How to Kill a Dragon (Heir of Dragons Book 1)

different ways to return the hostages to safety without surrendering the precious dragon hide they so sorely needed. He'd dissuaded her at every turn, and had rather cryptically assured her that “The Silence protects, no matter the cost.” She'd pressed him about the meaning of this—what, or who he meant by 'The Silence'—but he hadn't replied.
Her job, then, remained the same. She still needed to secure a dragon hide. Except that, now, she was working for Valry, too, whether she liked it or not.
What do the Wuffs want a dragon hide for? pondered Mau.
Minx thought about it a moment, toying with the tip of an arrow as she kept watch across the canopy. They probably want one for the same reasons we do—to cast a warding spell. That has to be it. We all know the dragons are becoming more active, so it's no coincidence that they're looking for protection, too.
Ah, you're right, replied Mau. So, when we secure a hide, will we be handing it over to Valry immediately, then?
Minx tensed at the question. She felt her hands were tied. On the one hand, instinct told her she needed to protect her mother above all costs. If the Wuffs hurt her mother, or worse, she'd never be able to forgive herself. And yet, the importance of the dragon hide to the people of Pandling Grounds could not be overstated. The elders needed it as soon as possible in order to ensure the continued protection of their territories. Without the protective spell in place, a good deal more bloodshed was possible. No. We're going to have to give it to the elders. The warding spell takes priority.
I see... mewled the Faelyr somberly.
Since the kidnappings, Fae all across the tree-city of Pan had been mobilized to keep a lookout for dragons. Minx and Mau had personally taken up a spot on wise Winterlimb, and looked far into the distance for signs of the beasts. As she kept watch, she found herself returning to one particular question.
Why, of all times, had the dragons started becoming active now?
For countless years since the close of the Great Dragon Wars, the terrible creatures had maintained a ceasefire with the Fae. Conflicts between the two races had been few and something like real peace had sprung up between them. Now, that peace was rapidly crumbling. The dragons had become active in their lands once more, and were being seen by multiple witnesses in Fae territory. Minx couldn't guess why the dragons were on the move again after so long, but this—along with the unrest among the Wuffs, Plurn and Krah—left her ill at ease.
Look there, said Mau, breaking into her thoughts.
Minx turned to the distance and spied a flicker of red flashing between breaks in the forest. Far at the edge of Pan, in a small glade, walked something that cast a long shadow. She glimpsed the reddish shimmer of a scaly wing, noted the presence of a ruby-studded tail, and knew that this remote clearing was under the authority of the Fae. The creature sunning itself in that glade—a fire dragon of immense size—was in clear violation of the treaty between the races. Do you see that? she asked Mau. I think it's a fire dragon—Pyra Clan. What's it doing over there?
Mau set her narrow eyes on the distant beast. Aside from breaking the treaty? I don't know.
Well, continued Minx, let's go and say hello, then. She loaded her full quiver onto her back, took up her bow and began descending at once from Winterlimb's heights. Mau followed close behind, claws rapping steadily against the aged wood of the steps. Where there's one dragon poking around, there are bound to me more, she thought, reaching the forest floor and racing at once to the glade at the territorial boundary. Maybe we can strike down two in one day—give Valry what she wants and still provide for the village.
Mau seemed to lack her partner's enthusiasm. Need I remind you that this is the first time we'll be taking on a dragon? Let's focus on a single dragon and see how that goes before we start looking for more trouble!
Plunging deep into the woods, sprinting through the close-grown trees and coming up on the edge of the sought-after glade, Minx came to a sudden stop, gaze drawn to the bracelets on her wrists. The stones in them had begun to glow an ethereal blue.

Chapter 3
The stones, thought Minx. The dragon is close. The precious stones set in the magical bracelets she wore possessed more than mere beauty; the orb-shaped stones set off a warm blue glow whenever a dragon was near. This made them an indispensable aid in her line of work. Without having to wander through the trees and accidentally reveal her position, she could now be assured that the target was near, and that her eyes had not deceived her while she'd kept watch in old Winterlimb.
The dragon they needed to hunt was close now. Very close.
Noting the bluish glow of the stones, Mau crept silently across the forest floor, seeking other signs of the beast. This dragon isn't shy. He's come right into our territory.
Minx stood stock still, basking in the momentary silence and piecing together a plan. Her eyes skipped from tree to tree, finding traces of shadow fluttering between the trunks just a short distance away. The gleam of fiery scales caught her eye as the thing shifted its great weight and entered into view between the breaks in the foliage. It still hadn't sighted her or Mau, but if they didn't get moving, it soon would. In order for them to succeed, it was necessary that they act swiftly and ambush the thing. She gave Mau her marching orders telepathically and teased an arrow from her quiver. Mau, you're going to run up behind the dragon and knock it off guard. When you've distracted it, I'll move in for a clean shot. Understood? Don't get