WREN Book Three Prince of Dragons

Torment of the soul

With the knowledge of the soul dragons in my head, I was able to fly on my own. It was as if, opening myself to it, I finally learned the true meaning of being a dragon born shifter. I floated on the wind currents, used others to change or shift my body as to not tire in flight so quickly. Somethings, well, you just had to do yourself. My wings were large enough for me to maneuver my body through the air. I shifted, twisting, turning, diving as needed.

There, that's what I was looking for. A pair that had a bright trial behind them. I swooped toward them. They rose up to engage me. Rigel slipped between us, catching their interest. They turned to follow him, as they passed me, I saw the spot. I nudged my nose into it, gently breathing out a flame of ice to cut it.

The duo wavered in the air. Then suddenly, they were whole. They spun in the about, the fire of the dragon, flaming under me. The man on the beasts back look thunderous. His wild beard, whipped around in the fury of the inferno that scorched the ground. It came up short of the tree.

"I'm going to burn that thing down, if it is my last act upon this earth!" the wild man cried.

I curved my body upwards, blocking his path. "Not yet, you're not." I commanded.

"You may have saved us from being controlled by that witch, but..." the man was shouting over the noise of the battle.

"Shut up, Zorenth." The dragon under him ordered.

The long red neck, swung the head to face me. Silver eyes danced in the glow of the raging fires.

"I am Knarell, we are from the west, though even my ears have heard of you, Prince of Dragons. It is my honor to fight at your side. Thank you for releasing us." The head bowed to him.

I snorted. "You're welcome, but we have more souls to save. That's why you can't burn the tree, yet." I explained.

"Fine, but we get to burn it!" Zorenth insisted.

"Very well, now, go slay the kings men." With that, I dismissed them. They flew away with a crying roar.

"They live?" Zelzada sounded shocked as she came up to me.

"Yes. I think she had killed many to prepare for our coming. So, they haven't been dead long. Therefore..." She interrupted me.

"She hasn't used up their life span! Good work, Zyn. Go save the ones you can." Zelzada spun to intercept a dark grey soul. This one passed through her, coming out clean on the other side. The man waved as his dragon flew them to the stars.

"Fly free." I thought in farewell to them.

Turning back around, I counted at least fifty souls that burned as bright as Zorenth and Knarell. This was my mission, for now. Spinning on the wind, I flew towards the nearest one. It felt strange not having to communicate with a dragon, to get to the place I wanted. I was flying. This had been my dream for as long as I could recall. To achieve it now, while in battle, was hard for me.

I didn't want to fight, I wanted to explore the skies in my new body. Forcing my mind on to the task before me, I severed the ties from the souls to the witch. It seemed to be a never ending fight, yet I prevailed. One by one, the newly deceased, came back to life. Most were elements other than fire. It appeared the witch allowed the king his fire army and that was all.

To a one, the newly alive Nuare's pledge themselves to me. They took up our fight, flying out to render as much havoc on the king, his army, or his lands as they could. Then, one voice, the one I would have to be dead to not listen to, call out for my help.

"ZYN! WHAT ARE THEY?" Shea screamed out.

I dove. In my mind, I wished to be human again. Rolling onto the ground, the blow taking the wind out of me, I found himself at Shea's feet. The wolf stood over me, growling at a spector coming up on the downed dragon. Yet, as I pushed myself up, I noticed I wasn't a dragon.