Page 29 of The Infirmary for Dragon Burns and Midair Mishaps

“That’s too many for just an announcement,” Matty said. He lifted his hand, pointing beyond the ranks of horses. “Look what they’ve brought with them.”

I stretched up on my tiptoes to gaze over Reo’s shoulder. Another horse lumbered in the background. This one was stocky and muscled, built for endurance, not for speed. It heaved a massive supply cart into the square. Piled on the cart were thick layers of netting, chains, and crossbows with arrows that had blunted tips. I’d seen those before. They were sometimes used by sharpshooters to scare off pesky dragons when they were getting too used to roosting on buildings. I frowned at the nets and chains, wondering if instead of scaring off a dragon, the arrows were meant to knock one from the sky.

“They’re hunting something,” I said. My stomach sank at the thought, but a flicker of relief flared as well. If they were here for a dragon, then it had nothing to do with me and my armor.

“You think they’re looking to catch a dragon?” Matty said, brushing his curls back with an intrigued look on his face. “Must be a pretty big one.”

Nisse shook her head. “Why would they come all the way out here to do that when they could catch one near the capital?”

“What else would the nets be for?” I said.

“Room and board,” one of the soldiers boomed, climbing off his horse. He had a red and black stripe painted across his helmet. He was likely in charge.

“Captain Sharpe!” another soldier called, dropping down from his horse with a salute. “We have a volunteer.”

The captain glanced over the crowd. “You!” he barked. “Come forward.”

A man shifted to the front of the crowd. He had a round belly, covered with an apron, and very little hair as he tugged his hat off, nodding at the captain. “Aye, we’d be happy to host you.” He lifted his hand. “We’re at the inn across the square.”

The captain barked an order, then all at once the kingsguard fell out of line, some dismounting their horses, others setting off in groups of two, patrolling the perimeter of the square. Small children darted after them, gaping up at the sheer size of the horses. They easily dwarfed any of the horses stabled in town.

“That’s Seamus,” Nisse whispered, nodding in the direction of the man speaking with the captain. “He and his wife run The Clawfoot Inn.”

“Bad time for the Wiggly Dragon Tooth to be out of business,” Matty muttered. “I bet they’d make a fortune off these guys.”

“You think they’re staying long?” I wondered.

A woman darted through the crowd so quickly she almost crashed right into us. She shoved a mop of frizzy hair back from her face, and I realized at once that it was Seraphine. Her cheeks were flushed like she’d jogged all the way from the mountain pass.

Nisse clamped onto her hand. “What did you find out?”

“I overheard a couple of soldiers whispering about the Wretch,” she said, eyes darting around, deliberately keeping her voice low. A chill zipped through me, and I didn’t know why. “They’re here to capture it.”

“You’re kidding!” Nisse said, sounding equal parts amazed and horrified. She turned to me. “I guess you were right.”

Matty snorted, crossing his arms, biceps bulging. “As if. They’d have to be delusional to go after the Wretch.”

“Then why do they have enough netting to cover this entire square?” Seraphine said, putting her hands on her hips.

Matty opened his mouth, then closed it. He huffed a laugh of disbelief. “It’s just not possible. Even with this many kingsguard, we’re talking about the Wretch.”

“Will someone please tell me what the Wretch is?” I begged.

“A dragon like none of us have ever encountered. Folks say its fire burns so hot it can melt any metal,” a voice said.

I turned to find Vaela just behind us. She leaned against the front of an abandoned fruit stand, hands tucked into the pockets of her trousers. Her tongue darted out to moisten her lips, and I tried not to stare.

“I’ve heard that too,” Nisse said.

“If that’s true, then what good are chains?” I asked, my words sticking at the thought of dragon fire that could melt through any metal. A shiver prickled at my skin, sending an uncomfortable row of goosebumps climbing my arms.

“Perhaps it is only an old wives’ tale,” Vaela said. She held my gaze, those thin eyebrows knotted in concern, and I knew at once that she didn’t believe it to be a tale.

“They say a lot of things about the Wretch,” Matty cut in. “That it’s the biggest dragon this land has ever seen. That it’s the oldest and wisest and fiercest dragon to make the migration.”

“I heard that its scales are so thick no magic can pierce its hide,” Seraphine whispered.

Matty hissed. “Watch what you say around the kingsguard.”