Claws of the Dragon Read online

  “Don’t get testy. I’m not abandoning you or the cause, but I am getting out of this city. It makes me ashamed of all I have done. So many I have hurt. People I don’t know. Family, friends, destroyed. Don’t you see, Nath? Don’t you see what I’ve done?” She pointed at some memory banners rustling in the wind that adorned many windows. “That’s because of me. I really and truly wanted each and every one of these people dead! How and why,” she said, exasperated, “could anyone ever trust me?”

  “I trust you, Selene. You have to believe that. You saved me, and we stopped Gorn. If you hadn’t done what you did, all of Nalzambor would have fallen.” He stepped by her side. “You have to forgive yourself. And at least you care now.”

  “Yes, I do.” She nodded. “And I’m not liking that so much either. Helping people is so … foreign to me.”

  “But it’s rewarding.”

  “We’ll see. I’m going north. To the high mountains. I think there might be a nest of wurmers there. I’ll stay in touch. You find out what Bayzog suggests, and maybe we can rendezvous there, say, in a week or two. Goodbye, Nath.” She kissed his cheek and disappeared into the dark streets.

  Don’t leave.

  Nath’s heart sank. Every time she left, he couldn’t help but wonder if he would ever see her again.

  Please.

  A few moments later, Ben stepped out on the porch. He had a turkey leg in one hand. Looking into Nath’s face, he said, “Now what? I thought I had you charged up. Now you look like Brenwar would look if someone shaved his beard off.”

  Nath made a sour face. “I sure wouldn’t want to see that. No, Selene just swung by and departed.”

  Ben nodded his grizzled chin. “I see. And that upsets you because you are so fond of her.”

  “No.”

  “Aw, I know you better than that, Dragon.” Ben tickled Nath’s ribs. “You want her for a bride, don’t you?”

  “How much ale have you had?”

  “Oh, I’m more of a cider man these days. The ale’s too hard on my gut. So tell me, why did she leave?”

  “Guilt.”

  Ben stroked the rim of his moustache. “I see.”

  “Can I ask you something, Ben?”

  “Sure, you can ask me anything.”

  “Do you have any resentment toward her? After all, she did lead the war that killed an awful lot of people.”

  “Hmmm, you know, I really haven’t given it that much thought. As a soldier I learned that life is full of losses, and you have to move on. It’s full of many blessings too. I just keep marching forward. I can’t let the past slow me down.”

  “But your family, Ben. You lost all of them because of Barnabus.”

  “True, and I miss them every day. But I don’t blame the likes of Selene, but I do think …” Ben’s voice trailed off.

  “Think what, Ben?”

  He slapped his big hand on Nath’s shoulder. “Nothing. If you’ve forgiven her, I’ve forgiven her too.”

  Nath eyed him. “No, you were going to say something else. What was it?”

  Ben shrugged. “I do think, if justice is to be served, it will catch up with her.”

  CHAPTER 7

  Nath stood far outside of Quintuklen’s walls inside the valley full of stone markers. They were graves, thousands of them in rows as far as the non-dragon eye could see. Over the past couple of days he’d lain low, stayed out of the city, and begun noting each and every one of the markers.

  He scraped some debris from one of the stones and revealed a familiar name. His eyes teared up. It was Ben’s wife’s marker, and beside it were two more, Ben’s son and daughter. Nath’s heart sank. Three names among thousands. He thought about all of the people who had suffered like Ben had. Men and women. Mothers and fathers. Not all of them could move on. Not when they had lost people they loved so much.

  How many more must die for the sake of evil?

  Clenching his fist, he rose up and walked a few miles, lost in thought. Eyes searching, he found something he was looking for. Wildflowers. He plucked some out of the ground and filled up his hands with three colorful bouquets. He marched back to the graveyard, set the flowers on the stones of Ben’s family, then started the long walk back to the city.

  It was mid-morning, and the laborers were hard at work under a hot sun. Hammers pecked and chiseled. Foremen shouted orders. Pulleys squeaked. Large loads of materials rolled down the main roads on huge wagons pulled by teams of horses. And there was a liveliness about the men. Some of them were whistling, even singing.

