Il est vrai que le dragon est réticent à se déplacer sous le silence. Nerveusement, il pousse son nez dans les doigts du chevalier, cherchant inconsciemment du réconfort. La femme était-elle en fait une sorcière? Son propre compte impliquait un mal bien plus grand. Serait - il sûr de rester aux côtés d'une femme possédée? Mais alors, pourrait-il se fier à la parole des prêtres chrétiens en premier lieu?
S'il n'y avait rien d'autre, il était content qu'ils aient trouvé une langue commune. Marduk s'éloigna de la main de Hayate et se leva – ses yeux se détournèrent légèrement du chevalier, ses oreilles se redressant un peu. Il était gêné! Cependant, le dragon s'interjectait dans la conversation plus large en se débarrassant de la gorge et en invoquant son courage. Ce n'est pas à nous de juger. Elle peut être aussi facilement bénie que maudite. Comme c'est le cas, même si elle est malade, sa volonté semble rester intacte. Elle n'est pas... dangereuse, pas plus qu'un chevalier avec son épée. Si elle abuse de son don et l'utilise pour le mal, alors Allah la jugera quand c'est son temps.
Il soupire, alors, quand Mardochée lui-même semble l'absoudre de sorcellerie. Il... n'est vraiment pas sûr de quoi penser. Ayant acquis un certain degré de confiance, cependant, il s'adresse à Hayate. Quant à vous, je ne sais pas quoi penser. Vous avez interrompu ma prière avec une menace très grave, et maintenant vous agissez comme si rien n'était arrivé. A quoi pensiez-vous? Qu'espérez-vous accomplir? Vous seriez emprisonné si vous aviez été vu, ou avec des croisés franj comme vous assiégez la ville elle-même, peut-être tué à vue. En fait, vous violez toujours les lois du pays. Dhimma ne peut pas s'armer comme vous l'avez fait! » Ici, Mardochée gagne aussi un coup d'œil. Il n'avait pas manqué cet arc! Il est un peu difficile à dire de son ton, cependant, qu'il soit en colère ou préoccupé. Franchement, il n'est pas sûr. Peut-être un peu des deux.
Name: Marduk (“Bel”, “Baalam”)
Sex: Male
Race: Arabian Blue 
Personality: Marduk is easygoing, submissive, and rather apt to rely in the present figure of authority. He is not lazy, but he has never had to, say, feed himself or make important decisions.
Appearance:

Standing 5’ at the withers and easily between 6 and 7’ at the top of his snout, Marduk is a looming figure in the crowded streets of Jerusalem. Yet, he is nevertheless somewhat smaller than many other dragons of his species, and slighter of build.
His hide, smooth and lacking scales, is a ‘bole’ shade of brown, though lighter along his belly and broken up with a pattern of broad stripes that are lighter still. Markings on his face of the same color as his belly lie above his eyes.
The dragon’s claws are broad and triangular, better suited for digging and for maintaining traction on rocky ground than for cutting – they are not designed as weapons, although doubtless they might be used as such if he were desperate. The short, stunted horns on his head are certainly for display only – there is little practicality in the notion that he might be able to injure something with them.
Skills: Does obedience count? Marduk has had no opportunity to acquire a hobby or trade. He has however spent his life as a mount and on occasion draft animal, and thus is at least capable of carrying things. Or people.
Equipment: None; no earthly possessions.
Background: There is frankly not a lot to tell of Marduk’s background. He was raised by a dragon breeder in one of Jerusalem’s peripheral villages – he is frankly not sure of the name, only that he would know it when he saw it. It was a simple life in which his primary activity was existing. There were other dragons, of course, and he had never been lonely!
During his youth he received obedience training, and reinforcement of that has continued throughout his entire life. In his adolescence, too, he was acclimated to the trappings of a working animal: A saddle, a bit and bridle, reigns… it was humiliating, at first, but he soon got used to it. When he had demonstrated acceptance of being ridden, he was taken to market in Jerusalem and sold to an affluent Seljuk merchant.
His master was kind to him, and after a time Marduk became more or less one of the family. He was taught Arabic and introduced to the Moslem faith. But he has as well been expected to do his share of work; when he is not carrying his master, he is often rented for labor to help pay for his upkeep. A dragon is after all not cheap to feed!