So i cleared the Skyborn Altar much earlier today learning a word and killing a dragon there. It's probably been a week or less in game time. I revisited the sight and there is a dragon there! So, i kill that dragon loot his bones, scales, and his 200 gold but... but... i absorbed no soul, and he didn't burn in the epic way dragons tend to. I'm not complaining about this at all, in fact i actually like this since people won't be able to "game" soul acquisition in this manner anyway.
Just thought it was something interesting to note.