Letter from Chad

Dear Todd,

I’ve read Dragon’s Kin twice now and have loved it both times, great job!

Will you explain more about the anatomical differences between the “proper dragons,” and the “mutant” watchwhers in Dragonsblood? Primarily, I am curious as to the conditions necessary for watchwhers to fly — largely because self-sustained flight is not an ability that was ever ascribed to the watchwhers. Also, is watch-wher coloration as indicative of gender and size as it is for the fighting dragons?

Finally, why did you decide to set your storyline around the time of the Third Pass?

Sincerely,
Chad.

Dear Chad,

I’m glad that you loved Dragon’s Kin! Cool.

The watch-whers will have more of a cameo role in Dragonsblood.

The only watch-wher I recall mentioned in much detail was the old watch-wher at Ruatha Hold. That watch-wher’s wings were clipped and it was chained up. I think just either clipping its wings or chaining it up would have been enough to make the watch-wher not try to fly (or go between).

Watch-whers are very similar to dragons in some respects — their genetic code was based on the fire-lizard genetic code — so watch-whers do have the exact same colors as dragons and fire-lizards (gold, bronze, brown, green, blue).

A very interesting terrestrial factoid I only recently acquired is that the color of our eyes is determined by melanin — the same stuff that makes us freckle or tan. And because of this, eye colors can range from tawny (in lions, at least), through brown, blue, and green. Essentially, one could the full range of dragon/fire-lizard/watch-wher colors with melanin (or its Pernese equivalent).

I set Dragon’s Kin at the end of the Second Interval because Dragonsblood starts at the beginning of the Third Pass — and Dragon’s Kin is a prequel to Dragonsblood.

Now you may ask why did I set Dragonsblood at the start of the Third Pass? Well, you’ll find out when you read the book (sorry, but I think the reason should remain a secret until you read the book).

Cheers,
Todd