It took all his strength to ignore the fears that clouded his mind. If they’d welcomed him once before, maybe he could use that now? He forced his shoulders back and looked Asa in the eye. ‘So,’ he said, ‘last time, you said I could join you.’

‘Oh no,’ Asa said. ‘Not so fast …’

Joe guessed that they wouldn’t be fooled for long, but he tried to sound interested. ‘Why don’t you tell me more about your Brotherhood?’

‘You should be on our side, after what you did at that ceremony. You have the courage to challenge things,’ Asa said. His voice was softer now and his eyes narrowed warily. ‘If anyone should understand, it should be you. Your father 139is a great Norlander. And you were cheated of your dragon, by these, these … incomer scum.’

Joe shivered, hearing the hatred in his voice.

‘Bloody Sartolans,’ another one was saying angrily. ‘Or Silk Islanders. Or whatever they are. They’re like cockroaches.’

‘Yeah, we should burn their boats.’

‘Leeches, more like. Coming here, taking our jobs. Taking the dragons.’

Joe’s mouth went dry and sour with fear. He didn’t want to make them angry. He was totally outnumbered. But he couldn’t agree with a word they said. The island was full of different people from all over the world – everyone knew that! His father’s people had travelled here, seeking a better life. So how could Norlanders object when others settled here too?

He wanted to yell in Asa’s face – You know nothing: Tiago didn’t steal my dragon. She chose him! Lina was never going to choose me! – but he needed to buy more time.

‘What do I have to do to join the Brotherhood? I know you were soldiers, from the old duke’s army, but do you take new recruits as well?’ Joe lied boldly, thinking he could at least learn something before they started beating him too.

‘You have to be a Norlander,’ Yannic said.

‘You know I am. You know my father,’ Joe said, feeling disloyal to his mother and praying no one started calling him a halfie.

‘You have to share our values.’ That was Asa, sounding suspicious. ‘And I don’t think you do. Unless you prove it, 140right now.’ He gestured at Tiago on the floor. ‘With him. You can take over the persuasion. Get him to talk.’

‘What did he do?’ Joe played for more time.

‘What does he know, more like. Dragonschool schedules, patrol routes …’ Yannic said before Asa shushed him.

‘Too many questions,’ Asa said quietly. ‘I think it’s time you chose sides, Joe Thornsen. Are you with us, or against us?’

Joe met his gaze, thinking fast. There was no way he could join them in hurting Tiago – but he needed a distraction.

‘If you don’t choose, we’ll take it badly,’ Asa purred. ‘We’ll take that as a no.’

Just then, a hail of rocks started raining down on the narrow street. One hit Yannic hard on the temple. Joe saw his eyes roll back in his head and he slumped down on the cobbles.