He stares at me. ‘Goranov has agreed to call off his war on Britannia. He agreed months ago, before you even left London. There’s this dragon in Bulgaria, head of a council of regals. He drinks human blood to stay alive and his . . . his current human has died. He needs a new one, but there are no people left in Bulgaria.’
‘I know about the council,’ I say, remembering what Daria told us on Sanday. ‘But how do you?’
‘Hollingsworth,’ he says. ‘Goranov asked her for ten humans per year to be sent to Bulgaria as blood perfumers for the head of the council. In exchange for an immediate Bulgarian retreat. And the first human Goranov wants,’ Atlas says hoarsely, ‘is the brasstongue.’
My head spins. ‘Me?’
Atlas nods as Ruth stares at him in horror.
‘That’s why I accepted Hollingsworth’s secret mission. She told me about Plan B, told me how crucial it was that the wyverns help the rebels. That’s why I lied to you, Viv. Why I was still lying to you in Canna House. I had to get you to convince them, because I can’t let the alternative happen.’He’s crying now and the image of Hollingsworth on the hillside flashes through my mind.
‘You mean that, because the wyverns refused to use their Koinamens – because I wouldn’t ask it of them – I’m going to besacrificedinstead?’ I place a hand on the wall to steady myself. ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’
Atlas’s gaze meets mine. ‘Would it have changed anything? Would you have tried toforcethem to use their echolocation? I know you wouldn’t, Viv.’
‘We could have come up with a different plan,’ I say angrily. ‘You, me, Marquis—’
‘What plan?’ Atlas explodes. ‘How do a bunch of kids stop a Bolgorith from taking you? How do we convince the entire rebel movement that their leader has made an unspeakable deal from a secluded Scottish island? And what about Ursa? Would you have tried to escape, leaving her to be eaten by Bolgoriths?’ He snorts. ‘You would have rather offered yourself to Goranov willingly.’
He’s right.
‘Who knows about this plan?’
‘Hollingsworth, Cormac, Dr Seymour and me.’
I pale. ‘Dr Seymour?’
‘That’s why she sent you Clawtail’s journal and the coded directions,’ Atlas says. ‘She knew what Hollingsworth would do if we failed and that she wouldn’t be able to stop the plan once it was set in motion.’
‘So Hollingsworth’s intention,’ I say shakily, ‘is just to give me up?’
‘Along with nine other people,’ Ruth spits. ‘Every year.Another corrupt offering of human flesh in exchange for peace.’
I shake my head. None of this makes sense. Hollingsworth is a rebel who cares about human and dragon equality, about the individual people who make up the oppressed Third Class. Surely she wouldn’t do this?
Take her! Take her now!
My eyes land on Atlas. ‘Back on the beach, everything you said about hesitating over the priesthood, about . . .’
‘It was all true,’ Atlas says fiercely. ‘Iwaslost for a while, after Bletchley. But none of it mattered any more once Hollingsworth told me of her plan. She knew I would do everything in my power to keep you safe, including exploiting the wyverns.’ He reddens with shame. ‘And I knew it too. That’s the only reason she told me. And it’s why I went looking for Chumana when we got out of the wyvern tunnels. I was going to tell her everything, ask her to fly you away, but then we found her imprisoned. Now, please, Viv, come with me.’
He holds out his hand.
‘Where to?’ I say. ‘And what about Britannia?’
‘I don’t care about Britannia any more!’ Atlas roars. ‘If Goranov takes you to Bulgaria, Bolgoriths will feast on your blood for the rest of your life.’
‘But Britannia would be safe,’ I say quietly. ‘Ursa would be safe.’
He sinks to his knees.
‘You would burn the world for your sister, wouldn’t you?’
I nod.
‘I would burn it for you, Viv,’ he sobs.
I drop down next to him, tears pricking my eyes. ‘But we have to do the right thing, Atlas. We can’t simply save ourselves.’ I think of who I was back at Bletchley Park, how I almost refused to join the rebels out of fear for my family. ‘I tried that before, remember?’
