The Dragon Within by Melody Jackson

Author:Melody Jackson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fantasy books, books about dragons, books about magic, melody jackson, the dragon within
Publisher: Melody Jackson

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When the sun began to set behind the mountains, the search party left the vale. Donyan took the lead on Questar, and Kaena sat behind him, her arms wrapped securely around his waist. Behind them were two other dragons with their riders; a fiery-headed woman on a peach dragon, and Carrel, riding on the blue dragon Tyron. They set out through the forest, which was so dense that it looked like tunnels had been cut through the trees to allow dragons to pass through.

Ahead of them, two paths had been cut through the trees, lined with tree stumps. One led to the east, and the other led straight forward.

Donyan led the group down the straight path. “That other path is the one the dragons usually use to get in and out of the vale without being seen,” he told Kaena. “This path was just discovered about a month ago, and we know for a fact no one from the vale made it, which begs the question: who did?”

Kaena thought about that for a moment, hoping it hadn’t been Mavet. She didn’t think it was, though, since he was probably still in Chozek. Still, she never knew.

Since there wasn’t much of interest in the forest—just a dense thicket of trees and regular woodland activity—she focused her attention on their group, namely, Questar.

The first time she’d seen the dragon, she had only been able to stare in wonder. She couldn’t describe his color, for it was almost like he was colorless, yet at the same time when the light struck his scales, myriads of colors shone forth in tiny rainbows. His scales were nearly transparent, layered like all dragons’, but each layer was visible under the next. She could probably look at him for hours and never count all the colors dancing on his scales.

Her father had told her stories about years ago, when the first Leaders of Amael were chosen. Chaim gave each of the twelve humans and twelve dragons—who were to lead the people—immortality, as well as making the dragons a unique color that represented their character, one that no other dragon in the world had. Questar was one of those dragons.

The peach dragon with them was also one of the twelve chosen dragons, and her color represented compassion and love, like a mother’s feelings toward her children. Her mother’s dragon, Tzini, had shimmering pearl scales, her color representing the preciousness and perseverance through trials of the kingdom, like an oyster turns an irritating speck of sand into something more beautiful and pure than could ever be imagined.

“Father, what does Questar’s color represent?”

Donyan glanced back at her for a moment. “Where did that question come from?”

Kaena shrugged. “I was just thinking about the symbolism of the dragons’ scales, and realized you’ve never told me what Questar’s is.”

Donyan looked surprised. “I haven’t?” He smiled, looking fondly off into the distance. “I’ve always considered myself to have the best dragon of the twelve, you know. Not to put down the other eleven—they are magnificent as well—but I’ve always had a special love for Questar’s symbolism.

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