Jane's head was resting on Dragon's surprisingly comfortable scales as they lay on the floor of his cave. Dragon was concerned. She and Gunther were to leave for the Quest tomorrow, and she still had no idea what she wanted to do. As far as her research had gotten her, there were no damsels in distress and no nearby villages that were being terrorized by monsters and brigands. Jane stood up and began pacing around the cave.

'Urgh! What am I going to do Dragon?' she growled with frustration. She stopped suddenly and began tracing her finger over the dragon runes carved into the wall of the cave.

'I guess it's not something you've ever had to worry about, Dragon. You've always had a quest to decipher the runes and find other dragons.'

'You're forgetting something Jane,' Dragon replied, 'since we became friends, you have promised we will do it together.'

'Exactly Dragon, together. I can't make the dragon runes my final test. I cannot do that without you.'

Dragon stood awkwardly and shuffled to the back of the cave. His giant rump shook from side to side as he rummaged through assorted debris, looking for something. Finally he found what he was looking for and moved back to Jane, holding in his scaly claw a musty looking piece of paper. He handed it to Jane and began to explain.

'It is a map. I was out scaring cows when a traveller gave it to me. He said something about finding the lost Dragon Relics.'

'Dragon! How long have you had this? Why didn't you tell me this before?' exclaimed Jane.

'I know you have duties in the castle Jane, and I didn't want to get our hopes up.'

'I can't take this away from you Dragon. We will go together one day.'

But Dragon would not give in, and Jane was faced with little choice. She left his cave that afternoon with a heavy heart and a mildewed map in her tunic.

The merchant was doing what he did best, ordering people around, when Gunther turned up at the docks.

'What do you want, boy?' he asked impatiently. He did not have much patience for anybody, least of all his petulant son.

'It's my final test father. It is tomorrow and I still haven't thought of a worthy quest. What if Jane becomes a knight and I do not?'

'You had better pass that test, boy. I have paid far too much money for that girlto best you. But it does not matter. I have a plan,' the merchant snarled, pronouncing the word 'girl' with particular distaste.

Gunther did not know whether to be worried or relieved. His father's plans, while well executed, usually involved something sneaky, shifty or downright illegal. He decided it was best not to ask, bid his father farewell, and left the docks.

As Gunther left, the merchant smiled to himself. Here he had a chance to be rid of the red-headed girl and her mangy pet once and for all.