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"Coive them a bit more space up here We can sit on Firedrake’s back anytime, but it’s a new experience for these children"

Sorrel shook her head vigorously

"What, get down there? No way!" She clung tightly to Firedrake’s spines "No, I’et down and let your own kind trample you underfoot"

"Oh, very well, stay put then, you furry gru in his backpack and clambered past the children to cliarland of flowers over the dragon’s horns, and he was licking the tip of her nose More and more children clied at the dragon riders’ leather straps, and stroked the dragon’s war with her arrip on her backpack

"Sorrel’s in a lanced over his shoulder and nodded in aon, too, touching hi to catch his eye Firedrake turned to Zubeida, atching the children on his back and s

"Tell me," he said, "how can I fly at the dark time of the moon?"

"We need a quieter place to discuss that," replied the dracologist "Let me show you where I found the answer to the secret"

She raised her hands, bangles jingling, the rings on her fingers flashing in the sunlight Immediately all was still The excited voices died away The children slid off Firedrake’s back, and there was no sound to be heard but the roaring of the sea Zubeida addressed the villagers

"I aleg translated "I have important matters to discuss with hi ears"

The people of the village looked up at the sky Zubeida had told them about the ravens, but apart fro for the river the sky was e

"They’re going to prepare the feast noigleg translated "A feast to celebrate the return of the dragons and the dragon rider"

"A feast?" asked Ben "For us?"

Zubeida turned to hi "Of course They won’t want you to leave before they give a party for you These people believe that a dragon brings a year of good luck -- good luck and rain, which is the best luck of all in these parts"

Ben looked up at the blue sky "It doesn’t look on’s luck can come as suddenly as the wind," replied Zubeida "But follow ers

The dragon was about to set off after her when Guinevere shyly tapped his foreleg "Please," she said, "do you think I’d be too heavy for you? I , could you possibly …?"