The Flame Dragon

by J. R. Castle

  That evening, Quinn stumbled into the Great Hall half an hour later than the other recruits. Goric had made him stay behind to clear the courtyard, and when he was finally finished his stomach was so empty it hurt. All the food would be gone, and he knew Goric had done it on purpose. He swore to himself that he wouldn’t let Goric break him.

  Thea was waiting for him at the table as everyone was getting ready to bed down for the night. As he slipped in, sure he was going to spend the night hungry, Thea lifted her blanket and showed him a plate piled high with food.

  ‘They had me on kitchen duties after training,’ she explained. ‘At least there’s one advantage to cleaning pans …’

  Quinn could have hugged her.

  That was enough for him. He had to trust someone, and Thea was the only one who’d shown any concern for him. And she knew about dragons. Maybe she would know about the dragon in his sword, too.

  ‘I need to talk to you,’ he said, tucking into a cold mouthful of food. ‘In the tower room, tonight.’

  She gave him a curious look. ‘What about?’

  ‘I’ll tell you there.’ He glanced around the packed Great Hall. ‘I might have found us a way out of here.’

  Thea nodded. ‘Then let’s do it. Let’s make this the last night in this place!’

  CHAPTER 10

  THE BEGINNINGS OF A PLAN

  Quinn woke with a start just as the first glimmer of half-light began sneaking in through the high windows. He rolled over and prodded Thea’s shoulder.

  ‘Thea, we’re late,’ he whispered. ‘Get up!’

  Thea wearily rubbed her eyes and pushed her big red mane of hair away from her face. Quinn recognised the heavy sense of fatigue, but there was no time to be lazing around. The other recruits would be awake soon enough.

  ‘Get up, now!’ he hissed.

  Thea grumbled and scrambled to her feet. ‘This’d better be worth it.’

  ‘You just wait!’ Quinn replied.

  Together, they sneaked through the Great Hall then hurried along the corridor towards the small door and the tower room. Snores filled the hall behind them, and trainees shifted and muttered in their sleep.

  At last they reached the door near the end of the corridor and pulled it open. The spiral stairs reached up into the semi-darkness in front of them. Quinn smiled. He couldn’t wait to get back to that tower room and see those incredible shields again. They’d be safe up there, away from the hell of their training and Goric’s bullying. They’d be able to think of a plan out of the sight of the cruel guard.

  Quinn bounded up the stairs with Thea right behind, but suddenly he came to an abrupt halt, clanging into a solid mass of black armour. He recognised the mean, scarred face in front of him and stared in horror.

  Rowena!

  With a startled grunt she grabbed him by the arm and practically lifted him off the ground.

  ‘And just where do you think you’re going?’

  Quinn winced at the pain in his arm. He hadn’t noticed Rowena come round the corner, but now she was right in his face and there was no place to turn.

  ‘Get off me!’ he cried.

  ‘I don’t think so, boy,’ she sneered. ‘Not until you tell me why you’re out of bed.’

  Quinn tried to wriggle out of her grip – Goric would have their heads on poles.

  Quinn gave Thea a frantic look as he tried desperately to think of something, but Thea had her eyes closed, as if she was trying to block the whole thing out.

  What’s she doing? Quinn thought. This is not the time for a nap!

  Rowena was becoming impatient and started marching Quinn back down the stairs, when suddenly he heard a soft chanting noise come from Thea. Gradually the noise became louder and soon the magic was pulsing out in waves.

  ‘What’s she —’ Rowena began, but she didn’t have a chance to finish. A weird purple mist pulsed out from Thea, as soft as a spider’s web, covering her completely.

  A spell!

  Rowena’s eyes rolled in her skull – she looked like a woman possessed. She peered down at Quinn and Thea as if they’d come from another land.

  ‘W-what am I doing here?’ she asked.

  Quinn just muttered. ‘Erm … you’re passing through …’

  ‘… To the kitchen,’ Thea finished.

  ‘That’s right,’ Rowena mumbled. Her terrifying scowl had gone and was replaced with a happy grin that looked completely the wrong shape for her face. ‘Then I’ll be on my way …’

  She blinked, then let go of Quinn’s arm and fumbled all the way down the stairs to the bottom and out of the door.

