An amber dragon playfully soaring above signals the arrival of my guest.
Move over. I want to play, a silvery voice that could only have come from the great creature growled. Friend Branin, let me talk. The dragon winged lower. I am Llewlyn. My soul twin Branin will join us shortly, until then if you don’t mind, I’ll visit with you.
Sorry folks, apparently there is a change in plans. The interview was supposed to be with Branin, but his dragon soul twin, Llewlyn, pushed his way forward.
Sitting on a rock and pulling pad and pencil from a valise, I swallowed hard. Honored old one Llewlyn, welcome. I’ve never interviewed a dragon before. What should I know?
When some humans are born, more than one soul comes to life. The human, which are called dragshi, have a twinned dragon soul. When the dragon awakens, so does both the human and dragon magic. When I awoke many years ago, Branin acquired the ability of flight. Like the other dragshi, we share one body in space in time and are able to change forms with the other at will. Although the dragon halves don’t interfere in the human world, today I wanted to stretch my wings. So here I am.
It must be great fun to soar amidst the clouds.
It is.
Llewlyn’s deep-throated laugh showed a sense of humor. Then his tone took on a somber note. I have learned much from my human soul brother. With ability comes responsibility. The dragshi protect the innocent--man, woman, and child.
Thank you, Llewlyn. Is there anything else you would like known.
Before he answered, the dragon disappeared in a white mist. The dark hair and gray eyes of the man who walked out of the concealment fog meant one thing--Lord Branin had returned to his own form.
Greetings Helen. I’m glad the weather broke today so we could take a turn outside. Thank you for humoring Llewlyn. He doesn’t get out much these days, what with the winter winds trapping everyone inside sturdy stone walls. Although we will soon escort Crisiant, one of the true dragons, on a long journey. I’m sure Crisiant and Llewlyn will have much to talk about.
Branin took a seat on an adjoining rock. Whether it was a lingering after effect of the transformation or Branin himself, but his mere presence overwhelmed. A hint of sadness flickered in his eyes to be replaced by anger flickered across Branin’s face.
Llewlyn and I are the last of our kind. We have waited over three hundred years for our mates, but there have been no signs of another dragshi’s birth, let alone a woman. We are alone. Although the true human women of my acquaintance have understood a dragshi can never love one of their kind, Lady Broch of Ky’Port means to become my handfasted mate--with or without my willing cooperation. Even if she has to kill in order to reach her goal.
He glanced at the sky. I’m sorry to have to cut this short, but I see the ranks of clouds are closing.
A moment later, the amber dragon stretched his wings and a shower of dust accompanied his takeoff. Thank you Branin for dropping by.
It is our pleasure, came back the silvery tone.
More of the escapes of Lord Branin Llewlyn is told in Dragon Destiny, available May 2012 in ebook from Burst Books and Amazon.com with expanded distribution to paperback other ebook platforms coming later in 2012.
About Helen Henderson: A published author, feature-story writer and correspondent, Henderson has also written fiction as long as she could remember. Her heritage reflects the contrasts of her Gemini sign and shows in her writing which crosses genres from historical adventures and westerns to science fiction and fantasy. Henderson's 2012 releases include Windmaster Legacy, the second book in the Windmaster series. A western written under the pen name of her ancestress, Jessie Treon, was released November 2011 in the Dreamspell Goddess Anthology.
Join her on journeys through the stars, back to the past, or among fantasy worlds of the imagination. The trip begins at helenhenderson-author.webs.com or helenhenderson-author.blogspot.com.
An Excerpt from Dragon Destiny coming May 2012 from Burst Books
Branin ignored the throbbing complaints of his muscles. He knew he’d pushed past his limits and would pay for it later. Yet the fear he sensed through his link with Anastasia prevented any rest. Although it was less than a candlemark since he received her panicked call, his slowed reality made the time lapse seem much longer. His dread lessened only slightly at Marsainn’s message that Anastasia was being protected. The seidheirn would not lie, but Branin had to see for himself.
The trees thinned out providing a glimpse of a gray ribbon snaking alongside the hill. He flew along the marker, praying he would not arrive too late. Seeing movement, he dropped lower until the black marks resolved into groups of fighters. Dread tightened his chest until his long vision located Anastasia with her back against a wagon. Uaine and Oran formed a protective line before her.
An anger Branin realized came from his twinned soul added to his own rage.
Anastasia must be saved, Llewlyn’s voice boomed in Branin’s mind.
A flashing evaluation later, Branin decided the best way to support the trader caravan. The trail was too narrow for him to maneuver along the road. However the steep drop-off provided the necessary space. And if some of the attackers happened to fall over the edge, so be it.
Screaming his defiance, Branin folded his wings and plummeted earthward. His tail lashed out as he fell past the wagon. It ripped the sword from a burly man about to stab Yunka. Back the tail whipped and wrapped around the attacker’s waist. A tug sent the man, arms flailing, out over the chasm. With great sweeps of his wings, Branin soared upward toward the next group of fighters.
Loud cries of “For Clan Miller” reached his ears as the traders rallied, turning the tide of battle. Above the bedlam, Branin heard Broch screeching, urging her men to turn and fight. Then a male voice cut above her orders with a stentorian “retreat.” Those actively engaged in a fight broke off. In a panicked rout, they scrambled up the hillside, dragging wounded comrades with them. Although every instinct called for him to follow, Branin hovered above a wagon and initiated the change to human form. His great sword, Mt’wan Comraich, filled his hand before he even dropped onto the wagon’s roof. He searched the battlefield for Anastasia. A cold chill rippled through his nerves at the sight of Anastasia on her knees.
Dragon Destiny, available May 2012 in ebook from Burst Books and Amazon.com with expanded distribution to paperback other ebook platforms coming later in 2012.
