Dragon Rider (Dragon Rider 1)

“No.” Ben sat down on his backpack, sighing. “That factory won’t be left standing much longer. They’re going to blow it up.”

“Oh, you’ll find somewhere else to hide!” Sorrel looked around, snuffling, and picked a few leaves from the bramble bushes. “I know! Why not move in with Rat’s cousin? He’s got plenty of room.”

“Rat’s cousin!” cried Firedrake. “With all the excitement, I’d entirely forgotten about him. What did he say? Does he know where we must look?”

“Well, sort of!” Sorrel stuffed the leaves into her mouth and picked herself another handful. “But we’d have found that out for ourselves, anyway. One thing’s for sure, we have a long journey ahead of us. Are you certain you don’t want to change your mind?”

But Firedrake only shook his head. “I’m not turning back, Sorrel. Exactly what did the rat say?”

“He gave us a map,” said Ben. “The map shows it all. Where to fly, what to watch out for, everything. It’s great!”

Excited, the dragon turned to Sorrel. “A map? What kind of a map?”

“Well, just a map.” Sorrel took it out of her backpack. “There you are.” She spread it out in front of the dragon.

“What does all that mean?” Firedrake looked at the tangle of lines and marks, baffled. “Can you read it?”

“Of course,” said Sorrel, looking important. “My granddad was always drawing things like that, to help him find his way back to his mushroom stores.”

The dragon nodded. “Good.” He put his head to one side and looked up at the sky. “Which way do I fly first? Straight east?”

“Um, east? Wait a minute.” Sorrel scratched behind her ears and bent over the map. Her furry finger traced Gilbert’s golden line. “No, I think we go south. First south, then east, he said. Yes, that’s exactly what he said.” She nodded. “I’m certain he did.”

“Sorrel,” said Firedrake, “are you quite sure you understand what these scribbles mean?”

“Of course I do!” Sorrel looked offended. “Oh, bother these human clothes!” Crossly, she pulled Ben’s sweatshirt over her head and slipped out of the trousers. “I can’t think properly with this stuff on.”

The dragon looked at her thoughtfully. Then he stretched his neck and looked at the sky. “The sun’s setting,” he said. “We can start soon.”

“Thank goodness!” Sorrel folded up the map and put it in her backpack. “About time we left this city. It’s no place for a dragon and a brownie.”

Ben picked up a couple of stones and chucked them into the dark water. “I don’t suppose you’ll be coming back, will you?”

“Why on earth would we want to?” Sorrel stuffed a few extra bramble leaves into her backpack. “I certainly don’t want to see that conceited white rat again.”

Ben nodded. “Then I’ll wish you both luck,” he said, throwing a final stone into the water. “I hope you find this Rim of Heaven place.”

Firedrake looked at him. Ben returned the dragon’s glance.

“You’d like to come, too, wouldn’t you?” asked Firedrake.

Ben bit his lip. “Of course,” he muttered, hardly knowing where to look.

Raising her head, Sorrel pricked up her ears uneasily. “What?” she said. “Come with us? What are you two going on about?”

Firedrake took no notice of her but just looked at the boy. “It will be a dangerous journey,” he said. “Very long and very dangerous. You may never come back. Wouldn’t anyone here miss you?”

Ben shook his head. “I’m on my own. I always have been.” His heart beat faster. Hardly daring to believe it, he looked at the dragon. “Would you … would you really let me come, too?”

“If you like,” replied Firedrake. “But think about it carefully. Sorrel often gets very bad-tempered, you know.”

Ben felt weak at the knees. “Oh, I do know!” he said, grinning. He was feeling quite dizzy with delight.

“Hey, hang on half a sec!” Sorrel pushed her way in between them. “What’s got into you, Firedrake? He can’t possibly come.”

“Why not?” Firedrake playfully nuzzled her furry stomach. “He’s been very helpful. We can use all the help we can get, don’t you think?”

“Helpful?” Sorrel was so indignant she almost fell over. “He’s a human! A human being! Only pint-sized, but still a human being. And it’s the humans’ fault we’re not at home in our nice warm cave. It’s their fault we’re off on this crazy quest! And now you want to take one of them along?”