Page 122 of The Dragon Queen

“Many thanks, milady,” the woman said, sketching a curtseybefore turning to the children. “All right, lovies. Take the hand of the person next to you. Well done. Now, we must be off.”

I watched their shapes disappear into the darkness, searching the shadows for signs of them long after they were gone, but then Glimmer reappeared.

Where did you get to?

My presence would’ve been a distraction. Those hatchlings would’ve spent hours wanting to ‘pat’ me.

And you would’ve hated every minute of that, I replied with a smile.But why are we here, Glimmer? I’ve always done as you asked, trusted your wisdom as a seer. Can’t you tell me what this is all about?

The great dragons were the first to come to Nevermere, she replied, staring at the dark mouth of the cave.They were the only ones big enough to make the flight over the channel. Aisenbran was one of them, Drathnor, another. We must revisit the past to ensure the future.

Well, that’s as clear as mud, I replied, before following her down.

Rock studded earth marked a well-worn path into the cave. I stumbled over a few of them, relying on the bright gleam of Glimmer’s scales to show me where to go. If I feared entering a dark cave at night without a lantern, I needn’t have. As we climbed down into the depths of the cave, a miraculous sight greeted us. Phosphorescent mushrooms grew along the walls, glowing with a strange purplish light.

It should’ve been beautiful, drawn gasps of awe, but instead, a wave of foreboding washed over me, much like the pain of before. It pierced me, cutting through rational thought, my heart beginning to race in response. Every muscle locked down because my body was tensed and ready to run. Get away, that’s what this cave told me, get the hell away.

This is the resting place of Drathnor,Glimmer told me, nodding to a massive skull that glowed with the same purple light.And our means to get into Blackreach unseen.

Chapter 59

“I know what we have to do!” I said, stumbling into the tent.

“Where the hell have you been?” Flynn’s hands slapped down on my arms. “We’ve been looking everywhere for you. I, we, thought one of the duke’s men took you!”

“No, no…” I fought to catch my breath. Glimmer strolled in, completely unfazed, but I had used all the adrenalin Drathnor’s skull inspired to run back to our tent. With shaking hands, I pulled out the folded map Marcus had given me. “Here. We’ll go in here!”

“Go in where from where?” Ged peered over my shoulder, then stared at me. “Gods, is that Marcus’ map again? Pippin, if you know anything about that bastard, then this has to be a trap. Setting the queen of all Nevermere up to be captured? Bloody hell, he’s probably been in the Duke’s employ the whole time.”

“I saw it,” I gasped out. “We went to the cave.”

“‘Drathnor’s cave?’” Brom’s eyes met mine. “That’s where you were?”

“You know it?” Soren asked. “What kind of place is that?”

“A place the lads of Blackreach used to dare each other to enter, yet few did.” That shudder was a replica of Rosie’s. “It’s a cursed place and?—”

“Perfect for smugglers to use to get in and out of the city,” I finished for him. “Think about it. Everyone knows where it is, but they rely on the customary horror of the place.” My hands scratched at my arms, as if that would dislodge the gooseflesh there. I felt like I’d walked right into a massive cobweb full of spiders, my skin crawling in response. “To keep people out. I saw some that came out of the caves.”

“What Marcus wanted you to see,” Ged growled.

“One of them was his sister.”

When I frowned, he sighed.

“Pippin—”

“The caves aren’t important,” Soren said, stepping forward. I knew that stern look. We’d all been on the receiving end of it at one point or another. “What do you want to do if we get through them? That’s what matters.”

“The duke.” Getting the words out, explaining the plan, that helped settle me. My breath started to even out as I stood up straight. “He has the eggs, will use Beatrice or some other girl he favours to try to impress upon the hatchling queen. He’s the one spearheading this fight. If we?—”

“Cut the head off the snake, this whole civil war dies.” Brom nodded slowly. “Gods, that might just work.”

“So we get revenge for my family’s death by sneaking into Blackreach and assassinating the duke?” Flynn straightened up. “Kill the bastard that orchestrated this all?” I knew what his answer would be as soon as I saw the bitter twist of his smile. “I’m in, Pippin.”

“This is just what Marcus wants,” Ged groaned.

“And?” I looked at the map. “Maybe he did. Maybe he didn’t want to see all of his networks collapse in Blackreach, but right now, what he wants and what I want are the same thing. I’d be content to turn a blind eye to his activities if it means sparing the rest of the city.”

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