Zing! An arrow bounced off the wall next to Tia. Zing! Zing! came two more. She dodged behind a pillar.
Malindra’s soldiers were firing at her from the balcony. If she tried to escape with the animals, she would be out in the open – the soldiers would shoot her!
‘Follow me!’ Loki sailed over Tia’s head.
She ran after him to the big hall crowded with servants trying to find out what was happening. Loki was wheeling above the crowd, near to a stairway. She wove through the mass of people and slipped up the stairs unnoticed.
Loki was waiting impatiently on the top step.
‘Come this way and you can escape back to your DragonFriend.’
‘How do you know about him?’ Tia asked, astonished.
‘Just before you arrived in the castle two trappers came to tell Malindra about their fight with a mighty dragon and a warrior girl. SHE didn’t believe them but I could smell dragon fire on them. You have the same smell, and you are a girl who can fight.’
‘I don’t smell!’
‘You smell of dragon,’ Loki said firmly. His bright black eyes glittered. ‘You are with a dragon and you’ve stolen the emerald. You’re planning to steal back the jewels of power for the DragonQueen, aren’t you?’
Tia was too amazed to do anything but nod.
‘You freed me from my chain so I’m going to help you.’ Loki cocked his head to one side. ‘What’s your real name, DragonChild?’
‘Tia – and my DragonBrother’s called Finn. He’s waiting for me by a low cave on the edge of the forest…’
‘Stop!’ A soldier was behind them, aiming his crossbow.
Tia and Loki fled up a winding stone stair. Up and up, round and round Tia went until she thought she had no breath left. At the top she burst through a small door and stumbled after Loki onto the top of a turret. She slammed the door shut and leaned on it while she caught her breath. ‘We’re safe for now, but we’re trapped,’ she panted.
‘I’m not,’ Loki said. ‘Give me the emerald.’
‘No!’ Tia was shocked; Loki wanted to steal the ring! After all the fine things he’d said about wanting to help her!
The door burst open. It was the soldier. ‘Stay where you are!’ he ordered.
Tia darted behind a flagpole in the centre of the turret. She snatched her slingshot out of her belt, slotted in a pebble, whirled it round and let the stone fly. It sent the soldier tumbling backwards through the doorway and down the stairs. Tia raced to slam the door shut again. This time she saw a bar propped against the wall and slotted it into place across the door.
‘Yes!’ She leapt into the air, waving her arms in excitement, and the too-large ring shot from her finger. Loki swooped down, caught it and flew away over the castle walls.
‘Loki!’ Tia shrieked. It was too late. He was gone. The jackdaw had stolen the ring and the soldier would report to Malindra as soon as he could.
She shivered. It was still early in the night time and it was growing colder. She hauled the flag down from the pole, wrapped it round herself and huddled against the wall. What was she going to do?
‘Nadya!’
The voice woke her.
‘Nadya!’
Of course, Tia thought dreamily, I told everyone my name is Nadya. I wonder who’s looking for me? She opened her eyes and saw the silver moon struggling to shine from behind dark clouds. Where was she and why was she so cold?
She remembered! She scrambled to her feet, fingers and toes numb. She had no idea how long she’d been asleep.
There was a hammering at the door. ‘You may as well open it, Nadya. If you don’t, my soldiers will break it down.’
‘Malindra!’ Tia whispered.
The door shuddered, then smashed as the soldiers battered it down. Two of them advanced with Malindra in between them. She was white with rage and her pale blue eyes burned like ice. ‘Where is my emerald?’ the witch snapped.
‘I don’t know,’ Tia said truthfully.
‘Bring her to me,’ Malindra ordered the soldiers
Tia ran for the flagpole and shinned up to the top. ‘I haven’t got your stupid ring!’ she shouted.
‘Fetch her down,’ Malindra commanded.
The soldiers aimed their arrows at Tia.
‘Don’t shoot, you fools! I want her alive,’ Malindra shrieked.
The soldiers tried to climb the pole and grab Tia’s feet but she kicked as hard as she could and they slid back down.
‘Idiots!’ Malindra cried. She began to chant a spell, her eyes rolling back into her head till they showed only the whites.
Tia had never felt so alone and so frightened. The flagpole swayed and tilted over the castle walls. It was a long way down into the darkness. She closed her eyes. Malindra went on chanting.
She wouldn’t try to hurt me if she knew who I am, Tia thought. Perhaps if I tell her I’m her niece, she’ll stop…
Tia opened her eyes and saw Malindra, arms raised, the wolf’s head on her shoulder looking up.
No, Tia decided. I’d rather die than be like HER.
Something landed with a soft thud on top of the pole. It was Loki! In his beak he had a piece of bark with runes scratched on it. Tia snatched it from him and read:
Trust loki
Finn
Tia nodded at the jackdaw to show she understood. Loki hopped onto the top of the turret wall and swept his wings out in a gesture that meant, Come here.
Below Tia, Malindra was chanting faster and Tia felt a magical tug that pulled her a little way down the pole. Loki hopped frantically, flapping his wings. Tia felt another tug.
She took a deep breath and leapt for the top of the wall.
‘Catch her!’ Malindra shrieked.
Tia ran round the turret wall, dodging the hands of the soldiers. One climbed on the wall and blocked her way. This time there really was no escape.
Loki dug his claws in her hair and pulled so hard that she tottered backwards. ‘What are you doing?!’ she yelled, trying to regain her balance.
Loki pulled her hair again. She felt her feet go from under her.
‘Nooooo!’ she cried as she fell backwards into the darkness.