Dragonfang
Paul Collins was born in England, raised in New Zealand and moved to Australia in 1972. In 1975 he launched
Void
, a science fiction magazine.
In 1978, Paul moved from magazine to book publishing, with a series of original Australian science fiction and fantasy novels and anthologies. During this time he published Australia’s first heroic fantasy novels.
He sold his first professional fantasy story in 1977 to the United States magazine
Weirdbook
. The best of his short stories have been collected in
The Government in Exile
(1994). A later collection,
Stalking Midnight
, was published by
cosmos.com
.
His first fantasy novel for younger readers was
The Wizard’s Torment
. Paul then edited the young adult anthology
Dream Weavers
, Australia’s first heroic fantasy anthology. This was followed by
Fantastic Worlds
, and
Tales from the Wasteland
.
Together with Michael Pryor, Paul is the co-editor of the highly successful fantasy series,
The Quentaris Chronicles
; he has also contributed to the series as an author. Paul’s recent works include
The Jelindel Chronicles, The Earthborn War
trilogy and
The World of Grrym
trilogy in collaboration with Danny Willis.
Paul has been the recipient of several awards, notably the inaugural Peter McNamara, the Aurealis, and the William Atheling. He has been short-listed for many others, including the Aurealis and Ditmar awards.
Paul served time in the commandos, has a black belt in both tae kwon do and ju jitsu, he was a kickboxer, and trained with the Los Angeles Hell Drivers.
Visit him at
www.paulcollins.com.au
and
www.quentaris.com
Also by Paul Collins
Dragonlinks
Dragonsight
Wardragon
Swords of Quentaris
Slaves of Quentaris
Dragonlords of Quentaris
Princess of Shadows
The Forgotten Prince
Vampires of Quentaris
The Spell of Undoing
The Slightly Skewed Life of Toby Chrysler
Allira’s Gift
(with Danny Willis)
Lords of Quibbitt
(with Danny Willis)
Morgassa’s Folly
(with Danny Willis)
The Wizard’s Torment
Cyberskin
The Earthborn
The Skyborn
The Hiveborn
Sneila
Metaworlds (ed)
Dream Weavers (ed)
Fantastic Worlds (ed)
The MUP Encyclopaedia of Australian Science Fiction and Fantasy (ed)
BOOK TWO IN THE JELINDEL CHRONICLES
Paul Collins
Published by Ford Street Publishing, an imprint of Hybrid Publishers, PO Box 52, Ormond VIC 3204
Melbourne Victoria Australia
Text © Paul Collins 2004
4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3
This publication is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the publisher. Requests and enquiries concerning reproduction should be addressed to Ford Street Publishing Pty Ltd
2 Ford Street, Clifton Hill VIC 3068.
Ford Street website:
www.fordstreetpublishing.com
First published 2004
National Library of Australia
Cataloguing-in-Publication entry
Author: Collins, Paul 1954–
Title: Dragonfang / Paul Collins
ISBN: 9781921665080 (pbk.)
Target Audience: Fantasy – Juvenile fiction
Dewey Number: A823.3
Cover design: Grant Gittus
Map: Marc McBride
Printed in Australia by
McPherson’s Printing Group, Maryborough, Victoria
Acknowledgement
I am indebted to Sean McMullen for his constant generosity, and to others who have offered valued help: Meredith Costain, Randal Flynn, Liz Harper, Dmetri Kakmi, Louise Prout and Cathy Larsen
To Celeste Pryor, who loves dragons
From a concept by Sean McMullen
Contents
D
uring the night, someone had scrawled a slogan on the outer wall of the Great Temple of Verity in Arcadia. The two-foot tall letters were clumsily executed, as if the writer had clutched the brush in a tight-fisted grip rather than with the finer grasp needed for delicate penmanship. What surprised the former Countess Jelindel dek Mediesar even more was that a common street agitator could actually
write
. It didn’t make sense. And things that didn’t make sense worried her.
Writing was important to Jelindel. Years earlier, when the Preceptor murdered her family, she had escaped. Disguised as a boy, she had begun a new life as a market scribe. Writing had saved her that time. Writing was powerful; it could make lives or end them.
Jelindel always treated people who could write with respect, care, and sometimes suspicion.
The previous week she had discovered in the Temple’s library an obscure tome that spoke of five pentacle gems. It was written that, when brought together, they could bridge the gulf between
paraworlds. Was the chronicler retelling a myth or had he first hand knowledge of the gems? Jelindel had a very real need to visit one particular paraworld. Eyes still fixed on the graffiti, she failed to hear someone’s approach.
‘That will take hours to scrub off,’ said a worried voice.
Jelindel turned to find the Holy Priestess Kelricka, gazing at the slogan.
‘Hours?’ Jelindel shook her head. ‘Better make that days. I can smell binding magic from here. The ink has depth-bonded with the mortar.’
Kelricka sighed. ‘Why Has Verity Forsaken Us?’ She read the slogan aloud. ‘Why indeed?’ she asked of herself.
‘Pardon?’
‘Do not mind me. Lindkeer slips deeper into sickness, and I fear that she will not last this night …’ After a moment, she continued. ‘She has always been as a mother to me. The new Dean of Human Powers is – aggravating, to say the least. She acts as if she is in charge. As if Lindkeer were already gone …’ A single tear ran down her cheek.
