Nimlip Meets Waelyn
The beginning of an odd partnership
The dragon had been in the cavern so long, he struggled to remember where he was.
He recalled investigating the dark hole in the rock, hoping to escape the cold. His fiery exhalations lit his way, and he was relieved to find himself alone.
Just the way he liked it.
He explored the long tunnel, going deep underground until he could go no further, then he curled into a ball.
Across the cave sat a massive boulder. He purified it with fire until it glowed, red-hot.
He slept then, until the cold woke him, ages later.
Once more, he bathed the boulder with fire until it heated his cavern.
He closed his eyes again and slept, dreaming of golden words.
When he woke again, a small bow-legged wizard in a dark blue robe stood in front of him.
The dragon blinked. “You are either brave or stupid,” he rumbled.
“Neither!” The little man chirped. “I’m Waelyn. Who are you?”
“I am hungry, irritated, and tired!” the dragon responded.
“Yes, yes, I figured all that,” said Waelyn with a roll of his eyes. “But what is your name?”
“What does it matter?” asked the dragon.
“Because I live upstairs,” the wizard pointed to the cavern ceiling. “And if we’re going to be partners, I think we ought to know who we are!”
“Why would I do that instead of eating you?”
“Because I can give you what you want,” Waelyn said with a mischievous smile.
The dragon studied him for a long minute, too curious to eat him.
“Come on, you must want something!” Waelyn said, a bit exasperated.
“Books,” the dragon finally rumbled. “I like to read. And my name is Nimlip.”
The wizard blinked at him a few times. “Not what I was expecting, but alright. What sort of books do you like?”
“Adventures. Stories with danger, heroes, and dragons of course, but not ones that are killed. If the dragons are the heroes, all the better!”
Waelyn nodded. “Hmm. It might take me some time to find a few, but I will!” And with that, the little wizard in the blue robes turned and waddled back along the tunnel.
To Be Continued…
