Tail of the Dragon (7 page)

CHAPTER 18

Nath scoured the area for leagues. He did it in the air and on the ground. The scent of the wurmers was strong. Flying through the sky, he caught a distant flicker of movement down below. There was a clearing on a hillside. Its peak was covered in rough stone and loose shale. A plume of smoke rose into the air and dissipated.

I’d better check that out.

Wary eyed, he glided down and landed soft as a dove on the ground. The shale squeezed up between his clawed toes. He spied a faint series of caves in the light of the dusk. They seemed to breathe with life of their own. Warm yellow smoke oozed out of them. There were no other signs of life nearby.

Could be a lair.

Head low, Nath crept in for a closer look. His nostrils widened as he took in a deep draw of air. The yellow smoke smelled like acid. It was like the Lakes of Sulfur farther south, which had been formed by the lava rivers. They made great places to hide for dragons, who could handle the heat, much more so than men.

But this was different. This was in the forest.

Strange.

He inhaled again. There was more than sulfur or acid. The wurmers’ scent was there, mixed in with the pungent cover.

Hah! I have them now!

The tufts behind Nath’s earholes fluttered. He could smell them but not see them. The mouths of the caves were too small for his great girth. He climbed behind them, hung his head over the lip, and listened for any sound. There was a roar of wind that whistled through the jagged rocks. Deeper, he could hear something else. In a part of the world deep in its bowels, there was a groaning. Something flowed. Beat. Pulsed.

Nath rubbed his razor-sharp claws under his lip.

Hmmm … can’t help but be really curious. Perhaps I should change so I can go down there and check it out. No. Now is the time for patience.
He envisioned the broken bodies of the yellow streak dragons.
Soon I’ll have vengeance.

Nath focused on blending in with his environment. His body became one with the natural surroundings. Part of the rock and soil. His thoughts wandered. What if Selene was down there? And Brenwar?

What if it’s a trap? Another one of Selene’s clever setups?

The hours went by, and darkness fell over the hill. Above, the moon’s light was dim in the drifting and dreary clouds.

The caves gave off the faintest illumination. The smell of sulfur remained strong. Nath let his eyes close. He sank his talons deeper into the hard earth. He could feel all of the life of Nalzambor. The heartbeats of the sleeping creatures nearby. The feet of ants marching over the dirt. There was something else too that he felt. Distress. Nalzambor seemed worried.

The hillside suddenly quavered.

Thoom.

It was faint. Undetectable by many creatures of nature. The shale shifted the slightest bit.

Thoom.

Nath’s eyelid slid back.

Thoom. Thoom. Thoom.

The bellies of the caves were coming to life. Angry sounds and shrieks erupted from within. Something was coming out.

Thoom! Thoom!

Shale and dirt poured out over the rims of the caves. Creatures who had been lying peacefully in the forest scattered. One of the caves glowed with bright orange light, and the roar of a dragon echoed.

Something fights within!

A slender black dragon snaked out of the hole.

Selene!

She was smaller. More svelte. The scales on her dragon chest were heaving as she backed away from the mouths of the caves.

Nath’s claws pulled up out of the dirt.

I’ve got her now!

Selene snorted fire and smoke. Her long neck swayed from side to side. Her violet eyes were intent on the caves. She continued her retreat.

What’s going on here?

One by one, wurmers emerged from the shadows of the caves. Ten of them, claws sharper than swords that twinkled in the night, flanked Selene.

This should be interesting. I’m no fool. I’ll just wait and see what she says to them. She probably has them wrapped around her finger like she once had me.

Striking with uncanny speed, the wurmers plowed into Selene. Her body was covered in the scaly fiends. Only her whipping tail could be seen.

Selene!

“Maaaaaaarrrroooooo!”

With a fearsome roar, Nath tore his body out of the rocks and pounced into the fray.

The wurmers let out shrill cries.

With a bone-crushing stomp, Nath silenced several cries. Fully healed now, Nath tore into the wurmers. Fueled by his vengeance for the yellow streaks, he cut loose. Plucking wurmers from Selene like ticks, he pinned them to the ground.

They nipped and clawed at him.

Nath responded in fiercer kind. He took in a lungful of air and blasted them with flames that ended their existence.

“Save your breath!” Selene cried out. There was desperation in her voice. “Save it, Nath!”

