That scream woke up the dragon and made him open one of his green eyes and look on the entrance to his ancient cave. The voice belonged rather to a man than a women, though its owner was definitely young even by human standards.
“Yours or mine?”
It's been a while since the dragon spoke to anyone and that's why his words sounded more like the thunder, than the actual speech.
“What?”
Either visitor didn't get what the dragon said or just couldn't understand the meaning. Anyway it seemed fair to the dragon to see the man who awoke him.
“I asked” - said the dragon after coming from the cave. - “Are we going to fight to your death or mine?”
The man in front of him was wearing full knight's armor and held sword and shield with right and left hand respectively. His horse was staying far behind him – this would-be dragonslayer didn't even thought about using this animal as a bate for a dragon. Moreover he came to this battle alone – dragon could smell it and that totally answered his question.
“Don't you dare mock me! I've been a knight for ten years! I fought on...”
“Oh, really?”
It was enough for a dragon to blow one time for a knight to fall down after a short flight back on a few meters. At this time the old beast regretted yet again that he did not have the eyebrows to raise them up in the surprise.
“How exactly did you survive ten years on the battlefield, I wonder?”
Empty brawada was usually beneath the dragon. But he remembered the times when brave warriors on their quests to save someone from the dragon or just to kill the dragon were much more smarter. As he grew older, the dragon began to find much more pleasure in killing such warriors rather than simply kidnapping villagers.
Suddenly the knight threw his shield away. Under it appeared to be some strange metal wand, one end of which pointed exactly to the dragon's eyes. Next moment that end burst with explosion, but that was it.
“Stainless dragon” - beast recalled the name of this quite new weapon, which could fire due to the exploding powder called “the dragon's sand”. - “It takes years to learn how to use it, isn't it?”
The knight didn't answer. He desperately tried to reload his gun as fast as possible but didn't succeed in it. Should he continue like that, he'll surly wound either himself or his adversary and the dragon felt more than safe.
“You are already dead”
Dragon's short breath that sparked a small fire near knight's legs. But that only inspired man to grab his sword and attack the beast form a short distance. The dragon simply waved his left paw and the knight fell down in the grass.
“You are dead for the second time”
That wasn't enough for a knight and he tried to rise up but the dragon put his paw above the knight's bode, preventing him from standing up.
“That's third and it can be the last. But not until you tell me why did you come here. Oh, wait...”
The dragon made a strange sound, vaguely reminding human laughter. It appeared that he understood the reason himself.
“So, all the demons, wizards and witches with their servants are gone and you, knights, are free of work now? No one kidnaps anyone, no one tries to take control over kingdom, no one preforms dark magic rituals – and so you have no one to save and no one to slay. So why not come to the dragon's cave, right? Maybe he will burn you, maybe you'll take his head – anyway you will leave your mark on a history and prove that this land still needs knights”
“Don't you dare!” - nevertheless this knight was brave: not many people would open their mouth from under the dragon's claws. - “You think I don't know that you are the one who burnt that village last night?”
“I did not” - dragon replied shortly.
“Why should I believe you?”
“Why would I lie to you? I could have killed you anytime since I heard your calling”
“Who than could burn an entire village in one night?”
The knight was a man of reason even though he still had little reason to believe in dragon's innocence.
“How should I know?” - dragon asked carelessly. - “There are different dragons as well as different people”
“What are you saying?”
The man understood the beast just fine, dragon felt it. His question was a pure denial of the obvious facts: most of the dark magic wielders were human and not the dragons have been corrupted by demons and have preformed forbidden sorcery.
“I'm saying that you already know yourself: man was, is and will always be the most cruel animal of this land”.
For some time they both were silent. Dragon put his paw away from man's chest allowing him to stand up. The beast was curious whether the knight attacks him or not. Either outcome would bring him some sort of pleasure.
“So, what should I do now?” - finally asked young warrior.
“That is hardly a concern of mine” - replied the dragon. - “Attack me and I will burn you where you stand. But if you wish to find out who destroyed that village, I suggest you leave”
“If I find out, that you lied to me beast, I'll return. With more men” - made his final promise the knight.
“I have no doubt. Good luck”
But the knight was quite far already and so couldn't hear dragon's last words but that was probably for the best, as the dragon was lying: he did not believe in luck, good or bad. There was only destiny and the dragon saw, that upon knight's destiny there was a meeting with the evil that destroyed the village last night.
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