Talia didn’t want to be apprenticed, not even to the prestigious Dragon Knight’s Guild.  She is taken to the school by a cross-eyed dragon and his partner, Kel.  A dizzying, madcap ride leaves her less than eager to be a knight, but soon she finds out the guild has need of many types of people.  Running into the dragon and squire again and again, she comes to realize the unlikely pair are outsiders in their own school—participants of the dragon-human pairing ritual, which in the end didn’t work quite as intended.  They are stubborn loners who are determined to overcome the obstacles in their path and make a true pair, as was intended.  Or are they?

            As Talia’s first year at the guild evolves, she must deal with the quirks of the Administrator, her lessons, the odd rules of the school, the students, the mystery of Clarence and Kel, and somewhere in there, possibly decide what it is she wants for her own future.

Teaser

                By the time she reached the trees, Kel was removing his helmet and critically studying the dragon’s predicament. Clarence’s neck was twisted up and over his back; the dragon watched Talia as she came close.

                “Are you both all right?” she asked them.

                Kel glanced back in surprise, but quickly looked away, his cheeks flushed. “I’m fine. I’m just a little winded.”

                I’m in good health as well, except for this bit of trouble of course. Clarence sent an annoyed glance at the trees pining him where he’d fallen.

                “He’s stuck?” She was already pretty sure of the answer.

                Kel sighed. “Afraid so.”

                “Do you need any help?” she asked. “Just tell me what you want me to do. If you prefer, I’m sure I can round up at least a few people to come over and give you a hand.”

                Kel slowly shook his head. “It’s all right. Thanks anyway.” His voice lowered to where she almost couldn’t hear it. “This is all part of my punishment.”

                She frowned, not understanding what he meant. “Punishment?”

                Kel cocked his head in Clarence’s direction. In a flash, she understood. None of this was an accident—Clarence had landed there deliberately, hoping to make Kel pay for all he went through in the past month. She shook her head, not wanting to believe this, but what the dragon said next took any doubts right out of her head.

                Yes, thank you for your offer, but Kel will be able to deal with this on his own.

                She blinked several times as she mentally stumbled for something to say. “I see.”

ISBN : 978-0759944664