He led the way, and the others followed in a shaky line. It felt like a sinister version of one of the games they used to play when they were smaller, like hide-and-seek or back-to-base. They stuck to the outer edge of the curving wall, staying within the shadows at the back of the old hall. But the moment came when they had to dart across to the next building: exposed and vulnerable.

‘Just walk,’ Joe suggested. ‘Try to look confident, not scared, and if anyone sees us, they’re less likely to suspect anything. If we run, we look like prey. I’ll go first.’

It was harder than he expected, to stroll out onto the wide strip of sunlit grass and cross it slowly, without rush­ing to shelter. His back itched, expecting an arrow. But he reached the next dragonhall and collapsed against its wall, rubbing the sweat from his forehead and breathing hard.

He watched Amina come next. She was swift and grace­ful, only her wide brown eyes betraying how hard this was.

She reached Joe and fell against him. ‘Maric? Are you all right?’ she whispered words of comfort to the dragon who’d followed like her shadow.

Flavia was next. She started walking over to join them, but the pressure was too much, and she bolted, running fast across the grass, her dragon speeding after her. 219

Amina caught her. ‘It’s all right, you’re safe.’ She hugged the little girl until she stopped trembling, saying, ‘You did it. Well done!’

Finally Conor and Tiago set out together, tension in every inch of their bodies. They took it slow and steady, while their dragons trotted next to them, noses flaring for the scent of guards.

Nearly there! Joe started to release the breath he’d been holding.

They were almost across, when something shoved Joe, hard, from behind. He sprawled forwards onto the grass.

‘Did you really think we’d just let you walk out?’ a familiar voice demanded. ‘Although you are headed the wrong way. The gate’s over there.’

Joe rolled and twisted his head, his heart hammering in his chest. It was Noah, his dragon silhouetted at his side. He kicked Joe hard. Joe doubled up, gasping. This couldn’t be happening, not now. He had to escape. He had to get back to Ren.

‘News for you, Thornsen.’ Noah’s voice was calm, and that was almost the worst thing when his words were so full of hate. ‘Things have changed. We’re in charge now. All of you incomers, you halfies, we’re going to put you in your place. Where you belong.’

It was as if all of Noah’s anger and grief and bitterness had been fed and stoked up like a fire. The Brotherhood had used him, fed him lies, kept him hurting, in order to turn him into their weapon.

Well, Joe could match that now. He had his own grief 220and desire for vengeance, and he would resist till his last breath. He scrambled up, breathing through the pain, ready to fight. ‘Shut it, Noah.’