Taken In

"We have what amounts to a small community of people who were trapped in the caves but managed to elude the dragon," Hildegard said. "The caverns are so extensive that even the dragon can't keep everywhere under constant surveillance, so there are a dozen or so of us who have managed to avoid discovery. Princess Astra is different. She is unique in being, as far as we know, the only person ever to have been the dragon's prisoner and then to have escaped. Of course, most of those whom he captured didn't survive for long enough to have any chance of getting away. I argued for taking Astra in, since it seemed to me that the dragon's search for her once he realised that she was gone would put us at risk whether we took her in or not. Not everyone agreed."

"I was one of those who felt that we were putting ourselves at increased risk, but I felt that we had a moral duty to help her anyway," Anselm said. "If we didn't take her in and the dragon found her before finding us, then he would have ceased searching and we would have been safe. But the majority were swayed by the moral argument and voted to take her in, along with the painter."

"I don't understand this talk about eluding the dragon," Fred said. "Surely as dragon slayers you wouldn't want to elude him, but would confront him to slay or be slain, or perhaps made his prisoner."

Hildegard smiled. "Do I look like a dragon slayer to you? No, none of the dragon slayers who have come to the caves are members of our little band, save for Astra and now perhaps yourself. As you point out, most of those heroes are dead. I'm afraid that we are adventurers who had a less noble motive for coming here. Inspired by the tales of the dragon's hoard, we hoped to steal a little of it without his noticing. Some of us even succeeded in doing so, only to find ourselves trapped in the caves."

1. Fred asked if he might meet the Princess.
2. The dragon came into view over the mountain wall. Fortunately by now the three had reached the shelter of the trees.
3. The dragon came into view over the mountain wall. The three had not quite reached the shelter of the trees.

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