222 Negotiation

A silent pause settled in the air.

The dragon's gnarly and scarred finger was pointed to Tia, and with it, he also pointed a permanent scowl. His overpowering presence emanated strongly, surges of his magical energy flaring. Sindra and Cicero were in equal amounts of worry at this standoff, and they looked between dragon and guildmaster with tense stares.

"Excuse me?" said Li, his words strangely calm. "Could you repeat that? Just so I know I have not misheard?"

"Her. Hand her over," growled the dragon.

"I see," said Li. He nodded slowly, not in agreement, but in disbelief. He loosed a light laugh, and Sindra's eyes widened because she knew that for him to laugh was a rare sight.