A compilation of 15 interlinked stories, with interior illustrations.

In the title story, Pernese teenager Aramina has the unusual ability to hear dragons, all the dragons, even though she has not impressed herself. Her family, however, are "holdless", on the run from bandits, and afraid Aramina will desert them if she imprsses and becomes a dragonrider. Instead, Aramina finds that she can exploit her unique talent without sacrificing the family she loves.

Contents:
The girl who heard dragons --
Velvet fields --
Euterpe on a fling --
Duty calls --
A sleeping Humpty Dumpty beauty --
The mandalay cure --
A flock of geese --
The greatest love --
A quiet one --
If madam likes you ...--
Zulei, Grace, Nimshi, and the Damnyankees --
Cinderella switch --
Habit is an old horse --
Lady-in-waiting --
The bones do lie --