WREN Book Three Prince of Dragons

Fire fight

I lowered all blocks, giving myself to the dragon. I gave only one command to Jawnna, protect my mind. Now I was reliving my days at the school as Krudgel became aware of me. His mind shifted as he switched through the memories. I heard his pain filled cry as he saw when I found out who my father was.

When my mother's image appeared in my head, I felt the dragon lower his guard. He hadn't known her. She had passed years before he hatched, yet his own mother had known mine. Marcarise had been kind to the unfamiliar dragon. Helping her to find a nest when she was close to delivering her eggs. It was then that I realized something about my friend, Valkor was his father! His mother had been the soul dragon! No one knew as the eggs were sent from Devonia to Vangah as part of a wedding gift if my mother married the king!

He felt my shock. Why hadn't I ever considered the fact that my mother's Nuare would have children? As my mind reeled with this new information, I felt Krudgel open a link between us.

'Zyn?' it was hesitant, cautionary.

'I will show you what ever you want. My mind is open to you, but be warned, I do have someone watching for any signs of attack.' I offered him.

'You were always so careless with your own life.' He abashed. I had to agree with that.

'Keiji believes in the king.' Those words dug a trench in my heart.

'Then tell him who I really am!' I growled out. His mental laugh filled my head. It was so unlike him. He had always been the serious one.

'Valkor is here with us.' He added after a bit. I tried to block my next thought but it was too late. He heard it.

'But what of Dyami?' the ache in my chest filled me as I thought of my brother out there with his Nuare. Where were they?

"Dyami Sky is out there somewhere!" Krudgel cried to his Nuare.

Our connection was broken. Had he only sympathized with me to get crucial information? Did he even know just what Dyami was capable of? Did I? I had never seen the man fight in a real battle. I turned away.

"I'm getting them back, now!" I hissed.

I jumped over the cliff even as many voices yelled for me not too. I would sacrifice myself to get them back. Shea, Greyson, even Quinn could fight this war without me. I had placed myself on a high pedestal, given in to my hubris. The truth was, I wasn't anything special. I was a child that grew in the dirt, dung, the hate of the world. I was going to save my friends, no matter what it cost me.

'Now, you are becoming the prince I seek.' The voice was a whispered wind tickling my mind. I heard a mighty roar over head.

Fire erupted before me. It didn't block my path, but held back those charging out of the cave. I saw Keiji at the end of the path of flame. He stood with a sword in his hand. My own hand reached back for the staff on my back. I pulled it forward. Keiji grinned.

He had been the best fighter of his year. No one had ever beaten him. He had graduated with honors. He had been given the choice of any assignment he wanted. He had chosen to fight at the king's side. Now, because of that choice, we were enemies.

The ice magic inside me flared. I coated my body with it. It was difficult to do with walls of fire on either side of me. I marched forth, a jangle of chain mail was heard on one side of the flames. I heard cries as more swords were unleashed. Keiji raised his weapon high, too high, what was his plan?

I figured it out, right before his sword crashed into my staff. He planned to break it on me, little did he know the secret to the weapon. I pressed the hidden button just as his sword arched down toward the staff. Leaping back half a step, I firmed up my footing. Dyami had drilled it into us that footing in a fight was more crucial than the weapon you held in your hands. If you couldn't stand, how could you win!