The first thief spat the hidden ruby into his palm. It throbbed with magic.
“The curse has already bound it to your living heart,” observed the dragon. “Let go of it…”
The first thief obeyed, then clutching his chest, collapsed lifeless on top of it. The dragon raised an eyebrow at the second thief. “I was just about to say, ‘…at your peril’. Oh well. You show me the 'Sapphire Balls of Destiny' one last time.”