Read Online The Fiuri Realms (Shioni of Sheba Book 5) by Marc Secchia - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Marc Secchia
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“Where are you from … child?”
“Oh, if it pleases you,” Shioni lisped in a high, lilting voice, “I’m from Cave Thirteen Spinward and I’ve never seen such a big city. Are you the Fiuri in charge?”
“Well, we guard the gate. Where are you going, child?”
“Well, my uncle’s a very big Chief of all the Nectar and he’s got … um …”
“The Nectar Guild,” Viridelle supplied. “Shionelle’s from a very small tunnel; just recently out of the cocoon. We’re supposed to show her all the sights. You know, it’s an antennae-pulling duty, but families flutter together.”
“Ay, families flutter together,” chorused the Yellow Fiuri.
They nodded at each other. “Fly on,” said the first. The second Yellow finished writing their names in a logbook.
“Well,” said Viridelle, hustling Shioni along. “Let’s hope that worked. Quickly now. I’ve a tingling in my antennae that says we need to speak to my parents, and fast.”
Chapter 8: Green Boss
F LYing RAPIDLY THROUGH THE Fiuri city, Shioni had little time to take in the sights. She saw a few passing Fiuri glancing strangely at her, but most appeared friendly. They buzzed along a main tunnel, bordered on all sides by shops and businesses. Other tunnels branched off at intervals–upward, downward, left and right. She would have been utterly lost had Viri not led them confidently up a branching tunnel, before swinging sharply into an area of what appeared to be nest-like houses. As they zipped along, the structures grew ever more ornate and luxurious. Small patches of hanging gardens appeared between the dwellings.
Shioni saw how cleverly the Fiuri homes were attached to the main frame of Sherfiuri Ball. There were a bewildering number of possible routes to any place. Small armies of Fiuri tended the extensive gardens around and indeed, up the walls and roofs and floors of every house–because every home was itself a garden, by definition. The walls were constructed from a type of leafy flowering vine, intricately braided together.
Viri led them between two houses, through a tunnel barely wide enough for Iridelle, before they suddenly broke out into a wide space.
“The palace,” said Char, pointing.
“Beautiful,” breathed Shioni.
But Viridelle pulled her around at once. “Our little home.”
Shioni sighed with delight. Someone had clearly taken great care in designing the house, which, although much smaller than the palace opposite, was far more enchanting. Each round window was lined with petite turquoise flowers, and the whole nest-like building resembled a Fiuri resting on her stomach with her wings raised in the air. The entryway led through a series of flower-themed rooms. Char’s quiet whisper in her ear informed Shioni how unique and rare the flowers in each room were.
“It’s embarrassing,” said Iridelle.
“Father’s the Chief of the most important Guild in Cave Seventeen,” said Viridelle. “We supply the best nectars to most of the Outer Caves and a few of the Inner ones, too, and trade extensively with the other Colours.”
They must be very rich, Shioni thought. If there was any trouble in Sherfiuri Ball, it either affected them, or involved them in some way. She hoped she was not bringing misfortune to their sweet home.
“But the best thing is that Mother and Father are good flowers,” said Iri.
“Good flowers,” repeated her twin. “The very best. But Mother’s a bit … well, motherly. I suppose you’d have to be with seven children, two pupae and another three caterpillars on the way.”
Shioni blinked. Had she once been a caterpillar?
They swept into a large chamber decorated with sprays of violet trumpet-flowers longer than a Fiuri was tall. Shioni saw an enormous, portly Fiuri in fine trousers and a fancy jewelled necklet talking to a huddle of Red Fiuri, directly ahead. To her left, two girl-Fiuri, no bigger than her, played a catching game with what looked like a glowing stick, only the
“Oh, if it pleases you,” Shioni lisped in a high, lilting voice, “I’m from Cave Thirteen Spinward and I’ve never seen such a big city. Are you the Fiuri in charge?”
“Well, we guard the gate. Where are you going, child?”
“Well, my uncle’s a very big Chief of all the Nectar and he’s got … um …”
“The Nectar Guild,” Viridelle supplied. “Shionelle’s from a very small tunnel; just recently out of the cocoon. We’re supposed to show her all the sights. You know, it’s an antennae-pulling duty, but families flutter together.”
“Ay, families flutter together,” chorused the Yellow Fiuri.
They nodded at each other. “Fly on,” said the first. The second Yellow finished writing their names in a logbook.
“Well,” said Viridelle, hustling Shioni along. “Let’s hope that worked. Quickly now. I’ve a tingling in my antennae that says we need to speak to my parents, and fast.”
Chapter 8: Green Boss
F LYing RAPIDLY THROUGH THE Fiuri city, Shioni had little time to take in the sights. She saw a few passing Fiuri glancing strangely at her, but most appeared friendly. They buzzed along a main tunnel, bordered on all sides by shops and businesses. Other tunnels branched off at intervals–upward, downward, left and right. She would have been utterly lost had Viri not led them confidently up a branching tunnel, before swinging sharply into an area of what appeared to be nest-like houses. As they zipped along, the structures grew ever more ornate and luxurious. Small patches of hanging gardens appeared between the dwellings.
Shioni saw how cleverly the Fiuri homes were attached to the main frame of Sherfiuri Ball. There were a bewildering number of possible routes to any place. Small armies of Fiuri tended the extensive gardens around and indeed, up the walls and roofs and floors of every house–because every home was itself a garden, by definition. The walls were constructed from a type of leafy flowering vine, intricately braided together.
Viri led them between two houses, through a tunnel barely wide enough for Iridelle, before they suddenly broke out into a wide space.
“The palace,” said Char, pointing.
“Beautiful,” breathed Shioni.
But Viridelle pulled her around at once. “Our little home.”
Shioni sighed with delight. Someone had clearly taken great care in designing the house, which, although much smaller than the palace opposite, was far more enchanting. Each round window was lined with petite turquoise flowers, and the whole nest-like building resembled a Fiuri resting on her stomach with her wings raised in the air. The entryway led through a series of flower-themed rooms. Char’s quiet whisper in her ear informed Shioni how unique and rare the flowers in each room were.
“It’s embarrassing,” said Iridelle.
“Father’s the Chief of the most important Guild in Cave Seventeen,” said Viridelle. “We supply the best nectars to most of the Outer Caves and a few of the Inner ones, too, and trade extensively with the other Colours.”
They must be very rich, Shioni thought. If there was any trouble in Sherfiuri Ball, it either affected them, or involved them in some way. She hoped she was not bringing misfortune to their sweet home.
“But the best thing is that Mother and Father are good flowers,” said Iri.
“Good flowers,” repeated her twin. “The very best. But Mother’s a bit … well, motherly. I suppose you’d have to be with seven children, two pupae and another three caterpillars on the way.”
Shioni blinked. Had she once been a caterpillar?
They swept into a large chamber decorated with sprays of violet trumpet-flowers longer than a Fiuri was tall. Shioni saw an enormous, portly Fiuri in fine trousers and a fancy jewelled necklet talking to a huddle of Red Fiuri, directly ahead. To her left, two girl-Fiuri, no bigger than her, played a catching game with what looked like a glowing stick, only the
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