I lay a tentative hand on the shoulder of the boy who tried to kill me.
‘Don’t worry,’ I say. ‘We’ll do something about it.’
Gideon doesn’t reply, but he doesn’t pull away.
I look back at Marquis and he gives me a conspiratorial look.Weknow whereourpriorities lie. With the fire-breathing plane and my knowledge of the Koinamens no longer needed, we can’t be of much value to the rebels on Eigg. But if wecan get to London and find Dr Hollingsworth, maybe she’ll be able to help us get Mama and Dad and Uncle Thomas out of Highfall. And then I’ll offer her my services, using my languages to help the Coalition in any way I can. My mind is still reeling from what I’ve learned about dragons’ ability to communicate through languageandemotion. And from the fact that I almost told Wyvernmire how to exploit it.
I lean into the warmth of Sophie’s shoulder and remember what the Chancellor of the Academy for Draconic Linguistics told me that terrible day I met her in Fitzrovia, before I knew who she really was.
I see a bright future for you, Vivien. But to reach it you may have to look in unexpected places.
I’m sitting on the edge of an island at war, in the company of the old friend I betrayed and new friends I have made, an ultrasonic dragon tongue permanently residing inside my head. I have made mistakes, terrible mistakes. But I’m forgiving myself for them, or at least trying to, and in the softness of the sunset I realise.
There is nothing more unexpected than that.
