by Jeff Norton
Gally hopped off his Ornithomimus, Avin, raised his fingers to his lips and let out a shrill whistle. Avin ruffled his feathers to attention. Gally whistled again and Avin set off at a run, his wings flapping like crazy. The dino managed to heave himself into the air. The Ornithomimi didn’t fly as well as Avingdon’s Pterosaur, but could glide smoothly. Avin spread his wings out above their heads. Sweeping down, he caught the flag in his beak and landed elegantly next to Gally. He took a bow while the group applauded half-heartedly.
“Interesting,” Lord Harding said, tapping a finger against his lips.
Torin stepped up to the front of the group. “A harder challenge would be to replace the flag.” He grabbed the flag from Gally’s dino and stuffed it down the back of his shirt like a cape. Henry had no idea what he intended to do.
Torin scrambled up the side of the tower, finally reaching the top and replacing the flag on its mast. Torin’s dino, the Nothronychus called Haringey, looked annoyed at not being invited to help.
But Henry was impressed, if a bit jealous of Torin’s prowess.
Torin climbed down the front of the tower almost as quickly and bowed to the group when he landed.
“Come on, Henry! You’re up!” he said, slapping Henry on the back. “Show us what you’re made of. See if you can capture the flag!”
Henry gulped. He wasn’t sure what he was made of, but he reached up to whisper in the T-Rex’s ear as the dino bent down to him. He had half a plan, at least.
He climbed up on Rex and spurred him on. The Tyrannosaur broke into a trot…then a canter…then a gallop.
“What’s the lad got up his sleeve?” he heard Lord Harding say as they passed the group of Dino Knights.
As the two of them approached the tower, Henry unhooked his feet from the stirrups and slowly, carefully, stood up on the saddle, holding his arms out for balance. He wobbled and gulped. Bracing a foot against the dino’s neck, he pushed himself up, up, up until he balanced on top of Rex’s head as they picked up speed. He just had to make sure he…didn’t…fall…off!
“One, two, three…” he counted under his breath. Henry had to time this just right. As they reached the wooden tower, Henry called, “Now!”
Rex understood immediately. He threw his head up, tossing Henry into the air in an arc. Henry ripped the flag off the mast and waved it above his head, before realising he was now hurtling towards the ground on the other side of the tower. The air rushed past him and the flag was nearly snatched from his hands. I don’t want to die!
Oof! He slammed hard into Rex’s body. His dino had raced round to catch him. The Tyrannosaur reared up and Henry threw his arms around his new friend’s scaly neck, sliding down onto his back.
“Good catch!” Henry said, taking the reins to guide them back to the group. He couldn’t believe it! He and Rex had worked so well together and he’d managed to pass the first test. He couldn’t help the thrill of pride that passed over him.
“Well…it was certainly different…” Lord Harding said with a smile. Henry looked at his new team and noticed that he had earned a thumbs-up from Torin and Iyla.
Ellie and Iyla took their turn at rescuing the flag and finally all the Dino Knights were done. They’d each captured the flag.
Lord Harding gathered the group. “Well done. You each succeeded individually, but…” He paused and raised his eyebrows. “You didn’t work as a team. If you recall, I asked you to devise a system. Together. In that, you failed.” His face turned serious. “This isn’t a game, Dino Knights. If you’re going to defend Brecklan, I need you to work together.”
Henry looked at the others, doubt plunging through him. They’d shown initiative, quick thinking and strength. They’d each tried so hard, but they hadn’t understood Harding’s orders. They hadn’t done what their leader wanted.
Henry followed the others slowly as they wandered back towards the manor house. Will we ever manage to work as a team? Henry thought. Especially when he was so new to all this. And if they couldn’t, how would they defend Brecklan?
* * *
In the armoury, Ellie was helping Henry into his suit of armour for the last day of training. The breastplate was dented and the steel shin protectors were a bit too big, but at least it was his.
“Now you’re starting to look like one of us,” said Ellie with a smile.
