Ash and Alibis V

First he said they must be cautious.
Then he said the time was not right.
Then he said his spirit had been battered by years of mistreatment and no one there truly understood what this cost him.
Then he suggested that if one of them struck the first blow, he could guide the battle from behind.

He sighed and whispered, “Oh, I’m dizzy!” 

Someone asked him what was the matter. He frowned deeply and said, “I feel unsupported.”

Then he accused them, yes, there before the dragon itself, of forcing him into a position he had never agreed to, though the whole quest had existed because he would not stop moaning about it.

There it was. The whole rotten jewel, held up to the light.

Not bravery. Not pain. Not bad luck. Not misunderstanding.

Entitlement.

He wanted their swords, their coin, their sleep, their strength, their loyalty, their compassion, their labour, and if possible, their blood.

Once the beast lay dead, he wanted the story too.