Beyond the Dragon’s Teeth
Copyright© 2026 by Asa Strong
Chapter 1
I was puzzled and a little fearful as I walked down the castle hall. I expected that my father would be upset because I hadn’t submitted my thesis for review. What I hadn’t been expecting was to be summoned by my grandfather.
I reached the door to Grandfather’s chambers and knocked. Shortly, I heard his gruff command to enter.
When I walked into the room, Grandfather was sitting behind his massive desk. He looked up and motioned for me to sit in the chair, across from where he was seated.
Grandfather returned to the document he was reading. I couldn’t see what it was, but he seemed intently interested in it.
When he reached the end, he looked up at me. He didn’t say a word, just shook his head. Finally, he stood up, walked around to the hearth, where the fire was shedding its warmth into the room.
After a few moments, with his back towards me, he turned and said, “Donta, I’ve just finished reading a report from the Druid Academy. They state that you haven’t submitted your thesis for review, and don’t plan to do so. Would you care to explain this?”
With that said, he returned to his chair, sat down, and leaned back. Obviously, he was waiting to hear what I had to say.
“Grandfather, I know that this is not what you or Father expected, but I have thought about this a lot. There is something else that I feel compelled to do.”
Grandfather looked at me with a quizzical expression on his face. He then said, “And pray tell, what might that be?”
How do I explain what I don’t even understand?
“It’s hard for me to explain. I can only tell you that I have a feeling that there is something important on the other side of the western mountains. I’ve tried to tell myself that I’m being foolish, but the feeling won’t go away. It’s like something, or someone, is leading me to find out what is on the other side.”
When I finished, I expected Grandfather to be upset. Instead, he leaned back in his chair and brought his right hand up to stroke his long, white beard.
Grandfather then sat up straight in his chair, reached over for his pipe, and loaded a fresh load of tobacco from the pouch on his desk. He uttered not a word during the whole process, and I could see that he was thinking about what I’d just told him.
He took a long look at me, pipe in hand, and then shook his head.
“Tell me,” he said, as he lit the match, “just how long have you felt this compulsion to travel over the mountains?”
As I started to answer, he lit his pipe.
“I guess I’ve had the feeling since I was very small. It seems like I’ve always known that it was my fate to travel there.”
I was expecting ridicule, but instead I received an intense stare and a puff of smoke. He leaned back in his chair, took another long draw from his pipe, and then asked.
“Donta, how much do you know of our family?”
I was caught by surprise, but managed to answer.
“I know that you are the second son of Rogar, the First Sovereign King. Your brother, my great-uncle Nestil, was the Second Sovereign King. When Uncle Nestil died without an heir, you declined the throne, and my father became king.”
Grandfather laughed, and then said in a serious voice. “What do you know of Mountain Home? After all, you were there for many years at the academy.”
I was puzzled. I couldn’t figure out where he was going with his line of questions. Grandfather sat there, puffing on his pipe and saying not a word. He finally lowered the pipe and looked at me, expecting an answer.
I took a deep breath and continued.
“Mountain Home was founded by my namesake, Donta. He was a close confidant of King Rogar. Mountain Home was also the only city that was granted a home charter because of Donta’s support for King Rogar. It’s also where the Druid Academy is located.”
The Grandfather nodded his head, and then said, “Well, at least the few facts you know are accurate.”
He then paused and took a long draw from his pipe. Evidently, he had smoked all the tobacco. So, he tapped the dottle into the tray on his desk.
Grandfather remained silent for a few moments and then said, “What I’m about to tell you is between you and me only. Can you agree to this?”
I nodded my head, even more perplexed than before.
Grandfather settled back in his chair and started speaking.
“Many years ago, when my brother died and I was offered the kingship, I declined for several reasons. First, it is not in my nature to lead. I’m an academic. I’m more interested in the history and events that have happened in the past. I’m also not particularly well suited to perform the functions of a king.
“I’ve always been interested in learning—knowing the ways and history of our people. It is something I’m happy to do. That is how my son, your father, became the King.
“There is another reason as well. For many years now, I’ve studied the history and lore that surrounds the western mountains. There are many old tales that vaguely reference a world beyond them across the mountains.”
He paused a moment, as if in deep thought, and then continued.
“There is also the matter of your namesake. History records Donta as being a trapper and woodsman who lived on the edge of the western mountains. When I was a young boy, I met him several times. He was a very interesting man, intelligent and resourceful.”
Grandfather paused for a moment, his face showing he was deep in thought. After a moment, he shook himself and continued.
“But, I can find no explanation of how he came to the knowledge of so many new and wondrous inventions.
“Ask yourself, where did he learn to make and forge steel? How did he come to the idea of a Druid Academy? How did he come up with the specific functions of Druids being teachers and agents of the King’s law?
“There is a large question in my mind that old Donta was quite as simple a man as history makes him out to be.
“I have studied everything I could get my hands on, and have come to the conclusion that he could not have been from our realm. He brought too many new things and ideas with him to be a simple woodsman or trapper.”