He sneaked into the Yellow House to visit his parents 187regularly, and his mother always loaded him up with as much food as he could carry. Sometimes Milla was there too. Now his family and friends knew he was safe, he asked them to let him stay down here a little longer, just till Ren was fully grown. The new dragons – and the new Joe – could be introduced to the city another day. For now, Ren filled his mind entirely and he couldn’t think about anything else.

The shadow dragons grew sleek and strong, doubling, then tripling in size, again and again, astonishingly fast. They missed the winter storms and Joe and Winter kept warm in the cavern underground, focusing on their young shadow dragons.

Joe was happier than he’d ever imagined he could be.

Somewhere deep down, he knew it couldn’t last.

Joe was minding Ren and Fidell in the large cavern one afternoon in spring. ‘Hey, Winter, I hope you brought some more rabbits, these two are ravenous after their swim,’ he called out, hearing footsteps.

Now large as hunting hounds, the young shadow dragons were always hungry.

Something was wrong. Usually Winter hurried lightly down the stone steps, but these footsteps were slow and uneven, with a strange accompaniment as though something heavy was being dragged along.

Joe sprang up, drawing his dragon-handled knife, which he always wore at his belt now. ‘Who’s there?’

‘It’s all right. It’s me,’ Winter mumbled, not sounding like herself.188

Fidell streaked across, with a loud alarm call. Winter struggled down the final few steps, emerging into the circle of candlelight, with Fidell winding himself anxiously round her waist, almost tripping her up.

Joe cried out in horror. Winter’s face had a streak of red down one side, clotted blood over her bruised left eye. Her dress was torn at the neck, and stained with something dark and shiny.

‘What happened? Are you all right?’ He darted over and took her arm. ‘Easy now.’

‘The city. It’s been taken.’

Joe’s mind felt slow and stupid. He couldn’t make sense of the words. ‘What? Taken? Who’s taken it?’

‘The Brotherhood.’

189

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Joe felt cold. His thoughts flowed sluggishly.

‘Let me see, let me help …’ he tried.

Winter dropped the large sack she’d been dragging and stumbled forwards. Joe caught her, one arm round her waist, and led her across to the stream. He dipped his shirt sleeve in the hot water, bringing it gently to her face. Winter winced, but let him clean the blood from her cheek. Both dragons followed closely, making anxious high-pitched noises in the back of their throats.

‘Who did this to you?’ Joe asked.

‘One of them. He tried to stop me. He tried to keep me from you, Fidell,’ she muttered, keeping one hand on her dragon’s neck all the while.

‘Is this blood? Where are you hurt?’ Joe demanded, as her dress fell forwards, leaving a crimson smear on his hand.