Chosen by the Dragon

The world of Palerion is a magical, medieval realm, home to the human kingdom of Astarion, the vast forests inhabited by the elven kingdoms, and the towering mountains that house the powerful dwarven realms. All are constantly threatened by demons who enter Palerion through suddenly appearing dimensional rifts, leaving a trail of murder and pillage. In ancient times, there was also the threat of dragons, but when the dragons realized that their attacks also killed humans—humans destined to be companions of their kind—the attacks ceased, and the Dragon Riders were born. This guild, consisting of a dragon and its mate, protects humans, elves, and even dwarves. For centuries, the Dragon Riders have been celebrated as protectors, primarily because only the dragon knows the identity of its mate and tolerates no one else on its back. Together, however, they are a powerful pair. My story begins when a dragon and its rider land in our village because they need to discuss something with the village headman. He has brought along their young dragon, barely 30 years old and still quite playful.