Chapter 26

"And the award for most delightful person of the year goes to..." Seth said. Ale laughed, and sheer relief made Seth and the blond woman join in. He took a sword from the ground and walked over to cut the ropes still hobbling the captives' feet.

"What's your name?" he asked the blond woman as he carefully sliced through the ropes.

"Elizabeth, Beth," she replied, rubbing her ankles. There was rope burn on her wrists and hands, but otherwise she seemed unharmed. "Thank you for rescuing us."

"No problem. Thanks for pointing out the warhammer. You probably saved our skins."

She smiled. "Well, then that makes us almost even."

Seth moved to cut the ropes on the boy's feet, but the boy shrank away. The dragon crouched down to his level and looked him in the eye. "If I was going to hurt you, I wouldn't have had to fight those m