‘If humans were to learn of the existence of echolocation – of the loquisonus machines – they could use it to control and oppress dragons,’ Marquis says through gritted teeth. He looks from me to Atlas. ‘You bothknowthis. So what the hell’s got into you?’
I hang my head, feeling sick. He’s right. Chumana told me to keep the Koinamens a secret for that very reason.
‘If the wyverns agree to help us – which they won’t – and we win the war, then the whole world will want to knowhow. The existence of dragon echolocation would become common knowledge,’ Gideon says. ‘Why would the leader ofthe Human-Dragon Coalition want that?’
‘It must be more complicated than that,’ Atlas says quietly. ‘Hollingsworth must have a plan.’
I shake my head. ‘Atlas, they’re right, this can’t be it. Hollingsworth would never exploit the dragons to win the war. That would make her as bad as Wyvernmire.’
‘But what if, somehow,’ Atlas says, ‘she could protect the wyverns?’
‘She can’t,’ Marquis says bluntly. ‘So we stick to the plan, find Chumana.’
‘What if, when they use their Koinamens, the rebels could ensure their safety?’ Atlas stares at me, ignoring Marquis completely.
‘That’s impossible, Atlas.’
‘How do you know?’ he bursts. ‘God dammit, Featherswallow, why don’t you listen for once?’
A deathly silence fills the graveyard.
I sway inwardly. His words cut a wound and I fill it with fire.
‘Why don’tyoulisten?’ I spit. ‘Or is that not necessary for your secret mission?’
Atlas’s face is stony. It’s almost like he hasn’t heard me, except I know from the tremble of his lip that he has.
‘Secret mission?’ Marquis repeats.
They all stare at Atlas as his face grows hot.
‘The rebels gave you a mission,’ I say slowly. ‘One you’ve been keeping from us. I read it in your diary.’
A thunderous expression passes across his face. ‘Youreadmydiary?’
‘Yes.’
I meet his eye, too angry to feel ashamed. A gust of rain-filled wind blows across the graveyard and the bushes around us rustle.
‘The echolocation,’ Atlas says. ‘I think it’s key.’
‘You sound awfully sure,’ Gideon says. ‘So what do you know that we don’t?’
‘Is that what this extra mission has to do with?’ Serena says. ‘The Koinamens?’
‘I . . . I can’t tell you,’ Atlas replies with a scowl. ‘You’ve just got to trust me.’
‘How can we trust you if you’re keeping secrets?’ I say.
His eyes fill with hurt. ‘Viv . . .’
A long whistles sounds.
I feel a rush of dread.
‘That wasn’t a bird,’ Marquis says in a low voice.
My eyes lift to the sky as my body screams at me to run, but I see no dragon. A figure erupts from the bushes and in his hand I see the flash of a knife. Gideon flinches.
