Then, without making the slightest sound, the three of them ducked behind a large rock near the entrance to the chamber.
They crouched down behind it, shielded from the dragon's line of sight, and for a moment simply watched in silence, holding their breath.
Mark peeked his head out just enough to size up the situation, then pulled back out of sight.
The beast still lay in the center of the cavern, rising and falling with the rhythm of its breathing, showing no sign it had noticed them.
"Alice, come here," he whispered, waving her over.
"What is it, my lord?"
"I need to ask you something, and I want you to be completely honest with me."
"Okay…?"
"Do you think you could take the dragon out in a single hit? Or at least, quick and clean… you know, without wrecking half the cavern in the process."
Alice frowned, thinking it over.
She peeked out for a moment to size up the beast, gauging distances and angles, then ducked back behind the rock.
