‘Viv has just told you that eggs need echolocation to hatch,’ Sophie says. ‘If you tell Wyvernmire, you’ll win your category, too—’
Atlas lets out a low, almost manic laugh.
‘You people are unbelievable. Always looking out for your own arses.’
‘You have no idea what I’ve been through,’ Sophie spits.
‘Yes, I do!’ Atlas shouts. ‘That’s the whole bloody point. You were demoted, Sophie, which means you’ve seen how the Third Class live. And if Wyvernmire wins the war, those people will keep on suffering in silence. Wyvernmire and Queen Ignacia will continue writing self-serving clauses into the Peace Agreement, andwewill be responsible for having given the government the perfect methods to exploit andcontrol dragons.’ His voice is hoarse from shouting. ‘And yet all you lot can think about is who’s going to be the one to doom us all.’
‘What do you suggest, Atlas?’ I say angrily. ‘That we let her execute us instead? Because that’s what will happen to Karim, and possibly to me, if we don’t do what she says.’
Atlas frowns and shakes his head as if he doesn’t believe me.
‘My parents are rebels,’ I continue, my voice shaking. ‘I released a criminal dragon to try and get rid of the evidence, and somehow the Coalition took that as a sign to start a war. So if we don’t win … then we die.’
‘The Coalition can hide you,’ he says urgently. ‘If you choose to side with them, they’ll keep you safe. They’re coming. They’re going to attack Bletchley as soon as Wyvernmire returns from her trip.’
I gape at him. ‘How did you get that information?’
Except I already know. Deep down, I’ve always known.
‘Because I’m part of it,’ he says softly. ‘I’m a rebel.’
I blink. First Dr Seymour and now him.
‘So you’ve been spying on us?’ I say, my voice shaking. ‘All this time you’ve been pretending to bewithus when actually you’re an informant?’
‘Who’susexactly? You and Wyvernmire? You and the Bulgarians? You need to just bloody decide. Are you with them?’ Atlas spits. ‘Or are you with me?’
I shake my head in disbelief. How dare he? He’s been lying to me this whole time, pretending to be someone he’s not.
Not really, a quiet voice in my head says.You saw he was a rule-breaker from the start. Maybe he’s been honest all along.
I look round at the others, all of them staring at Atlas in silent shock.Then Marquis gives me a pleading look. I shake my head at him.We can’t, I try to tell him with my eyes.If we join the rebels, our family will die.I know I’m right. The government has our parents and Ursa. There’s no way the rebels could ever protect them, no matter how many dragons they have.
Sophie puts a shaky hand on my arm. ‘If you say the Bulgarians are coming, and Atlas is right that the rebels are going to attack, then there’s about to be a fight here.’
I nod.
‘So … howdowe get out of Bletchley?’ Karim asks.
I put a hand on the ladder that leads up to the floor above, suddenly desperate to be away from them all.
‘Dragonback,’ I say as I climb.
*
I lie down to sleep between two bookcases, stuffing my jacket behind my head. I can hear the others sorting out sleeping arrangements as I stare up at the ceiling, and then the lamp goes out. Moments later, the ladder creaks.
‘Mind if I camp up here?’ Atlas says, standing at the opposite end of the row of bookcases.
‘As long as you don’t mind sleeping with the enemy,’ I reply.
Atlas throws his own jacket down on the floor and then I hear the rustling of pages.
‘What are you doing?’ I say in a low voice.
‘Reading.’
