by Mark Robson
‘What’s this all about, Jack? Who is this boy and why’s he here?’
‘Boss, meet Elian,’ Jack replied. ‘Elian, meet Squadron Leader “Wily” White. This, boss, is the boy who’s saved my life on more than one occasion. He flies the golden-coloured dragon I told you about last year.’
‘This is your fabled dragonrider?’ White replied, his eyebrows drawing together in a frown as he studied Elian carefully. Elian could see that he was not what the man had expected. ‘And I suppose your dragon’s waiting outside, lad,’ The Squadron Leader said, his lips quirking up the corners of his mouth into a mocking smile. Should he tell? Elian looked across at Jack, asking the question with his eyes. Jack nodded.
‘She’s in the stand of woods about four hundred paces west of here, sir,’ he replied.
‘Of course! In the woods,’ he replied, his voice laced with sarcasm. ‘Did anyone see you arrive, perchance?’
‘A man caught me listening at the door, sir,’ Elian said hesitantly, unsure of why the Squadron Leader was behaving so strangely. Jack had clearly told him about the dragons, so what was his problem?
‘One of the privates on patrol, boss,’ Jack explained. ‘He didn’t see anything, or he would have said.’
Squadron Leader White shook his head impatiently. ‘What I meant, Elian, is did anyone see you land on your dragon?’ he asked pointedly.
‘No, sir,’ he replied. ‘At least, we don’t think so.’
‘We?’
‘Me and my dragon.’
‘Ah, yes! You and your dragon. Of course.’
Squadron Leader White looked thoughtful for a moment.
‘So, has Jack asked you about his grand plan yet?’ White asked Elian.
‘No, sir,’ Jack interjected. ‘Not yet. I thought I’d better wait for you.’
‘Ask me what?’ Elian asked, his suspicions growing rapidly. ‘I told you before that we’re not going to be drawn into your war, Jack. The dragons will not fight for you, if that’s what you’re thinking.’
‘I haven’t forgotten,’ Jack said, his face serious. ‘But I’ve got a proposition that I’d like you to consider. It’s simple. I’ll tell you what you’re looking for if you’ll help me with one very special mission.’
‘I’ve already saved your life more than once, Jack,’ Elian pointed out. ‘You’re in my debt. This mission you’re talking about is dangerous, isn’t it? Why should I have to take risks for you again? Please, just tell me where the final orb is.’
‘My life isn’t that important,’ Jack replied with a shrug. ‘If I die there’ll be a replacement here within a few days. But I know how much value you place on the orb. You told me last time that your world will change for ever if you don’t get it to the Oracle in time. Its worth is far greater than my humble life.
‘My dragon won’t agree to being used as a weapon,’ Elian insisted firmly.
‘That’s not what I’m asking for,’ Jack said quickly. ‘In brief, I want you to help me capture a particular enemy pilot who has been causing us a lot of trouble. Doing this would give a huge boost to morale amongst our troops. Help me to get him and I’ll tell you what you need to know.’
‘I don’t know . . .’ Elian began.
‘No one needs to die,’ Jack added quickly. ‘It’s a simple exchange – the pilot for the information. He should be easy enough to find. He flies a bright-red triplane and his name is Baron Manfred von Richthofen.’
Chapter Fifteen
Alone
Even before Firestorm had come to a complete stop, Nolita had unwound the straps from her wrists, thrown her saddlebags clear and slid down his side. She stumbled as she hit the ground. Her legs felt stiff and weak after the long flight, but she could not stagger to the edge of the nearby pine forest fast enough. Desperate to escape her dragon’s presence and heedless of scratches to arms and face, she pushed in through the needle-laden branches.
The trees were densely packed, but she continued forcing a way forwards until she could look back without seeing any hint of the blue dragon. Only then did she sink to her knees on the deep carpet of needles. Curling in on herself, she put her head in her hands and began to sob.
Nolita knew she was being irrational. Firestorm loved her. He wanted to protect her. Given her intimate knowledge of his mind, she could not understand why her intense fear of him remained.
