Also in the series:

  TOMAS AND IRONSKIN

  Coming soon:

  ELLIS AND PATHSEEKER

  MIRA AND FLAMETELLER

  KAI AND BONESHADOW

  ERIN AND ROCKHAMMER

  IN THE LAND OF DRACONIS, THERE ARE NO DRAGONS.

  Once, there were. Once, humans and dragons were friends, and guarded the land. They were wise, and strong, and created the great city of Rivven together.

  But then came the Dragon Storm, and the dragons retreated from the world of humans. To the men and women of Draconis, they became legends and myth.

  And so, these days, in the land of Draconis, there are no dragons…

  …Or so people thought.

  In the dead dark of a moonless night, a young girl climbed the palace walls.

  The palace stood on an ancient rock that rose high above the city of Rivven. Its walls were well made, of smooth grey stone with few handholds, but the girl moved confidently, ignoring the drop below her. Finding a crack between two bricks, she pulled herself up and placed her feet against a thin ledge. She reached for the next gap.

  Wait.

  The voice came from inside her head. She didn’t know how, or whose voice it was, but she’d heard it her whole life. It was her only friend, and she trusted it. She stopped. Above her, a guard leaned out over the edge of the wall and gazed down, bored. The figure waited, hidden in a grey cloak that perfectly matched the stonework, until the guard wandered away. Now, said the voice.

  She continued climbing until she came to a narrow window about halfway up, then squeezed through and into a corridor, landing in a crouch. No one was around. Faint torchlight flickered at one end, and a solid wooden door blocked the other.

  She removed her cloak and tucked it into her backpack. Underneath, she was a small, thin girl, with silver-blonde hair and a pinched, serious face. She wore dark colours, mottled like shadows. She crept towards the door and listened for a moment, and then slowly lifted the latch and entered.

  Beyond were more corridors, some dark, some lit by torchlight. She moved cautiously. At one point she stopped and sank into the shadows as a servant scurried past. The floor had rich-red carpet now, and torches burned in alcoves.

  On the left, said the voice.

  The girl paused. The patch of wall to her left seemed different, the stonework slightly pale. She felt round the edges until she was sure, then pushed at one brick …

  … and the wall swung outwards, revealing a hidden entrance.

  The girl’s face didn’t change. She crept into the darkness along a narrow passageway, feeling her way until she reached another doorway, opened it, and entered a room.

  Inside it was bright, and shimmering with lamplight, and rich. Every inch shone with precious metal, dark polished wood, crystal. Beautiful embroideries covered the walls, shimmering with golden thread. In the middle of the room sat a huge four-poster bed.

  This is it, said the voice. King Godfic’s royal quarters!

  The girl stared around, her mouth open.

  Come on, we’d better be quick.

  She nodded, and tiptoed across to a grand dressing table in front of an enormous mirror.

  He likes looking at himself, doesn’t he?

  The girl grinned and checked the drawers. One was full of little jars of powder and perfume; one held a display of embroidered lace handkerchiefs. One had papers, and wax, and the king’s official stamp.

  One was locked. The girl pulled two pins from her hair and carefully used them to feel inside the lock. Then she twisted, and the lock clicked. She slid the drawer open … and gasped.

  The inside was lined with dark-red velvet, and its contents shimmered. There were gold and silver rings, a heavy gold link necklace, a chain of pearls. Beautiful, ornate pins carved into the shapes of animals, inlaid with precious stones. Coins lay scattered at the base. And in the centre, on its own stand, sat a large golden brooch with an enormous diamond.

  That’s it!

  Carefully, the girl picked up the brooch and peered at it. Its base was an octagon, with eight ornate golden sides, framing a diamond that shone like a star. There was something in the diamond’s heart – perhaps painted underneath? Peering inside, she made out an eye, beautifully drawn, fierce, and somehow cruel. Not a human eye; more like a cat’s, or a wolf’s, or…

  I don’t like that.

  “What?” The girl was surprised. “It’s just a picture.”

  It’s creepy.

  She shrugged, and looked back – and the eye moved.

  “Argh!” she yelled, dropping it. The eye glanced around, and then straight at her, and blinked! And suddenly a bell started tolling from the corridor outside, hard and fast and sharp.

  You’ve triggered an alarm!

  “It moved!” she hissed.

  I know! Forget it! Come on!

  There were other noises now, shouts and running footsteps. The girl ran back to the far wall and the secret passage, closing it behind her just as she heard someone at the main door.

  She fumbled through the black corridor, trying to stay quiet. Would they know about the hidden entrance? She reached the end of the passage and pushed the door open a crack. The corridor was empty, and she hurried back to where she’d come in, dragging her cloak and a grappling rope from her bag. She poked her head through the slit window, then pulled it back sharply and cursed. There were guards all along the top of the wall now, holding lanterns and staring hard.

  We can’t go that way – they’ll see us!

  The girl felt panic rise inside her.

  Boots thundered behind her. More guards! She raced towards the brighter end of the corridor, back into the depths of the palace.

  What are we going to do?

