Tail of the Dragon

by Craig Halloran

  “Couldn’t he just come and see you?”

  “By the Sultans, no! Balzurth would charge right through that wall and try to put an end to those titans. That’s exactly what they want. Take down the Dragon King. End his reign. They were so eager to get out, they missed a golden opportunity. They overlooked you.” Grahleyna turned her attention back to Azorath. “Now what do we do with you?”

  “Me? I’m harmless. I just want to walk among men again.” His eyes darted from face to face. “Just a man. One that can live and have a natural death.”

  “And a natural death you shall have.” Grahleyna opened her mouth. Bright golden flames washed over Azorath. He turned to a pile of ash before he could even scream. “Never trust a shade, Son.”

  Nath convulsed. A river of life rushed through him. His blood coursed with a new spring of energy. “Thank you, Mother.”

  She patted him on the shoulder. “Evil—don’t give it a chance. Now it’s time for your first order from Mother. Find those titans. Bring them back or destroy them.”

  CHAPTER 37

  Grahleyna flung her head back. “Ah! It’s so good to be in the sun’s light again. It warms me inside and out.” She spread her arms wide and spun slowly around. The bright light enhanced her incredible beauty and elegance. “Come, walk with me, Nath, and bring your friends along, while I still have the time.”

  The Lost City of Borgash was still a barren place with strange and ugly vegetation. Nath carefully maneuvered through the thick vines. Brenwar’s eyes remained fixed on the ground, Mortuun swinging at his side. Selene managed to find her own place over a dozen paces ahead on a broken path that led east and out of the forgotten city.

  Grahleyna whisked them out of the catacombs. It was a confusing and winding path, but Nath could make it back and out again if he had to. He was sure of it. Walking stride for stride with his mother, he kept his chin up and chest out. The joy of having her by his side was incredible, but a frown started to crease his lips.

  “You care for her much, don’t you,” his mother said to him, eyeing Selene.

  “I care for you much, and now you are leaving?”

  “Well, I’m going to leave you with good advice, and that will be much better than the advice I left you with the last time.”

  “Hah, well I suppose that is true.” He laughed. “I don’t want you to go, though. I want to stay with you. The titans can wait at least a decade, can’t they?”

  “Oh, a decade with our sweet mother. How flattering is that? You certainly get that side of you from me and not your father. Of course, he does have a dashing side.”

  “Father, dashing?”

  She tousled his hair. “You are very handsome, like him, but more so.”

  Nath flashed a smile, “No doubt it’s the part of you in me that shines.”

  “Tell me more about you and Selene. I want to know everything.”

  “Sh! Mother, she can hear everything.”

  “That’s right,” Selene said, waving her arm up over her head. “And I can’t wait to hear what you have to say, Nath.”

  “Perhaps our time could be better spent talking about how you met Father, Mother?”

  Grahleyna chuckled. “I’m not going there, but I will tell you this: we were in mortal forms when we met.”

  Nath’s brows lifted and he said, “Like me. Like us now?”

  “The same.”

  Nath’s eyes glided toward Selene. She was staring back at him with a playful glint in her eyes.

  His mother continued, “Balzurth roamed Nalzambor the same as you did. A hero among mankind with countless triumphs. He was so cocky.” She sighed. “But I liked it. He picked the prettiest bouquets of flowers. And he could sing so soft the fairies would cry.”

  “My father?”

  “Oh, think back, Nath. I’m sure you’ve seen a softer side of him.”

  There were plenty of lessons that Nath recalled, some harsh and others wise, but singing? He didn’t remember any of that.

  Grahleyna started humming.

  Words formed in Nath’s mind. He started singing.

  “Ah praise the hills of daffodils, the kings, or run Tinny Lee. The dragons come, the fairies flee. Riding on the wings and scales came lightning from the clouds. Hondor the brave and ten thousand bannered warriors.

  Run Tinny, run Tinny, run Tinny, run.

  A thousand years, a thousand slumbers, comes the gentle crescent of night. Half for the light, half for the dark.

  Run Tinny, run Tinny, run.

  Home is there for the wayward son.”

  Nath came to a stop. “He did sing that to me, didn’t he?”

