‘Is that because your boyfriend’s part of it?’ he jokes weakly.
‘No!’ I say. ‘I can’t give Wyvernmire the code. I can’t handthe dragons, the Third Class, our friends over to her.’
‘And if the Bulgarians turn against her?’
‘We’ll fight them,’ I say fiercely. ‘If it comes to that, there will be no government versus rebels any more. If Wyvernmire’s new friends take over, it will be Britannia versus Bulgaria.’
Marquis slips his hand into mine. ‘And we’ll get Ursa back,’ he reassures me. ‘If the Coalition can seize Bletchley before the Bulgarians get here, we’ll make Wyvernmire tell us where she is.’
I nod, hope buoying inside me.
‘The Coalition could already be on their way, but they’re going to need inside help. I’ve got an idea, but it’s risky.’
Marquis looks at me expectantly.
‘We have to recruit more dragons.’
*
I scribble a last note for Atlas and fold it into four.
Atlas, last night was a mistake. Please don’t write to me again.
I know he prays in the boys’ dormitory after lunch, so I slip the note brazenly under the door. Marquis raises his eyebrows.
‘Don’t ask,’ I tell him.
Downstairs is empty except for the Guardian at the door, a different one from earlier.
‘Viv—’ Marquis hisses as we walk towards him.
‘It’s fine.’ I nod at the Guardian. ‘Afternoon,’ I say brightly.
He stares at me through his helmet.
‘We need to get out, please.’
He doesn’t move.
‘I’m the translator,’ I say in a bored voice, as if he should already know this. ‘I have orders to meet with some patrol dragons in the grounds, to help prepare for the … arrival.’
‘The grounds of Bletchley Park are now out of bounds to recruits,’ the Guardian barks.
‘Well, not toallrecruits,’ I say sweetly. ‘Did the Prime Minister not inform you?’
The Guardian blinks and I see a hint of hesitation in his eyes.
I lean closer to him. ‘How are we to welcome our allies if no one here speaks Bulgarian?’
His eyes widen and he stands aside. As we jump down the steps, Marquis turns and gives him a cheerful wave.
‘The Bulgarian dragons speak Slavidraneishá, not Bulgarian,’ I say, shaking my head. ‘How does nobody know that?’
It doesn’t take us long to find Rhydderch. He’s patrolling the left side of the park, by the lake. Muirgen is flying above, circling us as we approach her brother. Rhydderch swings his huge head towards us and bares his teeth.
‘You again?’ he says gruffly. ‘I thought my sister scared you off when we last met.’
Better to get straight to the point this time.
