Baen cover

A little later, Oscar is showing the sword to Star --"I drew my sword and glanced along it, feeling its exquisite balance while noting again the faint ripples left by the feather-soft hammerblows of some master swordsmith. I tossed it and caught it by the forte. "Read the motto, Star." She traced it out. "Dum vivimus, vivamus! -- 'While we live, let us live!' " Oscar named his sword "Lady Vivamus."

Among the tasks that must be performed by Oscar is the slaying of a fire breathing dragon. Heinlein provides a scientifically plausible explanation for how such a creature comes to be. This illustration is by Clyde Caldwell.