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Contents ( 50)
  1. CONTENTS
  2. PROLOGUE
  3. CHAPTER ONE
  4. CHAPTER TWO
  5. CHAPTER THREE
  6. CHAPTER FOUR
  7. CHAPTER FIVE
  8. CHAPTER SIX
  9. CHAPTER SEVEN
  10. CHAPTER EIGHT
  11. CHAPTER NINE
  12. CHAPTER TEN
  13. CHAPTER ELEVEN
  14. CHAPTER TWELVE
  15. CHAPTER THIRTEEN
  16. CHAPTER FOURTEEN
  17. CHAPTER FIFTEEN
  18. CHAPTER SIXTEEN
  19. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
  20. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
  21. CHAPTER NINETEEN
  22. CHAPTER TWENTY
  23. CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
  24. CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
  25. CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
  26. CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
  27. CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
  28. CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
  29. CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
  30. CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
  31. CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
  32. CHAPTER THIRTY
  33. CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
  34. CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
  35. CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
  36. CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
  37. CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
  38. CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
  39. CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
  40. CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
  41. CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
  42. CHAPTER FORTY
  43. CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
  44. CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
  45. CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
  46. CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
  47. EPILOGUE
  48. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
  49. Also by Liz Flanagan:
  50. COPYRIGHT

‘We can sleep in a different cave, and we’d better have another plan in reserve,’ Joe said slowly. ‘Wait for me here. I’ll bring some of the gold – in case we need to persuade anyone.’

Leaving the others, Joe took Ren and went back to the cave where he’d found her egg. As soon as he was alone with his dragon, the sadness came rushing back. Prrrtt? Ren asked, sensing his distress. She kept very close to him, her claws clicking on the rocky tunnel as they walked.

As long as he was busy, Joe had managed to keep his grief at a distance, but now it returned, heavier than ever. Tears pricked at his eyes. Even if he was successful and man­aged to rescue Tarya, his father would never know. If he got his revenge and the Brotherhood were destroyed, his father would never know. For the rest of his life, Joe would do 240things and Nestan would never know. For a moment, he wanted to lie down right there and never move again. Only Ren’s constant presence kept him going.

They reached the egg cave.

‘See this? This is where I found you,’ he told her, going inside.

She walked in, looking around her with interest, and sniffed the box that had held her egg and Fidell’s.

‘And see this?’ He opened the casket. ‘This helps buy our victory.’ He filled his pockets with the gold.

Back in the large cavern, Joe divided the gold between them. ‘Keep it hidden from Yannic. Use it however you need. I trust you.’

Then Winter, Tiago, Amina and Flavia said goodbye to their dragons and left them behind with Conor and Joe. They set off for the outside world, each with their job to do.

241

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Joe and Conor spent a busy day looking after the six dragons. It was awkward at first. They were polite and stiff with each other as they fed the dragons and spoke to them.

‘Conor, I am sorry.’ Joe realised he had to break the tension. ‘Can I try to explain?’

Conor had his back to him, bending over to cut meat for the dragons. He tensed, and paused at his task.

‘I know I should’ve sent a message. My parents …’ Joe swallowed hard and struggled on. ‘They showed me I was wrong, but at the time, I really did think you were all better off without me. What I did on Hatching Day …’ He took another breath. ‘I was out of control. I had to be sure it wouldn’t happen again, maybe worse next time. I … I hated myself. And I thought you must too.’

‘Idiot,’ Conor said. He put his knife down, dipped his hands in the stream and turned to Joe, blinking hard. ‘As if! We missed you. But I’m glad you told me. Come here!’ 242

They stood up and hugged quickly, while their dragons squeaked and growled in relief.