‘We’d hoped that by sending the Dragon of Death through the time portal, she would be lost in time for ever. But she is returning,’ said the blue dragon. ‘I am a seer dragon. I can see into the past and into the future and I have seen the return of the Dragon of Death. She is even stronger than before. And she will bring devastation to both realms.’ It turned its bright blue eyes towards the children. ‘We need your help to get into the Dragon Realm and to stop the Dragon of Death for good.’
Four Hearts
‘I think there must be some sort of mistake,’ said Dylan. He turned to Billy, Ling-Fei and Charlotte. ‘No offence, but I don’t think we’re the ones to help defeat something called the Dragon of Death.’
‘You opened the mountain. You wouldn’t have been able to do that if you weren’t the ones foretold to break the curse,’ said the blue dragon.
‘Foretold to do… what exactly?’ said Billy. He couldn’t imagine that the four of them – four kids – could do anything useful to help four giant, fire-breathing dragons. And yet here they stood, talking to dragons. If that was possible, anything was possible.
‘You are wise to be hesitant,’ said the green dragon. ‘What we are asking of you is no small thing. We are asking you to join a war. To fight. To save both your world and our own.’
Dylan audibly gulped.
‘And if we say no?’ said Ling-Fei softly.
‘The Dragon of Death will return. She will destroy both realms,’ said the red dragon. It turned to the blue dragon. ‘Tell them what you have seen.’
The blue dragon closed its eyes. ‘The Dragon of Death has an unquenchable thirst for power. She will kill humans and dragons alike. In the future I have seen, evil and chaos reign under her rule. Her followers will rise up, poisoned by their desire to share in her dark power. There is a name for those who betray all that is good to join the Dragon of Death – the Noxious.’
‘Otherwise known as the nox-wings,’ said the green dragon grimly.
‘They spread devastation wherever they go,’ continued the blue dragon, its eyes now open. ‘The Dragon of Death and her nox-wings will enslave humans and dragons for her own dark devices. Your world will be unrecognizable in its devastation.’ The images on the ice behind the blue dragon shifted again, showing a world in chaos – humans and dragons in chains, all lorded over by a dragon wrapped round a tall spire, its head thrown back in triumph.
Billy shivered.
‘So… um, if you don’t mind me asking, how accurate are these visions?’ asked Dylan. ‘The future is kind of wobbly, isn’t it? Like, if you said I was going to be hit by a car tomorrow, I just wouldn’t cross any roads.’ He paused. ‘I realize you might not know what a car is – it’s this thing with wheels… oh, man, do you know what wheels are?’ He looked at Billy. ‘I chose the wrong metaphor.’
‘I think what Dylan is trying to say,’ said Billy, a smile twitching at his lips, despite the fact that they were face to face with fire-breathing dragons who had just told them an even more dangerous dragon was going to end the world as they knew it, ‘is that the future is changeable, isn’t it?’
‘I understand what you are asking,’ said the blue dragon. ‘I see many visions. There are countless variations of the future. All depending on the choices we make now.’ The blue dragon looked at each of them. ‘I have seen what will happen if the Dragon of Death is not defeated. It is an accurate vision of what will come unless…’
‘Unless we help you,’ Billy said. He kept his voice steady even though he was reeling from everything.
‘Precisely,’ said the green dragon.
‘And how are we meant to help you?’ Billy went on, still trying to get his head around what the dragons wanted.
‘We’re asking each of you to accept the rare and ancient dragon-human bond that can only happen when a human heart matches one of a dragon,’ said the blue dragon. ‘We already know your four hearts match ours, but that is not enough. It is the bond itself that will allow us, all of us together, to change the dark destiny I foresee. But you should know this: only death can break the bond between a human and their dragon. It is no small thing to take on.’
‘We cannot force you to accept the bond,’ said the green dragon.
‘Unfortunately,’ muttered the silver one. ‘That would make this all much easier.’
‘Ignore her,’ said the green dragon with what looked like an attempt at a smile.
‘The bond must be made with a willing heart,’ said the red dragon. ‘But, if you do accept the dragon bond, together we will be strong enough to fight the Dragon of Death. And you four will be able to join the battle, tipping the balance in our favour.’
‘What do you think?’ said the blue dragon.
‘Sounds like we’re going to get fried by dragons either way,’ said Billy slowly. ‘I guess it’s a question of if we want to try to do anything about it, or just wait it out.’ As he said the words, he wondered what he wanted to do. Fighting alongside dragons sounded exciting in theory. But did he really think he could survive in a dragon war? He thought about his parents, his brother. Would he ever see them again? Then he remembered the images on the ice wall. And he knew he’d do whatever it took to stop anything bad from ever happening to his family.
‘I can see the appeal of waiting it out,’ admitted Dylan. ‘In my own bed. Cosy. Ideally sleeping when all this devastation happens. Wouldn’t notice a thing.’
Charlotte rolled her eyes. ‘Don’t be such a chicken.’
‘You want to do this?
