Since the dragons returned, every young person in Joe’s family had bonded with one. ‘Oh, Milla, I hope all the eggs are healthy. Whoever they bond with.’

‘It’s all right, Joe,’ Milla said, her eyes warm and bright with understanding. ‘What’s meant for you won’t pass you by.’

He nodded, reassured.

‘Come on, let’s go down. It’s time to get ready.’ She wiggled to the edge of the wall and jumped off, landing lightly on both feet.

Joe followed his cousin, feeling his excitement building again. The air smelled of salt and woodsmoke, and he could 12hear the distant calls of the fisherfolk down at the harbour, the sounds of the island city waking up.

Iggie clambered up from where he’d been dozing in the first rays of sunshine. To Joe’s surprise, the blue dragon came to him first and placed his huge forehead against his chest.

‘He is wishing you good luck,’ Milla explained. ‘From both of us …’

Joe scratched between Iggie’s blue ears, grateful for his attention, but knowing that the dragon’s heart belonged entirely to his cousin. ‘Thanks, Ig,’ Joe whispered, so only the dragon could hear. ‘Later today, let’s hope there’ll be a new purple dragon for you to meet.’

Iggie half closed his huge green eyes and growled softly, sending tremors through Joe’s whole body.

He relaxed. Today would be all right. Today would be the best birthday ever.

Joe could hear his parents discussing him as he ran up the main staircase of the Yellow House to get changed, the stomp and clack as his father paced with his walking cane.

‘So why isn’t he here, then?’ his father was saying. ‘What could be more important?’

‘Nestan, my love,’ his mother replied. ‘Stop fretting. He won’t be late. He’s been so excited, he’s been counting down the days! Perhaps he just—’

‘I’m here!’ Joe pushed his bedroom door open with a bang. ‘Sorry, I lost track of time, talking to Milla.’

His mother swooped on him first. ‘Happy birthday, Joe!’ She wrapped him in a warm embrace, kissing his cheek 13loudly. She was already dressed in her best clothes: a crimson gown, a matching silk scarf over her black hair. ‘Here’s your gift from us.’ She gestured at the bed.

There was a large parcel next to the white clothes for the ceremony.

Joe darted across and seized the package, unwrapping it eagerly. There was a fur-lined hat and long leather gloves, lined in silk, cosy and warm. You could get cold flying – he’d heard Milla say so. He’d be needing these, as soon as his dragon was big enough to carry him. Dragonriders always wore the colours of their dragons. And these ones were … purple! The same deep dark purple from his dream.

How did they know?

‘Thank you,’ he whispered, glowing inside with this evidence that they believed in him.

‘You can try them on later, after …’ Josi said.

‘Happy birthday, Joe,’ his father said, hugging him one-handed. ‘And there’s this, now you’re twelve.’ He had a large cylinder hanging on a leather strap from one shoulder. He swung it round, caught the strap and handed it to his son.