To Fight a Dragon (1)

"I don't like it," Snowcloud said, shooting a worried look at the sleeping dragon. "It's too dangerous."

"I don't like it either," Arran replied truthfully, "but we're not exactly spoiled for choice, and if Crassus is right, time is running short."

Snowcloud sighed deeply. "We could at least wait until nightfall. At least then, it won't be able to see you."

Arran shook his head. "It's another eight hours before the sun goes down. By then, the dragon will be even stronger. Every hour we wait is another hour it has to recover."

Snowcloud hesitated briefly, but then, she gave Arran a reluctant nod. "All right. Just… be careful. This isn't the fight we planned for."

Arran knew that all too well, of course. They had expected there would be at least another week before they had to face the dragon, with plenty of time to plan and prepare. And in their original plans, they would attack in the dead of night, using their Sense and Arran's Shadowsight to gain an advantage over the beast.