  Quinn sagged in relief. ‘What was that?’

  Thea grinned smugly. ‘Just a little amnesia spell. It used to come in pretty handy when I wanted to avoid my tutor.’

  Quinn shook his head in wonder. ‘Just so long as you don’t use it on me!’

  ‘I will unless you tell us what we’re doing here!’ Thea joked, and then she turned serious. ‘The spell won’t last forever, Quinn, so we’d better be quick.’

  ‘OK, listen,’ he said, as the two of them entered the tower room. ‘You know about dragons, don’t you?’

  Thea shrugged. ‘I know some stories.’

  Which was more than Quinn knew. He’d never wanted to listen when Marta had talked about the Dragon Knights. Now he wished he had.

  ‘Did you ever hear anything about a sword?’ He frowned. ‘Or maybe about a dragon that could contact you through metal?’

  She gave him a curious look. ‘The stories said that mirror dragons could look through any reflective surfaces. Shiny metal would work, I guess. Why?’

  Quinn grinned. ‘Because I saw one!’

  Thea’s eyes widened in astonishment. Quinn laughed at her expression.

  ‘You do know you’re crazy, right?’ Thea said. ‘The Dragon Knights were all bound. They can’t use their powers any more, and every minor who shows any signs of dragonblood has to report to the Black Guard.’

  The penalty for any dragonblood who didn’t turn themselves in was instant death. No one would risk it. But Quinn knew what he’d seen. There was a dragon in the sword, and it was looking right at me!

  ‘But there could be one,’ Quinn said. ‘Couldn’t there? You said yourself that they were out there somewhere. Maybe if we can contact one of them they’ll help us get out of here. We can do something about Vayn and the Black Guard and the unfairness of it all.’ Quinn’s chest tightened and flared hot.

  ‘But Telemus told me dragonblood is dying out,’ Thea said. ‘No one has seen an actual dragon for years.’

  Shaking his head, Quinn pulled out Marta’s package. Carefully he unwrapped the emerald-handled knife. When he took it in his hand, it grew swiftly into the sword again, like it was made for only his hand. Thank the gods for that! He’d wondered if it had been a dream.

  ‘Look at this.’ He held it out in front of Thea.

  She peered into the blade, and then shook her head. ‘All I can see is my reflection.’ She pushed back her long red hair and plucked at her scruffy black tunic. ‘This really doesn’t suit me.’

  Quinn moved in next to her. Thea’s reflection stared back at them as clear as day – Quinn saw her pale skin and green eyes – but where Quinn’s face should have been, a golden dragon looked back. Two narrow horns swept back over the dragon’s head; a ridge of sharp scales jutted out above the eyes, which were the same deep amber of Quinn’s own. Long, sharp teeth glittered as the dragon’s mouth opened. Quinn realised his own mouth was hanging open, and he closed it with a snap. The dragon did the same.

  ‘See!’ he said.

  Thea looked up in astonishment. ‘Quinn. That’s no mirror dragon.’

  ‘What are you talking about? Look!’ Quinn practically shouted.

  ‘No, you don’t get it,’ Thea continued. ‘That’s not a mirror dragon. That’s you!’

  Quinn stared at her. In the sword, the reflection of the dragon stared back at Thea.

  ‘What?
’

  ‘You must have dragonblood,’ Thea said. ‘Quinn, I don’t know what it is about that sword but it’s clearly special. It’s showing you your dragonform.’

  Quinn had no idea what she was talking about. His dragonform? He didn’t have a dragonform. If I was a dragonblood, someone would have noticed. Wouldn’t they? It was crazy. Nuts. Maybe she’d banged her head too hard in training and now she was talking gibberish.

  He shook his head. The dragon reflected in the sword shook its golden head too.

  ‘How can I?’ Quinn burst out. ‘I’m from Yaross …’

  ‘That doesn’t matter – dragons are from all over the place.’

  ‘But wouldn’t someone have told me? Wouldn’t Marta —’

  ‘Wouldn’t Marta what?’ Thea asked.

  ‘Marta would have told me,’ Quinn continued, lowering the sword. ‘Except, it turns out there was a lot she didn’t tell me – like how she was in the Royal Court, too. Just like your mother.’

