Ascent

The flame raged on completely obscuring the figure of Kespin. Balar frowned as the Jotun questioned him and shook his head.

"If we interfere now we risk the dragons wrath and we are in no shape to battle this creature." The grizzled warrior held up his weapon, a trench shovel for emphasis.

The heat was becoming unbearable even with Kespins shield. They needed to get out of the way.

"Into the lake!" He cried out to the others, he led the way charging into the cold shallows. Even as the water seeped through to his skin the heat of the flame stopped. Beyond the lake it still raged but here in the water it held no power. What was more Balar felt strength and life returning to his tired limbs.

He looked down at his hands, they were cut and bruised from digging his wife's grave. He watched them becoming whole once more, the skin mending before his eyes. The bruises fading. Of course...Hvergelmir the life giver.

"Get into the water he cried out to the others."

After a time the flames died down and to Balars surprise Kespin still stood he was swaying and crispy around the edges.. he was also completely naked. His clothes burned away by the fire.

"GOOD." boomed the voice of the Dragon, "YOU HAVE DEFIED THE HEAT OF MY FLAME OLD MAN, NOW YOU MUST BREAK THE GRIP OF MY CLAW."

And with that the Dragon launched forward its wings spread wide and snatched up Kespin in its mighty grasp. With a heavy beat of its wings the Dragon began to rise higher and higher into the frozen air.