He had no reason to assume she was the Ice Queen he was seeking; none at first, at least.  But, she seemed to imply she had a connection with the beasts that lived on the mountains, of an understanding of what was befalling the world.  And, a strong effort to make it seem as though she simply did not care.  A Druid, perhaps?  Or a Sorcerous maybe.<br/><br/>His smile paled slightly; sadder, brought on for how she seemed to look down upon humans as a whole for the actions of the few.  Lights blessings, he had met the occasional Orc and goblin that he could hold a conversation with; very few, very far between, and rarely raised by their own kind of course.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">"I have only ever traded words with a Dragon once, young miss.  It was a brief conversation, and She made it quite clear I was so far beneath Her that I was not even worth eating.  I count myself lucky to be so insignificant."</span>His tone was dry, a hint of sarcastic humour; he had counted his blessings that day.  He had stumbled across a black dragon, basking in the sickly sunlight in the heart of her swamp, while tracking a band of slavers.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">"I have been sent forth to find and confront the Ice Queen.  A creature of local folklore said to dwell deep in the mountains.  Legend describes her as a decriped, ice burned undead hag.  I have a suspicion, however, that the description in the stories is not quite right."</span>Needless to say, the council of Kings had specifically ordered him to -SLAY- the Ice Queen, but he was an open minded sort.  That was one of the things that set him apart from the average spoiled Noble-child turned Knight.<br/><br/>There was no arrogance in his tone; no over inflated self importance, no shallow belief that he was better then he was, only a hint of loss,<span style="font-weight: bold">"I only wish I had been quicker to react.  My horse, he was a fine companion and did not deserve to be slain by that beast.  I would have driven it off alive if I had been prepared."</span>