Just as promptly, the innkeeper emerged from the inn to face the beast. He appeared quite at ease for someone who was about to be eaten by a dragon, but as he explained to the local knight who accompanied him, “A deal’s a deal. Nothing less. But nothing more.”
The young knight had ridden up from the town the evening before. Though he had never engaged a dragon in combat, he had wounded this one during its ruby heist earlier in the week. He came highly recommended by his superior knights, and the town bank had sent him north to recover the coppersmith’s guilder, the box of rubies, and various other missing gems. Furthermore, the trustees hoped to collect damages for their building, which the dragon had completely destroyed.
If the beast felt disturbed by the sight of the knight’s bright m
