"You say the Evil Dragon never killed innocents, but when we came in, we all saw a pile of bones outside the cave."
"Those were my..."
Joan timidly raised her hand. "The Gnolls found those in the Mine Tunnel. I asked them to pile the bones outside to warn the nearby Villagers..."
"A lot of the bones did look old," the Ranger added.
Captain Reyne continued, "Our people found several mine owners who claimed the Evil Dragon had raided them."
"Absolutely not! Illymoyas and I were together almost all the time. She stayed in the cave all day and only went out at night to catch Gno... lls..."
Joan's voice slowed. She sounded less certain. "I don't think she did...?"
Illymoyas had no desire to answer these humans who had come with hostile intentions. But as Annan raised a hand and gently stroked her chin, she gave a reluctant snort. "I have no interest in the Coal they dig up."
Annan's last worry vanished. "I'll vouch for her. She definitely didn't raid any mine owners."
Reyne recalled how those mine owners had demanded tax reductions as soon as they finished complaining about being raided. He had a fair idea of what had happened.
Compared with them, a Blue Dragon seemed more trustworthy.
"So the lord of the Broken Mountains framed you for the village massacre too?" Captain Reyne released his Warhammer.
The Oskulas Mercenary Company wasn't a pack of fools who couldn't tell right from wrong. They were smart enough to know that if a Dragon with others of her kind hadn't done anything evil, picking a fight with her would only invite trouble.
"Uh... Kilian Territory and Poi Village were us..." Joan admitted guiltily.
Captain Reyne gripped his Warhammer again.
"Oh, right. Your Guards told me about it." Annan