Ava Richardson’s “Dragon Tongue” is set in the mountain village of Barcroft, Tenegard. Viren Hart is the village blacksmith. His daughter Cora does her best to assist him.
Viren has an order for swords for the local garrison but lost two weeks of work recuperating from a severe lung problem. He asked garrison captain Daggett for an extension, but he was told he would be subject to penalties and fines for every day the delivery is late.
The slightest irritation can send Viren into a debilitating coughing fit, and Cora is worried that she’ll lose him as she did her mother and grandmother.
Whenever things get too stressful, Cora slips away to a large cave hidden high in the mountains. The ceiling of the cave glistens with crystals and walls are covered with pictographs depicting dragons and humans interacting.
Cora’s Nana Livi had taken her there often and shared all she knew about the old days before King Onyx took over — days when dragons and humans could communicate and work together. She regaled Cora with tales of a special bond between dragons and human riders that allowed them to speak “dragon tongue.” Sadly, it had all happened so many years ago that no one remembers it now.
Only Cora believes Nana Livi’s tales. Several of Barcrotf’s young people risk life and limb to collect and sell discarded dragon scales. Hoping to earn extra money and pay off Viren’s debt, Cora volunteers to become one of the scale scavengers.
When the group tries to take scales from a dragon nesting ground, a large, blue dragon confronts Cora. Both are amazed that they communicate. The dragon’s name is Alaric. He warns Cora to stay away from the nests, as the dragons need the scales for healthy eggs.
Cora can’t tell anyone that she can talk with a dragon but must find a way to protect the nests. With Alaric’s help she leads the scavengers to a large and valuable cache of scales.
As the bond between Alaric and Cora grows, so does their ability to communicate. One visit to the cave reveals a hidden tomb housing a dragon rider and his equipment. Without thinking, Cora takes the rider’s sword and hides it in the forge.
While delivering an order to the local tavern Cora overhears Captain Daggett planning an assault on the dragon nesting grounds. Then she is accosted by a strange woman who warns her to forget about the old days and to stay away from the dragons. Despite the warning, Cora is bonded with Alaric and knows she must do whatever it takes to protect him and his herd.
When the king’s emissary General Secare arrives, Cora instinctively knows that Secare means trouble for the dragons. Soon he finds the rider’s sword hidden in the forge. When the scavengers plan a hunt, Cora tries to lure them away from the nests but is confronted by General Secare. He bluntly tells her that he knows all about her friendship with Alaric and more. He is determined to capture Alaric and take him back to the king.
Using their special bond and Alaric’s dragon fire, Cora and Alaric destroy Secore. But they soon learn that while they were battling Secore, Daggett and his men had used an enchanted muzzle to capture Alaric’s mother. Now Cora must be completely honest with her father and fellow scavengers and explain all she has learned about the destruction of the dragon riders and King Onyx’s evil plans.
With renewed hope for Tenegard’s future, Cora and Alaric fly off to find and free his mother. Somehow, they must plan and lead a campaign to defeat the deadly King Onyx. What happens next is in “Dragon Scales.”
AT A GLANCE
Book: Dragon’s Tongue (Rise of the Dragon Riders, Book 1)
Author: Ava Richardson
Publisher: Relay Publishing
Year published: 2022
Number of pages: 356
Blacksmith’s daughter forms bond with dragon
