She smiles at me, and such a gesture doesn’t seem to come naturally to her. ‘Why else would the university have asked you for so many character references?’
References. I needed five, but only had four by the time application day arrived. That was why I’d gone to see Mistress Morris, who asked me to …
No, I can’t think about that now.
‘The protocol investigations following your application flagged up some irregularities regarding your parents and uncle,’ Wyvernmire says. ‘They are part of a group of Second Class Coalition sympathisers.’
‘But that’s impossible,’ I whisper. ‘My parents were always strict about class boundaries, and we attend the PeaceAgreement Celebration every year …’
‘Vivien,’ Wyvernmire says patiently, ‘I am quite convinced that you knew nothing of your parents’ crimes. However, my Guardians watched you break your house arrest, drop your sister off at a house in Marylebone and force entry into the University of London.’
They know where Ursa is.
‘On Saturday evening, you didn’t just release a criminal dragon. Youtold itto commit an act of terrorism on Ten Downing Street, which is a direct breach of the Peace Agreement between the humans and dragons of Britannia.’
Prime Minister Wyvernmire sets her tea down and stares at me with unblinking green eyes.
‘You started a war.’
Blood rushes in my ears. ‘A war?’
‘Surely you must realise that?’
I gaze out of the window just as a dragon streaks past, so close to the building that I see the green feathers of its wing. The tea swirls in my empty stomach. I look back at Prime Minister Wyvernmire.
‘My military is now poised to attack the dragons in retaliation,’ she says. ‘All alliances have been broken. And the chaos you have created has given the rebel groups the opportunity to move against my government.’
There is a low, heavy rumble from down the street. The windows rattle. What have I done? The room swims around me. Why didn’t I just leave London like Mama told me to?
‘I’m sorry,’ I murmur. ‘I didn’t mean for this to happen. I just wanted my parents home.’
‘For fifty-seven years, the Peace Agreement has kept us safe,’ Wyvernmire says. ‘Fortunately, I have been preparing for the possibility of its dismantling for quite some time.’
She pauses. ‘While the rebels have spent the last twenty-four hours carrying out acts of war across the country,Ispent them conversing with Queen Ignacia. She takes no responsibility for the act of the dragon who helped you start this war and has ordered it destroyed.’
I think of Chumana, finally free only to be murdered mid-flight.
‘And we have come to an understanding.’
I’m nodding, but I don’t understand a word of what the Prime Minister is saying. All I can think of is how much better things would have been for Ursa if I’d just stayed at home.
‘The Peace Agreement will remain in place,’ Wyvernmire says, ‘but we will use this attempt to thwart it as an opportunity to come down on rebel humans and dragons alike. The rebel movement is attacking, and we must defend ourselves.’
‘So … this is a civil war?’ I say. ‘With the government and the Dragon Queen on one side, and the rebels on the other?’
‘Correct,’ Wyvernmire says. ‘The question now, Vivien, is this: which side will you be on?’
The clock on the wall counts the seconds of silence.
‘I don’t understand,’ I say. ‘I broke the Peace Agreement. My parents are rebels. I’m a criminal now, aren’t I?’
Wyvernmire leans forward. ‘Are you really fluent in nine languages?’
‘Yes …’ I reply. Why does this matter? ‘Three human languages and five dragon tongues … six if you count Komodonese.’
Wyvernmire folds her hands in her lap.
‘The War Effort requires the skills of a polyglot,’ she says simply. ‘A speaker of dragon tongues. Someone with a unique talent for deciphering … meaning.’
