Free Flight to Dragon Isle by Lucinda Hare Page A

mounted.
    ‘There is another pressing reason, Hugo, why we fly now. The Narwhal, Orca, White Fox and Ice Bear clans report that the ice shelf is still creeping south. Reconnaissance patrols confirm it. By the time spring comes, unless there is an early thaw in this cursed weather, the ice will bridge the sea from the Westering Isles to the mainland. The hobgoblins must be stopped before they breed and swarm onto the ice, else we will never hold them back. They will come in their millions.’
    Ah … it was too much to hope that this would go unnoticed …
    ‘You wish me to keep this news secret?’
    ‘Yes. It would cause widespread panic. The high passes are still blocked. The roads will soon be a quagmire that would trap everyone. In this weather they would die in their droves trying to reach safety.’
    ‘And your tactics?’ The Lord Hugo tried to keep the eagerness from his voice as the Earl prepared to mount.
    ‘We will attack when it is full dark in three weeks’ time. Detailed tactics have been hammered out by our Strike Attack Group since the assault on the Howling Glen. The forward briefing with my senior officers takes place tonight on Dragon Isle. Darcy will attend. It is time my son developed an appreciation of the many aspects of warfare.’
    ‘He is flying with you?’
    ‘No.’ The Earl’s face showed fleeting sadness. ‘He would be a danger to himself and those around him. No, Darcy will be attending the Academy with other cadets: he will have to earn the rank that should have been his by right if he had taken his responsibilities to heart. He will temporarily be assigned duties on Dragon Isle, once we have flown. We are taking so many that we leave only a skeleton garrison.’
    The Grand Master clasped the Earl in a firm embrace. ‘Take care, Rufus,’ he said. ‘Don’t take risks – your injuries are yet to heal fully. May the gods fly with you, old friend.’
    As he watched the Earl take to the air, he allowed himself a small smile of satisfaction. A skeleton garrison? And Darcy being privy to the tactics to be employed?
    Perfect …

C HAPTER F OURTEEN
The Dragonsdome Ring
    ‘What’s happening?’ Quenelda stood to one side as her brother stormed past, blind even to her in his fury.
    Root cried out as Darcy deliberately pushed him aside, spinning him into the wall. Up ahead, Quenelda ran into her father’s study. ‘What’s happened? Papa?’
    The Earl turned from the table as Root entered, rubbing his shoulder. ‘Galtekerion has died from wounds in the Battle of the Howling Glen. The tribes are breaking apart, fighting amongst themselves. We are going to strike now, while they are leaderless, half stupid with starvation and ready to hibernate.’
    ‘But … but you aren’t ready,’ Quenelda protested. ‘You haven’t had time to rest and rearm, to test your winter armour. It’s too cold for some of the dragons …’
    ‘I know,’ he said gently. ‘We will lose many men and dragons before we even reach the Isles. Hundreds who are injured will never return home, will freeze to death. I—’
    ‘But why?’
    ‘Because it will secure a victory unlike any we have known. It will secure peace for generations to come!’
    ‘When do you leave?’
    He came to stand beside her, took her chin and tilted it. ‘Tonight for Dragon Isle. Tomorrow we fly north to rendezvous with the IV and the XVIII at the Howling Glen. The Ice Fortress is already operational. The engineers and the northern clans have moved huge supplies across the ice. We will airlift apothecaries and surgeons with us, so Tangnost will depend upon your help. Hugo’s troops will man and supply the coastal castles, and provide support for our forward base if the weather allows. For the first time ever, Goose’ – the Earl’s eyes gleamed fiercely in the firelight – ‘we take the fight to the hobgoblins!’
    At the mention of the Grand Master, sudden foreboding gripped Quenelda. Why, oh why was she not a boy, so she