Mounted on your loyal steed Sky, shield, sword and helmet hanging from the saddle alongside saddlebags laden with supplies recommended by the guild you set out on your first solo quest as a Knight. You'd done some practice quests with other parties but because of the special training you'd received by the headmaster and the extra three years of practice, you'd outstripped your comrades greatly. The guild policy was to organize a group for quests like this but in the awkward position of being too far ahead of your peers and not yet experienced enough to work with the veteran adventurers you found your own way. Plus there was more glory and gold to be had that way.
The dragon's lair was said to be in the Fire Mountains so that is where you rode, days across the kingdom from the town you grew up in. The travel was largely without incident, passing by farmers and merchants on the roads until you began to reach the rocky foothills of the Fire Mountains, where the grass starts to dry out and rough granite boulders thrust up through the turf. There are even signs of raging fires passing through the small groves of pines, scarring the trunks up several feet.
There are few people who live here, and few supplies. Adventuring Guild training is to scout the area and meet with the locals before engaging with the target of a quest. But this is balanced by the fact that the reward for princess is much better when they are returned unharmed and unchanged - it's already been at least a week that she has been in the dragon's clutches. You adjust Sky's reigns, mind made up on your next step.