Sabine jolted upon the bolt striking. Fortunately, it was only in surprise. Sabine's surprise was only compounded by what the dragon said. She had no idea that the one she fought had been so close to Alduin. It gave some explanation as to its wish to fight the Dragonborn.

Then it lunged. "No!" Sabine released her ice spear on reflex into the roof of the dragon's open mouth.

Sabine had heard the story of how Janius and Kaleeth killed Leaps' mother and she figured the underside of the skull could be similarly thin on a dragon. Even then, if it glanced, the deadly cold icicle would go right down its throat.