  “Yes, I’m sure of it. I never liked that song. It was sung by a drunken troubadour the day we met. The man’s voice was awful as an ogre’s, but your father made the song beautiful.”

  “What does it mean? Who is Hondor?”

  “No idea,” she said. “Just a silly song written by a sordid man who needed a button for his trousers. Not every song has to have a meaning. Sometimes it just needs to be fun to sing.” She lifted her chin toward the sky. A flock of dragons streaked through the clouds. “What in the name of Morgdon were those?”

  Not hiding the concern from his voice, Nath replied, “Wurmers.”

  Grahleyna’s golden eyes became as big as saucers. “Please tell me my eyes deceived me? Those blasted things are an abomination.” Fire sparked in her voice. “Oversized winged termites! Barnabus! They’ll be perfect hosts for the titans!”

  Selene rushed down toward them and said, “Your majesty, it is my error. A failure of my past!”

  “Then I’d say you and Nath are made for each other. You let one terror out of the sack and he let out another.” Grahleyna shook her head. “In the meantime, it looks like I’m going to have to deal with those wurmers myself. Stand back.”

  Nath and Selene stepped way back.

  Wings sprouted on Grahleyna’s back. Her body enlarged, and scales quickly covered her from head to toe. Within seconds, Nath gazed up at a most excellent gold dragon. “If I could only fly, I could go and destroy them with you.”

  “Hah, hah, hah,” Grahleyna said, “if you could only fly. How silly you sound, Nath. I hope you figure that out soon, Dragon Prince.” She spread her beautiful black-and-gold wings out. “Now, I must go. And you two need to figure out how to clean up your mess.”

  “But Mother, you can’t leave. We just met!”

  Grahleyna bent down and kissed Nath on the head. “I promise to see you again much sooner than the last time.” Pushing off with her powerful legs, she launched herself into the air. Wings beating at a furious rhythm, she sliced through the air like a golden arrow and disappeared, pursuing the wurmers.

  Shoulders slumped, Nath turned and faced his friends. “I can’t believe she’s gone already.”

  “Get yer chin up,” Brenwar said, “I’m not of the impression that your mother would approve of you moping around.”

  “Me either.” Holding her head, Selene said, “Gads, but now I feel even guiltier than before. We’re going to have to finish off those monsters before it’s too late.”

  Eyeing the sky and rubbing the back of his neck, Nath said, “You know, just once it would be nice if my parents gave me a little more information.” He took a deep breath through his nose and pulled his shoulders back. “Well, I figured it out before, and together we’ll figure it out again. Let’s go.”

  “As long as there’s a fight ahead, I’ll always be ready.” Brenwar swung Mortuun around with his wrist. “Where are we going?”

  “It’s time to visit one of Nalzambor’s greatest historians.”

  “Aw, great! We’re going to Morgdon,” Brenwar looked elated and started marching away.

  “I’m pretty sure Nath’s not talking about Morgdon. I believe he’s referring to Quintuklen.”

  Brenwar stopped and cocked an eyebrow. “Quintuklen? It’s a pile of rubble. And that will be a long, wasted march, too. Morgdon is far closer.” He
eyed Nath and Selene up and down. “Not to mention the likelihood of danger. There isn’t even a weapon between you.”

  “My wits are all that I need,” Selene said, standing with her arms crossed over her chest.

  Nath held his clawed hands out before him. Having battled the wurmers before in the body of a full dragon, his clawed fingers seemed wholly inadequate. He tapped his noggin and walked off with a shrug, saying, “I guess my wits will have to do as well.”

  But I’d feel much better if I still had Fang.

  CHAPTER 38

  It took over a week on foot to find the tall hill grasses that surrounded Quintuklen. Nath stood shirtless, waist deep in a pond, with a long stick whittled down to a spear.

  “What’s the matter, can’t you catch them with your hands anymore?” Brenwar said. The salty old dwarf stood on the bank running a rugged comb through his beard.

  “You can always swim in here and fetch dinner yourself, you know,” Nath said.

  “You volunteered, not me. I said I could wait until we made it to Quintuklen anyway. It’s you that has the growling tummy, not me. Pah.” The dwarf picked up a smooth stone and skipped it over across the ponds and right by Nath’s head.

