‘Some don’t have a choice,’ Karim says. ‘The ones who have hoards don’t need to work, but the ones who don’t, well …’
Hoards. Like piles of gold or money. Why do dragons need money? They don’t shop for groceries or pay bills. It hits me that, in all my years learning dragon tongues, I’ve never questioned how dragons fit into our human society.
Just like I’ve never questioned where the Third Class get their food.
‘Let’s play a game,’ Katherine says in an obvious attempt toease the tension. ‘Does everyone know Two Truths and a Lie?’
‘One of my favourites,’ Marquis says with a smirk. ‘You first, Kath.’
Katherine sits up on her knees and grins.
‘One, I’m Third Class but my aunt is Second. Two, I’ve been playing chess since I was six years old. Three, I killed a Guardian of Peace.’
I lean back against the sofa. It’s entirely possible for Katherine to be Third Class and her aunt Second. And if she’s an undiscovered chess champion then it makes sense that she’s been playing since she was six.
‘Three is the lie,’ Gideon says, biting into a slice of chocolate cake.
Katherine gives him a wry smile and shakes her head. The bite of cake falls out of Gideon’s mouth and on to the rug.
‘I started playing chess when I was seven,’ she says.
I search her face for a trace of humour, yet find nothing but a resigned weariness. Katherine is the smallest one of us here. How could she possibly kill a Guardian of Peace?
She did say she was recruited from prison.
‘Gideon’s turn!’ Katherine says.
Gideon frowns, his cheeks blushing. I lean in, eager to know where he’s from and why he thinks himself some sort of dragon expert.
‘One, my father was an important government official. Two, I wish he wasn’t my father. Three, I know someone who is in love with a dragon.’
Marquis laughs loudly and Gideon blushes an even deeper shade of red.
‘No one could be in love with a dragon—’ I begin.
‘Actually, the King of Egypt is currentlymarriedto a dragon,’ Dodie says. ‘Didn’t you know that?’
‘I … no?’ I say.
Marquis whispers something into Karim’s ear and they both erupt into laughter.
‘Three is the lie,’ Serena says.
Gideon scowls. ‘That was too easy.’
I wonder who his father is and whether it was his job that put Gideon in contact with dragons. What made me think that I ever knew my fellow recruits at all?
‘Viv’s turn,’ Gideon says.
I freeze, feeling the panic creep over me. Allmytruths are too unbearable to say.
I abandoned my sister. I helped a criminal dragon break the Peace Agreement. I betrayed my best friend.
The door to the common room creaks open and Dr Seymour appears.
‘Do you mind if I join you?’ she asks shyly. ‘The glasshouse is being inspected.’
‘Inspected?’ Sophie and I say in unison.
