A rude awakening the next morning

Content with the day's pursuits, you went to sleep.

You dreamt of a human figure standing in the opening light of your cave, armored and holding the shadow of a sword.

You awoke with a start.

It was no dream. Your body froze, involuntarily pressing against the cool stones of the wall you had slept against. The knight--tall, armored, and the classical picture of a human noble--continued to step forward with a sword in hand. His left hand hung below his belt, holding a bulky red gem that pulsed as he approached.

In the corner of your vision you saw another red pulse - the golden circlet you looted yesterday.

"Drake," he said, pointing his sword in your direction. He continued to step forward, yet more gingerly. "Did you not think I would find the thief of such an artifact? Magicwork of that degree?"

You blinked at him.

"But of course," he muttered. "Just a naive drake. You know nothing of what I speak." He lowered his sword for a moment before raising it back in your direction with a steely expression.

"Naive or not, thieves should be punished. No matter what manner of illustrious creature they are." Your heart raced as he stepped forward again, but despite your anxiety you could tell that there was more hesitation in his approach.

"I know you can understand me. The Princess ensures that her guard are well-learned about your kind. She has taken a special interest in the activity of dragons in this area, no doubt spurred by that archmage..." He said the last word with an air of annoyance.

To your surprise, an growl emerged in your throat when he stepped ever closer, but you became quickly conscious that it may have sounded like nothing but a squeak. "You wounded good men when you attacked my caravan. To think that such a small creature could do so much damage, so quickly... Yet, they say you can be reasoned with."

The gem pulsed twice as quickly as before now, joined by the adjacent flashing of the circlet. He glanced at it. "You know I cannot leave without this. I will be leaving with it. But I have another offer for you."

He pulled out of his belt a small scroll, unfurling the page in your direction. Alongside human text, you could make out a crude drawing of a purple dragon, small and humanoid like yourself. "I believe one of your siblings stalks these same rocks. The Princess has implored our caravan to find him and bring him to her. We have no illusions that this request will ever be fulfilled. To chase dragons, no matter how small is folly..."

You vaguely remembered such a sibling. He was one among many, but he stood out for his slender features, which earned him equal derision and prominence in your clutch.

The knight looked at you with a predatory air. "But to have one fall into your lap..."

Placing his sword on the ground, he acquired a surprisingly large chicken leg from a small back on his belt. Your stomach, long deprived, immediately made itself known. "Come with us to Arelden, to the Princess's castle. Then we will have no need for any ****. No need to search for your brother. And her pleasure will no doubt see you rewarded, pampered... if only you knew her everlasting fixation for your species."

You stared at him, standing several feet away from you and halfway to the mouth of the cave. What options did you have? Your brain desperately searched for a plan to save yourself, calculating the distance to the entrance and the steep drop that so quickly flanked the cavern opening. Perhaps there was an opportunity there...

And yet... your attempt at playing at being a mature dragon had not been as fulfilling as you had expected. And perhaps there was value in diverting the humans' attention from your siblings, who themselves had a better chance at braving this world.