Milla groaned, opening bloodshot eyes. ‘There’s no time. Must warn everyone.’

‘Warn them what? What’s happened?’

‘It’s Mount Bara,’ Thom said. ‘It’s starting to erupt. Soon it will blow. We have to get everyone to safety.’

Joe held his water flask to Milla’s mouth, and she drank, then choked, spilling water.

Isak was there too, lifting Thom’s shoulders. ‘He’s exhausted,’ he muttered. ‘Oh, and he’s burned! They need a healer, fast.’

‘No, no,’ Thom twisted away. ‘No time. Get under­ground. Everyone must get underground. When it blows, it will make a giant wave. There’ll be fire in the air, and a wall of water.’

‘We can’t go underground – that’s madness!’ Isak cried.

‘Anywhere else, yes. But the tunnels were built for this.’ Milla forced herself upright, almost slurring her words in her exhaustion. ‘The city may be damaged, but we’ll be safe down there. We read about it in some ancient texts.’

Joe felt panic rising up, like smoke, threatening to choke him. He looked out to sea again. The sun was rising clear of the horizon. ‘How long do we have? How long?’ he demanded.

Thom looked at him. ‘Hours? Once it blows, the wave will speed over the ocean, faster than a dragon.’ His eyes rolled back, as he slipped into unconsciousness.

‘Hurry!’ Milla croaked, leaning against her dragon’s flank now. ‘There’s no time. The air will be full of fire and 274ash and debris. Get everybody underground …’ She closed her eyes, gathering strength.

‘Oh, Milla!’ Isak fell on his knees next to the blue dragon. ‘You need a healer – now!’

‘No! She just told us to get underground – there’s no time!’ That was Winter, sharing Joe’s alarm.

‘Underground? How? The dragons can’t go underground. I won’t leave Belara!’ Isak insisted.

‘Listen to me, Isak,’ Joe said. ‘The dragons will fit – there’s a huge cavern down there.’

‘What about Tarya and Vigo and the baby? They’re still trapped in the palace.’ Isak stopped, daunted. ‘And what will they do on Sartola? Oh, Luca!’

He was right: they had to save the whole city, but the battle still raged around the palace. Their sister and her baby were in there somewhere. How could they possibly rescue everyone in time?

Joe felt overwhelmed. He looked at the faces of everyone around him – Winter, Conor, Amina, Isak, Flavia, Tiago, Yannic – trying to think clearly.

Milla groaned in pain, making a decision for them.

‘We need to get them to safety, now,’ Joe said. ‘Isak, listen. If you take Thom and Milla to safety, I’ll get Tarya out of there.’ He spoke quickly in his brother’s ear.

Isak listened to it all, and nodded. ‘We try your way first. But if it doesn’t work, I won’t rest till she’s safe. Belara will let me know.’ He took his glasses off for a moment, to wipe a tear that tracked through the blood and ash on his face. ‘Right. Where are these caves then, Joe?’ 275