/10. I would definitely recommend.

—Gabrielle G.

Praise for Kalder,

Book 2 of the Head in the Clouds Series

I loved book 1, but I think I love this one even more. It was so descriptive and exciting. I really feel like I’m getting to know Hurri’s character even more… and I’m sensing a romance brewing between her and Sparik. Can’t wait to see where they go next!

—Gayle W.

As the first one, this book carries a lot more than would be expected for such a short read. The immersion in Hurricane's mind is efficient in its simplicity, as she starts the quest she's been entrusted with, and things seem not as simple as she wished. It differs from the first book though, in that half of the former was introducing her life and struggles in a very unusual way; leaving the reader to connect the dots. This one is more turned to the action, the character being introduced.

—Pierre K.

Kalder is extremely well written. Building on themes established in the first book, it plays a lot with point of view, and the character development is really interesting. It also handles languages in a unique and dynamic way. I am immensely intrigued to find out what happens next, so this series has sufficiently hooked me. Totally worth the read.

—Ansley

To every teacher and every professor who helped me develop my craft.

Sincerely,

Chloe

'I exist.’ In thousands of agonies — I exist!

Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Contents

Chapter I

Chapter II

Chapter III

Chapter IV

Chapter V

Chapter VI

Chapter VII

Chapter VIII

Chapter IX

Chapter X

Chapter XI

Chapter XII

Chapter XIII

Chapter XIV

Chapter XV

Chapter XVI

Chapter XVII

Chapter XVIII

Chapter XIX

Epilogue

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Chapter I

*HURRICANE*

I can’t count the number of times I’ve stared into the hollow eyes of death. My talons are tired, and I am hungry.

Now, those talons are grabbing palm fronds and balancing them on my back. I hop across the streams of the turquoise tide pools and consider rushing back to my basecamp to fetch my basket. I have artfully woven some leaves into a bowl to gather the remaining rainwater dripping from the trees. I have crossed my own streams, but who is to support me? My wings. They carried me to this island. From here, I can make it through everything. I’m not invincible, but I’ve seen enough for me to understand the world of Onverra (I hope).

I look at my bounty. Judging by the fronds, unripe coconuts, and bark yanked from the palm trees, I think I have enough. Now I need to make it back to my home away from home.

The territory is easily traversable, and the sand is as familiar. I’ve known it for two days now. If someone takes the talon prints I’ve made, lays them out in a line, and circles them around the island, they will wrap around three or four times. But I cannot back up my logic; I flunked math.

I arrive at the hut. Honestly, I’m proud of the roof here. I could’ve used my own wings, but I didn’t want to hold them up for too long. Here goes the bark, and in this little hole I dug goes the coconuts. These fronds need to be put on top. Or I could fashion them into a door. Who knows?

As I walk through the deeper parts of the little house, I am more and more impressed with myself. One wyvern made this whole little shelter happen. Okay, here it is dry, and if I move the roof like this, a little light can shine in. I can close it like that. And firmly too. Waves and waves of storms have been passing through, and while I miss the taste of rainwater and wind, Sparik won’t.

Watching his wrapped body stops the flow of my pride instantly. I made all of this happen. Sure, I constructed the hut. He has not stirred since he saw the eyes of his father.

I put my talon on his chest. At least I hear thudding, wherever his heart is. Of course he has a heart. He saved me, so of course I saved him in return. It is only right. I only hope that if– when he wakes up, he will continue to be my guide.

What seems to be a cough leaves his body. The cough is more of a hacking, but the noise is enough for me to jolt and hold his face in my talons. I analyze every twitch of his scales. Anything for him to come back and help me on my quest.

His eyes struggle to open. He squints and glances back and forth as if trying to understand his surroundings. He sees me. Hurr… H-Hurricane?

Sparik, you’re back.

He touches the vine rug I had also meticulously woven (doesn't mean it was well woven) and clenches the leaves. "W-where am I?"

Here, rest.

He tries to sit up from his resting place and winces harshly at his knees. Grabbing them tightly, he looks for an answer from me.

I give one. I couldn’t take us back to Kalder. The kingdom has an order on our heads if we touch Kalder’s soil. We can continue into Alpi safely.

He freezes.

Do you remember that?

Something convulses in his face. Yes. Yes, I suppose I do.

We’re on an island in the ocean. About an hour flight to … I fish for the book and find the map for Alpi. I turn to show him the pages and see he has fallen back asleep, and his snoring rustles the paper.

The new, mountainous land stretches farther than Petrichor and Kalder combined. The land is rich in woodland, rivers, and rock. The Giddrathians can rip out the roots from all of that nature in an instant. While I wait for him to wake again, I walk outside the hut. I may be small, but I can be fiercer than them, and anyone or anything else on this island that might attack us.

If Windshift’s sketches didn’t accurately represent life in Kalder, that must mean Alpi is no different. I slow my pace and try to stomach the nerves. So, who knows what truly lies in those forests?

Sparik coughs, at last, and I rush back inside.

Are you feeling better? I ask.

At … at least I can talk.

Do you want anything to drink?

Quick, grab my canteen. From my satchel.

I follow orders and nudge the bottle to him. He grunts as he props himself up with his arm, but when that fails, I stretch my wing under his back to hold him up.

Try to take sips. How long do we need to make this lava last?

Until we land on Alpi and find some mud. I can harness some light magic and boil out the impurities. Not the most pleasant taste, but it’ll have to do. Damned sun, he says, capping the bottle, I should’ve planned better.

I will tolerate no self-deprecating talk today. Hey. We survived. Somehow.

How? he asks himself. When his eyes take in the inside of the hut, every hour put into the waterproof ceiling, every minute put into the food storage area, he chuckles.

What’s so funny?

I had the most bizarre revelation. You saved me. He gazes at me in wonder. The last moment I remember is losing consciousness over the open sea, the waves raging underneath … Did you–

Seconds before you hit the water, I swooped down and grabbed you.

You carried me? Me?

With difficulty and a strong dose of adrenaline. I found some other deserted islands that spotted the ocean, and we rested for a bit. I really, really didn’t know I could carry something your size or weight. I look at my legs. My talons must have fantastic muscles by now. The craziest thought for me is how none of this seems possible without Windshift. I don’t know if his magic can possibly move through the portal, but in my soul, I couldn’t have done that alone. He helped in some way. I know it.

He stares silently. Incredible.

Isn’t it?

Chapter II

I shudder at the mouse bones piled in the corner. He tried to eat the critter quietly in order not to turn my stomach. I snack on nuts and berries instead.

After some contemplative resting, I think about our next steps. Did you pack any cloaks or robes for disguises? He nods and gestures at his bag again. At the sight of two cloaks for each of us, I remember my homemade backups. Say, I have more disguises planned out. I found these sharp leaves from a pineapple, plastered them together with some wet clay, and made tusks. I nose around a burrow underneath the wall and toss