Her terror made no sense. Nolita had flown on Fire’s back for weeks, successfully driving back the shadows of her fear enough for her to function as a dragonrider. The darkness had always been there in her mind. Lurking. But she had contained it with her rituals and the support of her friends. Now her friends had gone, leaving a chink in her armour that the dark fears were quick to exploit.
‘Nothing has changed,’ she wept aloud, willing herself to believe the words. ‘Fire is the same dragon. Nothing has changed.’
But something had changed. She was alone. Nightmares of being alone with a dragon had haunted her since she was a little girl: immense, looming, razor-sharp teeth and wicked horns. Despite her determination to suppress her fears, the memory of those dreams sent a shudder through her body.
Nolita had always known Firestorm would come for her. Her mother had believed her nightmares to be a symptom of her fearful nature, but Nolita had always been certain it would happen. She had tried to run and failed. There was nowhere she could hide. Today felt like her trial of bravery in the Chamber of the Sun’s Steps all over again, but this time there was no one cheering her on.
What could she do? Her stomach was churning. Her mind would not settle. It darted like a fly, first one way and then the other. She ached all over. Rest. That was what she needed. Or was it what Fire needed? Their minds had become so intertwined during the extreme stress of the recent battle that Nolita was finding it difficult to tell where the dragon’s thoughts finished and hers began.
Fire was exhausted. There was no denying that. She, too, was aching and drained.
Tears streamed down her cheeks. It was so unfair. The questors had come so far together, yet in a single day they had been scattered. Where was Pell? He was supposed to be with her. He was a pain when he was around, but even his arrogant smirks and foolish posturing would be welcome right now.
For the first time since Shadow and Pell had separated from them, Nolita began to think through the possible consequences of their actions. She had been so caught up with her own fears, she had not considered what might have happened to Pell and Shadow.
Fire had defeated Deepshade by using a tactic from another world. Shadow was a strong dragon, but what if she had been outmanoeuvred? To the night dragons, Pell and Shadow were outlaws. If they had been overcome, then they would be shown no mercy.
‘They could be dead.’ She whispered the thought aloud.
‘Do not dwell on that thought,’ Fire said suddenly, his voice echoing his weariness. ‘Shadow is resourceful. She will survive.’
For a moment, Nolita turned her fingernails into claws and pressed them through her hair and into her scalp. Although well meant, Firestorm’s intrusion on her thoughts was unwelcome. The last thing she wanted right now was a reminder of his presence. However, having heard his comment, she could not ignore his words.
Logic told her that Fire’s assurance was wishful thinking. There was no rational way that Fire could be sure of Shadow’s survival. With the possible exception of Widewing, Shadow was the biggest, scariest dragon Nolita had ever seen. If Shadow had been facing any other single dragon, Nolita would not have worried. But she wasn’t. Big as Shadow was, the chances of her prevailing against two attackers of similar size and ferocity were not good. Besides, if Shadow had survived, where was she now?
After their fight with the night dragon, Fire had insisted on flying as far as he could. Despite his fatigue they had pressed on for a long time, threading through the valleys until they reached the westernmost slopes at the far side of the mountains. If Shadow were alive, would she find them here? It seemed unlikely.
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‘Our best chance of meeting up with Shadow is to keep heading for the day dragon enclave,’ Fire told her, clearly still following her thoughts. ‘She and Pell know where we’re heading. Their goal is the same. Without the strength of the enclave, we will have no chance of getting to the Oracle and Segun will win. Whatever Pell and Shadow might think of the quest, thwarting Segun will outweigh all other priorities. We will see them again. I am confident of that.’
Nolita wanted to tell Fire to be quiet: to stay out of her mind. But she could not bring herself to do it. Unwanted though his intrusion was, she could not deny his argument. Pell hated Segun. Hatred was a strong motivator. He would follow the plan through. But even assuming he and Shadow had survived, this did not help her present predicament. She was alone with her dragon. Her deepest fears had sprung out of the dark corners of her mind. She was quivering uncontrollably and her stomach was churning. She needed a way to function – a way to overcome the fear.