  Thoughts came rushing in all at once. If he really were a dragonblood, he would be able to transform into a real dragon. He would have powers. In the court of the Emperor Marek, he could have been a Dragon Knight, flying across the skies and defending the Islands.

  But the Emperor Marek was long dead, and dragons were outcasts now.

  ‘Then maybe she didn’t tell you about this,’ Thea suggested.

  ‘I can’t be a dragon,’ he whispered. ‘Dragonbloods aren’t allowed. I’ll have to turn myself in to be bound. Or the penalty will be death.’

  Thea glared fiercely at him. ‘What are you talking about? You’re just repeating what the Black Guard tell people. There’s nothing shameful about being a dragonblood. The Dragon Knights were heroes. You should hear some of the things Noctaris the Night Dragon and Ignus the Flame Dragon did. They were great men!’

  As Thea said each of the names, there was a flash inside the sword. Quinn squinted at the metal.

  ‘Say the names again.’

  ‘Ignus the Flame Dragon,’ Thea said.

  The sword in Quinn’s hand tugged violently to the left. Quinn let it move. It swung to point at the wall. Inside the blade an image formed of a huge man hunched over a blacksmith’s forge, hammering at a breastplate. Sparks flew from his great hammer.

  ‘I don’t get it,’ Quinn said. ‘What’s happening?’

  ‘It’s like a compass,’ Thea said excitedly. ‘I think it’s pointing to where the Dragon Knights have hidden themselves. Don’t you get it? Somehow, your sword can lead us to the Dragon Knights. To your kin!’

  Quinn frowned. ‘Yes, but …’

  ‘Yes, but nothing! If you don’t want to spend the rest of your life bound and shunned by everyone, you need to find the Dragon Knights. They’ll know what to do.’

  Quinn didn’t want to be bound, but he didn’t know if he wanted dragonblood either. No one would ever talk to him. They might not even let him back in the village. But then, if it put him on the opposite side to the Black Guard …

  ‘You’re right. I can’t stay here,’ he said. The Black Guard would find out about his dragonblood. They always did. And Goric would take great pleasure in executing him.

  ‘Good!’ Thea said. ‘And I’m not staying either. I never wanted to be in the Black Guard anyway.’

  She grinned suddenly. ‘Come on! It’s time we got out of here!’

  CHAPTER 11

  A BID FOR FREEDOM

  Thea and Quinn ran from the tower room and straight into trouble.

  Rowena was standing at the bottom of the stairs, looking confused, as though she couldn’t remember why she was there. Quinn managed to catch himself before he knocked her clean over. He dropped his head, so he wouldn’t catch her eye. Maybe if she was confused enough, she wouldn’t notice them.

  But Quinn had forgotten he was still carrying his father’s sword. Rowena could hardly miss seeing that.

  The guard’s eyes widened and she glowered at them. The purple mist was fading and she was suddenly much more alert. ‘Wait a minute …’ she gasped, ‘I know you …’

  ‘Uh-oh. I think that spell might have worn off,’ Thea hissed.

  Quinn gulped. ‘We … ah … we’re running an errand for Goric,’ he lied.

  Rowena narrowed her eyes and reached out for Quinn with a great, gauntleted hand. ‘Let’s see about that, shall we?’

  Rowena lunged and Quinn skipped out of the way.

  If she takes us to Goric, the game will be up before we’ve even had a chance!

  The guard turned to follow, fury lining her face. Quinn had to do something. He swiped at Rowena’s legs with the flat of the blade of his father’s sword. With a yelp, she was knocked off her feet. As she struggled for balance on the slippery stone steps, Quinn leapt forward and brought the hilt of his sword down over her head. She collapsed, out cold.

  ‘Uh-oh,’ Thea gasped. ‘We’ve really done it now. Once she comes round she’s going to alert the whole garrison.’

  ‘Then we’d better not stick around,’ Quinn yelled. ‘Go!’

  Quinn and Thea raced down the final few steps and out into the corridor. The morning light was streaming through the high windows now and Quinn could hear the trainees being rudely awoken by the guards in the hall.

