Zacharius McDade and Frostleaf Born in the middle of the night in 540, Zacharius Alan McDade spent his early years being hauled around on one thieving job after another. His parents dumped him and his sister, Annabel, on the doorstep of Draken, Hermit of the Red Woods. The children escaped mere days after being left with Draken, and then spent more than three years travelling and stealing. Then, Annabel ran off with Valad Crittenton. To sooth his own conscience, Valad traded the tawny-haired, not-extremely-bright boy his lucky sword, Cheery, which actually was a poorly-made sword Valad got tricked into buying. Zach’s whole life might have been spent being duped and taken advantage of by strangers and kin alike had he not met the compassionate dragon Frostleaf. Half-starved and running for his life, yet again, Zach collapsed on Frostleaf’s doorstep the very night the dragon had her vision of the great Mother Dulan. Zach pulled his sword on Frostleaf, but he didn’t really know how to use it. His sister had always done the dangerous thieving and dangerous work while he did the distracting. http://www.mernac.com/modules/mernac/story.php?id=765&aid=1044