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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

He led them to the nearest entrance to the tunnels and held the door open. ‘Where’s your map?’ he asked Conor, taking the time to show him exactly where to go. He didn’t want his mother wandering for ever in the tunnels.

‘Wait, why are you showing me?’ Conor asked. ‘Why don’t you just lead the way?’

Now came the hardest part.

‘I’m not coming,’ Joe said. ‘Not yet. Take everyone to safety. Take Fidell to Winter. I need to get Tarya and Vigo out of the palace first.’ He looked away so he didn’t have to see his mother’s expression when he said that.

He busied himself saying goodbye to Fidell and his friends instead. He and Conor slapped each other awkwardly in a half-hug. Finally, things were back to normal between them.

‘I’ll look after them,’ Conor said in his ear. ‘Just keep safe, all right?’

‘You be quick, Joe Thornsen,’ Amina said, throwing her arms round them both. ‘Don’t make us lose you again.’ Her eyes were huge and glittery, and when she closed them tightly, a few stray tears squeezed out.

‘Hurry!’ Matteo urged them. ‘Josi can’t walk for long – she needs rest.’

‘I’ll see you down there,’ Joe said to his mother, who was trying very hard not to cry.

‘I know you want to help your sister,’ she told him, ‘but I 287need you safe. I cannot lose you too. Promise me again – you run when you have to? For your dragon’s sake? And mine?’

‘Promise,’ Joe managed to choke out. ‘Now go!’

He watched them disappear into the tunnels, Conor and Amina leading the way. They made a strange procession, laden with flasks and bags of food, an old man, a limping woman, two children and their dragons, Fidell looking back­wards, torn between staying with Joe and Ren and finding his person.

The longing to join them and save himself was almost overpowering, but Joe tore his eyes away and focused on his next task. He returned to the Yellow House just long enough for them both to gulp down spring water from the well – somehow still fresh and cool. He felt light-headed and realised he hadn’t eaten since yesterday.

He and Ren were going to need their strength, so he risked the delay to gobble down some stale bread while Ren swal­lowed some dried fish. He stuffed more food in his pockets for later. Then he was running back up the hill to the palace, praying that he would have time to finish the job.

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CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

Joe felt like he was walking through a nightmare. The dust from the volcano had reached Arcosi. The morning was hot and still, tinted grey-orange like some endless dusk. The birds had fallen silent, or fled. The watchtowers at the entrance to the palace grounds were deserted, and the huge iron-studded gates hung ajar.

He slipped through the gates and into the gardens. The ornamental flower gardens were scarred now from the dragonfight earlier that morning. He saw trampled hedges, blackened leaves, branches twisted down like broken limbs. He stuck to the shadows, telling Ren to stay hidden too. He would need her soon.