A story

There once was a dragon that terrorized the land.
It was a cruel beast, indiscriminately capturing maidens and hoarding treasures that weren't his.
One day, a knight was ordered by his king to put an end to this by slaying the dragon, rescuing the maidens, and a generous portion of the stockpile of pilfered treasure would be his reward for completing the mission.
The knight traveled on horseback to the mountain cave where it was rumored the dragon had been dwelling.
"Come out, vile beast!" shouted the knight into the cave. "I have come to kill you."
The dragon emerged from the cave and faced the knight.
"Why do you wish to kill me, brave knight?" asked the dragon.
"You have brought much suffering to my land, claiming things that weren't yours and storing them for yourself."
"Why does your king not come and face me himself?" asked the dragon.
"It is beneath a king to do the work that belongs to his subjects." said the knight.
"I see." said the dragon, "Very well, then, you may have my head if you can answer me one question. If you fail to answer, I will scorch you with flames, just as I have done to countless others before you."
"What is your question, beast?" asked the knight.
"What makes a man brave?" asked the dragon.
"A man who undertakes a trial selflessly and ignores his own fears." said the knight.
"You have answered correctly." said the dragon. He lowered his head to the ground and the knight cut it off with one blow from his sword.
On returning to the castle, the knight returned the maidens to their homes and presented the head of the dragon to the king.
"You have done well, brave knight." said the king. "I shall give you your reward from the treasure you have recovered."
"I have not recovered the treasure, my king." said the knight. "I have already distributed it among the homes of the poor of your kingdom."
At that, the knight took his sword and killed the king, took his crown, and placed it on his own head. He stood before the fallen king's subjects and said:
"A kingdom without a brave leader is at the mercy of dragons."