Dragonslayers Saga

The

“Fairy tales do not tell children that dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children that dragons can be killed.” --G.K. Chesterton

Ch. 16: An Unwanted Answer

Consciousness eventually returned to Mattawonah, though her vision remained dulled from loss of blood. As she teetered on the brink of...

Andrew M. Trauger

Dec 7, 202026 min read

Ch. 15: Outside the Walls

Two nights after that glorious stay in the Lord’s Castle, Cora’s heart leapt with joy once again as she prepared for her first official...

Andrew M. Trauger

Nov 23, 202022 min read

Ch. 14: An Unexpected Offer

For much of the following week, Cora enjoyed several “random” encounters with Montpeleón, mostly at Crossroads Tavern, where he began to...

Andrew M. Trauger

Nov 16, 202030 min read

Ch. 13: New Contacts

The next week, Harold Kotting received in his regular post a very irregular envelope. “Miss O’Banion?” he called up the stairs, an...

Andrew M. Trauger

Nov 9, 202021 min read

Ch. 12: The Trial

Cora knew it would happen; she just didn’t expect it the way it did. She expected a letter under her door or a message from the...

Andrew M. Trauger

Nov 2, 202035 min read

Ch. 11: Questionable Motives

After long, cleansing baths, the three freeblades sat in solemn silence in Cora’s room at Crossroads Tavern. Cuauhtérroc fiddled with the...

Andrew M. Trauger

Oct 27, 202025 min read

Ch. 10: Wilder Tower

Gælan held aloft his cane. “Wilder Tower!” he boomed, and several nearby people backpedaled away from him. “It was once all there was to...

Andrew M. Trauger

Oct 19, 202035 min read

Ch. 9: Westmeade

Cora stumbled up the flight of stairs leading from the common room of the Savory Salmon to the guest rooms, softly humming the refrain of...

Andrew M. Trauger

Oct 12, 202027 min read

Ch. 8: The Temple of Thieves

By midday, the worst of the damage to The Savory Salmon was completely restored, and carpenters were busy building new tables and chairs....

Andrew M. Trauger

Oct 5, 202022 min read

Ch. 7: Azure Falls

Even with the strengthening storm, Ordin had no difficulty leading them along to the road; he merely had to follow the creek upstream,...

Andrew M. Trauger

Sep 28, 202022 min read

Ch. 6: The Grottoes

As the setting sun brought a close to the fifth day of an uphill and rocky climb, Cora sighed in relief, glad to be off her horse after...

Andrew M. Trauger

Sep 14, 202026 min read

Ch. 5: Unlikely Allies

In the morning, Cora awoke with a start from a banging on the door. She wrapped a robe around her—courtesy of the inn—stumbled to the...

Andrew M. Trauger

Sep 7, 202018 min read

Ch. 4: A Pathway Cleared

When Cuauhtérroc awoke that morning, the Queen Ahlinda was docked at the Cer Halcyon harbor, its decks bustling with activity. He roamed...

Andrew M. Trauger

Aug 31, 202032 min read

Ch. 3: Cer Halcyon

The six-seated stagecoach made one final turn along the Halcyon-Vedrys Highway before descending eastward into the valley of the...

Andrew M. Trauger

Aug 24, 202019 min read

Ch. 2: Leaving Home

Before the sun had risen, Katy O’Banion grabbed the edge of Cora’s blankets, and with a grunt peeled them violently off the bed and onto...

Andrew M. Trauger

Aug 17, 202030 min read

Ch. 1: Disparate Beginnings

The wonders of The Deepening were both legendary and fearsome, captured in the name many sailors gave it: “The Cradle of Storms.”...

Andrew M. Trauger

Aug 11, 202018 min read

Prologue to Book One

The skies split open as the heavens recoiled in fleeting haze. Lightning flashed across the empty space, crackling against the backdrop...

Andrew M. Trauger

Aug 10, 20205 min read