Without a word, Cedric stood up, picked up a stone from the ground and hurled it with all his might towards the cliff. Contrary to the dragon’s expectations, the stone did not strike the rock face, but slowed just before it and bounced off slightly, causing ripples in the air. The light began to refract gently on the cliff face, like ripples on a calm, mirror-like surface of water. The ripples spread further and further out, but very quickly vanished from view. The reptile was certain that from a greater distance he would not have noticed this intriguing phenomenon at all. He did, however, notice that the disturbance did not extend everywhere.
‘I suppose that answer will have to do.’ Retfield turned away and began studying the map once more.
Draco looked around, realising that only the goblin was still paying him any attention. The short lad’s nervous twitch betrayed his uncertainty about what to do with himself. The dragon glanced at the wall once more, picked up a larger stone and hurled it towards the cliff himself, but this time aiming for a section of the cliff face in a crevice. The impact against the rock echoed off the walls of the chasm.
‘It should work further down.’ Draco looked at Cedric, who didn’t seem particularly pleased.
The commander pressed his lips together more tightly and looked at the spot where the stone thrown by the dragon had bounced off. Indeed, below the Crater’s ground level, the rock appeared to lack a protective layer. Retfield thought for a moment in the fallen silence, then turned his gaze to the goblin.
‘Can you manage to make a ledge like that? Across the whole width?’ He pointed at the crevice and to the other side.
‘It… it… depends.’ The goblin clearly didn’t feel very comfortable with everyone’s eyes on him.
‘On what?’ Cedric pressed.
‘Well... It depends on how we get down and how we get out on the other side. I… I can’t do it on my own.’ His green, slightly pointed ears drooped in embarrassment. ‘And… on the way…’
