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The boy looked down at his feet uncomfortably

"Oh, come on!" Sorrel chuckled skeptically "We found hi cases A stack of crates and cardboard cartons on the other side of the world, and he didn’t know a thing about dragons and brownies, not a single thing"

"That’s true," said Firedrake He bent his neck over Ben’s shoulder "But he has becoon rider There aren’t many of those in the world There never were ons could still roam freely and didn’t have to hide Inaround, "whether or not there’s soon rider in him, here he is, and perhaps he really can help us defeat Nettlebrand One thing fits, anyway" Firedrake nudged Ben and gently blew the hair back from his face "He’s as pale as therather eon

"Huh!" Sorrel picked up one of the fragrant petals and held it under her nose "I’on rider ever since I can re fuss about me"

"You’re not exactly as pale as theher furry face "More the color of storue at him "No one did ask you," she snapped

Professor Greenbloous, evidently thinking hard

"My dear Zubeida," he said, "I assume you showed us this old inscription because you think Firedrake should not turn back, despite his sinister pursuer Right?"

The dracologist nodded "Right Firedrake has co the way -- I just can’t believe all that was for nothing And I think it’s tiht back and banish Nettlebrand forever, instead of hiding away from him Could there be a better opportunity?" She looked around at theirl who can make enchanted ravens fall froon rider and is even mentioned in an old prophecy, a homunculus who knows alled as she raised her ar in the sky again Oh, yes, I think Firedrake should continue his quest, but first I must tell him how to fly at the dark tion rider They were all gazing intently at the dragon Thoughtfully Firedrake looked down at the ground At last he raised his head, looked steadily at them all, and nodded

"I’ll fly on," he said "Perhaps what the writing on the stone says is true Perhaps the prophecy really doesto see if he can find out where his master is now" He looked at the ho?"

Twigleg felt his legs beginning to tremble, but he nodded "I’ll try," he whispered "As true asand I was born in a test tube"

When they returned to the village, it was deserted The midday heat beat down, and the air seeht But the villagers were busy in their huts, cooking and baking, and their excited voices could be heard behind the colorful curtains

"The whole village is expecting you to bring us luck," Zubeida told Firedrake on the way to her hut "They believe that dragon scales shed good luck like gold dust; they think it will settle on our rooftops and in the nets of our fisher after you and your friends have floay"

"We ht," said Firedrake "The sooner we start, the harder it will be for Nettlebrand to follow us"