DragonLight

Description

The fantastic land of Amara is recovering from years of war inflicted on its citizens by outside forces–as well as from the spiritual apathy corroding the Amarans’ hearts. With Kale and her father serving as dragon keepers for Paladin, the dragon populace has exploded. It’s a peaceful, exciting time of rebuilding. And yet, an insidious, unseen evil lurks just beneath the surface of the idyllic countryside.

Truth has never been more important, nor so difficult to discern.

As Kale and her father are busy hatching, bonding, and releasing the younger generation of dragons as helpers throughout the kingdom, the light wizard has little time to develop her skills. Her husband, Sir Bardon–despite physical limitations resulting from his bout with the stakes disease–has become a leader, serving on the governing board under Paladin. When Kale and Bardon set aside their daily responsibilities to join meech dragons Regidor and Gilda on a quest to find a hidden meech colony, they encounter sinister forces. Their world is under attack by a secret enemy… can they overcome the ominous peril they can’t even see?

Prepare to experience breathtaking adventure and mind-blowing fantasy as never before in this dazzling, beautifully-crafted conclusion to Donita K. Paul’s popular DragonKeeper Chronicles fantasy series.Donita K. Paul is a retired teacher and award-winning author of seven novels, including DragonSpell, DragonQuest, DragonKnight, and DragonFire. When not writing, she is often engaged in mentoring writers of all ages. Donita lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado where she is learning to paint–walls and furniture! Visit her website at www.dragonkeeper.us.

1. Kale, as the dragonkeeper, has hundreds of dragons, yet she knows when even one goes astray and she goes to look for them. Compare this to Jesus being the Good Shepherd. How is the “draw” that pulls Kale toward nearby dragon eggs similar to the calling God places on our lives?

2. What is wrong with the Followers’ desire to be closer to Wulder and achieve a higher calling? In what ways, do they resemble a cult movement? Are cult members always noticeable from outward appearances? Are the souls of ex-cult members damaged beyond repair? Are we as believers to follow their methods in choosing who we will give the message to, seeking out the most likely candidates? Do we need to earn God’s favor or the opportunity to be enlightened? How do they mix lies in with the truth to make their heresy palatable? To what Scripture verse does the following principle refer, ‘Do not gather a sheep that howls into the fold of your flock’?

3. Why does Bardon’s rebuke to Garmey, turn into an exhortation? From Garmey’s perspective, if he didn’t hit his wife, make fun of her food or holler at her when the boys made a ruckus that was enough. How does this fall short of true godly love and respect? What is the Biblical principle that Bardon conveys with the message, “you can’t elevate yourself without first elevating her.” He reminds Garmey that others watch our actions, especially those closest to us. What tone will others see in your actions?

4. Mot Angra and Satan have many similarities both in their existence originating from another world and being the essence of evil. What are the scales that are shed from the beast symbolic of? How does he show his calculating intelligence? Toopka offers Mot Angra the opportunity for repentance and forgiveness from Wulder, which he refuses. Is it possible for Satan’s corrupted soul to repent? How does his presence create a disturbance to the Believers around him? Does Satan ever hinder our abilities or effectiveness?

5. Relate Kale’s comment, “Wulder never seems to follow what I would call a logical plan” to 1 Corinthians 1:25. How does hindsight help us in seeing God’s perspective and reasons? Wulder chooses to use weak characters even though the chance of failure is higher, why does our Lord also often select unlikely vessels? How does God equip those He calls for the challenges ahead of them? Toopka knows she has a heavy task in front of her, but without knowing all the details, she becomes anxious. Have you ever been nervous about a calling God placed before you?

6. As Kale and Bardon petition Wulder for guidance, they are jointly connected in the spirit with all the others present at the meeting. In like manner, how are our spirits rejuvenated by joining the body of Christ in prayer? They see outwardly a glow on Toopka. What does this mean? Holt’s aura colors seem to be changing also, as a result of their prayer. What is symbolic of this new thread? What was wrong with Holt’s previous ulterior motive of doing what is right in order to cleanse himself of guilt?

