Night fell and they had not yet reached the dragon marchlands; fortunately for Basil, as his companions were growing increasingly anxious at his friend’s failure to materialise out of thin air.
“There is no need to fret,” he assured them rather firmly as he set about making a fire in the midst of their camp. “I have promised we will not be facing the dragon alone, and it was not a promise lightly made.”
“Don’t worry, Basil, we trust you all right,” said Percy, gazing somewhat forlornly at his meagre share of supper. “It’s this other fellow—or fellows, if there be more than one of them, and I hope there are. We don’t know them. We don’t even know anything about them. How exactly do you know they’ll show up when they’re needed?”
“Because I know them,” answered Basil, and he paused to blow on the fire. “I know them quite well, actually. Which should be enough to reassure you, at least, Robin.”
“Certainly,” said Robin shortly. He was intent on his supper and felt they’d had this conversation a sufficient number of times over the past few days. He was not as reassured as Basil hoped, probably, but he was not going to trouble himself with the topic any further.
“I’ll take first watch,” Neville offered, most likely in an effort to change the subject. The five men spoke of nothing more until the morning.