Book 3: Chapter 3 (1/2)

The first thing Vernon said when Vur and Sera landed in front of him was, “See, look! I didn’t lie. He grew out his scales and wings when he got older.”

Sera promptly smacked his snout. She smiled at her nephews and nieces who were hiding behind their grandmother before shifting her gaze. “Mom, this is Vur, your grandson that I’ve been telling you about.”

“Oh?” Sera’s mother asked, raising her brow as she brought her face closer to Vur. “You told me I shouldn’t judge him by his appearance when I first saw him. I assumed he’d have a deformity, but I don’t see anything wrong with him?” Her head swiveled and her neck craned up and around, getting a better look at Vur from all angles. “Other than a head lice problem, he’s perfectly normal and healthy.”

“…Did she just call us lice?” Tafel asked.

Mr. Skelly ran his fingers through Alice’s hair. “Maybe she was referring to the lice of someone on his head.”

Alice snapped Mr. Skelly’s wrist off. “I do not have lice!”

“She couldn’t have been talking about us, right, Deedee?” a high-pitched voice asked from somewhere within Vur’s shoulder.

“She definitely was. You’re just as annoying as lice,” Stella’s voice said, drifting out of Vur’s chest.

“Deedee! Your wife is being bullied by a stupid fairy! Do something.”

A sigh echoed out of Vur’s shoulder.

“Guys! Stop arguing so much,” Sheryl whispered, her voice barely audibly as it streamed out of Vur’s neck. “We’re in the presence of dragons.”

A tiny whine drifted out of Vur’s back from a leviathan-shaped rune. “I want to go home….”

Vur’s grandmother turned to face Sera. “I think I spoke too soon. It seems like he’s infested with parasites.” She sighed and clicked her tongue as she lumbered towards Vur. “Don’t worry, Grandson. Grandma will take those nasty little critters out of you soon. You must’ve suffered for so long.”

Vur blinked at his grandmother three times before sidling over to Vernon. He cupped a paw over his mouth and whispered, “Is Grandma senile?”

Vernon whispered back, “No, and I also think it’s a little weird how there are so many things talking inside of you. They’re not in your stomach, right? You didn’t eat them? Didn’t I tell you eating things that could talk would give you a stomachache?”

Alora slapped her face with her paw. “Those are elementals, Uncle Vernon.” She came out from behind Vur’s grandmother and walked up to Vur before sitting on her haunches. “Hi, my name is Alora. It’s—”

“You can’t have him!” Tafel shouted from atop Vur’s head, glaring at the sky-blue dragon in front of her. “He’s married and has a child!”

“Huh?” Vur asked, his eyes widening as Sera and Vernon stared at him with heated eyes. “T-Tafel?”

Tafel placed her hands on her hips and lowered her head to meet Vur’s eyes. “Snuffles is your son, right? I didn’t lie.” She held out one hand as if she were weighing an imaginary object. “You’re married.” She held out her other hand. “And you have a child.” She brought her hands together and clasped them in front of her chest. “See? Married with child.” She freed her right hand and turned it into a fist that she shook at Alora. “I don’t care how handsome you think he is; don’t try to make him your mate!”