  She kept moving, glancing around. There were rooms on either side – could she sneak into one of them? The alarm bells clanged and a guard shouted, “You check that way!”

  What are we going to DO, Cara?

  And then a black-gloved hand reached from a doorway, covered her mouth, and dragged her backwards. The door closed behind her and someone pinned her arms and whispered harshly in her ear.

  “Be quiet.”

  “Be quiet.”

  It was a man’s voice, and he was strong, pinning down Cara’s arms. “Don’t move.”

  Cara snorted. She lifted her feet and slammed both heels hard against the side of one kneecap. The man cursed and half collapsed, and she prised herself free and reached for the door—

  “Wait!”

  At the last moment she heard boots in the corridor. Guards! She looked back at the man, now clutching his knee in pain. He held a finger to his lips. “Shh!”

  Cara hesitated, and waited for the footsteps to fade away.

  The man nodded. “It was the tower watch,” he said. “They always come this way. They’re looking for you.”

  He was young, dressed in dark clothes, with curly black hair and a friendly expression. An old, faded scar marked one side of his face. Cara glanced around warily. They were in a small room, simple but clean. A thin bed rested against one wall, a table and chair at the other, with several candles, an inkwell, long feather pens, and neat piles of paper.

  The man stood, wincing and rubbing his knee. “Good move, by the way. Daisy would be impressed.” He held out a hand. “I’m Malik.”

  Cara didn’t know who Daisy was. She ignored him and turned back to the door.

  “You won’t be able to climb down the wall, you know.”

  She stopped.

  “I saw you climb up,” he said. “Very impressive! But they’re watching now; they’ll see you if you try to get down that way.”

  Cara knew he was right. What was she going to do?

  “I know another way,” he said. “I can get you out.”

  She scowled. “Why would I trust you?”

  Malik shrugged. “I could have shouted for the guards. You’re a street rat, aren’t you?”

  She didn’t answer.

  He nodded. “No parents. Nowhere to live, surviving on the streets. On your wits. That was me once. I was like you. I admit, I stole the odd apple myself, when I had to.” Then he laughed. “Nothing like this though! What on earth were you looking for, sneaking into the palace?”

  Cara said nothing, but he didn’t seem to mind. “These days I do something different,” he said.

  Cara looked again at the quills and paper. “A clerk.”

  “Yes … but something else, too. I look for people.” His voice changed. Suddenly he seemed more serious. “Special people. Ones who see things others don’t. A face in the fire, maybe?”

  Cara frowned. What was he talking about?

  We should go, said the voice in her head.

  She nodded and reached for the door handle.

  “Or perhaps hear things?” called Malik.

  Cara stopped and looked back. “What?”

  Malik nodded. “People who hear things others can’t,” he said quietly. “Like a voice, always there. Knowing things you don’t. Helping you.”

  How can he know that, Cara?

  Cara shook her head.

  Malik smiled. “As soon as I saw you, I could tell. It’s like a glow, you know?” She said nothing. “Would you like to know what it is?”

  Slowly, Cara released the handle. The corridor outside was empty. She should go, she knew.

  “Would you like to see whose voice it is?” asked Malik.

  What’s he talking about, Cara? What does he mean, “whose voice”?

  Cara chew ed her lip. Then she gave a very short nod.

  Malik grinned. “Great! Um…” He picked up one of the lit candles. “Right. I’m not very good at this, but I can show you for a moment. Watch the flame.”

  Warily, Cara watched it, flickering and glowing. It seemed quite normal.

  The man moved his other hand in a complex pattern, muttering.

  I don’t like this, said the voice. He’s trying to trick you!

  But Cara watched the flame, and it stretched, filling the room with warm yellow light. And within it, she realised … she could see something. A face with a sharp chin, glowing eyes, familiar somehow…

  “There,” whispered Malik.

  Cara glanced up – and jumped! There, in the corner, faint as a ghost, stood a large creature, with long ears, a catlike face, glowing green eyes. The body was hard to make out; it seemed to shift and change colour. Cara stepped back, ready to run! But the face…

  “Is that—” She stopped. “Is that you?”

  “I don’t know,” said the voice. And Cara gasped. It wasn’t in her head any more – it was coming from the creature! It stared down at itself and then back to Cara.

  It held up one claw, pale and ghostly.

  “What is this?” it said, astonished. “What’s going on?”

  “I can’t bring her completely into this world,” said Malik. “You’ll need Drun’s help for that. But this is what she looks like.”

  The creature gazed into Cara’s face. “Cara, I think this is … I think this is me! I think…” It stopped. “Silverthief,” it murmured. “That’s my name. Silverthief. Cara, I think I’m a—”

  And then a fist hammered against the door and an angry voice shouted, “Open up in there! Open in the name of the king!”

  “Open in the name of the king!”

  Cara gasped and stared at the door. Behind her, Malik blew out the candle. “Sorry, Silverthief,” he muttered. Cara turned back to see the creature’s image fading away like smoke.

  “Cara, what’s happening?” it hissed, and then it was gone – but a moment later Cara heard the familiar voice in her mind.

  Cara! That was me! I think that was me!