  Nath pulled back his shoulders a little. Walked a little taller.

  Their spirits aren’t broken, so why are mine?

  There was nothing like seeing men and women working together with such purpose. It kept their minds off the past. And that was a good thing. They could look forward to the future, and Nath wanted to make sure that future was a bright one.

  Making his way through the maze of walls that surrounded the fallen city, he spied a woman on top of one of the ways, waving her arms at him. It was Sasha. She was in a pale-yellow gown, trimmed in flowers. Her platinum hair was pinned up with a fine silver comb. He jogged toward her. She came rushing down the steps to greet him.

  “Nath! Where have you been?” Sasha threw her arms around him and held him tight. “I’ve missed you.”

  “Uh, I’ve just been wandering and waiting for Bayzog to call on me.” He lifted her off her feet in a hug. “You seem well.”

  “Well? Why wouldn’t I be?” She slipped off of him, took his hand in hers, and led him back into the city like a little child. “Come on, let’s get back home and see Bayzog.”

  He followed her lead, but it wasn’t long before he felt long stares and eyes on him. Nath had done little to conceal his ebony-scaled arms. They were mostly bare under the tunic that he wore. And it didn’t help that his great height and flame-red hair were far from ordinary. A small group of children slipped in behind him with giggles. He turned to look at them, and they scattered.

  Oh no, here we go again.

  “Come on. Come on,” Sasha said, prodding him along.

  Once again the children fell in step behind him. He ignored them. Focused on the others he passed who stared at him. One man, a burly fellow with a limp, nodded a greeting at him. So did the woman behind him, and she smiled. He nodded back.

  “Hail Dragon Slayer, welcome!” said a bricklayer on top of a catwalk, waving a navy knit cap like a banner. “Hail!”

  Nath waved.

  That’s odd, them calling me a dragon slayer. Of course, they probably don’t know the difference between the wurmers and a real dragon.

  “Dragon slayer!” another man cried out. It was followed by another and another, and before Nath knew what was going on, people were filling the streets and shouting encouraging words to him.

  “See, Nath?” Sasha said, rubbing his arm. “They embrace you now. You are their hero. You are my hero as well.”

  Arm high, Nath waved and nodded in return to the folks who watched his small parade.

  Now this is more like it.

  The streets thickened with people, happy faces one and all. Children were on men’s shoulders.

  “This is almost embarrassing.”

  “Hah,” she laughed. “Not for you. No, your name has spread, Nath. In the good spirit that it should.”

  But as the people chanted ‘Dragon Slayer!’ over and over again, a dark memory crossed through Nath’s mind. Of his time in Narnum, when the people had crowned him the Champion after he defeated Selene’s war cleric, Kryzak. A dark and shameful time.

  He didn’t like the association, not one bit. It was contradictory and perverted to him. And this parade he had unintentionally created was growing behind him. A few dozen people at least.

  “We need to end this, Sasha.”

  She looked at him. “Why? It’s delightful.” She started waving her hand. “Enjoy the moment, Nath Dragon.”

  He played along for another block as h
e studied Sasha. There was something odd about her. She wasn’t one to get caught up in moments like this. Though she wasn’t quiet, she was reserved.

  “So Sasha, you are no longer angry?”

  “Angry?” she said, looking at him somewhat aghast. “What in the world are you talking about?”

  “Last time I saw you, you were fighting with Bayzog.”

  “Bayzog and I never fight.”

  “Well, maybe I’m not putting this right. But you were very upset with Selene. Are you over that now? I can’t imagine you would be.”

  Still walking and with a confused look on her face, Sasha said, “Where is Selene? I would like to see her.”

  “She left.”

  “Why would she do that? I’d love to see her.”

  “You would?”

  “Of course I would,” she said cheerfully.

  Either I’m lost, or I really don’t understand women.

  Nath then said, “But you had some very choice words with her. Are you not still angry?”

  Suddenly, Sasha whirled. Anger filled her eyes. “Nath Dragon, quit playing games! I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

  CHAPTER 8

  Back inside Bayzog’s apartment, Nath stood at the great table. Books were stacked up in neat piles. Some of them still floated open in the air. With a wave of his hand, Bayzog sent one book floating away and pulled over another.

