There was a time for thought and contemplation.

Rurik stepped down into the dungeons, and throat-punched two Civil Gaolers at the same time. As they doubled over, perfectly timed backhand chops to the back of the skull sent them sprawling unconscious. Double stealth takedown, one of the Sacred Maneuvers, one that he had practiced thousands of times on mannequins in preparation for the day where Princess Heron could practice it on him and Injimo.

He tucked a little vial of headache medicine into the hands of both guards for when they woke up. A little twist in the technique from someone who had been on the receiving end of it.

"You wish for there to be no witnesses?" said Sayanastia the Dark Dragon. 
Her chains passed well beyond the suggestive, but that was simply how it was when non-specialists tried to bind the Dark Dragon. Every paladin with an active night life imagined how they might improve on the bindings - spreader bars and muzzles, every finger caged individually in the overlapping magical fields of enchanted rings, feet encased entire in lewdly transparent enchanted ice.

"It is not the first time I have been here," said the Dark Dragon. "Captured and bound, when one of the Hero's companions decides to save Heron the trouble and do away with me quietly. One little sin in the dark to spare her another cycle of pain and blood. But you must know it does not work that way, little fox."
The Heartblade was in his hand. "If I release you, you will rampage."
"Yes," said Sayanastia. 
"You will again attempt to destroy everything in your path," said Rurik. "You will attack Civelia as she recovers. You will kidnap the Faun and use him to draw a destiny of ruin."
"I had paid little heed to Civilia's latest game," said Sayanastia. "She does so love her games. So long as everyone is playing by her rules she does not care overmuch if she loses."
"So you will let him be?"
"Of course not," said Sayanastia. "I am the Dark Dragon, after all. Everything that you imagine about me is true. Go ahead and take my head -" she hummed a moment, "- you will never be less justified in doing so."
"But you have already lost a fight to the Rot Star," said Rurik.
"Perhaps that was part of my plan," said Sayanastia.
"And you have lost fights in general," said Rurik. "You are a shadow of yourself."
"Do not talk yourself out of your act of murder now, little fox," yawned Sayanastia. "I am still the Dark Dragon."
"Yes," said Rurik. "That is why you were cunning enough to raid the Stacks."
"Have I?" said Sayanastia.
"Yes," said Rurik. He undid his backpack and started unpacking. "You stole the Gown of the Blade Dancer that will perfect your amateurish swordplay -"
"Beg pardon."
"The Gauntlet of Pure Springs that will quench the Rot Star's poison heart, which you were too weak to do on your own -"
"What is happening."
"And this dimensional crate hooked up to nine hundred and ninety nine detonation flasks that you will use to create a vast and terrible distraction -"
"I assure you, the attempt at framing me is deeply unnecessary."
"You are kind of stupid, aren't you?" said Rurik, looking up.
Sayanastia attempted to shift her head to get an angle for her breath attack.
"You have a lot going on, which is why it's hard to focus on that specifically," said Rurik. "But you aren't so much thinking as you are referring back to past events. [i]Wake up[/i] and pay attention."
Sayanastia [i]snarled[/i]. 
"That's the spirit!" said Rurik. "Up and at them! Every day is a new day!" He severed one of the intricate array of bonds around Sayanastia's hands. Her talons flexed - and then started scratching at the nearest knots.
It would take a few minutes for her to fully unravel herself. A decent head start.
"You are [i]using [/i]me," hissed Sayanastia.
"You," said Rurik with a smile as he made his way back out through the door, "are [i]useful[/i]."

The ballroom shook as the roar of the Dark Dragon, and the first of 999 detonation flasks, made their voices heard.