7. Sometimes it seems our worst enemy is not external but our own selfish nature. Bardon is tempted to give into thoughts of pride when talking with Holt about the error of his ways. How effective is he in identifying the source of temptation as being from his own flesh? Do his thoughts bring honor to Wulder? How is his confession of his own sinful nature an encouragement to Holt? Later, he is tempted to be angry with Wulder. How quick is he to bring these thoughts captive and instead replace them with trust? Kale also struggles with wrong thoughts about Toopka. How does choosing to dwell on a speculation poison our mind and attitude? How can those attitudes play out in our actions?

8. The meech, who live in fear of Mot Angra, chant and focus on his mural as they enter the cave, but they are rebuked by Paladin for this. Why should we not concentrate on evil? Consider this in light of Psalm 123:1-2. Although thoughts of Satan can be frightening, should we as Believers live in fear?

9. Toopka and Sittiponder have a supernatural encounter with Wulder. How does each of them “experience” the encounter? Gilda, after becoming a hardened, arrogant person, is given a second lease on life, when she also encounters Wulder in an after-death experience. Compare who she was before, to her new repentant spirit. Kale is privileged to be used by Wulder to aid in healing and thus in His presence frequently. How is she both drained and rejuvenated by these times with him?

10. The innocent, the redeemed and the ill-equipped; how are these three unlikely heroes walking into the flames of the dragon similar to Shadrach, Meshach and Abendigo? Why does God not always tell us ahead of time what He expects of us?

11. Along the quest, Kale begins to long for the comforts of home but she is reminded that they can not have true rest until they finish their task. If they forsake their friends for comfort now, it will be shallow and not satisfying. Are you being faithful to the task the Lord has given you? What is your source of refreshing when you are weary? When will our rest as Believers come? When does Wulder provide rest for Kale and Bardon, allowing them to “go home and sit by the fire”?

Chapter 1: Castle Passages

Kale wrinkled her nose at the dank air drifting up from the stone staircase.

Below, utter darkness created a formidable barrier. Toopka stood close to her knee. Sparks skittered across the doneel child’s furry hand where she clasped the flowing, soft material of Kale’s wizard robe. Kale frowned down at her ward. The little doneel spent too much time attached to her skirts to be captivated by the light show.

Instead, Toopka glowered into the forbidding corridor. “What’ s down there?”

Kale sighed. “I’m not sure.”

“Is it the dungeon?”

“I don’t think we have a dungeon.”

Toopka furrowed her brow in confusion. “Don’t you know? It’s your castle.”

“A castle built by committee.” Kale’s face grimaced at the memory of weeks of creative chaos. She put her hand on Toopka’s soft head.

The doneel dragged her gaze away from the stairway, tilted her head back, and frowned at her guardian. “What’s ‘by committee’?”

“You remember, don’t you? It was just five years ago.”

“I remember the wizards coming and the pretty tents in the meadow.” Toopka pursed her lips. “And shouting. I remember shouting.”

“They were shouting because no one was listening. Twenty-one wizards came for the castle raising. Each had their own idea about what we needed. So they each constructed their fragment of the castle structure according to their whims.”

Toopka giggled.

“I don’t think it’s funny. The chunks of castle were erected, juxtaposed with the others, but not as a whole unit. I thank Wulder that at least my parents had some sense. My mother and father connected the tads, bits, and smidgens together with steps and short halls. When nothing else would work, they formed gateways from one portion to another.”

The little doneel laughed out loud and hid her face in Kale’s silky wizard’s robe. Miniature lightning flashes enveloped Toopka’s head and cascaded down her neck, over her back, and onto the floor like a waterfall of sparks.

Kale cut off the flow of energy and placed a hand on the doneel’s shoulder. “Surely you remember this, Toopka.”

She looked up, her face growing serious. “I was very young then.”

Kale narrowed her eyes and examined the child’s innocent face. “As long as I have known you, you’ve appeared to be the same age. Are you ever going to grow up?”