  “So you enjoy reading, don’t you.” Nath was just making conversation. His eyes were busy soaking in the grand oversized room that was much too big for the small building it was housed in.

  “So you’ve noticed,” said the wizard. His eyes darted over the wording of the ancient texts, and the pages flipped faster than Nath could attempt to read them. “Study creates the building blocks of knowledge.”

  Sasha wasn’t in the room. She’d said she was heading out to the market so she could prepare food for them later. She’d only departed moments ago.

  “There isn’t a lot that escapes me,” Nath said. “Something’s amiss with Sasha, isn’t it?”

  Bayzog’s face drew tight.

  “Talk to me, friend,” Nath said to him. He reached over and shoved the hovering book away. “Come on, Bayzog. I can’t help if you clam up on me.”

  With a dejected voice, Bayzog said, “You can’t help anyway, Nath. She has the Wizard’s Dementia.”

  Nath leaned forward and patted his friend on the back. “I’m not sure what that is, but it sounds horrible.”

  Long-faced, Bayzog said, “Horrible is an understatement. There’s no cure for it.”

  “There’s a cure for everything,” Nath said, “but it would help if you’d tell me what you were dealing with.”

  “Nath, this is my burden. Not yours. You have bigger tasks ahead that you need to remain focused on.”

  “If I can’t be helpful with small matters, then how can I give aid to the large ones?” Nath replied. “Please, confide in me, old friend.”

  “For all the good it will do, why not?” Shoulders sagging, Bayzog made his way over to the couch, poured some wizard water, sat down, rubbed his eyes, and yawned.

  Boy, he must be whipped. I’ve never seen him yawn before.

  Nath took a seat. “So, what are you dealing with?”

  Bayzog finished a long drink. “Wizard Dementia is caused by magic. It’s very, very rare, but anyone—particularly a human—who calls on the powers of Nalzambor can be afflicted. You see, Nath, magic is not as natural to all as it is to dragons and to elves. We have a stronger nature for it, which I can’t even explain. But with humans it’s different. Even though Sasha is a fine sorceress and well disciplined, the magic she has used has taken a toll on her mind.” His lip quivered, and a lump rolled up and down his throat. “Her mind is eroding—slowly, but still eroding.”

  “That’s horrible, Bayzog. Certainly there is something to be done?”

  “Nath, I’ve searched. I’ve tried. It’s just so rare that there isn’t much material on it.”

  “What about the Occular of Orray?” Nath suggested.

  “I’ve sent word,” Bayzog said, taking another sip of water. “But it’s unlikely. The elves are more protective of it now than ever. Truth be told, they’d be very reluctant to use its powers on a human.”

  “I’ll go down there and speak to them myself.”

  Bayzog held up his hand. “Nath, for some things in life there isn’t an easy fix. Death takes us all, be it at twenty-five years or one thousand. I will quietly deal with this.”

  Nath didn’t push. He knew it wouldn’t do him any good. And now wasn’t the time to argue with his friend. Bayzog had opened up, so it was time to listen. “Does she know, Bayzog?”

  The wizard shook his head no. “That’s the hardest part, Nath. I feel as if I am deceiving her. Sometimes she gets so confused.”

  “Do Rerry and Samaz know?”

  “They do. Why do you think they are away?”

  “Ah.” Nath leaned back into the cushions. “I see.”

  So, someone is looking for a cure. Good for them.

  “The worst part is her love for magic, Nath. She wants to practice and train. I keep having to distract her with something else. I tell her I’m too busy, or make up some petty lie. It’s horrible. But if she uses magic, it could be disastrous. Fatal. Not to mention it would accelerate her condition. I can’t risk that, and yet she loves magic so much. She was such a talented pupil. It sickens my heart, Nath. Every bit of it.”

  Nath swallowed the lump in his throat. This was one of the most devastating things he’d ever heard. And Bayzog, who hardly ever showed emotion, had deep creases in his brow.

