The Smallest Dragonboy

No amount of brute strength, height, or muscle mass can offset the poor quality of Beterli’s character. He has already attended eight Impressions, yet no dragon has chosen him. Beterli taunts Keevan, “Maybe if you run fast enough […] you could catch a dragon” (5), demonstrating his misbelief that success is measured solely in physical ability. He continues, “You can’t even see over an egg […] ’Course, you could get run down that way in the mad scramble” (10-11), hyperfixating on the size of the candidates. Beterli makes no effort to improve his character; instead, he increasingly relies on his physical strengths by resorting to aggression and intimidation of his peers. In contrast, through an array of conflicts, Keevan’s integrity is proven and even grows stronger. When he is verbally thrashed by Beterli, Keevan keeps his composure, reacting with dignity and poise to keep “his voice level, telling himself not to be bothered by mere words” (10). When Beterli physically threatens him, Keevan holds his own yet doesn’t retaliate with insults or violence. When given the opportunity to report his bullying, Keevan chooses compassion over revenge.

At dinner, K’last argues in favor of continuing to let every boy over 12 attend Impression, stating, “Only a dragon—each particular dragon—knows what he wants in a rider” (14).