Guest Post- The Language of The Last Dragon by Daryl Devoré

The Language of The Last Dragon
by Daryl Devoré

The era of The Last Dragon would be the mid-11^th century. But, I did not write a historical piece. This is not set in England, as many fantasy stories are. It is a fictitious land where Kings rule their domains and do not answer to a higher King.

To give the impression of the era, I set some scenes in a tiny village with an Abbey, monks, and a Sheriff. Then I went a bit deeper and wrote it in a more formal tone.

I truly had to watch that I did not slip any current slang into medieval conversations. Two knights would not greet each other with, “Whass up, bro?”

Example

With a jubilant spring in her step, Derry hurried along the cool sand to the path leading up the side of the cliff. On one of her afternoon searches for firewood, she’d noticed a patch of late summer berries. If the birds hadn’t ravaged it, there would be a sweet treat for breakfast.

I did not name the berries and left it to the reader to guess which fruit it was. Why? Because what we call the fruit in 2020 is not necessarily the same name they had 1,000 yrs ago.

Prince Hawkyns uses a very formal tone of voice to distinguish him as being of noble birth.

Example

Blood boiling, Hawkyns spun to face the speaker. “I am a knight. I would never kill someone from the back.” He stepped into the space of the man. “If the scoundrel were running, I would catch him, turn him around and let him watch as I slay his vile self.”

Scenery and costumes play a big part, but words and tone can help settle the reader into the period of the story.

A prince, A dragon, An ancient sorceress, and a heartbreaking secret… The Last Dragon by @DarylDevore
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Scene set – Prince Hawkyns and Derry, having completed a rescue mission are temporarily housed in a nunnery. Hawkyns speaks first.

“Baswich Abbey is no more. It has been burned to the ground.”

“The people burned…”

Hawkyns shook his head. “A dragon. He flew in breathing hellfire. The village—” He closed his eyes and heaved a dejected sigh. “Pariset’s father told me to take his son. Protect him. Do not let the dragon steal his soul. The horse struggled with all of us. He jumped off. I searched for him, but had to give up to get his mother here.”

He slammed his hand on the table. His mug of ale shook.

A soft cough sounded behind them. The Mother Superior stood with her hands folded. “I fear ye may not stay. We have no rooms for a man.”

“But—” Derry was silenced by the gentle pressure of Hawkyns’ hand on hers.

“I can sleep rough. ‘Tis early autumn, but the evenings are still warm. A blanket would be most appreciated.”

The nun bowed her head and exited.

Anger darkened Derry’s brow. “’Tis not fair. Ye risked yer life—”

“The sisters leave the world as we know it. Men are not part. I will find a quiet place and bed down. My bones are so weary I could lay on a pile of rocks and snore so loud I’d make the forest tremble.” He finished his stew and showed her the empty dish. “In the morning, I will search for Pariset. I will find him and return him to his mother.”

He did not need to wait until morning. A loud smash against the nunnery’s thick, wooden front door and a yell, we have the boy, signalled where Pariset was. “Give us the babe and we will not hurt the boy or the sisters.”

Hawkyns gulped the last of his ale and stood. Derry wanted to yell for him not to go, but she knew that was selfish and wrong. He was a knight. A protector. He had to go. Even though deep in her heart she knew this was the man she could love and that letting him walk into the mob meant his certain death, she said nothing as he walked away.

Her lips held back words while her heart screamed with fear.

The Last Dragon

by Daryl Devoré

Genre: Medieval Fantasy Romance

What do dragons, knights and romance have in common? Grab a copy of multi-published author Daryl Devore’s medieval fantasy romance – The Last Dragon and discover the answer.

A sorcerer craving dominance merged with a dragon, the power overwhelmed him causing him to split into three dragons. Demora ruled thought, but was lost in time. Yidithe offered protection, shining like the light of the sun. Ayrradex craved chaos, revelling in destroying souls.

Many knights died, attempting to slay the devil beast. One knight, Prince Hawkyns, did not fear death. He’d lost everything. Away on a mission when Ayrradex attacked his father’s kingdom, Penrythe, Hawkyns returned to find his noble father – feeble and defeated. His wise mother – crazed. His beautiful wife and unborn child – dead. Only a pile of ashes remained for him to bury. He knelt before his King and vowed to slay the devil-beast or be slain.

Derry was born with powers that terrified her parents. They delivered her to a nunnery to be raised in secret. Jathe, a wise sorceress, discovered the young girl and trained her to one day use the secret hidden in her soul.

Legends spoken around campfires hinted the sole way to destroy Ayrradex was when the hearts of a knight and a golden dragon became one. But after a vicious battle with Ayrradex, the golden dragon was thought to be dead.

Can Prince Hawkyns’s bravery and Derry’s powers end the reign of the devil-beast’s terror?

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Two writers in one. Daryl Devoré writes hot romances with sexy heroes and strong heroines. Victoria Adams is Daryl Devoré’s alter ego when she’s inspired to write sweet romances with little to no heat.

Daryl (@daryldevore) lives in an old farmhouse in Ontario, Canada, with her husband, a large salt water aquarium full of fish, a black cat named Licorice and some house ghosts. Her daughter is grown and has flown the nest. Daryl loves to take long walks on her quiet country road or snowshoe across the back acres, and in the summer, kayak along the St. Lawrence River. She has touched a moon rock, a mammoth, and a meteorite. She’s been deep in the ocean in a submarine, flown high over Niagara Falls in a helicopter, and used the ladies room in a royal palace. Life’s an adventure and Daryl’s having fun living it.

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