WREN Book Three Prince of Dragons

Dragon of light

The castle lay below us, yet as I watched it seemed to drift further away. A white mist floated up around us, a dense fog. No, what was this? I frowned at it. Zelzada was the only one I could see. Before I had the mind to use my own air magic to clear the skies, that dark head swing back to look at me. The fog around me responded to her. She had enveloped me in a sea of spirits. Where was she taking me?

The fog shifted. It blew away to hunt out other souls, or whatever the dragon wanted. Zelzada flew at Tanwen's side. Neffy came up to take the other side. His rider looking more determined than I had ever seen him. Gus was just under Zelzada, Shea sat proudly upon his back. Yakanaw came to support her mother as well. Jawnna didn't look around, but I felt her reach out to me, a gentle touch to let me know she was with me. Phoebe was just off of the souls riders wing.

Baram wouldn't be able to come to us, he was my first general, leading a squad as he fought, braver than anyone his age should be forced to do. His twin's dragon pulled free of their last fight. Together, they rose up under Gus. Valkyrie brought, not only Ammedidon but Valkor as well. This was my army, this was my fight. I had enough!

'She is hiding herself from us. We need a way to break whatever spell she is using.' I spoke only to those close around me.

'Jawnna, we can...' Yakanaw began.

'You don't need to say it!' Jawnna hissed.

Something shifted below us. The castle was still there, still in ruin. The fighting wove around the rubble as I watched an army of goblin like creatures climbed out of the ground. They were all here, my army, my friends, my family were fighting for me! For their freedom! I laughed.

Then, as if a shinning golden light showed me the way, I saw it. The tree. It looked like a thing from nightmares. There were odd shapes hanging from the branches. I could nearly smell the decay from up here. Not only that, I felt it. How wrong this place was. It was out of its time! Not meant to be! But she was there.

Standing in a white flowing dress, her flame red hair, cascading in waves down her slender back. One arm held a toddler, the other a bent, cooked and age old looking stick. I knew what it was. I knew what she was. I felt her power. That was when I heard the voice.

'You are not strong enough to defeat me! Not even a million dragons could stand against my power!' she wailed.

It rang inside my head. I felt my nerve begin to waver. Not even the King dragon could do something like this. What was she? Every part of my body wanted to flee, to run. But there was no place for me to go. My life was here.

'If it takes a million dragons, then we all chose our fate!' I blinked. The powerful air dragon swung up, her bulk easily out doing that of my queen. She wasn't alone either.

I had rescued her last clutch of eggs, why was she here? Her lands were far away, she was free! I watched as she swung her head to wink at me with one yellow eye.

'You bare the heart of my mother, why wouldn't I fight for her chosen brat?' I felt her laughter then, as she dove with the rest of the free air dragons who came to fight with her.

She had a battalion of them. They broke apart as a blast of something shot up from the ground. Zelzada swung into eat it! What was this game of hers? I felt lighter, the laughter wanted to burst from me. What sort of madman laughed while watching his friends fighting for their lives?

'The kind that believes in them to win!' Baram had broken away from his unit. I looked over as Tempest flew slightly to my left. She was behind Neffy, a bit above Tanwen.

'Glad you could join us!' I smirked.

'Why are we allowing the free dragons all the fun! Let's attack, dear brother!' he shot at me.