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Back Copper Chain Save as PDF
Chapters (62)
  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright Page
  3. Dedication
  4. CONTENTS
  5. MAP
  6. 1
  7. 2
  8. 3
  9. 4
  10. 5
  11. 6
  12. 7
  13. 8
  14. 9
  15. 10
  16. 11
  17. 12
  18. 13
  19. 14
  20. 15
  21. 16
  22. 17
  23. 18
  24. 19
  25. 20
  26. 21
  27. 22
  28. 23
  29. 24
  30. 25
  31. 26
  32. 27
  33. 28
  34. 29
  35. 30
  36. 31
  37. 32
  38. 33
  39. 34
  40. 35
  41. 36
  42. 37
  43. 38
  44. 39
  45. 40
  46. 41
  47. 42
  48. 43
  49. 44
  50. 45
  51. 46
  52. 47
  53. 48
  54. 49
  55. 50
  56. 51
  57. 52
  58. 53
  59. 54
  60. 55
  61. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  62. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

‘A carefully planned raid. We take the dragons we have to Sindara, arriving in the dead of night. We collar and capture as many as we can before returning and chaining them.’

Palemon shook his head. ‘There’s so much that can go wrong.’

‘There is no other way.’

‘How far is Cape Cush?’

‘With soldiers and slaves . . .’ Zara replied. ‘No more than a few days’ travel.’

‘This Arch of Nisos? You still have no idea what it might do?’ Palemon asked.

‘None.’

His scowled, but he finally nodded. ‘Six dragons are not enough to achieve our goals. If we can get more chains from Aleuthea then we can bend more beasts to our will. Your magi are ready?’

‘They are, sire. All we need is the order.’

‘Then tell Kyphos to prepare for our departure.’

42

42

The day after visiting the palace, Chloe sat in a corner of The Trader’s Rest, staring into the dregs of her tea. She heard a voice call her name and looked up to see Cob approaching. He glanced around before seating himself opposite her.

‘Where have you been?’ Chloe asked.

‘Exploring. Talking to people. Learning. Aren’t you supposed to be with Finn?’

Chloe explained what had happened, telling Cob about Dion’s quest for revenge and her almost being seen by the sorceress. ‘And so Finn thinks it best I don’t go back with him.’

‘He has the right of it,’ Cob said. ‘He’s there now? At the palace?’

Chloe nodded. ‘He’s hired a real scribe. He’ll simply say that he finally found a man.’

‘Fair enough.’ Cob sighed. ‘So the poor lad’s not as broken as he appears.’

‘He’s vengeful,’ she said. ‘I’m worried that he’ll do something that will get him killed.’

Cob rubbed at the wrinkles on his forehead before sighing again. ‘Chained as he is, I can’t see a way to free him. You think Palemon would ransom him?’

‘Not for gold. For ships, maybe.’

He shook his head. ‘Dion would die rather than give up the fleet he’s built.’

‘I know,’ Chloe said sadly.

‘Listen,’ Cob said. ‘While you and Finn have been busy . . . I think I might know where your friend is.’

Chloe looked up sharply.

‘People talk,’ Cob said with a shrug. ‘They’re keeping dragons in that tower, somewhere in a vault underneath. Meanwhile anyone with odd-colored eyes gets rounded up and is never seen again. When you put the two together . . .’

Finn entered the tavern. Scanning the room, he finally saw Cob and Chloe and hurried over. ‘I have news.’

‘Is it Dion?’ Chloe asked. ‘Is he all right?’

‘Just as you last saw him. Didn’t meet my eyes, not once.’

‘What is it?’ Cob asked.