Toopka shrugged, then the typical smile of a doneel spread across her face. Her thin black lips stretched, almost reaching from ear to ear.

“I’m growing up as fast as I can, but I don’t think I’m the one in charge. If I were in charge, I would be big enough to have my own dragon, instead of searching for yours.”

The statement pulled Kale back to her original purpose. No doubt she had been manipulated yet again by the tiny doneel, but dropping the subject of Toopka’s age for the time being seemed prudent. Kale rubbed the top of Toopka’s head. The shorter fur between her ears felt softer than the hair on the child’s arms. Kale always found it soothing to stroke Toopka’s head, and the doneel liked it as well.

Kale let her hand fall to her side and pursued their mission. “Gally and Mince have been missing for a day and a half. We must find them. Taylaminkadot said she heard an odd noise when she came down to the storeroom.” Kale squared her shoulders and took a step down into the dark, dank stairwell. “Gally and Mince may be down here, and they may be in trouble.”

“How can you know who’s missing?” Toopka tugged on Kale’s robe, letting loose a spray of sparkles. “You have hundreds of minor dragons in the castle and more big dragons in the fields.”

“I know.” Kale put her hand in front of her, and a globe of light appeared, resting on her palm. “I’m a Dragon Keeper. I know when any of my dragons have missed a meal or two.” She stepped through the doorway.

Toopka tugged on Kale’s gown. “May I have a light too?”

“Of course.” She handed the globe to the doneel. The light flickered. Kale tapped it, and the glow steadied. She produced another light to sit in her own hand and proceeded down the steps.

Toopka followed, clutching the sparkling cloth of Kale’s robe in one hand and the light in the other. “I think we should take a dozen guards with us.”

“I don’t think there’s anything scary down here, Toopka. After all, as you reminded me, this is our castle, and we certainly haven’t invited anything nasty to live with us.”

“It’s the things that come uninvited that worry me.”

“All right. Just a moment.” Kale turned to face the archway at the top of the stairs, a few steps up from where they stood. She reached with her mind to the nearest band of minor dragons. Soon chittering dragon voices, a rainbow vision of soft, flapping, leathery wings, and a ripple of excitement swept through her senses. She heard Artross, the leader of this watch, call for his band to mind their manners, listen to orders, and calm themselves.

Kale smiled her greeting as they entered the stairway and circled above her. She turned to Toopka, pleased with her solution, but Toopka scowled. Obviously, the doneel was not impressed with the arrival of a courageous escort.

Kale opened her mouth to inform Toopka that a watch of dragons provides sentries, scouts, and fighters. And Bardon had seen to their training. But the doneel child knew this.

Each watch formed without a Dragon Keeper’s instigation. Usually eleven to fifteen minor dragons developed camaraderie, and a leader emerged. A social structure developed within each watch. Kale marveled at the process. Even though she didn’t always understand the choices, she did nothing to alter the natural way of establishing the hierarchy and respectfully worked with what was in place.

Artross, a milky white dragon who glowed in the dark, had caught Kale’s affections. She sent a warm greeting to the serious-minded leader and received a curt acknowledgment. The straight-laced young dragon with his tiny, mottled white body tickled her. Although they didn’t look alike in the least, Artross’s behavior reminded Kale of her husband’s personality.

Kale nodded at Toopka and winked. “Now we have defenders.”

“I think,” said the doneel, letting go of Kale’s robe and stepping down a stair, “it would be better if they were bigger and carried swords.”

Kale smiled as one of the younger dragons landed on her shoulder. He pushed his violet head against her chin, rubbing with soft scales circling between small bumps that looked like stunted horns. Toopka skipped ahead with the other minor dragons flying just above her head.

“Hello, Crain,” said Kale, using a fingertip to stroke his pink belly. She’d been at his hatching a week before. The little dragon chirred his contentment. “With your love of learning, I’m surprised you’re not in the library with Librettowit.”

