Flavia was still glaring in the opposite direction, but Joe thought she was listening. 213

He peered over everyone’s heads at the large double doors. ‘They’re locked, I take it?’

‘Yes – and they’ve barred the gates with iron so the dragons can’t burn their way out,’ one of the older dragon­riders answered. ‘We were betrayed.’ He spat in the sawdust that covered the floor. ‘They come past twice a day to throw in food and water. Cowards.’

‘That’s good.’ That was better than he’d hoped. ‘When are they due next?’

‘Not till tonight,’ Amina said. ‘They brought food and water at sunrise.’

‘Right. Listen to me – this is my plan,’ Joe said.

To his surprise, everyone huddled closer. Only Flavia remained apart, glaring at him. ‘I don’t know why we’re listening to him, all of a sudden. It’s probably a trap.’

‘Are we not trapped now?’ Tiago asked pointedly. ‘We can trust him. And if I’m wrong, we are no worse off. It’s worth the risk.’

‘I know a secret way we and the smaller dragons can leave the palace grounds, but it’s well hidden,’ Joe went on. ‘We can get out of here the way I came in, but we’ll have to be careful we’re not spotted by the Brotherhood. How many guards at the front?’

‘Two,’ Conor said. ‘I’ve heard them talking. No one wants that job. They’re scared of us.’

‘Even better. You need to choose your best fighters. They’ll leave first, through the hidden door, with me. Two from each direction tackle the front guards, unlock the main doors, and then the dragonriders can escape on their 214dragons.’ He paused and looked at the older dragonriders. ‘I can get you out of the hall, but that bit is up to you. We need to do it quickly, so the mist can cover your escape.’

‘But they took our blades,’ someone said.

‘It doesn’t matter,’ the spiky-haired man said, looking grim. ‘We can take them, trust me.’ He looked at Joe. ‘And then what?’

‘Find Isak and Luca on Sartola – they’ll welcome you. They’ll be planning to fight back, I’m sure. Join them. Then come back and save the island from the Brotherhood. We’ll send word if we can.’

‘What about Ando? He sounds too big for your hidden way, and he might not leave with us without Rosa. But we don’t know where she is,’ one woman said grimly. ‘Or if she’s even alive.’

‘Could someone persuade him to follow, communicating through their dragon?’ Joe asked.

One of the young men nodded. ‘My dragon and I can try. We know Ando well.’

‘What about us?’ Flavia said. ‘Our dragons aren’t big enough to ride to Sartola! What’s this secret way, and where do we hide?’

So she’d decided to trust him. Her cream-coloured dragon was the smallest in the dragonhall; his back came to her waist, almost ready to ride, but not yet. The dragon was staring at Joe intently, looking ready to scratch his eyes out if he upset Flavia again.