“Hah,” he said. “Like I should trust you.” His tail coiled around a wurmer’s neck. He lifted it up and slammed it repeatedly into the ground.

Wham! Wham! Wham!

“Nath!” Selene cried out. “Help me!”

His head reared up.

Four wurmers had latched onto her. Two of them sank their teeth and claws into her neck.

Her violet eyes popped open, filled with pain.

The hot glow of the wurmers’ powerful maws ignited with fire. Lava oozed out, down Selene’s neck.

She let out a horrifying howl that split the air in the sky.

“Haaaaaaarrrrrrrrllllllllll!”

Nath’s scales stood on end.

Selene’s supine body went limp, and the light in her eyes faded.

“Nooooooooo!”

CHAPTER 19

Nath’s golden eyes burned like fire. Staring down the wurmers, he unleashed a blast of power from his eye sockets. The rays of light cut through one of the wurmers on Selene’s neck, killing it. He let loose on another. Eye beams blasted into it and turned it to ash and powder.

The remaining wurmers detached themselves from Selene and launched into Nath.

Fueled by a desperate sense of urgency, Nath’s massive body became a juggernaut of battle. He bit down on one wurmer and crushed it in his jaws. His claws smashed a second one into the ground until its bones became dust.

Die, you scaly vermin! Die!

The third wurmer pounced on Nath’s head. Its razor-sharp talons tore at his eyes.

He reached up and grabbed the wurmer and squeezed it between his dragon paws.

A hot stream of fire shot from the wurmer’s mouth, covering Nath’s face.

“Argh!” Nath roared. “Enough of this!” He crushed it like a beetle in his hands and slung its corpse into the woods. Still tormented by the burning oil, Nath buried his face in the ground. The flames extinguished.

Need to be smarter than that, Dragon
.

Shaking his head and slinging off the dirt, he quickly scanned the area. All the wurmers were dead.

A soft, weak, and desperate voice caught his ear.

“Nath.” It was Selene. She lay flat on the ground, trying to push herself up. Her neck was sagging. Her chin rested on the ground. “Use your fire.”

“On what?” he asked. His eyes narrowed on her. “You?”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m no fool, Selene. I’m certain this is some clever ploy to trap me. Where’s Brenwar?”

Irritated, she pushed herself up off the ground. Her neck still drooped, and it had horrible gashes in it. Strength returned to her voice. “You are mad!”

Glancing at her wounds, he replied, “I see you are feeling better.”

Selene, smaller and standing beneath him, looked up at him and said, “I can’t believe you.”

“Don’t play games, Selene. Where is Brenwar?”

“I don’t know where that bearded man-goat is! If he’s lost, then it’s your fault, not mine!” She craned her neck and winced. “Now, will you listen to me? We don’t have much time!”

There was truth in her voice. Nath felt it. He’d always been able to discern the truth from a lie. But Selene had fooled him before. Still, her neck was in bad shape. Blood seeped between her claws that held it. Finally, he said, “What do you want me to do?”

“That’s a wurmer lair,” she said, pointing at the caves. “I went in and found the larvae, but the wurmer guardians found me before I could act. The wurmer eggs aren’t too deep, but there are hundreds of them. You need to stick your head in there and turn loose the heat. Do you understand me?”

“And turn my back to you?” Nath objected. “I don’t think so.”

“Dragon King,” she said, softening her tone, “you must listen. I’d do it myself, but I’ve nothing left. I can barely stand.”

“Tell me where Brenwar is first.”

“What in all of Nalzambor makes you think I have that dwarf?”

“Someone saw you fly away with him,” Nath said.

“Someone who?”

“A raccoon.”

Selene’s jaw dropped. Then, with incredulity, she said, “A raccoon? Are you being serious?”

Taken aback, Nath said, “Yes.”

Selene started to laugh. “Ha ha! Please, you are making me laugh! And it hurts. Heh heh! The Dragon King and his raccoon advisor. Haw!” She sucked her teeth. “Oh, it hurts.”

“Stop it,” Nath said.

“Ha ha! I wish I could,” she said, slapping her tail on the ground. “Heh heh heh! But I can’t. So, where is this advisor?”

Feeling like a fool, Nath filled his chest up with fire. He glared at her, turned, stuffed his head inside one of the caves, and unleashed his flames. The white-hot blast vaporized everything in its path. Nath let it all out. His anger. Humiliation. Frustration. His fire stopped. He pulled his head out of the hole and found Selene.