A scene emerged in Kale’s mind from the small dragon’s thoughts. She hid a smile. “I’m sorry you got thrown out, but you must not bring your snacks into Librettowit’s reading rooms. A tumanhofer usually likes a morsel of food to tide him over, but not when the treat threatens to smudge the pages of his precious books.” She felt the small beast shudder at the memory of the librarian’s angry voice. “It’s all right, Crain. He’ll forgive you and let you come back into his bookish sanctum.

And he’ll delight in helping you find all sorts of wonderful facts.” Toopka came scurrying back. She’d deserted her lead position in the company of intrepid dragons. The tiny doneel dodged behind Kale and once more clutched the sparkling robe. Kale shifted her attention to a commotion ahead and sought out the thoughts of the leader Artross.

“What’s wrong?” asked Kale, but her answer came as she tuned in to the leader of the dragon watch.

Artross trilled orders to his subordinates. Kale saw the enemy through the eyes of this friend.

An anvilhead snake slid over the stone floor of a room stacked high with large kegs. His long black body stretched out from a nook between two barrels. With the tail of the serpent hidden, she had no way of knowing its size. These reptiles’ heads outweighed their bodies. The muscled section behind the base of the jaws could be as much as six inches wide.

But the length of the snake could be from three feet to thirty. Kale shuddered but took another step down the passage. Artross looked around the room and spotted another section of ropelike body against the opposite wall. Kegs hid most of the snake.

Kale grimaced. Another snake? Or the end of the one threatening my
dragons?

The viper’s heavy head advanced, and the distant portion moved with the same speed.

One snake.

“Toopka, stay here,” she ordered and ran down the remaining steps. She tossed the globe from her right hand to her left and pulled her sword from its hiding place beneath her robe. Nothing appeared to be in her hand, but Kale felt the leather-bound hilt secure in her grip.

The old sword had been given to her by her mother, and Kale knew how to use the invisible blade with deadly precision. “Don’t let him get away,” she called as she increased her speed through the narrow corridor.

The wizard robe dissolved as she rushed to join her guard. Her long dress of azure and plum reformed itself into leggings and a tunic. The color drained away and returned as a pink that would rival a stunning sunset. When she reached the cold, dark room, she cast her globe into the air. Floating in the middle of the room, it tripled in size and gave off a brighter light.

The dragons circled above the snake, spitting their caustic saliva with great accuracy. Kale’s skin crawled at the sight of the coiling reptile. More and more of the serpentine body emerged from the shadowy protection of the stacked kegs. Obviously, the snake did not fear these intruders.

Even covered with splotches of brightly colored spit, the creature looked like the loathsome killer it was. Kale’s two missing dragons could have been dinner for the serpent. She searched the room with the talent Wulder had bestowed upon her and concluded the little ones still lived.

The reptile hissed at her, raised its massive head, and swayed in a threatening posture. The creature slithered toward her, propelled by the elongated body still on the floor. Just out of reach of Kale’s sword, the beast stopped, pulled its head back for the strike, and let out a slow, menacing hiss. The snake lunged, and Kale swung her invisible weapon.

The severed head sailed across the room and slammed against the stone wall.

Kale eyed the writhing body for a moment. “You won’ t be eating any more small animals.” She turned her attention to the missing dragons and pointed her sword hand at a barrel at the top of one stack. “There. Gally and Mince are in that keg.”

Several dragons landed on the wooden staves, and a brown dragon examined the cask to determine how best to open it. Toopka ran into the room and over to the barrel. “I’ll help.”

Kale tilted her head. “There is also a nest of snake eggs.” She consulted the dragon most likely to know facts about anvilhead vipers. Crain landed on her shoulder and poured out all he knew in a combination of chittering and thoughts.

The odd reptiles preferred eating young farm animals, grain, and feed. They did nothing to combat the population of rats, insects, and vermin. No farmer allowed the snakes on his property if he could help it. “Find the nest,” Kale ordered. “Destroy them all.”

