Waking the Dragon

The morning after I cried my dragon’s lament, I wake to Nyxia rubbing her little hand on my face.

“Malkar, wake up. Wake up, Malkar,” she says, in her sweet toddler voice.

I don’t open my eyes, but I growl softly, immediately eliciting her very high-pitched squeal of excitement.

“Who dares to wake the dragon from his sleep?” I say, keeping my eyes closed and my voice deep.

“Me! Me!” she says excit