Soul Fire

Allyn Ransom

Description

Where are you, Donezan? That’s the first question Zheann asks as the dragon’s laughter fades from her mind. Over the next weeks, other questions will follow: What do the dragons really want? How do you stop a magical being who cannot die? What will happen when the dragons tire of playing with their prey? Unfortunately, as the saying goes, "life is what happens when you’re making other plans." It’s hard to focus on dragons while trying to find missing friends, to forge an alliance between Med and Rys that will end centuries of hatred, and to stand between those who see her as the solution to their problems and those who see her as the source. But the answers to those questions are their only hope for life and freedom, and that knowledge may cost her everything she holds dear.

Sujets

• Fiction
• Fantasy

Informations

• Publié par: Outskirts Press
• Date de parution: 15 décembre 2020
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781977237859
• Langue: English

Extrait

Soul Fire Legacies of the Dragon, Book 2 All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2021 Allyn Ransom v6.0
Copy-editing by Lynda Dietz at Easy Reader Editing
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
The opinions expressed in this manuscript are solely the opinions of the author and do not represent the opinions or thoughts of the publisher. The author has represented and warranted full ownership and/or legal right to publish all the materials in this book.
This book may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in whole or in part by any means, including graphic, electronic, or mechanical without the express written consent of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
Outskirts Press, Inc. http://www.outskirtspress.com
ISBN: 978-1-9772-3785-9
Cover Image by Daniel J. Peyton
Outskirts Press and the "OP" logo are trademarks belonging to Outskirts Press, Inc.
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
This book is dedicated to:

Evelyn Keil, my Ronsath, Ann Greene, Marilyn Robertshaw, Maxine Bowman, and Patricia Grooms Crawford who put up with me and helped keep me live life in the crazy times, Lynda Dietz of Easy Reader Editing and Eugene Ware, who didn’t say "Give it up."
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Epilog
Afterword
Appendices
About the Author
Chapter One
Divhad, 2 Enoate 153, mountain redoubt
Where are you, Donezan? What are you doing? Clearly nothing helpful. Zheann scanned the dark clouds over the black ocean that covered her home. Her teeth chattered as she staggered, dripping, into the cave and dropped onto the remaining bunk. She wrapped her arms around her ribs as she commanded the magic. Warm. Dry. Comfort spread through her, and with it, trembling.
No time for this. Find the others. Mistress Jenem first. She squeezed her eyes shut and worked Far Sight. A fire appeared next to her. Jenem lay beside it wrapped in a cloak unflocked by ash. A massive bruise on her temple looked old, though it hadn’t been there earlier. Someone had undone her hair, and the breeze blew gray-white strands across her face. Donezan. The others wouldn’t be as careful or considerate. She’ll be nearby.
She scanned the ash-covered meadow. There is something in the dark.
I wish I could stop thinking that.
But there is something in the dark. Donezan’s thought-voice purred. Eyes opened and shone like blue sky fire. Donezan rose and stepped into the firelight, as tall as a two-story house, her skin paling from midnight to icy, translucent blue . I see that you and your friends have blocked the sea from flowing through the mountains. Congratulations. They didn’t have as much difficulty at the other passes.
Zheann glanced toward Mistress Jenem and back at the blue eyes. Thank you. And thank you for helping Mistress Jenem.
She is my daughter, and from what I’ve heard, as accomplished as any of my children alive. It is disappointing to see how far you have fallen. She sighed. But I don’t suppose I can expect my children to reflect my light when I am not present. There is so much I could teach you, if only you would come to me. With me at your side, you would never need to fear anything again.
Except you.
She bared her teeth. Well, of course, except for me. But imagine, Zheann, the power of the sun and the moon at your fingertips. The dragon shrank into Zheann’s twin. In place of Zheann’s ashy work clothes, she wore a pale gray gown that matched their eyes. She held out her arms to display herself better. Imagine what you could become.
And the dernai.
Donezan lowered her arms. What?
Zheann’s mouth pressed into a small smile. I would never need to fear anything again, except you, the other Athenque, and the dernai.
Donezan chuckled. Don’t believe everything Estaen told you about the dernai. He’s not as powerful as you’ve heard. He is a magical being, as I am, and as you could be. His only real power is in the mind and heart. He knows that he can no more command you than he can me. That’s why he doesn’t come here. He is afraid to face anyone who has discovered his secret: that he’s nothing more than a charlatan.
A charlatan? Zheann shrugged. I suppose you would know if anyone did.
Of course, my dear. That’s why he didn’t stop the mountain from exploding. He was no more able than we .
Hm. How is Mistress Jenem?
Donezan looked toward the sleeping teacher. She will recover .
Zheann took a step toward Jenem. Where are we? How do I get here from the pass? I’ll come and get her.
Oh, I don’t think so, Zheann. She is going to stay with me, where I can keep her safe, and grant her the freedom and the power she deserves. If you wish to join us, we are north of the pass. I have not rescinded my offer to build a jideker. You can teach, and you, your mother, and your daughter would be free.
That is a kind offer, but I have promised the Med that I will help them, as has Mistress Jenem. Please, let me take her back.
Donezan oozed splendor as she crossed her arms and raised her chin. I have said "no" already. I would be remiss to allow you to put her in harm’s way again. You have proved that you are not powerful or skilled enough to protect her, or even yourself. You did a miserable job of caring for her. I plucked this daughter of mine out of dark waters, and I shall do better.
She took two slow steps toward Zheann. I can understand the arrogance of the sons of Medenva, but you are my daughter. You belong to me and with me. Put aside your petty arrogance, and I will show you a self in which you can rightly take pride. Let me care for you. Let me make you into a dernai over the sons of Medenva who have abused you.
And I would become like them, and like you.
Donezan smiled. You would become like the dernai. Would that be such a terrible fate?
Like a despot? A charlatan? Zheann took a step back. Let me come get Mistress Jenem as a sign that we can trust you. At least let her decide for herself.
Her own hard eyes looked back at her. Zheann, do you know that if I destroy your magical presence, you die? She leaped at Zheann, stretching her mouth wide, roaring through teeth as long as a Med’s hand.
Zheann’s eyes snapped open and she threw herself backward across the cot. She trembled as she sat up again, and gulped air until her heart slowed.
Donezan’s laughter rang through her mind. Oh, come back, Zheann. I was only joking .
Joking? You threaten to kill me, and it’s a joke? You sound muddy. They enjoy jokes like that .
She gazed into the torchlight and quaked for several breaths before standing. How am I going to get Mistress Jenem away from her? She peered into the darkness beyond the cave, toward the mountains on the other side of the inky river and inhaled deeply. I don’t have time. I need to find the general and Foden and hope that Venkis and Sharn don’t have them. I doubt Venkis would joke about killing me. The general next.