The watch of dragons took flight again, zooming into lightrockilluminated passages leading off from this central room. Kale waited until a small group raised an alarm. Four minor dragons had found the nest.

She plunged down a dim passage, sending a plume of light ahead and calling for the dispersed dragons to join her. Eleven came from the other corridors, and nine flew in a V formation in front of her. Gally and Mince landed on her shoulders.

“You’ re all right. I’m so glad.”

They scooted next to her neck, shivering. From their minds she deciphered the details of their ordeal. A game of hide-and-seek had led them into the depths of the castle. When the snake surprised them, they’d flown under the off-center lid of the barrel. As Mince dove into the narrow opening, he knocked the top just enough for it to rattle down into place. This successfully kept the serpent out, but also trapped them within.

Kale offered sympathy, and they cuddled against her, rubbing their heads on her chin as she whisked through the underground tunnel in pursuit of the other dragons.

Numerous rooms jutted off the main hallway, each stacked with boxes, crates, barrels, and huge burlap bags. Kale had no idea this vast amount of storage lay beneath the castle. Taylaminkadot, their efficient housekeeper and wife to Librettowit, probably had a tally sheet listing each item. Kale and the dragons passed rooms that contained fewer and fewer supplies until the stores dwindled to nothing.

How long does this hallway continue on? She slowed to creep along and tiptoed over the stone floor, noticing the rougher texture under her feet. Approaching a corner, she detected the four minor dragons destroying the snake’s nest in the next room. Her escort of flying dragons veered off into the room, and she followed. The small dragons swooped over the nest, grabbed an egg, then flew to the beamed roof of the storage room. They hurled the eggs to the floor, and most broke open on contact. Some had more rubbery shells, a sign that they would soon hatch. The minor dragons attacked these eggs with tooth and claw. Once the shell gave way, the content was pulled out and examined.

No hatchling snake survived. The smell alone halted Kale in her tracks and sent her back a pace. She screwed up her face, but no amount of pinching her nose muscles cut off the odor of raw eggs and the bodies of unborn snakes. She produced a square of moonbeam material from her pocket and covered the lower half of her face. The properties of the handkerchief filtered the unpleasant aroma.

Her gaze fell on the scene of annihilation. Usually, Kale found infant animals to be endearing, attractive in a gangly way. But the small snake bodies looked more like huge blackened worms than babies. Toopka raced up behind her and came to a skidding stop when she reached the doorway. “Ew!” She buried her face in the hem of Kale’s tunic, then peeked out with her nose still covered.

The minor dragons continued to destroy the huge nest. Kale estimated over a hundred snake eggs must have been deposited in the old shallow basket. The woven edges sagged where the weight of the female snake had broken the reeds. Kale shuddered at the thought of all those snakes hatching and occupying the lowest level of the castle, her home.

The urge to be above ground, in the light, and with her loved ones compelled her out of the room. Good work, she commended the dragons as she backed into the passage. Artross, be sure that no egg is left unshattered. She received his assurance, thanked him, then turned about and ran. She must find Bardon.

“Wait for me!” Toopka called. Her tiny, booted feet pounded the stone floor in a frantic effort to catch up.US

Additional information

Weight	12.4 oz
Dimensions	0.9300 × 5.1800 × 7.9900 in
Series	DragonKeeper Chronicles
Imprint	WaterBrook
Format	General Trade
ISBN-13	09781400073788
ISBN-10	1400073782
Author	Donita K. Paul
Audience	General / adult
BISAC	YAF019000, YAF051040
Subjects	teen fiction books, fantasy romance, dragons, fantasy fiction, YAF019000, sci-fi, religious books, young adult fantasy books, Fantasy novel, christian books, fantasy books, time travel, fantasy book, fantasy novels, book series, fantasy books for kids age 12-15, christian books for teens, christian books for teen girls, YAF051040, paranormal, angels, Christian, religion, adventure, historical, magic, romance, love, Mythology, supernatural, Friendship, fantasy, epic fantasy, science fiction, fantasy books for teens, paranormal romance, urban fantasy