  “Watch it, Brenwar! My head isn’t as hard as yours.”

  “It’s gotten soft. I can attest to that.”

  Spying movement in the murky green waters, Nath jabbed his spear quicker than a striking snake. He pulled a fish bigger than his head out of the pond. Its big tail flapped back and forth and caught Nath in the face.

  “Oh ho ho!” Brenwar laughed, holding his gut. “That fish has more fight in it than you!”

  Nath waded out of the waters. “You keep holding that big gut of yours, because this fish is going to feed me and Selene.”

  “Gut!” Brenwar slapped the breastplate over his belly. “An iron gut, lad!”

  “Lad!”

  “Aye, lad! A big, scaly, flame-haired one. What are you going to do about it, strike me with that mighty fish?”

  Nath swung the fish full into Brenwar’s face. Slap!

  Brenwar’s eyes became big angry moons. “Never hit a dwarf with a fish!” He dropped his shoulder and charged.

  Nath came off his feet and tumbled to the ground. “Blast it, Brenwar!”

  Brenwar stuffed Nath’s face into the soft bank. “Quit yer bellyaching, Nath Dragon!” He locked Nath’s arm behind his back and pinned him half in the water and half in the sand.

  “Have you gone mad? You’ll pay for this!” Nath struggled against his friend’s iron clutches. He didn’t have any idea what had happened to Brenwar. They’d been bickering for days. Brenwar didn’t have anything to be mad about, either; Nath did. He’d lost his power. Found his mother only to lose her again. Not to mention that he’d unintentionally turned a new menace loose on Nalzambor that he hadn’t meant to. With a heave, he flung Brenwar over his shoulder and slammed him into the cattails and reeds. “Get off of me!”

  Brenwar sprang to his feet and launched his head hard into Nath’s chin.

  His teeth clacked together and he saw stars exploding in his head. Staggering back, he felt his knees wobble, and he plopped on his butt into the water. While he sat shaking his head, his eyes became flame. “You’re going to regret this, Bolderguild!”

  Brenwar spat in the water. “Pah! I don’t think you’ll do anything with those tears in your eyes. Here, let me get a handkerchief. Maybe Selene will wipe them away for you.”

  Nath exploded into motion. His fists became striking hammers, fast and powerful.

  Brenwar fought back, landing bone-jarring shots on Nath’s ribs and chin.

  Not holding back, Nath busted Brenwar hard in his breastplate, creating a dent. Bang!

  Brenwar let out a wail. “Yer gonna fix that!” He rammed his elbow into Nath’s groin.

  Seeing red, Nath snatched Brenwar up high over his head and stuffed him head first into the waters. He held him down, ignoring Brenwar’s flailing boots.

  Zap!

  Nath’s hairs stood on end. His bones juttered from pure shock. His grip loosened on Brenwar.

  Brenwar popped up out of the waters and dashed the water from his eyes with both hands. “What kind of trickery was that, Nath?”

  “Have you two gone mad?” It was Selene. She stood on the bank. Her face was hot with confusion and rage. “Get ahold of yourself!”

  Sitting in the water with his hands over his knees, Nath started laughing uncontrollably. He stopped abruptly and rubbed his jaw. “Oh!

  Brenwar held out his forearm. “Feeling better?”

  Rising to his feet, Nath said, “Thanks, Brenwar.” It had been a long time since the pair romped. They’d done it plenty when Nath was younger. Brenwar had taught him all about fighting, clean and dirty. Nath’s charging blood had him feeling better again. “I needed that.”

  “You both are mad,” Selene said in astonishment. “But you are men, after all. What’s next, hugging?”

  “No thank you,” Brenwar said, sloshing out of the water.

  A dark shadow soared overhead and darted north toward Quintuklen.

  “Shades!” Selene said. “You too buffoons distracted my intentions. I came to warn you: Quintuklen is under attack!”

  CHAPTER 39

  Hoofing it over the grassy knolls and hillsides, Nath sprinted as fast as he could, with Selene only a few strides behind him. Ahead, Quintuklen, at least what was left, was smoking. Dragons, flying above, were pelting it with fire.

