She ran away. Robert reached out and grabbed her and pulled her down. She glared at him, looking humiliated. The half-elf let go. "Please, listen to me, what about the dragon, where is the dragon?"

Puff's eyes widened. "Do you want dragons?"

"No!" shouted Robert. "We don't want dragons, but we want to know if dragons are coming to this part of the city—" He felt Stone's hand resting on his shoulders and decided to give up. "Forget it! He said tiredly. "Keep walking. ”

Puff looked at Rodris sympathetically, sympathizing with the fact that he had to put up with these crazy companions. Then she took Rodrith's hand and walked west down the street, with the other valley dwarves walking behind.

The sound of the waterfall was now deafening, and the group followed worriedly, but the dwarves of the valley seemed unfazed, walking briskly, as close as possible to Rodlis, and conversing in their native language. Slowly, the sound of the waterfall decreased.

The mist continued to surround them, and a heavy pressure loomed through the ruins. Black water flows through the cobblestone streets beneath their feet. Soon the buildings ceased to be seen, and the street led to a wide circular plaza which, judging from the remaining flagpoles, was originally designed to mimic the radiant lines of the sun.

In the middle of the square, another river meets, and the force of the two causes many whirlpools to appear in the center of the square, and then the water flows towards the crumbling buildings to the west.

The only source of light here comes from a hole hundreds of feet high at the top of the cave. They illuminate the fog and shine on the water.

"At the other end of the main square. Puff said.

The group stopped next to the shadowed building. Everybody thought the same: the large square was almost a hundred feet wide, without any shelter, and once you stepped out, there was almost nowhere to hide.

Plop walked forward unconcernedly, until she noticed that no one was following her but the dwarves of the valley. She looked back, annoyed by the delay. "Come—pounce on the king's way. ”

"Look!" Crimson Moon grabbed Robert by the shoulder.

On the other side of the square is a roof supported by tall marble columns. Some of the pillars are tilted, causing the roof to be crooked. Robert saw in the fog that there was a yard behind the pillars. The domed, majestic buildings reveal only dark silhouettes in the mist.

Then the fog obscured them completely. Although they look dilapidated now, they must have been one of the most majestic wonders of the Lone Dragon's lair back then.

"The Royal Palace. Rodris said coughing.

"Shhhhhhh

The fog drifted in front of the pillar again, and for a moment the group couldn't see anything, and then the fog cleared, and everyone ducked back into the shadows, and the dwarves of the valley suddenly stopped, and ran back behind Rodrith in fear.

Puff tugged at Rodlis's sleeve. "The dragon," she said, "do you want it?"

That's the one up ahead.

Her body shone with a pitch-black sheen, her wings folded and folded at her side, and Gises poked her head out from under the crumbling roof and strolled out into the square. Her claws kicked up a puff of dust, and her blood-red eyes stared straight ahead.

Her fluttering hind legs and thick tail were not visible from this angle, as her body was at least thirty feet long. A cowering dragonman walked beside her. The two were clearly discussing something important.

Gissis looked very angry. The news from the dragonmen bothered her - she didn't believe anyone could escape her attack at the well!

The strangers were not only skilled but also extremely brave, and the strangers also carried a brown cane whose characteristics were known to the dragons of the continent of Anselón.

"I don't believe this report! No one has escaped my attack. Gises's voice was very soft, almost coquettish, but the dragonman began to tremble when he heard it. "The crystal staff is not in their hands, or I would have sensed it. How many floors are these intruders up there? Are you sure?"

The dragonman swallowed and nodded. "There is no road down there, noble dragon, except for the elevator. ”

"There must be another passage, you lizardhead. Gisses said disdainfully. "These damn valley dwarves are running around like parasites in the city. The intruders have crystal staffs, and they're trying to find their way down. It only means one thing – they're looking for a platinum disc!

How would they know about this?" she shook her head around, as if to see those who had sabotaged her plans, but the fog grew thicker.

Gises yelled angrily. "Crystal Staff—Damn the Crystal Staff! Fierce Minna should have foreseen this with his ever-boasting priestly abilities, and then we could have destroyed it first.

But he didn't, he just cared about his war, and I had to mold in this damp tomb. Gisses grumbled as she clawed at the ground.

"We can destroy those platinum discs. The dragonman boldly suggested.

"Idiot, do you think we haven't tried?" muttered Chesses. She looked up. "No, it's too dangerous to stay here. If those intruders knew about it, others might know about it too. Platinum discs must be relocated to a safer place. Inform Lord Mammina that I will leave the lair of the Lone Dragon and join him in Parker Takas, and I will take the intruder for interrogation. ”

"'Notice' the king of the fierce min?" the dragonman asked in shock.

"Okay. Gisses replied sarcastically. "If you insist, then 'ask' the grace of my lord Fernana. I think you've already sent most of the soldiers to the upper echelons, right?"

"Yes, Venerable Dragon. The dragonman bowed.

Gises pondered the situation in front of him. "Maybe you're not too stupid," she said, "and having me down there is enough." You just have to concentrate on searching for the upper echelons. When you catch those intruders, bring them straight over. Except for unavoidable attacks, it is not permissible to injure them casually. Be especially careful with the Crystal Staff!"

The dragonman knelt in front of her, the latter's body slowly shrinking back into the darkness she had seen before.

The dragonmen run down the stairs and join the other dragonmen. After a brief exchange of views in their own language, the dragonmen walked to the northern street. They walked easily, talking and laughing, and soon disappeared into the fog.

"They're not worried, are they?" said Stone.

