Slowly, cautiously, I made my way back down to my comrades.
“I do not think he intends to depart soon,” I whispered. “He will surely hear if we continue to dig. I think our best choice is to retreat, and dig again tomorrow.” There was no particular reason for him to notice so small a disruption in the dirt—surely that risk was better than being caught in the act. “Back to the tower, then—Gareth to the stable, can you carry the shovels without clanking? Good fellow.” Were one of us caught, then, it might not be one who carried evidence of our activities. “Elaysius, hide your light in Genevieve’s skirts—this is no time for modesty, I fear. Stay behind this ridge as much as you can. Let us go.”
We made it some halfway, keeping the curves of the hills between us and the dragon, before Gareth
