Enzo was fed up. He returned home from work with Tobias and wanted to tell Talwen about the hunters, but the dragon had flaked on him again. Now, he sat in the empty cave with the stupid egg. This is such bullshit. How am I supposed to protect the egg if I can’t warn you about the danger?

He kicked a rock against the side wall of the cave. He’d spent the last couple nights aimlessly gathering stones into a pile on the back wall of the cave to practice his fireballs, but never really got around to it. Talwen’s disinterest in his progress had killed his motivation to continue practicing.

The fire danced around the egg, and Enzo sat and watched it for a while. The whole experience here was becoming a lonely drag. Living with Oskar at the barracks, learning how to wield a sword properly, helping Tobias at the forge, that’s what I should be doing right now. He scooped some of the flames into his hands, and watched the magical fire dance.

After a while, he grew bored of playing with the flames and drew his sword. Enzo had tried to remember what sword movements he’d seen the guards use in the training circle near the barracks, but he hadn’t watched long enough for it to make an impression. Instead, he swung the sharp, heavy sword wildly, creating combinations out of his imagination.

Soon, he was shadow sword fighting. Dodging a swipe to the left, and counter thrusting, then jumping quickly to the right and rolling along the floor, just barely missing an overhead swing from another assailant. The flames danced and gave his shadowy opponents form and a level of unpredictability. Enzo slashed at the imaginary combatant’s knee and dropped his foe. He stood again and breathed out heavily, catching his breath.

With the egg as large as it was now, he needed to maintain a bonfire within the cave to keep it completely bathed in heat. What would have felt impossible two weeks ago, now took little effort at all. The flames raged and writhed with his breath, but remained completely under his control.

Between the exertion of his training, and the large fire, the cave was quickly becoming unbearably hot. Enzo exhaled and willed the energy out of the cave front and into the night sky. I really have come a long way in a short time. I don’t need Talwen’s validation, the proof of my progress is right here. He sat down in front of the fire and watched the flames flicker around the egg.

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Clive’s men lined up the shot. He was kicking himself for only bringing two crossbows with the group, but this was supposed to be just a recon mission. Still, it was a perfect opportunity to be rich for the rest of his life and he wasn’t going to pass it up. His other crossbowman had his eyes on the sky, looking for any sign of the absent dragon.

“On my signal,” Clive whispered.

He watched the kid dance around stupidly with the sword, pretending to fight off assailants from all directions. Clive almost felt bad for him - the kid was really just in the wrong place at the wrong time. If he could steal the egg without shooting him, Clive would, but that just wasn’t in the cards. Can’t leave any witnesses if I want a clean getaway. He was already planning out how to sell the egg and disappear with all the coin.

The kid finally stopped swinging and seemed to be taking a break. He’s sweaty and tired by the looks of things, just sit down kid. Give us a clean shot and I promise you a clean death. The kid did just that, and Clive made the call. The crossbowman pulled the trigger and fired the bolt.

For the first fifty paces, the shot was on target. The kid would have no idea, and he’d die with a bolt in the throat. Clive had already begun to creep forward, just in case the shot didn’t kill and he needed to finish the job.

As the bolt moved to pass the entrance of the cave however, it deflected upward and missed the kid entirely. The fuck happened? It's like the shot hit a strong updraft right at the front of the cave and diverted. Clive dove down and tried to hide in the shadows. The kid was startled and jumped up. He grabbed his sword and moved deeper into the cave. Fuck! There goes the sneak attack!

Clive turned back to the men and waved them forward. He bounded to the wall of the cave and hid, waiting for the rest of his team. With half on one side, and half behind him on the other, he waved the group through the entrance of the cave and quietly attacked.

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What the hell was that? Enzo had just sat down to catch his breath when something flew through the cave and smashed into the back wall. He quickly jumped up and drew his sword, before backing up to the back of the cave. Near his pile of rocks sat a bolt from a crossbow.

We’re being attacked! Where’s Talwen! He ducked his head out the back entrance of the cave, to no avail. The dragon had decided to perch somewhere out of sight. He was about to call out for her when he heard a noise at the front of the cave. He dashed back to his pile of rocks and grabbed two, quickly heating them in his right hand. Enzo held the sword clumsily in his left and crouched low.

Whoever the attackers are, they aren’t stupid. Clearly, they’re worried there’s a dragon around and want to keep things quiet. Fat chance I’ll let that happen. The two rocks, now heated and glowing, were ready to become fireballs. With a glance at the front of the cave, he turned out the back opening and hurled one into the air, letting it burst with light across the mountain side. It crashed back down into the waves with a loud hiss, and a cloud of steam.

Enzo felt the motion at the front of the cave before he saw it. Instinctively, he turned and threw the other rock at the mouth of the cave. The explosion pushed back the intruders and momentarily blinded them, giving Enzo the chance to reload and examine his attackers.

The men before him were the hunting party from Starstone. The realization hit him like an angry tidal wave against the cliffs below. They followed me here! I led them back to the cave!