“You’re sure that’s a wise idea?” Hagar leaned against my wall and crossed her arms over her chest.
“He’s agreed to show me how to fight dragons,” I said. “Seems like he’s exactly who should be along for the ride.”
“Yeah, well.” Hagar frowned. “He is a dragon. What if he decides that he’d rather play for his home team?”
That didn’t seem likely to me. Niddhogg had made it clear that the dragons who’d raised him were on his list of people to punch in the throat if he ever saw them again. They’d abandoned him to his fate after they’d learned that he’d never grow to his full size. If it hadn’t been for the School of Swords and Serpents taking him in, the diminutive flying lizard wouldn’t have survived.
“He’s not going to side with the dragons.” I shook my head. “And don’t let him hear you say that. He’ll be very insulted.”
“Your call.” Hagar feigned a yawn. “I’m still beat from all the running around they’ve got me doing. Go find your little dragon buddy. I’ll catch a nap here.”
“You could let me help you,” I suggested. “With the clan business, I mean. That’d keep me in the loop and let you get the rest you need.”
“Nice try.” Hagar really yawned this time. “You know you’re on restricted duty for the time being. Until we can bring your mom in, there’s no way Sanrin or the others will let you back out in the field.”
My mother, the terrorist. It made me crazy to think she was out there doing awful things for reasons I couldn’t begin to understand. If I could just talk to her...
“Get out of here,” Hagar ordered. “We don’t have all the time in the world. Our window to check out dragonland is closing soon.”
“I’ll be right back.” I left my room behind and willed the School to take me to Niddhogg. The little dragon liked to hang out around the initiate dormitory, where he could keep an eye on the new students and make sure none of them got into trouble. As the School opened new pathways to me and led me around its interior, though, we weren’t headed for any of the dormitory towers. The path led me down to the main entry, then through a door I’d never seen before. Still, the hallway past that new portal was familiar. Empty display stands that had once held fantastic armor and weapons lined the corridor. Another heavy door blocked the end of the passage, and it swung open with surprising ease when I placed my hand on it. I couldn’t believe where I was.
“You certainly know how to spoil a surprise,” Hahen called from the far side of the laboratory. Niddhogg was perched on the table next to them. “We didn’t want you to see this until it was ready for your students.”
The room I found myself in was unmistakably Tycho’s old laboratory, where I’d slaved away under Hahen’s watchful eye. The tables and racks that had once held so much equipment were empty, and the filthy floors had been scrubbed to a sparkling white shine. I’d never known what the floor’s original color was and was surprised that the spirit and the dragon had managed to get the place so clean.
“My apologies, honored Spirit.” I bowed low, then crossed the room to meet my small friends. “I didn’t mean to spoil your surprise. I do need to borrow Niddhogg, though.”
“Very well, I’ll finish all this on my own,” Hahen groaned. “Thank you for your assistance in routing the plumbing, honored Dragon.”
The two of them bowed to one another in what I found to be a surprisingly formal display of mutual respect. Judging by the look of the room, they’d been working on this for quite some time. I wanted to ask Hahen what he meant about the plumbing, but there wasn’t time. I needed to get back to Hagar to spy on the dragons.
“I’ll have him back soon,” I promised. “And thank you for this. It means a lot to me.”
“You’re very welcome, Jace.” Hahen’s back stiffened with pride. “Wait until you see it completed.”
“I look forward to it.” With that, I led Niddhogg out of the laboratory and started the walk back to my room.
“What’s this all about?” the dragon asked as he fluttered along beside me.
“Dragon stuff,” I said. “I need your advice. And your expertise.”
“I’ll do the best I can,” Niddhogg promised. “They exiled me, and I’ve been studying them ever since. If this is a chance to make them pay, you can bet I’ll give it my all.”
Vengeance might not be the most honorable pastime, but it is effective. By the time we’d reached my dorm room, Niddhogg had explained a dozen different ways that he’d like the dragons to pay for what they’d done to him. Starting, of course, with me beating them in the challenge so they could never gain control of the Grand Design. It was a little disturbing to hear the tiny dragon so enthusiastic over all the mayhem he wanted to inflict on the Shambala team.
“Let’s just spy on them for now.” We’d reached my room, and I rapped on the door to let Hagar know I was on my way in.
“Awesome, you’re here.” Hagar looked like she hadn’t even sat down much less taken a nap. Despite that, she looked refreshed. “Let’s go see a man about some dragons.”
Hagar gave my hand a quick squeeze as she passed me in the doorway, then gestured for me to keep up with her. We were out of the student dorms in no time at all and were soon winding our way toward an area of