  All Nath could think to say was ‘There’s always hope.’ But he didn’t. Instead, he sat with his friend in front of the warm fire in silence.

  Sometimes being there and saying nothing is the best comfort of all.

  ***

  “It’s stuffy in here,” Brenwar said. He had his arms crossed over his barrel chest and was eyeing every detail of Bayzog’s home. He stood with his back to the fireplace adjacent to the sofa. “Horrible construction. Looks like elves did it. I’m surprised it survived the war.”

  “I’m surprised you survived the war,” Bayzog retorted.

  “Watch yer mouth, part-elf.”

  Bayzog shook his head and faced Nath and Ben, who were both sitting at the table. Sasha was back sitting at the table too. She had a smile on her face as she hummed and prepared a tray of food. She brought each man a plate.

  “Thanks, Sasha,” Nath said.

  “Yes, thanks,” Ben added with a courteous nod.

  Brenwar frowned at his plate full of fruit, pastries, and cheeses. “Haven’t you any meat?”

  Sasha giggled and patted him on his head. “Of course. Anything for you, Brenwar, but that comes later.”

  Bayzog cleared his throat. “Ahem. If you don’t mind, I’d like to discuss the business at hand.”

  “I’m not stopping you.” Brenwar sniffed a handful of purple grapes. His face soured, and he set the plate down. He walked over and climbed up on a stool at the study table and shoved away the floating books that blocked his face. “Go on.”

  With a studious look on his face, Bayzog said, “The good news is that I have found some history of the wurmers. And like many insects, it seems they all function on the order of a queen.”

  Nath nodded. Selene had already alluded to how the wurmers were more of an insect-like culture that built hives and had nests. “I’ve seen their nests first hand. And we’ve destroyed some of them. I would think we must have destroyed the queen that was in there too.”

  “Which brings me to the bad news,” Bayzog said. “According to the histories, the last queen—their true queen—was never found and killed.”

  Leaning forward on the table, Ben asked, “So what does that mean?”

  “It means there are wurmers we know of—Selene has discovered those—and then there are those we don’t know of.”

&nbs
p; “You mean there are even more?” Ben asked. He looked at Dragon. “Those things are hard to kill.”

  Bayzog continued. “I’d say it’s highly likely that the queen has been hiding. Possibly hibernating.” His face turned grim. “And if I were to guess, she’s been laying eggs for centuries. And if I were a titan, I’d be trying to find them, wake them up, and turn them loose.”

  “And what if that happens?” Sasha asked.

  Bayzog’s reply was devastating. “They’ll blanket Nalzambor like a plague of enormous insects.”

  CHAPTER 9

  The atmosphere was solemn in the picturesque room. Everyone’s face was long and silent. Again, Bayzog broke the silence. “This isn’t all on our shoulders, Nath. The rest of the world will help out as well. This affects everyone’s lives, not just our own.”

  “I know. Sometimes good allies are hard to come by, but I know I can always count on my friends.” Nath stretched out his long-clawed hands and squeezed Ben and Brenwar’s shoulders on either side of him. “Right?”

  Ben was looking away and whistling.

  “Ben?” Nath said again.

  “Only joking, Dragon. You know that. I’m always with you. It’s just that I’m heavily committed to rebuilding this city. I have people here counting on me. You know, I don’t just sit around and wait for adventure to come and get me. I have responsibilities. And I need to be here to protect this city. I hope you understand.”

  Taken aback, Nath said, “Uh, Ben, I feel foolish. And I certainly didn’t mean to make you feel that you were required to come along. None of you need to feel obligated. I only meant that I know I can always count on you.”

  “And we you, Nath,” Sasha said. She slipped in behind him and gave him a hug. “That’s why I’m coming with you.”

  Nath’s gaze froze on Bayzog’s widening eyes.

  Oh my!

  “Now, Sasha,” Bayzog stammered. “We can’t leave. Not now.”

  “Oh, you can stay. I’m going,” she said, petting Nath’s arm. “Nath needs me.”

  “I need you too,” the wizard said. “I need you here. Our efforts to aid Nalzambor are best served here. I insist.”