He wasn't sure he wanted to face a dark dragon. Not yet. Eventually certainly he would, if only to understand better where he stands on a planetary scale of risk and thus if it's missions he can handle alone or if he would reluctantly require backup. "Or at least if we must that it will be once we've regained our strength, or have the dragon's to draw on."

Right now it probably wouldn't go well. He was inevitably in possession of all his skills, but without the power to back it up it might not go well.

Some of this story had been shared before. Prying for details had never been necessary and seemed like it would be particularly cruel. "There is no harm in listening. They may speak, but you don't have to agree. Keep your own counsel, and merely accept them as another voice amongst many associates."

Maybe he'd rate higher than a dragon in her consideration. Maybe he wouldn't. But being able to firmly categorize something like that might help. They didn't have to obey. Right?

But there's his own hesitation, and it's obvious, when she asks in turn about his own. It's uncomfortable for a different reason. "She.." And why at least would be quickly apparent. "She sounds like what .. I always thought my mother might have sounded like."

A boy his age shouldn't be thinking about mommy. "I can't say she's ill intentioned, little she's suggested is dangerous."