Claws of the Dragon Read Online Free Page A

should kill me. I would if I were them.”
    “Don’t say that, Selene. It’s not true.”
    “It is true. Every last bit of it.” She slipped out of his hands and stood on the edge of the porch beside the wooden post that held the ceiling. “I’ve been walking through the streets and listening to the conversations of men, women, children. You know, I never cared one lick for any of them before. They were rodents. No, not even that. They were bugs to be squished under my scales. Vermin to be chewed away at Gorn Grattack’s order.” She made a deep frown. “I hated them for their laughter. Happiness. I wanted to destroy it all. I still envy them.”
    “Selene,” he said, looking at the sadness growing in her face. “Everyone can change. You proved that. Don’t be so hard on yourself.”
    “What a jest, Nath. I’m sorry to be ugly, but I should be tried for my crimes.”
    Nath snuck up to her and tried to cover her mouth.
    She slipped away.
    He said in a harsh whisper, “Keep your voice down, will you? If someone were to hear you, it might just come true. There are tribunals, you know.”
    “I can’t just wish my past away, Nath. What happens when people figure out who I am, hmmm? Do you think all of them will forgive me? Think of Sasha. She’s a sweet and reasonable person, but she wants my head on a platter.”
    “No, she doesn’t. Well, not on a platter anyway. Maybe mounted on the wall.”
    She glared at him.
    “Er, it’s a jest.” He combed his hair out of his eyes and fell silent. As a stiff wind blew through the streets and stirred up tiny dust devils, his mind dove deeper into thought. Selene had made a good point. The world would not forgive her the same as he had. All over Nalzambor, grudges were still held that were centuries old. And now, it didn’t seem fair that like him, she would have to walk the world as a human, knowing so many hated her. “Why don’t we walk together?”
    “No.” She faced him. “Nath, I’m leaving.”
    A spark of anger flashed in his golden eyes. “I need you, Selene. We are in this together. To the end. You can’t just go it alone!”
    “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