The Warrior and The Dragon: A Tale of Magic, Transformation, and Discovery. Weary from the Succession War, Jason seeks peace in Smoky Springs. Tasked with delivering an athamé and unlocking his inner magic, he is pursued by Erlender, a necromancer who covets the kalasha he carries. He meets Akela, a wolf who shifts into a human. She helps him change into a dragon. He discovers he is ful lling a prophecy about which he knew nothing. When he, in his dragon skin, thwarts a kidnapping, he exposes the vulnerability of his community. He teaches them hand-to-hand combat and how to use quarter staffs, converting the resident women and children into warriors. He repels a brutal attack led by a necromancer. The residents successfully defend their home using techniques he taught them, but the battle leaves him seriously wounded. With the valley healer's aid, he unlocks his inner magic, and a fae teaches him to use it. Six years of pursuit culminated in a chilling whisper on the wind: Erlender has found Smoky Springs, forcing Jason to choose between his quest and the safety of those he promised to defend.