WREN Book Three Prince of Dragons

Castle of light

"Honestly what could she do beside freeze the ocean?" Hak muttered at my side.

It was a day after our initial meeting. I was preparing to head up to the Devonian castle to see this tapestry map. I had the stone still anchored in my staff, but it wasn't being much help. It often just spun in circles when I tried to figure out where the water dragon was hiding.

"Well Thorn wouldn't be any better! You want me to take a lightening dragon into water?" I growled.

We were walking along an outdoor area of the school. Hak was persistent that Tanwen wasn't the dragon I needed to take into water. He wanted me to choose another. But which one? There were many water dragons. I'm sure I could ask any of them to assist me, but I needed one that I could trust without hesitation. One that wouldn't just leave me down there.

"Then who?" he demanded.

"Tempest, Attroxia? They are air dragons. They could help me breath at least!" I huffed.

"You're forgetting something." The soft voice came from before us.

Cordgi stood there alone. The sword Greyson had made for him hung on his back. It was such a beautifully crafted weapon. The sleek silver blended in with the dark rich blues that highlighted the metal. There was a touch of black to represent Neffy's dark coloring. I loved seeing the weapon, only the look on his face tore my gaze from it.

"NO!" I shook my head. I knew what he was going to offer.

"Why not? You know me the best of all the water dragons here." Neffy was leaning against the wall just behind his Nuare.

"Because, what state would he be in if we both go?" I asked.

"You said it yourself, I'm stronger." Cordgi hissed.

He straightened before me. His shoulders no longer slouched forward to protect him. Part of that could be the weight of the very weapon he carried, but some of it had to be him. His green eyes flashed with a control I hadn't seen before. I had met him at his weakest point. Together we had both changed much over the time we've known each other. I took his hand.

"Yes." I agreed. "But to see your Nuare and me disappear under the water. To not know what we are..." I started. He cut me off.

"Then stay in contact with me! Your reach is greater than anyone else. Plus Tanwen will be near me. We just switch Nuare's for a day." His crooked grin split his face.

"I swear I won't fall apart." He promised.

As I looked at him, I knew he was right. The strength in him didn't demand that Neffy or I be at his side constantly. In fact I had seen him walking alone or with others while Neffy was out hunting and I was busy. He has expanded his friends circle. It happened while I wasn't looking.

"Well, now I just feel abandoned!" I bemoaned.

Cordgi's laugh made me smirk. His arms curled around my neck as he continued to laugh at me, only stopping to peek my cheek. I slipped my arm around his well toned waist. He was solid. A strong fighter's body lay hidden under the clothing. He didn't dress like he used to.

When I first met him, it was difficult to get him to wear anything. Now he was more suitably dressed. He had on lose fitting riders pants, one of the blue capes I had gotten for him over a silver half shirt. His stomach was still bare for the world to see, but there was a wide leather belt he wore on his hips. Here he carried small pouches.

"Neffy?" I asked.

The dragon turned to look at me. His long leathe body unrolling from the stone wall. He flicked the knife in his hand closed, letting it slide back into a pouch at his hip. His eyes never left my face as he took in my look of questioning.