Henry had continued to train with the knights, learning different battle skills from each of them. Torin taught Henry how to strike with a sword. Gally bullied Henry into what felt like countless jousting trials, but he was improving with every turn. Iyla had a different skill – she could concoct potions that exploded like magic. She mixed up strange liquids in what looked like an underground kitchen.
Today started with attack-and-deflect training. Ellie had brought her wooden staff and was showing Henry how to wield it like a weapon.
Henry tried as hard has he could. They all were. Lord Harding’s words had made them all realise they had to work together. All the while, their leader watched from one of the tall manor windows. Henry couldn’t tell if Harding was pleased with his progress, but at least nobody threatened to move him back to the stables.
For the first time in his life, as Henry pulled on his helmet, he felt like part of something. But he was worried that he’d soon have to put his skills to use in the tournament against the Swamp States.
“How am I supposed to learn everything in just two days?” wondered Henry.
“Patience, persistence and practice,” Ellie told him, with a swirl of her staff. “Don’t sound so downhearted. You wouldn’t last one winter in the Highlands with that attitude!”
“I’ve never left Brecklan,” said Henry, as he ducked to avoid one of Ellie’s practice swipes. He straightened up. “Were you born in the Highlands?”
“Aye!” Ellie laughed. “I was raised on one of Lord Harding’s farms up in the mountains. We raised dinos.”
“How did you end up down here?” Henry asked.
Ellie turned to wipe the sweat from her staff. “My parents were trampled in a stampede. I hid in a hidey-hole I used to play in. When Lord Harding’s men found me, they brought me down here and he took me in.”
Henry hadn’t realised that Lord Harding had taken in other children.
“Ah, glad you could find a use for my old suit of armour, Henry!” said Gally, riding up on his steed. “It was only being used as a home for some mice. I’m glad it will see some more action.”
Henry didn’t much like the idea of wearing Gally’s hand-me-down armour, but at least he finally had a suit of steel to call his own. He only wished his parents, whoever and wherever they were, could be here to see him suit up. First training class over, only six more to do today. He stroked a hand down the armour. For the first time in his life, he felt like a warrior.
CHAPTER SIX
BY THE NEXT morning, the vast lawn of Harding Manor had been transformed into tournament grounds. Tiered seats on wooden stands had been erected in an oval for people to sit and watch the competition. The town band was playing, the sun shone down on the manor house and the people of Brecklan were in good spirits, looking forward to a day of jousting, battling and archery. None of them had any idea what was at stake – Lord Harding wanted it to stay a secret.
Now, Lord Harding and Lady Anwyn watched from a raised platform that was adorned with Brecklan’s coat of arms and colourful flags.
“Ready?’ Torin asked.
The Dino Knights gravely shook each other’s hands. “Ready.”
This was it. Henry felt his stomach tighten with nerves. He was fighting to save his home!
Henry and the knights rode their dinos from the stables to the north side of the tournament oval. The crowd cheered and the Dino Knights waved as though this was all a jolly day out.
Henry remembered watching many tournaments, cheering on the Dino Knights as they competed against teams from other realms. He couldn’t believe that today he was going to fight alongside them.
The crowd suddenly grew quiet. Henry spotted Krilla arrive on her raptor, proudly carrying a long staff flying the green-and-brown flag of the Swamp States. Four warriors, also riding raptors, flanked her. She planted the flag into the lawn, not caring if she tore up the turf. The crowd booed but Lord Harding patted the air to tell them to be quiet.
“Welcome!” he called out as Lady Anwyn’s eyes narrowed. Henry could see her looking around for Neville, but he was nowhere to be seen. Why hadn’t he accompanied his warriors here? The tournament had been his idea in the first place!
Krilla ignored the lord’s welcome, turning instead to the Dino Knights.
“For the first challenge,” she declared, “we call five on five.”
It was a bold call. Henry knew it was the guests’ privilege to set the first challenge, but typically it would start with something civilised like jousting or archery. Krilla was calling for a brawl as the first event.
“A breach of protocol,” Torin said. “But we accept.”
