Of Dragons and Donkeys: The Hearth Cycle Book 1 In the small town of Overton, nestled in the heart of the Kingdom of Bruhl, a young woman named Agatha anxiously awaits the return of her cousins, Bertie and Callie, who have been studying at the University in the City for the past two years. Despite her attempts to reassure herself, she cannot shake off the feeling of unease as she hears rumors of soft knights riding dragons and sweeping through the land. The once-powerful King of Bruhl has disappeared, leaving a void filled by the ruthless Baron and his followers, who exact heavy collections from the small farmers and villagers through the fearsome power of their dragon mounts. The people live in fear and despair, still mourning the loss of their children and elders who fell victim to a devastating plague fifteen years ago. Agatha's hopes for a better future are revived when she receives a mysterious message, urging her to join a secret rebellion against the Baron's rule. The message is cryptic, but it speaks of a new paradigm for perceiving the technological process of developing modern knowledge as the key to humanity's survival and unity. As she ponders the message's meaning, she discovers that the Baron's grip on the kingdom is not as secure as it seems.

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