The curse of the wild dragon, Scorch, lies heavy upon the land of Gladur Nock. Scorch holds the people hostage to his ravenous and bloody demands. Michael, who has wandered for years as a knight errant, hears of the dragon’s bane and realizes that the Luck Dragon Star had trained him for this moment. Full of foreboding he rides to their aid.
However, before the knight can reach the kingdom he is ambushed and imprisoned in the dungeons of the very king he wanted to help. He becomes part of a forced training of arms camp. Most of the other men in the dungeons will be absorbed into the king’s army. The best warriors, however, receive further training to prepare them to fight the dragon. Oddly, King Worrah is in no hurry to free the land from the dragon’s curse. The actions of the princess Aina are even more bewildering. She is a fierce warrior-maiden who oversees the men who will inevitably die in single combat with the dreaded dragon.
With whom can Michael align himself? The only way out of prison is to step forward as the next victim to go face Scorch.
PB, 316 pages. Suitable for 10-13 years.