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He peered down, but the ground was a long, long way off The dwarf shifted uneasily Fine snowflakes were falling fro on his hat

The wind blew over the rocks, filling the night with groaning and sighing Nettlebrand liked that He loved the cold; itand snuffling with the weight of his ar deep into the newly fallen snow

"That runted as the white peaks came slowly closer "I knew he’d never dare betrayfool like you, dwarf"

Gravelbeard frowned, secretly e dragon, hauling hi to eat him He’s too impertinent for an armor-cleaner I’ll keep you to do the job instead"

"What?" Gravelbeard sat upright in horror "What did you say?"

Nettlebrand uttered a horrible laugh "You can go on being my armor-cleaner, that’s what I said Now shut up I have to concentrate on the hunt Aha!" Licking his lips, he rarip "They’re so close now, so close at last I’eons"

The furious Gravelbeard clung to one of the dragon’s horns "But I don’t want to be your armor-cleaner anymore!" he shouted in Nettlebrand’s ear "I wantfor stones"

"Oh, nonsense!" Nettlebrand gave a ue, or I’ll eat you before I eat the hoet another ar "Where is it?" he asked, putting his head back "Can’t be much farther now, can it?"

Gravelbeard sniveled His horny fists were clenched in anger "You promised me!" he shouted into the icy wind "You promised!"

"Where -- is -- it?" bellowed Nettlebrand "Show me, armor-cleaner, or do you want me to eat you here and now?"

"There!" Gravelbeard raised a tre in that big hollow"

"Good," growled Nettlebrand, snarling as he made his way up the last fewhis beard in fury If he wasn’t going to get his reward after all, he had no intention of ever cleaning Nettlebrand’s aran sliding down Nettlebrand’s neck, using all the skill he had learned froainst the slab of stone that stood between him and his prey, the armor-cleaner jumped down into the snow And when the stone slab slid aside and Nettlebrand forced his way into the tunnel, Gravelbeard scurried silently along behind him -- on his oo feet and at a safe distance Not to watch the dragon hunt, no He just wanted to be back in that wonderful cavern

52 Nettlebrand’s End

Sorrel ran She ran back along the endless tunnel "He’s co!" Swift as an arrow, she shot into the cave, ran straight over to Firedrake, and hauled herself up by his tail Ben was already on the dragon’s back with Twigleg perched on his lap, the way they had ridden on so hts of their journey Burr-Burr-Chan sat astride Maia, crouching between two of the she-dragon’s crest spines