"Of course," Robert nodded solemnly. "They thought they would be able to catch us. ”

"Let's face it, Robert, they're right. Stone said. "There's a big flaw in the plan we're discussing. Even if we don't wake up and get the platinum disc from her lair, we'll have to escape from a city full of dragonmen. ”

"I've asked before, and I can ask it again now," said Robert, "do you have a better plan?"

"I have a better plan," Calamon said graggedly. "I don't mean it, Robert, but everyone knows what elves think about combat. The big man pointed to the palace in front of him. "This is clearly where dragons live. We can lure her out as planned, only this time we're going to fight her instead of sneaking in. Once we've slaughtered the dragon, we'll get the platinum disc. ”

"My dear brother," Rodrith whispered, "your power is in your weapon, not in your brain. As the knight said at the beginning of the journey, Robert was wise. You should learn more from him next time. What do you know about dragons, my dear brother, and you've seen the destructive power of the acid she speaches. Rodrith coughed violently suddenly.

He took a handkerchief out of his sleeve, and Robert saw that the handkerchief was stained with blood.

After a long while, Rodrith continued. "You might be able to dodge that attack, and maybe you can dodge her claws and fangs. You can even dodge the dragon's tail that can break the stone pillars. But my dear brother, why should you resist her magic?

The dragon is the oldest magic user on earth, and she can fool you as I do with these dwarves, and she can put you to sleep with a single word, and then slaughter you while you sleep. ”

"Well," Calamon muttered frustratedly. "I don't know. Damn, who's going to know about these damn creatures!"

"Sorenia has a lot of stories about dragons in its lore," Stone said softly.

Robert realizes that he also wants to fight dragons, and he must be thinking of emulating Shuma, the immaculate knight, aka the dragon slayer.

Plop tugged at Rodlis's robe, "Come on, you go, there's no dragon, there's no boss." She and the other dwarves of the valley began to run around the square.

"How?" said Robert, looking at the two fighters.

"It looks like we don't have any other choice," Stone said unnaturally. "We can't face the enemy, we hide behind the dwarves of the valley! we're going to run into these monsters!" he immediately turned and walked, his waist straight, his beard fluttering in the wind, and his companions following him.

"Maybe we're worrying about nothing," Robert said, scratching his beard, looking back at the palace hidden by the fog. "Maybe it's the only dragon that survived – from the Age of Dreams. ”

Rodrith's lips twitched, "Robert, don't forget about the constellations," he muttered. "It's back after darkness. Remember the legend?' she screamed in hordes of soldiers. According to ancient legends, her soldiers were dragons. She's back into the world, and the dragons are following her. ”

"This way!" pounced as he pulled Rodrith and pointed to a road to the north. "This is home!"

"At least it's drier here," Hubble muttered. They headed north and left the creek. As everyone entered the dilapidated ruins of another area, the fog enveloped everyone. This must be the place where the poorest people in the lair of the Lone Dragon's lair live, even at its most beautiful. Now the buildings here are crumbling. The dwarves of the valley began to run down the street shouting. Stone looked at Robert warily.

"Can you tell them to be quiet. Robert said to Pounce. "That way, the dragonmen—uh—bosses won't notice us. ”

"Whoa!" she shrugged. "There is no boss. They don't come here. Afraid to pounce on the king. ”

Robert had reservations about this, but there was no trace of the dragonmen around. From what he observed, the Dragonmen seemed to live a regular militarized life. On the contrary, the street is full of garbage and dirt. The filthy buildings are filled with valley dwarves.

Men, women, and children in tattered clothes watched curiously as they walked down the street. Pounce and the other enchanted dwarves of the valley huddled next to Rodrith, almost half-pushing him forward.

Dragonmen are undoubtedly wise, Robert thought. They let the slaves have their own place to live - as long as they don't get into trouble. That's a good idea, especially considering that the number of dwarves and drakes in the valley is about ten to one. While the Dwarves of the Valley are very timid in most situations, they can also become formidable enemies when they are pressed.

Plop and the group stopped at the mouth of one of the dirtiest, most dilapidated alleys Robert had ever seen in his life. A foul smell wafted out of it. The dilapidated houses were crammed together like drunken drunkards. As they watched, small black shadows ran out of the alley, and the children of the dwarves of the valley began to chase them.

"Dinner!" one of them shouted, muttering.

"They're rats!" Calamon cried out in fear.

"Do we have to go in?" Ston frowned as he looked at the dilapidated houses.

"The stench alone can choke an ogre to death," Calamon followed. "I'd rather be slaughtered by a dragon than have a dwarf of the valley jump on top of me. ”

Plop pointed to the alley. "Pounce on the King!" she said, gesturing to the dirtiest house inside.

"You stay here, and I'll meet with the Fluttering King. Rodlis said.

"It doesn't matter. The knight frowned and followed the half-elf into the alley. "We're in this group. ”

The alley stretched a few hundred feet to the east, then turned north, and suddenly came to an end. In front of them was a decaying brick wall, and there was no other way. Their retreat had been blocked by many of the dwarves who had followed them.

"Ambush!" Stone lowered his voice and drew his sword. Calamon began to curse under his breath. When the dwarves of the valley saw the flash of their swords, they panicked, and they scrambled each other and fled out of the alley as fast as they could.

Puff looked at Stone and Calamon in disgust. She turned to Rodrith. "You tell them to stop!" she asked, pointing to the two warriors, "or I won't take it with me." ”

"Lay down your sword, knight. "Unless you think you've met an opponent who really deserves to draw your sword." ”

Stone glared at the mage, and for a moment Robert thought he might pounce on the mage, but finally the knight put away his sword. "I wish I knew what the hell you're up to," Stone said coldly.

"Before we knew there was a platinum disc, you were eager to come to this city. Why? What are you looking for?"