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Down in Jannit&039;s boatyard, as beginning on the Dragon Boat Jannit had towed her out of the Dragon House, turned her around and was about to reverse her back in so that she could face out onto the world It was soht, telling hion herself had requested it Nicko, who still had trouble with the idea that the Dragon Boat was also a living creature, did not see why it mattered which way the boat faced, but Jenna had been insistent
Froon Boat with a critical eye She and Nicko carefully splinted the broken wing and fixed it to the hull, but the as badly s froon herself did not look well Her scales were dull, her eyes were heavy and her head and tail drooped feebly "She doesn&039;t look good," Jannit called up to Rupert Gringe ith Nicko, was on the deck of the Dragon Boat, directing operations
Rupert nodded "Don&039;t see e can do," he grunted "If you ask me what she needs is some hocus-pocus rubbish"
Three Wizards, chosen by Jannit as the least bothersouard the boat,noises Hocus-pocus indeed
Nicko said nothing He didn&039;t like the way Rupert had said it, but he thought he was probably right What could an ordinary boatyard hope to do for a living/breathing Dragon Boat?
"What the" Rupert suddenly exclaiht of a movement far above him "Some idiot&039;s thrown himself off a roof No he hasn&039;tBusted Barnacles, hehe&039;s flying!"
With a sinking feeling, Nicko looked up "Simon," he muttered "It&039;s Simon"
"Whatyour Sinantly "Quick, Ruperthe&039;s dangerous Get the Dragon Boat back inside" But Rupert Gringe seeure that had dropped down over the Castle walls and was flapping about like a wounded crow, flying slowly toward them
"It is It&039;s Simon blasted Heap" Rupert shook his fist and yelled up into the air "Get out of here, Heap Or do I have to come and make you?"
"Rupert," hissed Nicko "Don&039;t upset hiht " Rupert raised his voice in Si about up there like a girl at the MidWinter Feast Coht like a man"
"Rupert, don&039;t," pleaded Nicko "Just get out of the way He&039;s got a Thunderflash"
"Oh, yes, and my aunt Gertie&039;s the Queen of Sheba Good, he&039;s co over Come on then, Heap Don&039;t be shy Ha!"
Siood deal of trouble with the Flyte Charm It was only once he was airborne and on his way to the Wizard Tower that Simon had realized that the Chief Her whatsoever to sort out the Charh Fox repair it, for he could not possibly be late for his appoint of his new Apprenticeship Little did Sih Fox would not have been able to fix the Flyte Charmfor all the codes and encryptions had been in The Book, The Undoing of the Darkenesse
Simon had only justall his willpower to stay airborne The Dragon Boat was in his sight and this time Simon knew that he would not missthird time lucky, he muttered to himself, or third time unlucky if you happened to be a on As Simon fleardly across the boatyard he took his very last re Thunderflash from his belt He had had a recent run on Thunderflashes and Merrin had been worse than useless at preparing the new onesbut that didn&039;tduck; this time there was no way he could miss That would teach the oaf Rupert to yell at hiet two birds with one stoneeven better
Simon primed the Thunderflash
A yell followed by two loud splashes rang through the air Nicko had pushed Rupert Gringe into the Moat and ju the fact that he had lost his chance to get even with Rupert Gringe, Simon hurled the Thunderflash
It flew off with a roar, ru turn of speed, the three Wizards also hurled themselves into the Moat
The Thunderflash hit the Dragon Boat square on the stern, passed through the golden wood of the hull like a knife through butter and came to rest on the botto a spout of water shooting into the sky In a seething on Boat slowly disappeared under the water and sank to the bed of the Moat
Jannit Maarten stood open-boat, horrified at what had happened No one, but no one, messed with any of the boats under Jannit&039;s care She picked up the nearest weapon that cae ha to her ar Sion on its FirstFlyte just ed to avoid its first airborne missile (but not its last), thanks to a tiator
Siht of Spit Fyre He could not believe his eyesor rather his eye, as Si his eyepatch after Wolf Boy&039;s direct hit What was it about this imposter brother of his? Why did he always turn up like a bad penny, just when he least wanted to see hion?