Tension thickened with the dusk. The air seemed charged, ready for disaster. The sky was painted orange and purple, contrasting with the grim faces below.
Gabriel, always alert, scanned the horizon with Matthew by his side. Matthew stood tall, eyes fixed on the distant mountains, anticipating the dragon’s emergence.
“Everyone ready?” Gabriel’s voice pierced the silence, slicing through the tension.
“Ready as we’ll ever be,” Matthew grumbled, thoughts wandering to his family back home. Would he see them again? Pushing the idea aside, he focused on the task at hand. Worrying changes nothing, Greyson reminded him. Charles will take care of them if something happens to us.
Gabriel glanced at William, who met his gaze.
“We’ve got a dragon to slay,” boomed William, though he secretly doubte
