by Resa Nelson
Benzel’s ghost materialized behind Lumara. “I unknowingly created our dragonslayer curse because I hated the Scaldings,” Benzel said to Skallagrim. “I let my hate for them take over my life. I let Madam Po quell my anger, but there were consequences. I let the fear that came after being quelled become more important than raising my son.” Benzel’s voice strained. “And because of that, I wasn’t there to teach you how to quell your own anger before it gets out of hand.”
Skallagrim thought of his own son, Drageen, and his newborn and yet unnamed daughter.
Astrid. The alchemist Bee said she’ll be named Astrid.
A vine-like pain wrapped around Skallagrim’s chest and squeezed hard. He struggled to breathe. “But Frandulane had to pay for what he did,” Skallagrim wheezed.
Lumara placed her ghostly hand on Skallagrim’s trembling arm. “That is why there are trials by combat—to let the gods judge. Making Frandulane pay is not your duty. It’s something that must be left to the gods.”
Although Skallagrim wanted to protest, he couldn’t think of anything to say.
I let my hatred of Frandulane drive everything I did after Lumara died. I could have gone about my business as a dragonslayer and left my brother alone. Or I could have quit and given my attention to raising my children.
I didn’t have to find Frandulane and kill him.
I did it because I wanted to punish him.
I did it because I thought it would make me feel better.
A shimmering light replaced the back wall of the tavern. Ghosts of Scaldings that Skallagrim remembered from childhood appeared and held out their hands.
Frandulane’s ghost took a final look at his dead body and then at Skallagrim. “Your dragonslayer curse isn’t over yet. It runs in your blood. Now your children have to face it.” Frandulane turned his back on Skallagrim, walked into the throng of Scalding ghosts, and disappeared with them.
Skallagrim’s knees felt as if they were on fire. Unable to stand, he crumpled to the ground with a harsh realization. “The Night’s Bane. I took too much. It’s killing me.”
Skallagrim saw his life pass before his eyes at breakneck speed. He relived the good and the bad, the joys and the disappointments.
With horror, Skallagrim saw every step that led him to being consumed with the desire to kill his brother Frandulane. At every twist and turn, he wanted to call out and warn himself. He wanted to tell himself to listen to all the warnings he’d received from his adoptive parents and Madam Po and Bruni and even the alchemists.
But the greatest terror of all was realizing that his hatred had become the legacy he now handed down to his children.
Skallagrim looked up at Lumara and Benzel, who now gathered around him. “Is Frandulane right? Is there anything I can do to help my children? Is it too late for them?”
Lumara exchanged a glance with Benzel. “It is unclear. But the dragon gods might be willing to help.”
The vine-like sensation squeezed Skallagrim’s lungs so hard that he wanted to scream but didn’t have the breath to do it.
His mortal body crumpled on the tavern floor, no longer able to support his life.
Skallagrim pushed away from his body, startled by a cool sensation that washed over what remained of his being. He looked up at his wife and father.
Lumara smiled and extended her hand.
When Skallagrim took it, he smiled at last. Her skin felt firm and soft to the touch. Skallagrim climbed to his ghostly feet and embraced first his wife and then the father who had trained him to become a dragonslayer.
The back wall of the tavern materialized. Its door now turned into a glowing yellow light.
Skallagrim realized it looked like the yellow light he’d seen appear on the outskirts of Heatherbloom, where he’d met the ghosts of his grandparents.
The light said to lead one’s spirit into the next realm.
Lumara and Benzel walked toward the glowing light.
Skallagrim said, “You said the dragon gods can help our children. How is that possible? Our gods are the Northlander gods. Why would the gods of the Far East help Northlanders?”
Lumara looked back at Skallagrim with a fierce expression that brought both comfort and terror. “If the dragon gods can help our children,” Lumara said, “they will be helping the entire world. By helping the entire world, the dragon gods will help the Far East.”
Benzel cleared his throat. “That’s the problem with a curse,” he said. “It’s not just you that gets cursed. A curse hurts all kinds of people. Sometimes even the whole world.”
