heatherhens Chickenlike bird having brown plumage with a speckled breast and a short tail.

heirdosh vines (hair'-dosh) A vine with short, flat, glossy-green leaves with two white bands on the underside. The sap from the branches is poisonous. The fluid from the leaves is poisonous to a lesser degree.

Herebic continent (hair'-a-bik) Massive continent in the western/southern hemisphere.

Himber (him'-ber) A tribe of people who are prone to be isolationists. They value intelligence and are great inventors.

Kere (keer) An ancient language no longer in use. This language is thought to have been used by one of the first tribes to use written communication.

kimen (k[image]m'-en) The smallest of the seven high races. Kimen are elusive, tiny, and fast. Under two feet tall.

kindia (kin'-dee-uh) A large land mammal noted for its speed, strength, and endurance. Kindias are exceptionally adapted to traveling long distances with great efficiency and to surviving on a diet of nutrient-poor, high-fiber grasses. The shoulders are a foot or more taller than the hindquarters, giving the animal a slanted back.

Korskan tea (kor'-skan) A tea flavored with citrus and spices, such as cinnamon and cardamom.

lightrocks Any of the quartzlike rocks giving off a glow.

lo Rank between leecent and lehman.

major dragon Elephant-sized dragon most often used for personal transportation.

marione (mer'-[image]-owns) One of the seven high races. Mariones are excellent farmers and warriors. They are short and broad, usually muscle-bound rather than corpulent.

meech dragon The most intelligent of the dragons, capable of speech.

minneken A small, mysterious race living in isolation on the Isle of Kye.

minor dragon Smallest of the dragons, the size of a young kitten. The different types of minor dragons have different abilities.

moonbeam plant A three-to four-foot plant having large shiny leaves and round flowers resembling a full moon. The stems are fibrous and used for making invisible cloth.

moonbird A nocturnal bird of prey, having soft plumage that allows for noiseless flight, feathered talons, large heads with large eyes set forward, and short hooked beaks. Name reflects the coloring, which resembles the surface of the moon.

Morchain Range Mountains running north and south through the middle of Amara.

mordakleep One of the low races, a shadowy creature with a long tail.

mountain dewdrops Small white flowers growing close to the ground in an almost moss covering.

mullins (m[image]l'-l[image]ns) Fried doughnut sticks.

o'rant One of the high races. Five to six feet tall.

ordend (or'-den) A basic unit of Amaran currency. Twenty ordends equals one grood.

ostal greens (ah'-stuhl) A plant in the mustard family.

parnot (par'-not) Green fruit like a pear.

pnard potatoes (puh-nard') Starchy, edible tuber with pale pink flesh.

Pordactic Period The period of Amaran history covering two thousand years when the Pordac family ruled.

portamanca (por'-tuh-man-kuh) Evergreen shrub having fragrant orange blossoms and whorled leaves.

Punipmats (puh-nee'-mats; notice second p is silent) Continent of western/northern hemispheres.

quiss (kwuh'-iss) One of the seven low races. These creatures have an enormous appetite. Every three years they develop the capacity to breathe air for six weeks and forage along the seacoast, creating havoc. They are extremely slippery.

razterberry (ras'-ter-bar-ee) Small red berries that grow in clusters somewhat like grapes on the sides of mountains. The vines are useful for climbing.

rock pine Evergreen tree with prickly cones that are as heavy as stones.

ropma (rp'-muh) One of the seven low races. These half menhalf animals are useful in herding and caring for beasts.

schoergs (skorgz) One of seven low races, much like grawligs, shorter, less playful.

smoothergill Any of the marine flatfishes having a slick skin and large gills.

steppesman (steps'-mun) A large burrowing animal of the squirrel family, covered with light brown fur. Social structure within colony resembles extended families.

stinger-schoergs A variant of schoergs, having a scorpion-type tail instead of a prehensile tail.

thornsnippers Tiny brown birds with bright red beaks, known to feed on thorns of various bushes.

todden barrel A wooden container of toddens, a pickled vegetable, yellow in color and crunchy, shaped somewhat like a hand.

trang-a-nog tree (trng'-uh-nog) Smooth olive green bark.

trundle bear A small, ferocious brown bear with enormous claws.

tumanhofer (too'-mun-hoff-er) One of the seven high races, short, squat, powerful fighter, though for the most part they prefer to use their great intellect.

umbering A time of refreshment, the social traditions and interaction being more important than the nourishment.

urohm (-rm') Largest of the seven high races. Gentle giants, well proportioned and very intelligent.

