Well, that was disappointing, none of the children wanted to step forward. The hermit sighed, but decided he would have a word with each of them before they would be off. 

Meria's mouth lifted into an amused smile. "You have nothing on your face, but I did feel the desire to douse you. It's nothing personal," she assured him. When she heard the dwarf speak, she turned her attention to him. "I do have better things to do than travel with you," she agreed. 

Mikhal remained quiet. He definitly wanted to help, but he wouldn't be able to decide who he would help unless all the plans were made. The only thing he knew for sure was that he wouldn't assist in any assassination. 
 
A roar sounded and the Hermit looked up. A big, orange dragon flew towards them. Trevor heard the roar too and narrowed his eyes, his hand moved to his sword, but he relaxed when he recognised the dragon as the same dragon he had met on the ledge. 

The dragon landed and looked at all the dragons that had gathered. "I didn't expect so many dragons to still be here," he rumbled in the human language. "Most I know have fled to the Sanctuary." He lay down on the grass, his eyes resting briefly on Trevor before he looked at the Hermit. "I decided not to go there after all. It's time I find a volcano where I can rest."

There was saddness in the eyes of the Hermit when the dragon said that, but he nodded. "You are old, my friend. We all must die one day, but maybe you have enough strength left in your wings to help these people. They want to go against the king who has been killing dragonriders and dragons."

[hr]

General Doruk seemed far from pleased, but he nodded. "I got the news Trevor refused. We could have used his skill and I hoped he would join our side. But now that he is not, he is a threat. Kill him. And mark all the dragon sightings on a map. The King will want to know about it."
He gestured to a large map on the wall, where several flags in different colours marked things only the general knew. The dragon pins were purple flags with a small dragonhead on them.