Several times throughout history, dragons have dwindled in numbers and retreated from interacting with humanity. Within a few generations we relegate stories of the mighty beasts to myth and cease thinking about them. But dragons eventually return with a vengeance.
And vengeance is a defining thought for Gerald, a teenage orphan in Scotland in 1511 A.D. as he heads off to Cair Parn, the local castle, to finish transitioning to adulthood. Much of his time there involves learning to fight both men and dragons. Gerald relishes the latter, believing he lost loved ones to draconic pride and arrogance.
On his quest to become the greatest dragon lord of all time by killing every dragon on the planet, Gerald has to grapple with the possibility that dragons-- like humans-- are not all evil. But he knows for a fact that some are, and one in particular needs to die.
When they finally meet, Gerald has to face some facts. Argyll is huge, vicious, at least as smart as Gerald, and possibly deranged.
And that's the simple part of Gerald's life.
Young adult fantasy. Historical fiction with dragons.