We both stumble backwards, tripping as Rhydderch shoots his own flames at another tree.
‘I’m telling the truth!’ I shout. ‘Wyvernmire ordered us to listen to the Koinamens to help her spy on the rebel dragons.’
Rhydderch’s tail sways violently, sending two trees behind him crashing down.
‘But we’ve been trying to stop her!’ I shout desperately.
‘For fuck’s sake, Viv!’ Marquis screams.
‘I’m going to make sure she can never understand the Koinamens. But the fact that I know about it, that I understand some of it, is proof that Wyvernmire is against you, not with you.’
The two dragons stop and, for a moment, there’s no sound except for the crackling of flames. Marquis has pulled me behind a tree, and we peer round the trunk.
‘The Bulgarian dragons will be here soon,’ I say breathlessly. ‘If you tell your Queen, then she’ll declare war not only on the rebels but on every human in Britannia. The losses will be tremendous on both sides. But if you stay here and fight with us, fight with the Coalition, perhaps we can stop the wholething from happening. We defeat Wyvernmire and drive the Bulgarian dragons out, and then maybe . . .’ I wheeze as black smoke fills my chest. ‘Maybe humans and dragons can reach an agreement again.’
‘We are done with your bastardly agreements,’ says Muirgen, sneering.
‘Wait,’ Rhydderch snarls.
I stare as the dragons face each other, communicating silently. Part of me wishes I had the loquisonus machine with me. Marquis, his cheeks bright red from the heat of the flames, looks at me as if I’ve just sprouted wings. Then Muirgen bows her head to her brother.
‘Go,’ Rhydderch tells us. ‘Before your lungs explode.’
My heart sinks. If the dragons decide to go to their Queen now, Wyvernmire will know I’ve told them. She’ll make sure I never see my parents or Ursa again. And when Queen Ignacia arrives she won’t stop to ask who’s on what side.
‘Will you help us?’ I say. ‘Will you tell the other dragons – Soresten and Addax and Yndrir—’
‘We will consider your request,’ Rhydderch growls.
Marquis squeezes my hand, a gentle way of telling me that he’ll kill me if I antagonise these dragons any more.
‘Thank you,’ I say.
We back away slowly, and it’s only when we reach the cover of several empty cars that Marquis begins to swear.
‘Senile Queen?’ he says incredulously. ‘Force your Queen into submission? You said those things to not one but two dragons, you bloody lunatic.’
All I can do is grin like an idiot.
We duck as several Guardians come down the steps of the manor and turn towards the fields.
‘What now?’ Marquis says quietly as we watch them go.
‘Tell Karim to be ready to escape tonight,’ I say. ‘I’ve got to find Atlas – he and Dr Seymour might have heard from the Coalition.’
‘Dr Seymour?’ Marquis says incredulously.
I nod and he rubs his forehead in disbelief. Then he stares up at the sky.
‘Do you think the rebels will get here in time?’
I imagine the Bulgarian Bolgoriths swooping down over Bletchley and a hollow feeling fills my stomach. ‘They have to,’ I say. ‘Otherwise, we’ve lost the war.’
WE PART WAYS IN THE entrance hall, now empty of Guardians, Marquis heading up to the library and me to the basement. I open the door quietly and the heat hits my face as I peer down the stairs. I hear low voices and descend as quietly as I can. Atlas is here, even though his shift is over. I had a feeling he would be. He and Professor Lumens are crouched down by one of the log burners, peering inside.
‘I wonder if perhaps we could try putting the eggs together, see if that will start the hatching process?’ Professor Lumens says. ‘There’s usually more than one egg in a nest.’
‘I’ve tried that, Professor,’ Atlas replies.
