Every once in awhile someone will say they really like Draegnstoen but question the reason for dragons in the story. There are several reasons I put them there. First of all, in some ways, the dragons are metaphorical, a representation of Rome, and a representation of accomplishing a great task, of “slaying a dragon”. They are also intentionally scarce in the story, appearing in only two chapters and seen only by the royal family and the king’s archers. In fact, at one point, King Vortigern asks captured Bodric (son of the chief archer) why the Brits place so much importance on the longbow.
“We find them useful in killing dragons,” says Bodric.
Vortigern scoffs. “I have never seen a dragon.”
“There are many kinds of dragons,” answers Bodric.

Lastly, if we look at the dragon myth, we will find that it is pervasive throughout the world. Virtually every society and every culture has a dragon myth, from China, to Europe, even the Native Americans. Dragons are mentioned in the Bible and even the Inuit have stories of dragons. There are many sorts of mythical animals, told in countless stories, but the dragon is one common to almost every people. It seemed such a curious, unexplainable thing that I wanted to explore it in Draegnstoen and give the myth one more look, something just a little bit different.