She had a wry smile on her face. “Well done, Dragon King. I’ll be right back.” With a hitch in her gait, she slipped back into one of the caves.

Nath sat down on his haunches. His head was light, and he saw spots in his eyes. He’d never let out so much fire before. All the cave openings were smoking brown now instead of yellow.

Huh, didn’t know I had that in me.

A few minutes later Selene emerged. “That took care of it,” she said. She held out her dragon palms, revealing an amber stone a little bigger than an egg. Something dark green wiggled inside. “Wurmer egg,” she said. “It survived, but I dug it out. There’s always a remnant that will survive if you are not careful.”

The larva inside spun and rolled. It radiated evil. Its thrashings were revolting and vile.

“What are you going to do with it?” Nath said.

Selene squeezed it into goo in her claws. She rubbed the muck into the dirt. “I just wanted you to see it, so that you would know.”

“Thanks. I still need to find Brenwar, though.” He averted his eyes. “And I …”

“Nath, I understand why you might not fully trust me. After all, I did try to destroy you once. But I won’t again. I promise.” She sighed. “You gave my life meaning. Once I accepted it, I knew I couldn’t go back. I’ll die first. Trust me or not, you won’t get any trouble from me.” She sagged and swayed. “Ugh.”

“Selene!” Nath said. “You are not well.”

“It’s the wurmers’ poisoned flames. It will fade away. I just need to rest.”

“You rest, then. I’ll watch out.”

“I’ll be fine. The threat has passed.” She lay down in the grasses by his feet and closed her eyes. “Besides, you need to go and find Brenwar.”

Nath’s eyes grazed over her form. She was so beautiful adorned in her sparkling black scales. Supine. Graceful. Mesmerizing.
She’s amazing.

“I can feel your eyes on me,” she said with her eyes still closed. “Do you like what you see?”

“Huh?” Nath stammered out. “The truth is, you aren’t half bad for a dragon.”

“You’re supposed to increase in charm as you get older, not lose it.”

“Well, unlike you, I won’t be older for a much longer time.”

“Whatever you say, Dragon Boy.”

“Boy?”

CHAPTER 20

Selene slept a week, just as he had when he’d been poisoned by the wurmers. During that week, Nath found that his patience was not tried at all.

Too soon, she was up again. “I’ll help out with Brenwar,” she said. “Besides, I’m curious about this raccoon you met.”

“Curious why?” Nath asked.

“Because I don’t recall any raccoons being in that area of woodland. It’s possible but atypical.”

“The woodlands are full of varmints. Especially the raccoons.”

“Did you see any others?”

“No,” he said.

“But you do know that raccoons travel in families typically, don’t you think?” She stretched out her wings and yawned. “Tell me more about this raccoon.”

“He was big for a raccoon. White with brown eyes and brown rings.”

She rolled her eyes. “A brown raccoon? You’re certain?”

“Sure.”

“Have you ever seen a brown raccoon before?”

“No, but there are plenty of things I’ve never seen. And what makes you such an expert on critters anyway?” Nath expanded his wings and took flight, and then he yelled back down, “Oh, come on. I’ll show you.”

Selene jumped into the air and flew after him. “Oh, I can’t wait.”

***

Nath and Selene were back in the woodland where he’d lost the scent of Brenwar. Pushing between the trees and bending them aside, he sniffed the air.

“Let me guess, you lost the raccoon’s scent too.”

“Just give me a moment.”

“Sure, take all the time that you want.” She shrugged her eyes. “But I smell many things, and a raccoon isn’t among them.”

Selene was right. Nath didn’t smell a single raccoon, but there were plenty of squirrels, chipmunks, and other such things. If dragons could blush, his cheeks would be red. It was embarrassing. He’d missed something again.

“Just keep looking,” he moaned.

The search continued, but it was futile. Though the woods were big, Nath was still too big for them. His presence unsettled everything. Finally, he eased back into a clearing and waited for Selene to return.

I hate being wrong, and I don’t much like her being right, either.

Selene emerged into the clearing. “Giving up so soon, are we?”

“There has to be an explanation for this.” He dropped his horned head into his hands. “Selene, have you ever encountered a fairy empress?”

“No, I can’t say that I have. Why, have you?”

