‘If you want to stop the Bolgoriths plotting against you, ally with the rebels,’ I tell Wyvernmire. ‘It’s not too late. We can still turn this war around, seek the help of Ignacia and get rid of—’
‘The rebels will arrest the Prime Minister as soon as she attempts surrender,’ Ralph argues. ‘Their dragon numbers are growing, and there are rumours that they have procured aid from France. If they drive the Bulgarian dragons from the country and Prime Minister Wyvernmire is incapacitated, then their politics will drag our country down into the dust. And let us not forget that their spies have infiltrated every institution in Britannia.’
Our eyes meet and I feel my heart race. He couldn’t possibly know that Hollingsworth is the Academy’s biggest in-house spy.
‘You will translate the Bulgarian echolocation for me, Vivien Featherswallow,’ Wyvernmire says. ‘You will spy on the Bolgoriths, to ensure they are not attempting to overthrow me as you say, and you will listen to the conversations of both Ignacia’s dragons and the rebels, too. If you do not, I won’t simply take Eigg. I will torch it.’
Eigg, the rebel headquarters where I left Ursa and Marquis and Sophie. If Wyvernmire asks the Bulgarian dragons to attack now, when the rebels are still gathering forces, they won’t stand a chance defending it. Perhaps the only reason she has left it untouched is that she planned to use it as leverage in case she ever found me.
I stare at her. An accurate translation of the Koinamens is impossible, but I’m going to have to pretend to try, at leastuntil I can escape and find the wyverns. Wyvernmire pushes the loquisonus machine across the table towards Andronikos, who begins packing it into a leather case with straps. Ralph’s eyes linger on it as Andronikos hands it to me. It hangs heavy on my shoulder, full of dangerous potential.
A Guardian walks into the tent. He leans across the table and whispers something to Wyvernmire, who turns towards me sharply.
‘Rebel uniforms have been spotted not far from this camp, but heading in the opposite direction. What do they want with Canna, if it is not to spy on me?’
‘I – I don’t know,’ I stutter in surprise.
Surely the rebels Hollingsworth sent to find the wyverns will be further inland by now?
‘Take the loquisonus machine and go,’ she snaps. ‘Ralph will escort you to your tent.’
I nod at her brooch. ‘Why do you still wear it? It’s a symbol of the Peace Agreement, of your alliance with Britannia’s dragons.’
‘Andnow,’ Wyvernmire replies calmly, ‘it is the symbol of a superior alliance.’
Ralph gestures to me to step outside the tent. Sunlight bathes the beach, turning the sea turquoise. Guardians are gathered in groups, sharing food and cigarettes, and black and red dragons are poised on the sand and the surrounding cliffs. I’m under Bulgarian guard now. How will I ever escape?
‘This one,’ Ralph says, gesturing to a small tent.
I duck to enter, then spin around. ‘What are you doing? You’re not coming in with me.’
His eyes darken. ‘I need to talk to you.’
I gape at him as bile rises in my stomach. ‘I have nothing to say to you,’ I spit. ‘Murderer.’
I enter the tent. It’s just tall enough to stand and contains a camp bed and a chamber pot. A change of clothes has been laid out on the bed – a white shirt, a jumper, thick khaki trousers with plenty of pockets and a heavy wool coat. Ralph follows me inside.
‘Get out.’
He grabs my wrist, pulling me around to face him. I scream.
‘Shut up!’ he says, his hand covering my mouth.
I push him as hard as I can and the force of my rage causes me to fall back on to the camp bed. The loquisonus machine hits the ground with a thump and Ralph drops down beside it. He pulls it from the case and turns it over in his hands.
‘What are you doing?’ I say.
I scramble to my feet as he stands up, then places the loquisonus machine on the bed.
‘I’m going to help you escape.’
‘Sorry?’
Ralph glances towards the entrance to the tent, then back at me. ‘Where do you want to go? Eigg? Or back to London? I’ll get you there.’
I shake my head in disbelief. What kind of a trap is this?
He points at the loquisonus machine. ‘But first, I need you to do something for me.’
