The world erupted in chaos. Jim peppered the wyrm with his metal discs, the long, slender neck suddenly spurting blood from a dozen little wounds. Then the tiefling run forward with a fearsome battle-cry, the blade of his weapon circled by black and crimson flames. I struck, struck again, four times altogether. I severed one of the dragon’s horns and left a hideous wound on her face, claiming one of the eyes.

Nightscale screamed and writhed, backing into the water as fast as she could, submerging into the depths. The moment when her head disappeared under the waves, a ball of flames slammed into the lake’s surface.

“Damn,” cursed Beldrak.

But we had no time to commiserate about his slowness because the world suddenly went black. First, I thought my magical candle gave out at last, but Jim cried:

“Crap I cannot see a thing.” It’s not just me then.

I started towards the lake, and that was when the acid hit me. I ducked, desperately fumbling for the bucket of slaked lime I brought with myself but couldn’t find it in the dark. My fingers did touch the surface of the lake though, and water was still better than nothing, so I sprang and sunk under the waves.

My face burnt, my arm burnt, and I could hear the angry sizzle as the dragon’s spit dissolved the skin and meat of my right ear. The cold water eased my pain somewhat but did not entirely stop the stuff from burning holes into my skin. At least my eyes seemed untouched – I instinctively closed them when the first drops of acid started to burn my hand, and the stream reached my face as last.

I was wholly submerged now and heard Jim screaming and cursing on the bank. I hoped he had more luck in finding his bucket of slaked lime to ease his suffering. I had no reason to go back now. Most of the damage already done, the rest of the acid was washed away by the water.

I opened my eyes as I walked forward. My candle worked just as well underwater, its tiny flame not even quivering, so I could see again. On the other hand, my air was already running out, my lungs started to hurt, and I felt the pressure for fresh air building up in my chest. I fumbled, and the fingers of my shield-hand closed around the potion of water breathing. I downed it, not a moment too soon.

What should I do now? I could go back to Jim and Beldrak to come up with a new plan after our failed ambush. Bad idea, we don’t want to bunch up, so she can nail us all with one stream of acid. I could circle around in the lake in the hope of glimpsing Nightscale and finishing her off. Not happening, she will see me coming from thousand miles thanks to this blasted candle. Could I bait her once again? Lure her out, so Beldrak can finish her off with a spell? She must be half-dead from all the wounds we caused. One more hit could easily kill her.

I knew approximately where I was, and I remembered seeing the dark mass of an island not far from the bank. I also thought to glimpse a few sparkles of gold and silver as the rays of my candle’s light brushed against that piece of land. Maybe that was where Nightscale kept her hoard?

There was only one way to find out. I sheathed my sword and took a javelin in hand, I would make better use of that now. I walked and walked, often turning my head to see in all directions, but Nightscale remained invisible. Maybe she was stalking me, perhaps she was occupied with my comrades. I had no way of knowing.

The bed of the lake gently slanted upwards now, then became steep, and soon I was standing on the ground again. My candle’s light was reflected by orderly towers of gold, small heaps of silver, and a few fiery gems.

“Nightscale,” I roared. “You cowardly worm! I will take your hoard for myself! Show your ugly face, and fight for your gold dammit! Or I will carry it away coin by coin, right under your nose!”

There was no response, just the echoes. I went on, spouting ridiculous threats, meaningless insults, and meanwhile, I scanned, scanned the surface to catch the moment when the black snout broke the surface, to hit the dragon with my javelin before she could kill me.

I never saw her emerge, just felt the stream of acid embracing me again, heard as a ball of fire whizzed towards the island from Beldrak’s direction, then my face hit the water and everything went dark.

Jim woke me, as it already happened so often after battles.

“Did Beldrak get her?” I croaked.

“No, she disappeared too fast,” the tiefling shook his head. “We haven’t seen her since, but she is not dead. There is a swarm of insects that she set on us when Beldrak uncovered our position.” Right, you need no light, so she doesn’t see you before you see her. That means I have to stay the bait.

“Do you know what happened to the slaked lime?”

“Your bucket and Beldrak’s still stands there where we left them.”

“I will go back. If I can bait her again, and wash myself off right after she attacks…”

“I think you would be grievously wounded either way again.”

“As long as I live, you can heal me later. But this time, if I am close enough to him, maybe Beldrak will be able to finish the wyrm off.”

“You will run out of luck sooner or later,” he warned me. Then he sighed. “But better you than me. I will stay here, hide, and ambush her when she comes back to check up on her hoard. If you fail, I will be here to avenge you.”

“Good luck.”

“And good hunting to you.”

I submerged into the dark water again. Impenetrable night surrounded me, my small circle of light a tiny bubble in this hostile universe. I sauntered, the unusual resistance of the water sapping my strength. Also, the whole of my body was still burning. Jim restored the functionality of my body, but he did not heal my smaller wounds, and those were all over my body, aching and screaming as I strained against the cold depths.

My mind was playing tricks on me now, painting shadows, shapes and dangers where there was none. I jerked and ducked every time a colder or warmer stream touched me, dreading the eventual moment when it was going to be acid.

A black form hovered on the periphery of my sight. It slowly, slowly inched away from me, disappearing into the darkness again. A phantasm? A fish? I turned, took a step, and it was the dragon, trying to slip past me, getting into my back, but now, discovered, she flailed desperately, her body twisting, her mouth opening towards me, and then my javelin went through her good eye, pushed into her brain, she jerked once more, then went still.

My muscles ached as I walked, my wounds burned, and my back hurt under the weight of the spoils of victory. I saw only in a small circle of light, vast, unending night surrounding it. Little streams chattered; the river roared with laughter. Stalactites and stalagmites waved me goodbye as good acquaintances. The sound of falling drops was familiar and beautiful. It was cold, dark and wet down in the mountain’s belly, but I didn’t mind and didn’t fear it. After all, there was no dragon lurking among the shadows anymore.