“Brenwar and I found one in a tomb. Her name is Lotuus.”

“Tell me more, Nath. Don’t leave out a detail.”

Nath filled her in from start to finish, leaving them both in silence.

“I’d say there is a very good chance that
Lotuus
is behind this.” She smacked Nath’s leg with her tail. “And you didn’t even consider this before? Instead you blamed me.”

“But the raccoon said—”

“Oh hush it, Nath. Besides, I’ve forgiven you already.”

“You have? Why?”

“Why? Because you saved my scaled back at those caves, that’s why. If you hadn’t shown up, I might very well have died.”

“Well, I’d hate for that to happen, even though you are difficult …”

“What!”

“And irritating.”

“You think I’m irritating,” she said, rising up to full height.

“Not to mention beautiful.”

“Oh.” Selene’s composure softened. “Now that’s more like it.” Slowly, she approached and nuzzled into his chest.

Nath’s heart pounded harder and faster. Swallowing, he eased his tail around her waist and pulled her closer.

She kissed him on the cheek and said with a soft look in her violet eyes, “You’re learning, Nath.”

“Oh please,” said an unfamiliar voice. “I don’t think the two of you are married.”

Nath and Selene stiffened into upright positions and eyed the owner of the voice.

A big raccoon, chestnut ringed, stood atop a small boulder, checking his claws.

“You!” Nath said.

“Me,” the raccoon said, touching his chest. “Yes, I suppose it is me. What about it?”

“Where is Brenwar?” Nath demanded. Silently he snorted the air. The raccoon still didn’t have a familiar scent. “Out with it now.”

“I told you,” the raccoon said, pointing at Selene. “She has him.”

“I certainly do not!” Selene said.

The raccoon giggled. “Well, I might have been mistaken. These eyes aren’t quite what they used to be. You’ll understand when you get to be as old as me.”

“Enough games, raccoon.” Nath stomped his paw. “Tell me where Brenwar is!”

“Who?”

“You know very well who, you trickster.” Nath crept closer. “The dwarf. Black bearded with a skeleton hand.”

“What’s he doing with a skeleton hand?” the raccoon said.

Nath slammed his paw down, shaking the ground.
Boom!
“Tell me where he is!”

“Eh, easy, big dragon. You might hurt something.” The raccoon scratched his head. “Boy, you really aren’t getting this, are you?”

“What do you mean?” Nath said.

“Come on, you know better than that.”

“You are that trickster, Lotuus.”

“No,” the raccoon said, shaking his head. “I don’t know who you are talking about.”

Nath lowered his snout over the raccoon’s face and sniffed him again.
Hmmm, he has no scent at all. He has to be made of magic, but who and what is he?
He snorted again.

“Hey, easy,” the raccoon said, hugging the boulder. “I don’t want to venture into your nose.”

“Humph!” Nath said, eyeing the raccoon with continued suspicion. He stared deep into its eyes.

There was something there.

Something familiar.

“Gorlee!”

“Hah!” the raccoon slapped his knee. “It’s about time.
Ulp!
”

Nath snatched the changeling up in his claws and squeezed. “Why the games?”

Eyes bugging out of his head, Gorlee shifted his shape into the human form of Nath Dragon. “I’m a changeling, remember. We don’t do things the easy way. Besides, I needed you to track down Selene and bring her back.” Struggling in Nath’s clutches, he said, “Do you mind?”

Nath set him down and said to a human-looking version of himself, “So Brenwar is safe, then?”

“Yes, he is. He’s back in Dragon Home. He’s pretty slow, so I sent him back with a teleportation stone, but the two of you can fly there.”

“Why would we do that?” Nath said

“Because Balzurth sent me to get you.”

Nath’s blood thinned under his scales. “My father is back from beyond the Great Mural?” He looked at Selene. Her eyes were as wide as moons. He turned back to Gorlee. “Why?”

“He didn’t say,” Gorlee said. He walked over to Selene and patted her on the back. “How have you been doing, Selene?”

“Fine,” she said, glowering at him.

Gorlee backed away and slapped his hands together. “Glad to hear it. Now, which one of you grand beasts is flying me back to Dragon Home?”

For the moment, Nath’s tongue was tied. Going home was one thing. Being summoned was another. He felt like a child again.
What is this all about?
I can’t stand it.
He lowered his head. “Get on, then.”