In Dragonstone, every youth must pass the Dragonstone Trial to bond with a dragon. Kael, the chieftain's elder son, had no resonance; his father Roland stripped his rights.
Cast out, he met Dramor, a silver hatchling outcast, in Dragonveil Valley. Ambushed, they bonded amid certain death: Dramor awakened crimson-gold fire; seven runes bloomed on Kael's wrist. They vowed to reclaim all he lost at the Valen Grand Tournament in seven days.
They left only footprints and rumors of a fire dragon knight. After Dramor devoured a core, revealing their trail, pact-fire wings carried them from Twin Peaks Gorge to the sea; Derek glimpsed the knight, vowing to learn his identity.
Disguised as weak, they entered the clan tournament, reaching the final, where Derek plotted to destroy Kael. There a rock-armor dragon drained Dramor's fire, gravely wounding him shielding Kael. Fighting beside his dearest companion, Kael awakened his second rune—lightning and flame—rising as a Thunderfire form.