  Cara shook her head and tried to concentrate. How could she escape? The tiny slit window in this room was too small, and there was nowhere to hide…

  Malik walked towards the door. “Coming!”

  “No!” hissed Cara, but he winked and reached for the handle. At the last moment, Cara flattened herself against the wall behind the door as Malik swung it open wide.

  “Captain Hork!” he said, beaming.

  Cara tried not to breathe. She peered out through a sliver of gap in the wood and saw a group of soldiers, and a large, sweating man with a sour expression, badly fitting bronze armour and a ridiculous plumed helmet. She knew Captain Hork. He was captain of the King’s Guard, a bully and a fool. Her heart pounded.

  “What can I do for you?” asked Malik.

  Captain Hork gaped. “Don’t you hear the alarm?” he snarled. “The king’s been robbed! Have you seen anyone acting suspiciously?”

  “Gosh,” said Malik, looking shocked. “How awful! No, sorry. But … someone did just run past my door. Someone big and fierce, it sounded like! He went that way.” He pointed down the corridor.

  “Right,” snapped Hork, adjusting his helmet. “Next time, pay a bit more attention, eh? The king’s life could be at stake!”

  He paused, and seemed to think. “Big and fierce, you say?”

  Malik nodded. “Very.”

  “Hmm. Right. Er … lead on, men! I’ll, er, guard the rear.”

  The soldiers ran off with Captain Hork bellowing after them and keeping a safe distance behind.

  Malik waited until Hork’s voice faded and then closed the door. “That should keep them busy,” he chuckled.

  Cara breathed out. She glanced at the corner of the room, but the strange creature had vanished. “Where did it go?” she asked.

  “Back to her world,” said Malik. “I can’t summon her properly. You’ll need Drun for that.”

  “Who’s Drun?”

  “A friend of mine. I’d like you to meet him. And some other friends too. People who know … what it’s like to be special.”

  He looked serious now. “Would you like to meet them?”

  Cara, I think that really was me! I think…

  Cara hesitated. “All right.” She frowned. “But what was it? That creature?”

  Malik smiled. “I think you’ve already guessed,” he said. “Tell me … what do you know about dragons?”

  Malik found an apprentice cloak for Cara and walked her out of the palace as his new assistant, loudly giving her instructions whenever they passed a guard. Dawn was breaking, and as they came down from the rock and into the city, a few people were moving around, setting up stalls or carting fish ready for the day’s markets.

  “This way,” murmured Malik, steering her down an alley. Cara recognised where they were and felt her skin prickle. This was the Vennels, a dangerous part of town, and one she normally stayed clear of. She checked that she still had her knife tucked into one boot.

  What do you know about dragons?

  Cara thought about this. She knew what everyone knew. That they were ferocious and terrifying. That they destroyed crops, attacked humans. And that they were a myth – a made-up story of monsters that might have existed a thousand years ago, but not today. Not here.

  Oh, there were stories. Cara kept to herself mostly, but sometimes, when the rain was lashing and the wind howling, she would huddle for shelter with some of the other street rats, and someone would always claim something – My mate says he saw something flying over the West Gate. I saw something moving, and it weren’t human! There was a light, not natural. Magic, I reckon. But it was nonsense. There were no dragons. There was no magic.

  But … the eye in the jewel had moved; she was sure of it. And that thing, in Malik’s study… And the voice in her mind that had always been there, for so long she had never even thought about it…

  “Not everyone can see them, or hear them,” said Malik as they walked. “They live in their own world. But some of us – dragonseers – can connect. We can see them, hear them, talk to them … even summon them into this world.”

  “And that’s what we saw? That’s what you were showing me – my … my dragon?”

  He chuckled. “Oh yes.”

  He ducked down into a tiny lane between two collapsed houses, and Cara tried to keep up.

  “But people would know,” she tried. “I mean … dragons?”

  “Well, there aren’t very many these days. For centuries there were none at all, after the Dragon Storm.”

  “I remember that story,” said Cara. “That was the war, wasn’t it? Between humans and dragons. And we won, and the dragons ran away.”

  Malik sighed. “Good lord, what do they teach kids these days? No. It wasn’t between humans and dragons, we didn’t win, and they didn’t run away. They just … left.” He grimaced. “To be honest, I think they were disappointed with us.”

  He shook his head. “But now they’re coming back. It’s very exciting, a new generation of dragons – and a new generation of dragonseers. Like you. Ah, here we are!”

  They had reached a plain-looking door in an old cottage, as broken-down as the others. But inside was another door, which opened into a long, snaking corridor. And then a maze of twisting passages and false doorways, far larger than the cottage. Cara tried to work out where they were, but everything looked the same, and she felt a strange movement under her feet and heard the sound of gears whirring. The corridors were moving, she realised – turning as they walked.

  Finally they reached a larger doorway and Malik paused. “Ready?” he asked. His eyes twinkled.

  Cara frowned. “For what?”

  Malik grinned. “For this!”

  In one smooth movement he swung open the door and steered her through. “Welcome to the Dragonseer Guild!”

  Cara stared in astonishment. “No way,” she managed at last.

 

1 2 3 4 5