At last, I enter his rooms. The front area is where we eat. There's a large table on one side. A large doorway opens to a medium-sized room that is dedicated to books. I can't read, so I've never asked to look at one. Reading and schooling never seemed important. Every day of my life held one focus: the death of a dragon.

Slowly, I inch my way to his bedroom. I've only ever taken a quick glance inside. He has a large window with an outer ledge so he may shift. It's not the ...