Vendela (vin-del'-luh) Capital city of the province of Wynd.

waistcoater A deep-chested bird with a small head and short legs. The coloring of feathers suggests the bird is wearing a dark vest.

Wittoom (wit-toom') Region populated by doneels in northwest Amara.

writher snake (r[image] -ther) -ther) A water snake, long and slender. The snake wraps its body around a victim, drags it under the water, and eats the body as it decomposes.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR.

DONITA K. P K. PAUL enjoys writing, but she enjoys her readers more. Her Web site, enjoys writing, but she enjoys her readers more. Her Web site, www.dragonkeeper.us is a place where she can interact with readers, old and young. is a place where she can interact with readers, old and young.

Mrs. Paul is a retired teacher and still spends a great deal of time with young people. Although she lives in the shadow of Pikes Peak, she does no mountain climbing, preferring more sedate hobbies such as knitting and stamping. And she likes to make things she can give away.

Praise for DragonKnight "DragonKnight is a thoroughly enchanting fantasy where dragons speak, tiny mouselike guardians protect normal-sized folk, and young people search for identity. Woven through Donita K. Paul's carefully crafted world is a strong theme of love, redemption, and the sufficiency of God to see His children through all trials. The icing on this delightful cake is a surprise ending that brings tears of joy!" is a thoroughly enchanting fantasy where dragons speak, tiny mouselike guardians protect normal-sized folk, and young people search for identity. Woven through Donita K. Paul's carefully crafted world is a strong theme of love, redemption, and the sufficiency of God to see His children through all trials. The icing on this delightful cake is a surprise ending that brings tears of joy!"

-DOUGLAS H HIRT, author of the Cradleland Chronicles series "Donita K. Paul's inventiveness never ceases to amaze. Fresh ideas for new races of people and unusual creatures keep flowing from her gifted pen. In DragonKnight, DragonKnight, we meet a few of these and rejoin old friends like Kale, Bardon, Regidor, and the ever-huggable Toopka on a rollicking adventure. As always, this author has a whole bag of tricks up her sleeve-unexpected plot twists, heart-tugging relationships, and captivating characters. 'Classic' is written all over this series." we meet a few of these and rejoin old friends like Kale, Bardon, Regidor, and the ever-huggable Toopka on a rollicking adventure. As always, this author has a whole bag of tricks up her sleeve-unexpected plot twists, heart-tugging relationships, and captivating characters. 'Classic' is written all over this series."

-JILL E ELIZABETH N NELSON, author of Reluctant Burglar Reluctant Burglar "DragonKnight swept me into the exciting exploits of Bardon and his loyal friends. The inventive and richly compelling characters quickly drew me into their lives and into a fast-paced fantasy adventure." swept me into the exciting exploits of Bardon and his loyal friends. The inventive and richly compelling characters quickly drew me into their lives and into a fast-paced fantasy adventure."

-FAYE S SPIEKER, playwright and author of ministry tools for children "Charming characters in a colorful make-believe world full of beauty and danger. Classic good against evil with wonderful spiritual truths layered throughout and enough twists to keep the reader engaged from first page to last."

-SANDRA D. M D. MOORE, director, American Christian Fiction Writers Association "Donita K. Paul's new novel examples the skillful weaving of a fantasy story with strong moral lessons and spiritual insights. Throughout her series, Paul has created fascinating characters who battle powerful enemies and learn what it means to live life in the process. As a result, DragonKnight DragonKnight is both fun and important reading. Young readers will love the action-and readers of all ages will appreciate the insights." is both fun and important reading. Young readers will love the action-and readers of all ages will appreciate the insights."

-PAUL M MOEDE, coauthor of Good News About Your Strong-Willed Child Good News About Your Strong-Willed Child

DRAGONKNIGHT.

PUBLISHED BY W WATERBROOK P PRESS.

12265 Oracle Boulevard, Suite 200 Colorado Springs, Colorado 80921 A division of Random House Inc.

Scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible. Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org).

The characters and events in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to actual persons or events is coincidental.

Copyright 2006 by Donita K. Paul

Published in association with the literary agency of Alive Communications Inc., 7680 Goddard Street, Suite 200, Colorado Springs, CO 80920, www.alivecommunications.com.

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