Page 61 of The Teacup Dragon Sanctuary

‘Keep the cursed thing, if you want. Much good it will do you.’

Milo opened his eyes. ‘I think that was it. Do you concur, Portia?’

She almost laughed. She couldn’t help herself. It didn’t matter if she concurred or not. They had heard the truth spoken in Virginia’s own voice.

‘Is this true, your ladyship?’ asked Zacarius, his expression far more solemn now. The word of a member of the Academy was never doubted, especially not a newly minted golden boy like Milo. And he’d just used magic to pull her very words out of the air to use against her.

Virginia’s mouth opened and closed, but this time, for once, she couldn’t say anything at all.

‘There were a large number of people gathered there,’ Milo added. ‘I’m sure they would be more than happy to corroborate. The highest members of the Academy in fact.’

‘It doesn’t matter,’ Virginia went on. ‘This isn’t just about the dragon. Hang the dragon. Portia Starling assaulted me. She wanted to poison… I don’t know. Me probably. Or Ambassador Gilden. Yes, probably the ambassador himself and then where would we have been? She planned to do an outrage at the show. She had that bottle of poison. She ran, clearly an admission of guilt, and her conspirator attacked the guards to aid her escape. Isn’t that evidence enough? Do as I say, Zacarius, or you are going to regret it. Your commanding officer is a close personal friend of mine, as is the general.’

The poor man sighed. He didn’t look happy about any of this. ‘I am sworn to obey you in this, Lady Moorland, it is true. And events at the Royal Show must be answered for. We will unravel all of this back in Tesh. Lady Portia Starling, I must take you into custody to⁠—’

A sound tore through the air all around them, a warbling song, high and sharp, which sent hearts racing. It was a sound of alarm.

‘What is that?’ Milo gasped.

‘The dragons,’ said Portia. ‘It’s the teacup dragons.’

The whole flight on Starling Island was crying out. Oh heavens, Portia thought, what now?

Suddenly the room was full of them, flying through the air, twisting, and turning. They flew down from the snuggery and the orangery, in and out of the windows, along the corridors of the castle, bright and glittering, their hummingbird wings iridescent blurs. They moved so fast they couldn’t be counted. They darted and tumbled, calling out to the humans there, diving at the guards to scatter them outside. They were… excited, Portia realised. Not angry, not agitated. Not afraid. They were beside themselves with… delight?

A shadow passed over the terrace, huge and dark, blocking out the sun. Everyone ran outside, staring up. Another dragon came into view, one she didn’t know, small at first, but only, Portia realised, because it was far away. The air around it shimmered in the same way the air around Maxim’s Portal had, with that fractured light, almost painful to look on. And then the dragon grew as it sped towards them, faster and faster, golden, and glorious, great wings creating a wind as it circled the castle, before heading for the terrace. As it landed, its wingspan filled the entire space, driving those already there back several steps. In its forearms it carried two figures, as carefully as if they were dolls and it set them down on the ground with the utmost care.

Iris, Portia realised in a great wave of relief, her great-aunt beaming like a child on their birthday – and – looking somewhat more frazzled about the whole thing – Noah.

The great golden dragon gave a trumpet of greeting to the teacup dragons which whirled gleefully around him, and then, even as Portia watched, he folded in on himself, the wings tucking away until they became a formal blue and gold brocade frock coat, the hands retracting into silk gloves and the crested head resolving into the eerily handsome face of Ambassador Gilden.

Jade alighted on his shoulder and he raised a hand in greeting. ‘Hello again, little cousin.’

Portia took one look at Noah and rushed towards him. He folded his arms around her, almost sagging with relief. ‘What happened to you?’ he asked. ‘Are you all right? Did they arrest you?’

‘No. Not yet. I mean – oh goodness, Noah, what happened to you?’

‘Well,’ said Iris, smoothing down her hair. ‘It seems we are not too late after all. Excellent. Captain, with the blessing of his majesty the king, the ambassador has evidence to present against Lady Moorland. Do you still have that vial of Dewsalt? I believe that will sort out everything.’

24

Noah held Portia close. She was staring in open amazement at the great dragon in human form. Noah was only just recovering from that revelation himself, the experience of having been carried aloft shaking him to the core if he was honest. But he was here, back on Starling Island, and she was safe. That was the most important thing. With Gilden on their side, it had to all work out, didn’t it? He was still probably in deep trouble, but if she was safe, that was nothing.

Virginia Moorland was not giving up so easily.

‘What is the meaning of this?’ she snarled, her outrage turning her face that unpleasant shade of purple. ‘You’re a dragon? You cannot take this seriously, captain. This… this thing isn’t even human.’

It was the wrong thing to say. The captain’s face had taken on a blank, official cast.

‘My lord ambassador, I’m happy to hear your evidence. Please⁠—’

‘You can’t be serious!’ Virginia went on. ‘You’ll take evidence from an animal?’

This time, the look the captain shot her was colder still. ‘Lady Virginia, please be silent.’ He nodded to two of his men who moved towards her meaningfully. ‘The ambassador is an honoured guest in our court and the king has made it clear that his word is not to be doubted.’

‘Well,’ said Gilden, giving a preen which Jade would have been proud of. Noah couldn’t stop staring at him, this great dragon who wore a human appearance like something out of his grandfather’s old stories. ‘That is good to hear. After all that has happened since yesterday, I will have so much to report back to our court, don’t you think? At least the king still honours me.’

He grinned at Virginia, baring all his teeth in a more draconic way than ever before, some of the sheen of humanity wearing thin. She recoiled, her renewed confidence faltering.