  Quinn cursed. He’d hoped they’d be out before anyone was awake, but he should have known Goric would be up with the sun. Quinn and Thea had no choice but to mingle with the rest of them. He made a makeshift sheath for his sword with his jacket, and lazily hung his black shirt over the waistband of his trousers, hoping to disguise the hilt.

  ‘What are we going to do?’ Thea hissed.

  ‘Try to keep our heads down,’ Quinn said. ‘If we can get to the gateway, maybe we can sneak out without anyone noticing.’

  Some hope, he thought bitterly. But what else can we do?

  They followed the first of the yawning trainees out to the courtyard. The recruits barely gave Quinn and Thea a second glance. For once Quinn was more than happy to be ignored.

  ‘Look,’ Quinn said, pointing to mops and a bucket resting beside the door. ‘Pretend we’re on cleaning duties, then maybe no one will bother us.’

  They snatched up the mops and made their way across the courtyard, trying to look as though they had something important to do. On the other side of the open space, Goric was inspecting the Guard, peering closely at their armour and weapons. Quinn kept his eye on Goric as he and Thea strolled casually across.

  Whilst Goric was busy shouting at a terrified recruit, Quinn pulled Thea into the shadow of the huge wall that surrounded the garrison.

  ‘Look!’ Quinn hissed. ‘The portcullis is open for morning deliveries. This is our chance!’

  Hurrying, they turned towards the gateway and the raised portcullis. Guards stood on either side of the gate. Quinn’s shoulders were stiff with tension, and he felt a trickle of sweat running down his back. He clenched his teeth but kept moving.

  Suddenly a voice barked out from behind them. ‘Stop them!’

  Quinn spun around to see Rowena stumble out of the garrison building, clasping her head in one hand. She jabbed her finger at Quinn and Thea with the other. ‘Stop!’ she shouted again, drawing her sword. ‘They’re trying to escape!’

  On the far side of the courtyard, Captain Goric caught sight of Quinn and Thea.

  ‘Grab them!’ he roared. ‘Bring them to me!’

  ‘Uh-oh,’ Thea murmured. ‘Let’s get out of here …!’

  The line of guards broke into a run. By the gate, a guardsman began untying the rope that held up the portcullis. Quinn stared around. It was hopeless. They were still too far away from the gateway. They’d never reach it before the guards caught them, and there was nowhere else they could run to. They were trapped!

  ‘What are we going to do?’ Quinn shouted.

  Thea raised her hands, chanting a spell. Quinn pulled out his sword from the makeshift sheath. He knew even Thea’s magic wasn’t strong enough to defeat the whole of the
Black Guard. He was going to have to fight.

  Quinn turned to see the straw dragon at the far end of the courtyard. Just yesterday, the trainees had been using the dragon as target practice. But now, the dragon was beginning to glow. Fire sprang up into its eyes, as though it was coming to life. Then the whole straw dragon exploded into flame, sending heat searing across the courtyard. Guards dived for the ground as Thea worked her magic.

  ‘Keep going!’ cried Quinn.

  He grabbed Thea’s arm and together they dashed for the exit.

  One of the guards at the gate unsheathed his long sword and raced towards them. The second guard finished untethering the rope and followed. The portcullis began to ratchet slowly down, the metal spikes heading for the ground, cutting them off.

  Quinn slashed at the first guard’s legs. His golden sword was light and easy; it was like it wasn’t even there. The blade carved its way into the guard’s armoured shin plates and took his legs from under him, flinging him into the air. He crashed on the ground with a crunching thud of metal and bone. With a backswing right into the second guard’s chest, Quinn sent him tumbling backwards, helplessly grappling the air for support.

  Quinn dodged around the fallen men and ran full tilt for the gateway. Behind them, the rest of the Black Guard were chasing after them.

  ‘Go!’ Quinn yelled, shoving Thea towards the gateway.

  Thea ducked down and scrambled under the iron grille. She turned to watch as the portcullis’s spiky prongs plunged towards the ground.

  Quinn was still on the wrong side.

  CHAPTER 12

  GOLDEN SCALES

  Quinn leapt for the rope holding the portcullis. He slashed his sword as high as he could. It cut through the rope as easily as it would through a spider’s web. The end of the rope whipped up.

  ‘Catch us now, guard,’ Quinn hissed and dived forwards.