The Worst Kobold Chapter 31: Storyweaver Interlude #6 - Epilogue

Read chapter 31 of The Worst Kobold by Thalaas on NovelPedia.

“The end,” Storyweaver said softly as he closed the book and looked at the cover. He never thought he'd end up as a writer and storyteller of all the occupations. But he seemed to be quite skilled at it as he looked over his raptured audience. Sixty-four children were sitting around the castle's school room floor. Lying on bellies, sitting cross-legged, or bouncing excited on their heels. Mostly humans, but a handful of kobold hatchlings and goblins children peppered the mix. There was even an orc child, who was by far the biggest of the lot, sitting in the back row. “Whoaaa… that was so romantic!” One of the little girls in brown pigtails was actually a little misty eyed. “Needed more battles. Especially with the dragon!” The orc boy was up, swinging an imaginary battle ax at equally imaginary foes. “Can't have nothing but battles!” Another boy got up and swung his own invisible sword, challenging the orc. “You need breaks and drama and comedy. Makes the battles more exciting when they happen!” The two of them continued their deadly mock duel as the rest of the children peppered the storyteller with more questions. Who were Fluke's parents? Did Freckles and the others make it out safe? Is the Wishing Stone gone for good? “Oh, Freckles made it out fine... more than fine. But that's another story. Involving mistaken identity, a flower golem, the legendary swamp hag, and a few cannibals.” Storyweaver fielded the children's questions as best he could, though he did say not every question will get an answer. Sometimes it is the bit of mystery a story leaves us that keeps us enthralled, he had told them. “Don't you think you'll get in trouble with the king for making this story up?” One of the human children, an older boy with wild brown hair, was standing up. It looked like his family had given up on combing him. “I mean you know King Alexander would easily beat a dragon and you got him losing.” “It's just a work of fiction.” There was a small gasp as every child noticed who had just snuck into the small library. King Alexander Falcon. He was leaning casually against the door frame. He had reached the prime of his life, with even more broad shoulders and calloused hands of a trained warrior. He had a nicely trimmed red beard as well, which was a snick brighter than his hair. The facial hair was quite new since he got a little tired of being called the baby-faced king in some circles. “I'm certain if a dragon threatened you all, I'd easily be able to vanquish it.” He bent down to get at a closer level to the children. “But one of the morals of that story is to look at someone's true value. Don't be scared of anyone by the way they look. A dragon, like any human, orc, kobold, goblin, or anyone… can be good or evil or something in between.” He stood up straight and proper, the king looking regal in his reds and golds. “And we should all strive to be as brave and good as Fluke in that story.” There were murmurs of agreement and nodding from the children. “All right everyone, that's enough for the day. You get back to your respective parents.” Storyweaver smiled as the children all jostled out in a wave of chatter before going to the book shelf and replacing his story. He ran a finger over the title. The Worst Kobold. And a smile crept over his face as he looked over his first novel, placing it next to his latest work, ‘Three Kobolds in a Trenchcoat’. Hey, if a kobold can secretly be a dragon… why not? Alexander walked over to the writer who seemed lost in thought. He leaned down to the much smaller man after all the children had filed out. “You, um, aren't still secretly a dragon now, are you, Fluke, or um, is it Storyweaver? Have you officially decided to change your name yet?” Fluke smiled and shrugged as he snapped out of his daydream. He ran his hand over his own short black horns, also adorned with a few rings for his accomplishments. “If I am a dragon? I figured my bonded would know by now, wouldn't she?” He touched the two ring