He motioned the Brecklan team to move forwards. The Dino Knights rode their dinos into the centre of the tournament grounds. This is what they’d been training for. Henry flipped down the visor on his helmet and gulped. He suddenly didn’t feel ready for this.
The five knights faced off against the five Swamp warriors. Krilla drew her club and everyone else followed suit, gripping their weapons for the fight.
Krilla’s raptor sprang forwards and she swung her club at Torin. He ducked the swing as the other warriors pounced. The young man opposite Henry came at him with a large, steel sword. Rex roared, spooked by the sword, and bucked Henry off his back. Henry fell to the ground and rolled. His visor sprang open and for a brief moment he was pinned to the ground, weighed down by the heavy suit.
Looking up into the bright blue sky, he spotted two birds overhead. And then he heard them screech – a heart-wrenching sound. They weren’t birds. They were Pterosaurs. And they were swooping down towards the tournament.
Henry leapt to his feet and dived out of the way as the raptor and its warrior barrelled down on him. All around him, swords clanged and clanked as the knights fought the warriors.
“Stop!” he yelled. “We’re being attacked from above!” But over the clamour of armour, no one could hear him.
Everything seemed to go into slow motion. Henry watched as the two Pterosaurs glided down to approach the platform where Lord Harding and Lady Anwyn sat.
“Take cover!” he called, waving his hands. But the platform was entirely exposed and the two Pterosaurs were so close.
The crowd screamed and panicked. The Dino Knights paused in their fighting, but were too far away to help. Henry ran towards the lord and lady of the manor, but the first Pterosaur attacked, claws slicing through the air and eyes filled with fury. It swiped out a claw and in one fluid movement, tore through Lord Harding’s quilted tunic and scooped him up into the air. Harding kicked his feet and cried out wildly. Henry was too late. His master had become a tiny, dark spot in the sky, carried off by the flying beast.
He looked over to Lady Anwyn and shouted, “Duck, my lady!”
The second winged creature snatched her from her seat. She screamed as she was pulled high into the air.
“What happened?” asked Torin, riding up on Haringey.
“They just dropped out of the sky,” said Henry. “They were well trained.”
Torin’s eyes narrowed. “The tournament was just a distraction. Lord Harding was right not to trust Neville.”
He turned to confront Krilla, but she and her warriors were already fleeing the tournament grounds as the crowds scattered towards their homes. The Pterosaurs flapped their vast wings, disappearing towards the south.
“We should chase them down,” said Ellie as the four Dino Knights circled up. Rex returned and Henry climbed back into his saddle.
“This is an act of war by the Swamp States!” said Ellie.
“So…what do we do now?” asked Gally.
“I owe my life to the lord and the lady,” said Henry. “We have to get them back!”
CHAPTER SEVEN
THE DINO KNIGHTS quickly gathered supplies and weapons, then set out on their trek towards the Swamp States. After the attack from the sky, the people of Brecklan hid inside their homes. There was no one to wave or cheer as they set out.
Instead of heading straight south, Torin suggested they flank to the west, to the volcano realm. “We need to creep up on them,” he explained. “It might take longer, but it will give us an advantage.” Henry was glad of the Dino Knights’ leader and his tactical training. Maybe one day I can be as good as him.
Before long, a large, smouldering volcano dominated the sky. The air was putrid and it stung their eyes.
“We’re not in Brecklan any more,” said Gally.
“Volcanica,” confirmed Iyla.
“If we’re spotted, we’ll be mistaken for enemy soldiers,” said Gally.
“Gally,” teased Ellie. “We are enemy soldiers.”
“Where exactly are we, Torin?” asked Henry.
Torin handed him a parchment map. Henry unfurled it and gulped when he saw the little etching of a volcano. He pointed. “We’re in the Forbidden Zone.”
The Dino Knights exchanged worried looks.
“Perhaps we should find another path,” suggested Henry.
“Be my guest,” said Torin, gesturing to the map.
