Home is a Treasure Beyond Price

"In what had to be the stupidest decision he'd ever made in a lifetime of making stupid decisions, he resolved to follow the dragon into her lair.
The cave mouth yawned, dark and forbidding before him. He stared at it, willing himself to take the first step. <Well? Come on, tribute.> the dragon said. He was so stupid, he thought, as he hobbled into the cave mouth. So, so stupid."