“Are those places close to each other?” I asked, inserting myself into the conversation.
“Nope. They’re all different countries with oceans between them,” Iolana answered.
Meaning my possible competition would need to travel a great distance to come after me. I’d best keep eating copiously if I were to catch up to them growth-wise before that meeting happened.
“If they actually are dragons, could they be your siblings?” Apollo inquired.
I rolled to my back and yawned. “Possibly. My maternal progenitor would have scattered her clutch to ensure the greatest possible viability.”
“How does separating you help? And why would she dump ova around the world? Don’t mother’s usually care for their eggs until they hatch?” Iolana frowned down at me.
“To hatch, we require great heat, the most common source being the magma of an active volcano. Or in my case, a degrading kiln.” I made a moue of disgust. “Given we are very territorial, we are spread apart at great distance to avoid clashing too early in our development.”
“You’d fight your brothers and sisters over land?” Iolana’s tone and expression spoke of disapproval.
“As I keep telling you, our driving focus is to rule the world. Sharing would defeat that purpose. The only reason we might form an alliance would be to counter the human threat. But soon as we quelled any pesky rebellions, we’d begin our fight for ultimate supremacy.”
“There can be only one,” Apollo intoned.
For some reason, Iolana laughed. “You did not just quote Highlander.”
“I might have. In my defense, it’s a classic.” Apollo drummed his fingers on the tabletop. “If we’re interested in finding out if there are more dragons, then I might know someone who can help. I met a guy years back at a science-focused fundraiser, a doctor who gave a lecture, more like presented a theory, that creatures of myth all existed at some point in time but went extinct due to humans and other perils. I could give him a shout.”
“To do what? Expose the fact I found a dragon?” Iolana’s lips pursed.
“I wouldn't out Tigger, more like ask this guy what he thinks about dragons in general.”
“Won’t he be suspicious about why you’re asking?”
“There is that chance, but you have to admit, we’re a little out of our depth here.”
“We? There is no we. Tigger is my responsibility.”
“I’m not trying to take him from you,” Apollo soothed. “However, as you said before, it only takes one wrong person realizing his rarity, and next thing you know?—”
“Tigger will be gone.” Her lips turned down.
At least the thought of losing me made her sad. I’d have reassured her by saying it wouldn’t happen, but that would be acknowledging her lack of faith in me.
“What exactly do you think this doctor can do?” she asked.
“For one, see if he still believes dragons once existed and, if yes, what happened to make them go extinct. From there, I could ask him about those videos I unearthed, see what he says about them. Does he think they’re real? Are those dragons still free, or have they been captured? Killed? Accepted by and maybe even protected by the locals?”
Iolana chewed her lip, a waste of time since it wouldn’t actually feed her. “You swear you wouldn’t tell him about Tigger?”
“No. But I think if we want to keep Tigger safe, we should try and be better informed.”
“There you go with that ‘we’ again,” Iolana muttered.
“I agree with my male servant,” I announced. It would seem he would be taking on a protector role, with Iolana as my nurturer. I still didn’t know where the old man fit in my retinue, although I did enjoy his dark wit. He had even given me suggestions on who to eat first when I gained some size. Perhaps he could maintain my list of enemies.
“Seems like I’m outnumbered. Contact this guy, but no mention of Tigger,” Iolana firmly repeated.
“Obviously. I’ll be very careful what I say. Now, since we’re on the subject of keeping Tigger a secret and safe, I didn’t notice much security around your place.”
“Because we don’t have any. What are thieves going to steal? Tutu’s vintage collection of topless hula dancer mugs? My incredible wardrobe?”
“Surely you lock the doors.” Apollo looked and sounded appalled.
