A sinking fear tugged at Sabine's jaw muscles. She breathed shallowly.

She poke so quietly that the dragon at first may have had trouble hearing. "Is that all you care about?" Her airy voice lifted slightly higher. "Strength?"

She stepped back several paces, looking up at the dragon's eyes. She was not sure whether the next question to come to mind would end the beast's temper. "But if I defeat you, what will you do after? How will you defeat the Dragonborn?"