The Worst Kobold Chapter 13: Chapter 9 - Wyrm vs Worm

Read chapter 13 of The Worst Kobold by Thalaas on NovelPedia.

“Uneventful watch?” Ember asked. She had come out of another ancient mine entrance. The Spire Mountain range was littered with them, along with many natural caves. The previous kobold clan that lived here had mined many of the valuable ores and gems and had moved on centuries ago. Griffon was staring out into the darkness. But her eyes seemed blank and she seemed thoroughly lost in thought. “Hey!” Ember brought her fingers in front of the kobold and snapped loudly. “Wakey, wakey!” “Whoa!” Griffon snapped up to attention. She grabbed the hilt of Skysplitter but quickly recognized her big eared travelling companion. She relaxed and sat back down on the rock face overlooking the forest far in the distance. The rest of the day's trek had been an ordeal. Not that it was dangerous, oh far from it. She was hyper aware they were walking with, well, a literal dragon. But now? She had become aware of how different Fluke was. Every step Fluke took caused the ground to tremor. Every sway of his body cast gigantic all-encompassing shadows. Every word he spoke came out with force and power. Yet under it all… It was still her dear friend. “Got to keep an eye out!” Ember came over and plopped herself on the kobold’s side. “What if someone sneaks up and attacks our helpless itty-bitty, multi-ton, lightning-spewing kobold in the cave?” That made Griffon chuckle once. “Sorry,” she said. She wasn’t used to having her mind wander. Being taken by surprise like that had her heart racing once more. It also annoyed her slightly… What would happen if some bandits did take her by surprise? Fluke would go into a rage and kill them probably, she realized. That’s what happened last time with attackers at the logging camp. “I was just lost in thought.” “No idea why,” Ember snorted loudly. “Let’s see, fled from the king’s men, crashed into a mountain, fought off bandits. Oh, and found out your best friend’s a dragon. Can’t imagine why you’d have anything to distract you.” Ember ran her finger over her Glamora Goggles giving them a bit of a charge. She couldn’t see as well in the dark naturally as a kobold could. But these special goggles compensated for it. “So what is on your mind? Besides, you know, me throwing your entire worldview into disarray?” “Should... Should we tell Fluke for one? That he’s a dragon I mean,” Griffon asked softly. “I mean... He should know what he is right?” Ember made a slight grimace. She had been thinking about that very thing. “I wager it will be pretty hard to convince your nervous friend he’s secretly a giant winged beast, capable of razing cities. I mean, even if we did have a mirror or something to show him? My Glamora Goggles are a snick small for him.” Ember tapped the goggles back on her face. The lenses gave off just the faintest blue glow. “And do you have any idea how he’d react? You just about passed out on me and you strike me as the type that doesn’t rattle easily. Fluke... Well not so much. I really don’t want to deal with a dragon having a nervous breakdown.” Griffon just nodded. “You’re right. I just... don't know what to do now. I mean… Fluke’s a dragon. Royalty. He should be leading our colony and being served and...” “Why?” Ember interrupted. “Why?” Griffon repeated the question, not fully understanding it “Why should he be in charge? Just because he’s a dragon?” Ember thumbed back to the cave where loud snoring echoed outwards. “I mean yeah, he’s powerful, but it doesn’t mean he’s a good leader. The more I hang with you two, the less of an all-powerful master vibe I get from him ” “That’s... just the way things are. Kobolds serve the dragons. And the dragons protect us.” Griffon tried to explain the basics of kobold life. Kobolds were meant to serve their clan, and their clan centered around their dragon lords. She understood it would be hard for other races to understand what was part of her way of life. “Seems to me you do a pretty good job protecting yourself. And others. And a certain dragon,” Ember snick