‘You have already developed a successful coping strategy,’ Fire assured her. ‘Make a shelter. Light a fire. Follow your after-landing routine and get some rest. In the morning get ready as if Pell and Shadow were here. You don’t normally talk with Pell when you break your fast. Imagine him eating in silence alongside you. Think on it. But get your rest. We should leave early. The enclave will need some time to muster. We must get word to them as fast as possible.’
Fire always seemed to have an answer. She wanted to thank him, but her mind refused to reach out. The bond represented one of her biggest demons and she could not bring herself to touch it. Not at the moment. It was too difficult. Fire understood. Even within her own mind, she could feel his empathy.
Uncoiling her body slowly and wiping the tears from her cheeks, she realised Firestorm was right. Ritual and routine were her best defence. The crowded trees did not make for an ideal campsite, but the enclosed feel of the forest lent a sense of security. She drew a deep shuddering breath and gathered her focus. The first job would be to find suitable materials for a roof.
‘It seems we underestimated Firestorm.’
Pell was surprised to hear the grudging respect in Shadow’s voice. ‘In what way?’ he asked.
‘Look down to your left,’ she directed.
Pell looked. Deepshade was immediately obvious on the ground below, and she was a sorry sight. She was squatting with one wing extended and her head was turned back on the arc of her long neck over her injured wing. There was no mistaking the gaping hole that had been blasted through the leathery membrane. Pell pictured Firestorm’s burning breath playing over Shadow’s shoulder after her injury in Isaa and he winced at the memory.
‘How?’ he asked.
‘I don’t know,’ she admitted. ‘But it seems we were not the only ones to beat the odds today. The question is “Where are they now?” I’m guessing he and Nolita will likely fly as far away from here as possible before resting.’
‘Firestorm was almost dropping out of the sky with fatigue,’ Pell said. ‘He can’t have gone far, can he? Can we catch up with them?’
‘I would not have thought Firestorm capable of downing a night dragon,’ Shadow replied wearily. ‘And certainly not in the state he was in. It seems he is more resourceful than I gave him credit for. Who knows how far he will push before resting? Our friends from the other enclaves are full of surprises.’
‘So what do we do now? Can you find them?’
‘They could be anywhere, Pell,’ Shadow said. ‘I think our best course of action is to fly westwards and keep our eyes open. Given that we’re heading in the same direction, the chances of meeting up are reasonable, but it is a big sky. If we don’t find them, then we will have to continue to the day dragon enclave by ourselves.’
‘We should at least make an effort to find them,’ Pell insisted. ‘I promised Elian we would look after Nolita.’
‘And we have done so to the best of our ability,’ Shadow said firmly. ‘I will try to locate them as we go, but given the evidence below, I would say Firestorm and Nolita are more than capable of looking after themselves.’
Pell could not deny that the discovery of the injured night dragon was a major surprise. He had expected to find the broken bodies of the day dragon and his rider. He was relieved they had escaped, but his promise to Elian was still fresh in his mind. While Firestorm might be fine, there were no guarantees that Nolita was. Being alone with her dragon might be too much for her. The events of today would not have helped her confidence.
‘West it is, then,’ he announced. ‘How far should we go today? I can feel how tired you are.’
‘Not far,’ she said. ‘Let’s get out of this valley. Now we know there’s no danger of further pursuit, we just need to get clear of the immediate vicinity. We’ll make an early start tomorrow and try to catch up with Firestorm in the morning.’
Firestorm remained absolutely still as Nolita approached him. The day had dawned clear and warm. Nolita had woken instinctively as the sky lightened, even though the sun’s golden face would not clear the mountaintops to the east for some time yet. Immersing herself in her ritual preparation, she had tried to shield her mind with the morning routine.
Hands stinging from the vigorous scrubbing she had given them, and her wet hair cold against the back of her neck, she unpacked and repacked her saddlebags. The soothing pattern of organising her belongings helped calm her mind, but eating breakfast proved impossible. Just the smell made her stomach turn. Although she managed to put one small piece in her mouth, she could not swallow. All she managed was a few sips of water.
