“Well, look who’s back,” said Nellus, looking up with a smile as Alex approached the camp. “Been hiding and getting out of the realwork.”

“Something like that,” said Alex, returning the smile. “Though eleven days and nights with a dragon is no easy task.”

“I think I’d rather sort treasure than spend any time with a dragon,” Barnabus said as he stacked wood on the campfire.

“I would say both have been profitable,” answered Alex. “Where are the others?”

“They’ll be along soon,” said Nellus. “Thrang’s had us all working down on the third level for days.”

“The colony was rich, then,” said Alex.

“They were doing well, that much is clear. Took us nearly a week to collect what you see here, and that’s just what came out of the houses.” Barnabus shook his head. “I’m not sure we’ll be able to get Thrang to leave.”

“The Seekerreturns tomorrow and we must leave on it,” said Alex.

“Thrang will argue the point,” said Nellus, taking a seat beside the campfire. “Dwarfs aren’t keen on leaving treasure behind.”

“Perhaps I can help with that,” said Alex, sitting down by Nellus.

“I hope so,” Barnabus said. “Thrang’s been moody since you left.”

“Moody is hardly the word for it,” said Nellus, looking troubled. “Thrang’s temper has gotten steadily worse, and so has young Thrain’s.”

“What do you mean?” Alex asked.

“The look in their eyes,” said Nellus, trying to explain. “It’s a wild, hunted kind of look. I’ve seen it in men who have spent too much time in the wild, or adventurers who have been on one too many adventures.”

“It is true,” Barnabus added. “They are both consumed, I think. The treasure, the loss of their people who lived here—and then you heading off to talk with the dragon. It’s changed Thrang and Thrain. They won’t listen to reason anymore.”

“They will have to listen,” said Alex. “We must leave tomorrow or remain on this island forever.”

“Thrang’s been mumbling something about revenge,” Nellus added. “He’s convinced himself that your dragon friend is to blame for what happened here. Even Arconn can’t talk to him about it.”

“Well, he’ll have to give up any ideas of revenge,” said Alex, feeling more than a little worried. “Even if Thrang were to call all the dwarfs of Thraxon to his aid, I doubt he would do more than inconvenience this dragon.”

“What’s that about revenge?” said Thrang’s voice.

Alex looked up and saw Thrang and Thrain coming around the piles of treasure.

“I said revenge is a dangerous game, and is often more dangerous to those looking for it than to anyone else,” said Alex.

“I see you’ve come back, then,” said Thrang, his voice colder than normal. “I suppose you’ve heard what this dragon has to say about my people. I suppose he told you that their destruction wasn’t his fault at all.”

“No, actually that’s not what he said,” said Alex. “As soon as the others are here, I’ll tell you exactly what he said, if you care to hear it.”

For a moment Thrang didn’t speak or move, but simply stood with a look of mixed rage and fear on his face. Alex could see that Thrang had been worried about him, but he could also see that he had made up his mind about Salinor, and about all dragons for that matter.

“Alex,” said Arconn happily as he walked into camp. “I thought we might have to come looking for you.”

“I said I would be back before the Seekerreturned,” said Alex. “And it looks like you’ve all been busy while I was away.”

“We won’t be leaving on the Seekertomorrow,” said Thrang, his voice tight. “There is far too much treasure to collect still, and I won’t leave the island until we have it all.”

“I’ve never known you to be greedy, Thrang,” said Alex, his tone calm and even.

“Greed has nothing to do with it,” Thrang snapped. “The treasures of this island were gathered by my people. It is my duty, and yours as a signed member of this adventure, to collect it all before we leave.”

Kat moved up beside Arconn, a troubled look on her face. Alex could tell that all of them were worried about Thrang’s mood. And Thrain looked almost as serious as Thrang did.

“Very well,” said Alex after a moment. “Forgive me if I have offended you. Collecting the treasure will not be a problem. We will still be able to leave tomorrow.”

“I don’t see how,” Thrang answered, ignoring Alex’s apology. “We’ve been sorting treasure for nearly two weeks, and we’re not even half done yet.”

“The sorting can wait for another time,” said Alex, trying not to become angry with Thrang. “As before, I can quickly place all of the treasure in my bag. That is, if you trust me to hold it for you.”

“Trust?” Thrang repeated, looking away from Alex. “Once the question of trust would never have come up between us. But now . . .”

“Now that I’ve spoken to a dragon, you’re not sure if you can trust me,” Alex finished for him. “You’ve made up your mind that the dragon is to blame for everything that happened here, and you long for revenge.”

“Revenge is not enough,” shouted Thrang, his face growing red with anger. “How can a single dragon pay for the hundreds of lives it has taken? No, I want the dragon destroyed, so it will never harm another creature.”

“You don’t know what you’re saying,” said Alex, his own temper starting to rise.

“You’ve been enchanted by this dragon,” Thrang went on. “You can’t see what really happened here, and you won’t admit that the dragon is to blame. A fine wizard you’ve become.” Thrang spat on the ground.

“Silence!” Alex commanded in a tone both deeper and stronger than his normal voice would be. The ground beneath them shook, and a dark cloud moved in front of the sun. “You will listen to what I have to say, and then you can decide if I am enchanted.”

Alex looked around at his friends, who were shocked and scared by his sudden command and display of power. He had never spoken so strongly before, and Thrang looked petrified with fear, as if something terrible was about to happen to him.

“Now,” said Alex, regaining control of his emotions. “The dragon that you blame has told me the whole story of what happened here. If you’ll sit down and listen, I will tell it to you.”

Thrang inched forward and slowly sat down, his wide eyes never leaving Alex’s face.

Thrain stood as if he had turned to stone, and he didn’t move until Alex pointed to a chair and told him to sit down.

Slowly, Alex told them what he had learned since they’d arrived on the island. Everyone remained silent as he spoke, though Arconn would often nod his head in understanding. As Alex told the story, he worked some special magic that would help Thrang accept what he was saying. He hoped that Thrang could let go of his anger and hate long enough to see the truth.

When Alex finished the story, he could see that they all had questions for him, but they held back, waiting for Thrang to speak first.

“So, Languinn attacked the dragon while it was still asleep,” said Thrang, his voice almost a whisper.

“Yes,” said Alex. “A good idea, but only if you’re sure you can destroy the dragon before it wakes up.”

“Yes,” Thrang repeated. “And a foolish move if you cannot defeat the dragon.”

“How could you know?” Thrain questioned. “I mean, how could you know how powerful the dragon was until it woke up?”

“It would not really be possible,” said Alex. “And the dragon on this island is not evil. He was here, hidden from the world, trying to stay out of harm’s way.”

“But you could destroy it,” Thrain went on, a hopeful tone in his voice. “I mean, you defeated Slathbog, so you could defeat this dragon as well, couldn’t you?”

“No, I could not,” answered Alex. “I could control him because I know his true name, but if it came to open battle

. . .” Alex trailed off and took a deep breath. “I think if it came to open battle, we would destroy each other, and probably this entire island as well.”