‘Not mine,’ Winter said grimly.

Joe gasped, understanding. 190

‘He’s not dead – just bleeding. It was his own knife did it. He would’ve killed me, otherwise.’ Winter jutted her chin out defiantly, but he could see her fingers trembling as she stroked Fidell’s head. ‘They killed others.’

‘When?’ Joe managed.

‘It started yesterday, at dawn. And …’ She tilted her head, and looked at him. Her eyes were glassy with shock.

He didn’t want to hear what she was about to say.

‘Joe, they killed a dragon.’

‘No. No, they wouldn’t! Not even them.’ Nausea rose then and Joe had to tip his head forwards, trying not to vomit, breathing fast.

‘I saw. They paraded its body through the streets. And its … its head.’

‘Who? Who was it? What colour?’ Joe prayed it wasn’t Iggie, or Ruby. It couldn’t be.

‘Red and yellow, I think. Or the red might have been blood …’

‘Where’s my sister?’ Joe burst out, trying to make sense of it all. ‘She would never let this happen.’ He paused, realis­ing what this meant. ‘Oh no! She’s not—?’ He couldn’t bring himself to say it.

‘She’s not dead,’ Winter told him. ‘I asked everyone: in the market, at the docks. People said they’re prisoners: your sister and the duke.’

‘But her baby! It must be coming any day now,’ Joe looked down at Ren, full of protective fury. His fear for Tarya came out as anger. ‘How could she let this happen?’

‘You know how the palace gates are always open now? 191It wasn’t hard to do. The Brotherhood burned the armoury, surrounded the barracks and the palace.’

‘But the dragons! Why didn’t they stop them?’

‘Rumour says they were dosed or poisoned, or – I don’t know. Joe, I’m so sorry, but some of the dragonriders … they’re on their side. They were there, parading with the Brotherhood.’

‘Noah! I bet he is … But who else?’

‘I can’t remember their names,’ she mumbled miserably. ‘That black dragon, who flamed you.’

‘Ravenna!’ Joe remembered Hatching Day, how Lanys had looked at the Potentials with such mistrust.

‘Your sister’s dragon escaped – Heral and Petra, the duke’s dragon, were circling the palace all day, trying to fight back. I saw them in the distance. But then they left.’ Winter’s voice faded out.

‘They left? Heral abandoned Tarya? Are you sure?’ Joe couldn’t believe it. He couldn’t believe any of it.

She shrugged, seeming groggy with shock. ‘All I know is that they were there, fighting back. And then they weren’t.’

‘Oh my stars. I’ve got to go.’ He was filled with desperate fear, as her words finally sank in. ‘Now! I’ve got to check on my parents. Find my friends.’

‘No!’ Winter cried, grabbing his arm. ‘Joe, you can’t. You didn’t see it. They’re brutal. You’ll be killed, and what will Ren do then?’

Ren’s eyes were fixed on him. Joe stared back, finding comfort in her wise golden gaze, as he always did. His heart felt torn in two. 192