Tarak had been caught. He was definitely too careless when it came to being discreet. He thought that remaining silent would eventually solve the problem. Although that would more than likely raise even more questions than answers. So he replied. 

"Dangerous...eh, true. But it's necessary." He pointed to the top of the mountain, where High Hrothgar was located. 

"I've been following the people up there. For...adventuring reasons. Not for dragons. But to become better at magic through experience." There was very little else to explain beyond that. Tarak had actually been unaware of where the group he was following was going at first. He simply followed them because it was the only group he could find at the time. Even then, he would have never expected anyone to have anything to do with dragons in this era. But after being witness to what had happened just prior to him being trapped under the snow, he was having second thoughts on his original idea.