  “Those are wurmers!” Nath said, legs churning even faster.

  Quintuklen had been all but destroyed in the last dragon war against the Clerics of Barnabus and Gorn Grattack. But now, from the distance, he could clearly see that it was being rebuilt. The stone walls that surrounded the town were almost entirely intact. Pulleys, bulwarks, and scaffolding had popped up all over the city. New stone buildings and wooden apartments. Fresh paint. The old roads were no longer mud and grass but filled with stone. And there were people. Throngs here and there, gathering stones and makeshift spears and hurling them at the dark-scaled dragons.

  Fire came down on the valiant defenders.

  Claws from the skies snatched people up and dropped them from high in the air.

  “Nooooooooo!” Nath screamed.

  He fought the helplessness that boiled inside him. If he could fly, he could rise into the air and battle the wurmers. Instead, he was stuck on the ground, racing over the expansive distance hoping he could get there in time and somehow help.

  “Selene, have you any thoughts?”

  “I was hoping you did!”

  They made it to the first barrier wall that protected the city. It was more than ten feet tall. Rather than race down to the next gateway, Nath leapt clear over it. Five walls later, he was on the road that led straight into the city. A bright gleam of steel caught his eye. The midday sun shined off the breastplates of a squad of Legionnaires.

  “What can I do to help?” Nath said, jogging up to the highest-ranking officer.

  The commander had a long and wispy moustache that hung down past his chin. Stout and durable in his plate-mail armor, he looked Nath up and down and said, “Find some steel, and if one of those things lands, start swinging. Go for the wings. Their hides are as thick as, er,” he looked at Nath’s arms and said, “a dragon’s.”

  “May I borrow a spear?” Nath said to the commander.

  “Anything for you, Nath Dragon,” the commander said. “Lieutenant, give this warrior your spear!”

  Nath pulled back his shoulders and took the spear the soldier offered him. They know me. They don’t fear me. A good thing! He scanned the faces of the Legionnaires. There was more duty than fear in their stern expressions. And there were less than twenty of them. All survivors who had returned to rebuild their city. Their determined looks filled Nath with greater courage. “Get those crossbows ready. We need to get their attention. Aim for the biggest one.”

  Counting the dragons, he noticed most of th
em were only about fifteen feet long. Not too big, but still plenty deadly. If I can take the leader down, hopefully the rest will flee. “Selene, can you bring some light? We need a distraction.”

  Selene’s hands flared with bright purple light. “Like this?”

  “It’s pretty, but not exactly the attention getter I was looking for.”

  “Oh,” she smirked, “you want something more like this.” Lavender shards erupted from her fingertips and made bee lines toward a dragon latched onto one of the tower walls.

  It let out a roar and crashed to the ground.

  The legionnaires let out a triumphant cheer.

  “Show-off,” Nath said.

  The dragon popped up off of its back. Snarling, it charged straight toward Nath and Selene. Nath lowered his spear and raced right into the face of the dragon. Finding a soft spot in its neck, he jammed the spear into its throat.

  The dragon shrieked and thrashed. The spear shaft snapped in half. Its tail flicked out, catching Nath in the heel and pulling him off his feet. The fifteen-foot monster’s head recoiled, and its chest filled with fiery breath. Nath started to roll.

  Boom!

  The wurmer exploded into scales and pieces.

  Getting back to his feet, he found Selene and said, “Did you do that?”

  “No. It wasn’t me.” She pointed toward one of Quintuklen’s towers that was being rebuilt. “It was him.”

  Nath twisted his head around. A tall, rangy warrior stood at the top of a rebuilt staircase. Long brown hair with gray streaks flowing through it billowed in the wind. He took the arrow out of his mouth and fired again. The sound of the bowstring’s snap was one of a kind. Twang!

  The arrow caught a sky-cruising wurmer in the belly and turned it into dragon chunks with another thunderous Boom!

  “Ben!” Nath screamed.

  Holding the bow Akron high over his head, the old warrior saluted and cried out, “Dragon!”

  Suddenly, a pack of three wurmers, wings beating, surrounded Ben. Their lungs filled with air, and fire gathered inside their jowls.