Tail of the Dragon by Craig Halloran

Now I’ll never know what they are.”
    “You almost weren’t going to know anything else ever again, King Dragon.”
    Nath approached her with a smile.
    Covered in black scales with a long, sensuous tail, Selene was the most beautiful dragon he’d ever seen. Her lashed violet eyes were radiant beneath her exquisite crown of horns, streaked with silver.
    Heart pounding inside his chest, he said, “Thanks, Selene. It’s good to see you. I didn’t think you could stay away from me forever anyway.”
    “Hah!” she laughed. “Me, seeking you? Nothing could be further from my quest.”
    He frowned. “Quest? What do you mean, quest?”
    Selene’s violet eyes drifted onto the pile of ash. “Tracking down these vermin and killing them.”
    Irritated, Nath fixed his eyes on her. “So you know what they are, then?”
    “Sadly,” she said, neck drooping a little. “I do. They are called wurmers.”
    “Wurmers? What tongue is that?”
    Without batting an eye, she said, “An ancient one. Long forgotten until … sometime around now.”
    Nath spread out his wings and winced. Turning his head around, he noticed one of his wings was dangling. “Blast!”
    Selene’s eyes widened. “That’s a horrible wound. You should be more careful.”
    “Thanks, Selene. I’ll remember that the next time I’m assaulted by a bunch of renegade dragons.” He snorted. “Don’t guess I’ll be flying anywhere too soon. It should make Brenwar happy.” He focused his attention on Selene. “You were saying these things had been long forgotten until sometime around now. So you knew of them?”
    Sitting back on her haunches and clicking her clawed front paws together, she said, “Let’s just say I’ve encountered them before.”
    Nath’s eyes narrowed. “Is this something that Gorn Grattack had a hand in? That you had a hand in?”
    “Yes and no.”
    “That’s not an answer, Selene. And I don’t like it. What do you know about these creatures? And how in Nalzambor did they get here?” He brushed his tail through their remains. “And is it bad that I killed them?”
    “Don’t fret, Nath,” she said. “The wurmers are more dragon-like than dragon. They aren’t flesh and blood like other life on Nalzambor. That I’m certain of.”
    Nath eased his tone. “Well, that helps a little. Keep talking.” He half flapped his broken wing. “I’m not going anywhere soon.”
    “The wurmers are a creation of other evil mages and clerics who preceded Barnabus. They hated dragons, and through their collective efforts they created a creature to slay dragons. They used dragon parts and magic and turned them into bloodless, living things, like insects.”
    “Oh, I see,” Nath said. “Isn’t that pretty much what you did with the draykis? How many of them are still running around?”
    “I’m pretty sure there aren’t any.”
    “Pretty sure, well,” Nath said, rolling his eyes, “that’s reassuring.”
    “Don’t be smug.”
    “I’m sorry, Selene, but this stinks of your old dealings, and let’s face it. You haven’t been around. There’s no telling what you’ve been doing or who you’ve been doing it with.”
    Selene’s eyes became bright as fire. “Nath! How dare you suggest?”
    “I’m the Dragon King, and I’ll suggest what I will. I have an entire world to protect.”
    “Well, you weren’t doing a very good job of it a few moments ago—unless you were going to protect it as new fertilizer!” She spread her wings. “Good luck to you. I’ll resume this quest on my own.” Her feet started to lift from the ground.

 
     
    CHAPTER 14
     
     
    Nath snatched her tail and pulled her back down. Calmly. “You aren’t going anywhere, Selene. Sorry. Just tell me more.”
    The flames behind her eyes subsided, and she continued her story.
    “Yes, the Clerics of Barnabus sought to employ the wurmers in our cause, but dealing with them proved difficult.” She sighed. “Very difficult.”
    “How so?” Nath said,