Zheann pulled a torch free from the legs of the cot and lit it before working Far Sight again but found herself in blackness. Panic threatened. Get your bearings. You came here to find the general. She turned in a slow circle.
Think. This is a magic problem. He must be here somewhere, but I’m not here. She turned again and squinted. If I can see where I am not, why can’t I see what I cannot? Why can’t I hear, or smell, or feel where I am not? Why can’t I be seen? Why could Donezan hear and see me when we, Rys can barely sense one another? Why can’t I bring my body along? Why can’t I far be ? It’s not a question of the nature of magic. It’s a question of the nature of me.
Estaen’s question whispered through her mind. "Why don’t you believe it will work, Zheann?"
Good question. Maybe because it never crossed my mind that it could. Zheann stopped squinting. Be here.
Come here.
The words don’t matter. The meaning does. The belief does. Let’s go back to the beginning. She gathered her scattering thoughts. I see.
Around her, everything shimmered with gray light. Here and there, other colors peeked through. At her feet, dim beige light shone. Almost like a shadow made of light. That’s she chuckled magical. General, is that you?
His face expanded before her, tan-shadowed gray twinkles of light obscured in places, but his face, or parts of it. That is so strange. Her gaze moved down his body, to a place where the tan-shadows disappeared, and the gray glimmer moved. Ash. The gray is the ash from the mountain. The movement must be water. His legs are in the water. If another wave comes, he’ll drown. Or has he already?
She glanced toward her own legs and found herself up to her waist in ash. He didn’t expand, I sank! She willed herself to rise, and the general’s face faded into the background again.
Across the pass, lights dazzled and danced. Above where the mountains had to be, two ardent suns prepared to rise. Dragons . She wanted to stare, to remain there forever, to drink it all in. As she gazed, behind the twinkling of the ash, another light rose and fell like the sky