His father’s words terrified Skallagrim.
What have I done?
Skallagrim fought the urge to crumple into nothingness.
He was a dragonslayer. He’d faced dangerous beasts and dangerous men. He knew better than to cave in to his fear.
I did the best I could with my life. If I’d known better, I would have done better.
And now the best I can do for my children is let the dragon gods help them.
Skallagrim stood tall.
With a sudden realization, he understood his father had taught him well, even if under the guise of a dragonslayer teacher.
When Lumara extended her hand to Skallagrim, he took it and walked with Lumara and Benzel into the glowing light.
* * *
You have just completed The Dragonslayer’s Curse, Book 3 in the Dragon Seed series. The series continues with Book 4, The Dragonslayer’s Fate. To buy this book, click here or here https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07M5VG68W
To learn more about this series and how it fits into the Dragon Cycle, turn the page.
About the Dragon Cycle
The Dragon Cycle began with one short story that was published in the early 1990s. Because fan response was so strong, I decided to expand the story into a novel (The Dragonslayer’s Sword). But while I was writing that book, I realized the story and the world were much larger than I’d first imagined.
That’s why one short story grew into a total of 16 books – four series of four books each. When you read the Dragon Cycle from beginning to end, it tells one gigantic story. It’s an epic story of four generations that takes place in six countries, the mortal realm, and the realms of gods.
My goal is that if you want to read just one book or just one series, you’ll enjoy it. But my long-term goal has been to offer a gigantic story that will be satisfying for everyone who loves reading long series.
Recommended Reading Order
The reading order that I recommend depends on whether you like spoilers or surprises.
For people who like to be surprised, who like mysteries, or who like TV series like Lost, this is the recommended reading order:
The Dragonslayer series:
Book 1: The Dragonslayer’s Sword
Book 2: The Iron Maiden
Book 3: The Stone of Darkness
Book 4: The Dragon’s Egg
The Dragonfly series:
Book 1: Dragonfly
Book 2: Dragonfly in the Land of Ice
Book 3: Dragonfly in the Land of Swamp Dragons
Book 4: Dragonfly in the Land of Sleeping Giants
The Dragon Gods series:
Book 1: Gate of Air
Book 2: Gate of Earth
Book 3: Gate of Fire
Book 4: Gate of Water
The Dragon Seed series:
Book 1: Berserk
Book 2: The Dragonslayer’s Heart
Book 3: The Dragonslayer’s Curse
Book 4: The Dragonslayer’s Fate
The Dragon Cycle is like the image of the dragon eating its own tail on the cover of The Dragonslayer’s Fate. By the time you finish this final book in the Dragon Cycle, you will gain a different perspective of all the characters in the previous books. You can then re-read the entire Dragon Cycle and have a different experience.
For people who like spoilers, this is the recommended reading order:
The Dragon Seed series:
B
ook 1: Berserk
Book 2: The Dragonslayer’s Heart
Book 3: The Dragonslayer’s Curse
Book 4: The Dragonslayer’s Fate
The Dragonslayer series:
Book 1: The Dragonslayer’s Sword
Book 2: The Iron Maiden
Book 3: The Stone of Darkness
Book 4: The Dragon’s Egg
The Dragonfly series:
Book 1: Dragonfly
Book 2: Dragonfly in the Land of Ice
Book 3: Dragonfly in the Land of Swamp Dragons
Book 4: Dragonfly in the Land of Sleeping Giants
The Dragon Gods series:
Book 1: Gate of Air
Book 2: Gate of Earth
Book 3: Gate of Fire
Book 4: Gate of Water
Here’s the reason for this reading order: The Dragon Seed series is the chronological beginning of the Dragon Cycle, and this series spells out what will come in future books.
Other Novels by Resa Nelson
All of Us Were Sophie
Our Lady of the Absolute
To learn more about Resa Nelson’s books, visit resanelson.com or her author’s page on Amazon.com.