Despite her efforts to think about anything except flying, she could not escape the inevitable. Stamping out her fire, and smothering the embers with loose earth, Nolita rose and picked up her bags. With her focus on where she was placing her feet, she walked out from under the trees and up to Fire’s foreleg. She took a deep breath as she felt her heart accelerating. The familiar black wall loomed.
‘Routine. It’s just a part of the routine,’ she muttered. ‘You can do this, Nolita. You can do it.’
Fire said nothing. He was like stone. Nolita reached out to place her hand on the same spot she used to aid her first step up his leg every morning. The familiar shock of physical contact with her dragon was particularly intense, causing her to gasp and tense her stomach muscles. But she did not let go. Tears formed at the corners of her eyes. She felt frozen in place.
‘Climb!’ she ordered herself.
It took a gargantuan effort, but with trembling limbs she climbed first onto Fire’s foreleg and then up into the saddle. Getting settled took longer than usual. Her fingers fumbled the buckles on the saddlebags and she struggled to set her feet into the stirrups. But it was not long before the buckles were fastened and Nolita was ready to go. Still Firestorm did not move and she had not felt his touch on her mind through the bond since she had woken at first light.
‘Let’s go, Fire,’ she ordered aloud.
He rose to his feet and, much like in the Chamber of the Sun’s Steps the first time she had ridden him, she sensed his joy as he launched into a run and extended his wings. That first solo flight had been momentous, but this one was equally so. Today she had come of age. For the first time since the quest began, Nolita really felt like a dragonrider.
Chapter Sixten
‘Will You Help?’
‘Before we go any further, Jack, I want to see this dragon of his,’ Squadron Leader White interrupted, his expression unreadable. ‘Pardon my scepticism, young man, but I can’t help thinking this is all some sort of jolly jape at my expense. If it weren’t for the Top Secret communiqués from Whitehall, I’d be back in the Mess room now with the chaps, but the Generals don’t play jokes with Top Secret typed on them.’
‘Top idea, Boss,’ Jack replied. ‘Is that OK with you, Elian?’
‘I suppose so,’ he said reluctantly. ‘Warn Fang and Kira,’ he added silently to Aurora. ‘I’m bringing company. I don’t like the way this is going, Ra. W
hat do you think?’
‘Jack is trading his information,’ Aurora replied. ‘Bartering is common in many cultures. I sense he truly believes he has what we need and that the exchange is a fair one, but he is holding something back. Be careful. Don’t agree to anything yet. It will be easier for me to read his surface thoughts when he is closer.’
‘Thanks, Ra.’
‘If it helps, there is no feeling of a lie in what he says. His purpose is to capture a single man. My dragonsense is prickling. There is something of destiny in his request. The other man is more difficult to read. All I can tell with any certainty is that he does not yet believe we dragons exist. It will be interesting to see if he becomes any more open when he meets us. Let’s listen carefully to what they have to say.’
The two airmen retrieved overcoats and strange, flat-topped hats with a semi-circular brim that jutted out above their eyes. Elian was intrigued and looked closely at them. Both sported badges on a band of material that encircled the hat just above the front brim, though they were different in design. One had a circle of leaves with some interlocking symbols in the middle and the other had a crown above wings, with something else underneath.
They left through the front door, crossing the courtyard and road without seeing anyone. Elian did not think the two men would want to crawl through the hedge in their fine clothes, so he asked if there was a preferred way into the field. Jack led them down the dark lane for some distance until they reached a wooden gate. Elian’s eyes were still struggling to adapt to the dark. He did not see how Jack unlatched it, but within a moment they were able to walk through. Jack paused a moment to secure it behind them.
The moon peeped out from behind the clouds, bathing them in its gentle light. The silvery illumination made it easy to find their footing as they walked across the field, but once under the leafy canopy of the trees the darkness closed in, and only the faintest dapple of moonlight filtered through to ground level.