Before Henry could work out another route, he felt the ground shake as a herd of two-legged raptors emerged from the trees. They were Utahraptors, strong and sleek. An armoured warrior rode each raptor. The warriors carried swords on their backs, and had crossbows trained on the Dino Knights. The warriors wore ornately carved helmets that hid their faces. Henry felt his insides melt with fear.
“The little one has the right idea,” said a woman’s voice. “Steer clear of here.”
“Little one?” said Henry, feeling both scared and a bit insulted.
A woman in a black dress came out of the thicket of trees, riding elegantly on her dino. Her hair was dark and well groomed, and perched on top of her head was a diamond tiara that glowed red, reflecting the pulsing volcano above.
“Your majesty,” said Torin. He bowed as well as he could on the back of his dinosaur, and motioned for the others to do the same.
“Majesty?” wondered Henry out loud. He had heard stories about the terrifying queen who ruled over Volcanica. “Are you Queen Ignis?”
The lady nodded. She carried no weapons, and yet from the way she sat tall on her dino, Henry could tell that she was in charge of the warriors.
“Why are you Brecks invading Volcanica?” demanded the queen, looking straight at Henry.
Henry tried to choose his words carefully. There were rumours that Queen Ignis knew dark magic.
“Your majesty,” began Henry. “We are indeed the Dino Knights of Brecklan. And we seek your forgiveness for our trespass, but we are not invading. Our patrons have been taken by Pterosaurs from the south. We are on a rescue mission.”
“That amuses me,” she smiled. “And what of Lady Anwyn?”
“Also taken, ma’am,” said Torin. Queen Ignis laughed so loudly that the Utahraptor next to her almost bolted.
“What’s funny about that?” asked Ellie.
“She always thought she was so much better than…” The queen’s words dried up as a new thought appeared to occur to her. “Taken by Pterosaurs, you say? Hmm…”
“Speaking of which – look!” Gally called from the rear of the group. He pointed upwards, and sure enough, Henry saw the familiar shape of Pterosaurs soaring through the sky. He’d never mistake them for birds again – he knew their dark shape by now. But this time there weren’t just two of them!
“Sir Neville’s air force,” said Queen Ignis.
Henry counted quickly – twelve of them. Then he heard the sound of arrows sliding across polished wood. The Dino Knights were aiming their crossbows up into the sky.
“Do n
ot engage,” the queen said. “Take shelter, instead. Go, now!”
On her command, her warriors scattered towards the trees, away from the open, exposed land. The Dino Knights followed. Henry found himself next to Queen Ignis, sheltering beneath a large fir tree.
“How do you know they’re from the Swamp States?” he asked.
“I have spies everywhere in Panterra,” said the queen. “Sir Neville is a tyrant and he’s been breeding Pterosaurs to create a flying armada. A fleet big enough to conquer all of Panterra. But he will never take Volcanica.” Her voice was cold with determination.
She turned her Utahraptor and signalled to her warriors to retreat. “Good luck on your quest, young knight. On this occasion, you are free to cross Volcanica. If you survive.”
She sped away into the woods on her raptor, followed by her entire platoon of dino-warriors. The Dino Knights were left alone, beneath the looming shadow of the volcano.
“That was close,” said Torin. “We’re lucky Queen Ignis hates Sir Neville slightly more than Auntie Anwyn.”
The wind whispered through the trees and Henry couldn’t help but feel it was all a bit too quiet. They weren’t safe yet.
“Come on,” he said. He couldn’t stop thinking about how the queen had called him “little”. He wasn’t that tiny, was he?
They returned to the main road and Henry checked that the sky was clear of Pterosaurs.
“I think we’re safe.” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he spotted them. Hiding in the top of the trees. The Pterosaurs screeched as they arced down through the sky, dive-bombing the Dino Knights and their beasts, who scrambled in every direction. Conker tried to swat one away with his boulder-like tail, while Torin pulled out his bow and shot arrows at the fearsome creatures. Gally unsheathed his sword and sliced it through the air.
“Take shelter in here!” called a scratchy voice.
Henry scanned the base of the volcano and spotted the mouth of a dark cave.
“Into that cave!” he called and Rex charged towards it. The others followed.