Tail of the Dragon by Craig Halloran Page A

brushing his tail against hers.
    “They’re mindless things that don’t discriminate. They’d attack any dragon, good or bad. Both Kryzak and I tried to find ways to control them, but everything failed. I even have some scars to show for it.” She ran her claws over her side. There were some gashes in her scales that had never fully healed. “Kryzak actually saved me. After that, I came up with the draykis. They were my creation. I could control them. But the wurmers, they come from another time. A different magic. I told Kryzak to destroy them. Their larva. Their nests. I was very disappointed when I found out that he didn’t.”
    Nath reached over his shoulder and plucked a torn wurmer claw out from between his scales. Eyeing it, he said, “They are nasty things. How many have you hunted down?”
    “Thousands.”
    Unable to contain his surprise, Nath said, “Thousands!”
    “Give or take a few hundred,” she added.
    “You should have sought me out, Selene. How many of these things do you think are out there?” He stomped his paw into the ground. “And being the King Dragon, I need to be informed of any dire threats to this world.”
    “Don’t stiffen on me, Nath. If you were so worried about any threats, you’d be back at Dragon Home. Instead, you are on a personal quest—which,” she said, eyes saddening a little, “I don’t blame you for.”
    “Regardless, Selene, you should tell me, especially when you are putting yourself in danger.” His tail glided up around her shoulders. “I wouldn’t want anything bad to happen to you.”
    Her eyes drifted down over his tail and then found his. “Really? And why is that?”
    Nath swallowed. Nothing in Nalzambor intimidated Nath, but Selene did. Not as a threat but as a woman. A grand one. And his attraction to her was powerful. But he didn’t know how to tell her that. “Because … you’re my friend.”
    Selene’s eyes drifted away, and she let out a huff of smoke. She walked out from underneath his tail. “Oh, I’m elated to know that. And as for the wurmers, the amount I’ve destroyed isn’t so big. As a matter of fact, these are the biggest I’ve seen.” Her brow creased. “I’ve mostly found unhatched nests. You see, the wurmers start out in a larva stage. Much like insects. I find them and destroy them.”
    “How many more do you think are left?”
    “Hard to tell. I found one of the original lairs, but I think there are many more. Especially after seeing a group as big as this flying around.” She swatted her tail through the charred remains. “But these are drones. Which is good. The females lay the eggs. One female, rather. Perhaps a queen for every nest.”
    “So they are like the bees?”
    “No. Bees produce honey; wurmers produce death.” She continued, “Nath, now that the Clerics of Barnabus no longer hunt them, the wurmers will multiply fast. If they get out of control, they’ll swarm all of Nalzambor like locusts. Nothing will remain.”
    Nath tried to get close again, but Selene shifted away. Aggravated, he said, “If it’s so serious, you should take some other dragons with you, then.”
    “It’s my responsibility. I’ll handle it on my own.”
    “I insist,” Nath said.
    “I still have allies aside from yourself,” she said.
    “Really, who?”
    “You focus on your mission, and I’ll focus on mine,” she said. “And I wish you well on your quest to find your mother.”
    “Selene, don’t rush off. Please. You just got here.”
    “The wurmers are serious business, Nath.”
    “Just for a little while. Please?” he said, forming a long face. “All I’ve been doing is traveling with Brenwar, and it’s not the same … as it used to be. It’s hard being a dragon when all your friends are mortal.”
    “That’s why dragons don’t get so close to the mortals. But you’ll get used to it.”
    “I’m not sure that I want to get used to it.”
    “You can’t have the best of both worlds. You are meant