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by Renee Filippucci-Kotz (Author)
A few weeks before Willow's thirteenth birthday, a mysterious mark appears on the palm of her right hand. Shortly after its appearance., Willow receives life-altering news
One fateful day, after returning from her favorite thinking spot, Willow discovers the soldiers of the Dominus (King) have ravaged her village. Reeling from the shock, she rushes home to find her mother, Elora, injured and their house in shambles. As she tends to her mother, Elora reveals a devastating truth: they are not her birth parents.
Elora instructs her to retrieve a package from the bedroom. Inside, a letter from her biological mother reveals Willow belongs to the powerful Drakon family, known for their unique dragon gifts passed down through the female generations. The letter reveals as her thirteenth birthday approaches, these gifts will awaken. Elora urges Willow to Dalry to find and ask her grandmother for guidance. But Elora's injuries prevent her from accompanying Willow, and with her father away, they have no choice but to disguise Willow as a boy for her journey alone.
As Willow sets off, she is accosted by two soldiers of the Dominus. Just as they close in, fate intervenes, allowing her to escape. Shortly after, she encounters a young boy who has escaped from kidnappers and is determined to help him find his family. After successfully reuniting the boy with his family, she saves a majestic bird of prey from a trap. The bird, Kosh, is astonished to find he can communicate with Willow and decides to join her on this uncertain trek.
But danger lurks around every corner. Soon after rescuing Kosh, Willow is confronted by the same men who kidnapped the boy. Just when all seems lost, Kosh and Willow's friend Adira, a fierce Lyr cat, swoop down to save her. In a desperate moment, as one of the men lunges at Adira, Willow instinctively raises her hands in protest. To her astonishment, the dragon mark on her palm glows and unleashes an invisible force, sending the attackers fleeing.
Shaken the trio presses on. They encounter a young man perilously clinging to the edge of a hill over a rushing river. She rescues him but is not aware he is the nephew of the Dominus. He gives her his signet ring and tells her to show it to any soldier if she needs help.
She finds Dalry deserted except for a group of soldiers. Just as they spot her, a hand covers her mouth-a mysterious older woman silently motions for Willow to follow her. It is her grandmother! But before they can escape together, the soldiers seize the grandmother, leaving Willow helpless. When the soldiers learn Willow saved Dominus's nephew, they let her go, but her heart is shattered by losing her only family connection.
Alone outside of town, Willow hears an ethereal voice promising to teach her how to harness her gifts. She meets Taru, a wise dragon who opens a portal to Enacia-a realm where Willow's training begins. Here in this wondrous land of dragons, she learns to wield the powers of air, water, earth, and fire with Taru's guidance.
When she finally returns home with Adira and Kosh by her side, she finds her father rallying soldiers for a rebellion against the Dominus. Beren, the young man she saved, has joined the rebellion.
But just as hope rekindles in their hearts and plans for an uprising are set in motion, they learn Dominus has discovered their scheme and mobilized his army.
