The Journey to Dragon Island

by Claire Fayers

  (from THE HISTORY OF ORION’S KEEP)

  “You know the story of the two dragons,” said Kaya. “Of course you do—you’re a storyteller at heart. So you’ll know that every story is based on truth.”

  His words were so close to what Brine had said herself many times that she wondered if she’s been echoing him all along. “But there are no dragons,” she said, hoping Kaya would contradict her.

  Except for Boswell, who was probably driving everyone on the ship mad right now. Brine hoped the others wouldn’t take too long getting back to the Onion.

  Kaya sat down on the edge of the battlements, seemingly oblivious to the fact that there was nothing but a death-defyingly long drop behind him. “No, there’s no dragon, but the volcano is a real danger. Before this castle was built, Marfak’s Peak used to erupt without warning and each eruption was worse than the last. The magi knew that if they didn’t do something, the whole island would be swallowed up by lava. And so they built Orion’s Keep, with one purpose—to keep Marfak contained. They built a castle, as high up on the slopes of Marfak’s Peak as they could manage. They filled the walls with spellstones, all of them impressed with the same spell, to push down on the volcano and suppress the fire within it. And all the spells slowly pushed the castle into the air until it stopped right over the volcano peak.”

  Boswell’s third law of motion—for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Pushing down on the volcano lifted the castle up. “It seems like a lot of effort,” said Brine. “Couldn’t they have used their spells to turn the volcano into an ordinary mountain, or a fish?”

  Kaya laughed softly. “A fish the size of a mountain? No, if there was another way, they’d have done it. This was the best, the only way. Every magus since has continued the work of the first magi, renewing and maintaining the spellstones that hold the castle together and keep Marfak’s Peak in check.”

  Brine tried to imagine what would happen to the insides of a volcano if it were kept from erupting for over a hundred years. It would be like putting a lid on a cooking pot—and she’d seen enough of Trudi’s pots boil over to know what that was like. “You can’t just keep doing this,” she said. “Sooner or later Marfak’s Peak will erupt anyway, and it’ll be a hundred times worse.”

  Kaya frowned. “I’ve spent my whole life here. Trust me: I know what I’m doing.”

  His voice stirred something inside Brine. She had trusted him once, she thought, and a memory flashed across her vision—her hand grasping his as she followed him through the stone passages of Orion’s Keep.

  She leaned forward eagerly. “We can help,” she said. “I know you and Peter got off badly, but he really is good at magic. And Tom knows a lot about science, and Cassie … Well, Cassie can hit things, which probably isn’t what you need.”

  She wondered if she should tell him about Boswell, too. But Peter had wanted to investigate dragons, so better to leave that to him.

  Kaya smiled and started to get up, but then he doubled over, coughing.

  “It’s nothing,” said Kaya, waving Brine away. “My work here has been demanding of late. That’s all.” He drew in a ragged breath and gripped her hands tightly. “You know what the hardest thing is? Waiting. Year after year, not knowing whether you’ll ever see a person again, not knowing if they’re alive or what’s happening to them. All you can do is hope that one day, somehow, they’ll find their way home.”

  Brine didn’t know where to look. Kaya expected her to stay, she thought. Of course he did—she’d traveled halfway around the world to find him, so how could she possibly leave now? And he needed her help. How could she tell him that she longed for the open sea around her, the excitement of never knowing what was over the horizon or what the next day would bring?

  Kaya straightened up. “I’d like to try a few experiments with you if you don’t mind. Your friend Tom could help, too. We have certain toys and puzzles designed to get the mind working. You’ve recovered far better than the children here. If we can find out why, it may help us find a cure.”

  “Of course.” Brine took his arm as they walked back to the steps. Helping with experiments sounded like fun, and if nothing else it would keep her mind off bigger problems—like what in the wide oceans was she going to do.

  * * *

  If you are reading this journal, then I am dead. Unless you have taken it without my permission, in which case I am very angry. Put it back at once.

  This is our first day in Orion’s Castle. Cassie is still sleeping. Rob, Bill, and Trudi have returned to the island. After a brief overview of the library, I have commenced my plan of investigating the mystery of the sick children. Here are my results:

  Phase 1: Experiments

  Reading to them—no response

  Singing to them—Ren, the youngest boy, moved away, but this may be because of the quality of my singing

  Food—they ate if food was offered but did not appear to mind, or even notice, what they were eating. I gave them fish and pieces of meat and vegetable and then some sweet stuff—I’m not sure what it was—and they ate everything as if it were the same

  Toys and games—there are many. The children showed no interest, with one exception (see below)

  Phase 2: Research

  I talked to Ebeko. I don’t think she likes us being here. She watched me the whole time I was with the children, and I am fairly certain she doesn’t trust me (this is supposed to be a scientific journal, and so I should point out that I have no evidence other than her constant watching and scowling).

  I asked her what the magi had already done to investigate a cure. She replied that Kaya “was trying.”

  Then I asked why Kaya kept taking children when he knew they may end up suffering from the same malady?

  She replied: “The castle needs more magi to survive.”

  I have the strong impression that there were many more magi here until quite recently, but something happened to them. When I asked Ebeko about this, she said I’d have to talk to Kaya.

  I noticed that every time Ebeko mentions Kaya, she loses her frown for a moment. I think she likes him.

  Phase 3: Kaya

  Discussions with Ebeko were interrupted when Kaya and Brine arrived to conduct some experiments. Kaya wishes to establish whether Brine’s memory loss is connected to the children’s current malady. As this will aid my investigation, I readily agreed to participate and also to document the results.

  The tests consisted first of answering questions. Kaya is keen to find out how much of Brine’s old life she remembers. He calls Brine “Oshima,” which sounds strange but is apparently her real name. Next Kaya gave each of us a strange puzzle box. Each side consists of sliding panels of different shapes and sizes that you can move around. If you get the right combination, Kaya said, the box will open. It is a test of memory and intelligence.

  The box was certainly intriguing, but most intriguing was Ren’s reaction. Finally, he paid attention to what I was doing, and he tried to take the box and open it. I let him play with it for a short while before he lost interest and dropped it. Kaya says Ren does occasionally become aware of what’s around him for short periods. I have kept the box for further study.

  Kaya is the biggest puzzle of all. He is patient, kind to the children, and Brine seems to like him. The magi have devoted their lives to protecting the island, but the islanders clearly don’t like or trust the magi. And then there’s the problem of the children. What kind of man would continue to bring children here when they are all losing their minds to the same illness?

  I need to think about this. Right now, however, thinking is giving me a headache and I ought to rest. I’ll take a break from investigating and try to solve the puzzle box.

  I’m sure I meant to write more, but I can’t quite remember what.

  CHAPTER 21

  SPECIAL DRAGON SNACKS

  One handful of giant spider legs

  Oil (something strongly flavored like fish oil is good)


  Salt

  Chili pepper (lots)

  Heat the oil in a large pan. Season the spider legs with salt and plenty of chili pepper. (No need to clean them first. Dragons don’t care.) Fry in the oil until blackened and crispy. Cover in more chili pepper. Remember to wash your hands after feeding your dragon.

  (from COOKING UP A STORME—THE RECIPES OF A GOURMET PIRATE)

  The day wore on. While Brine and Tom continued memory experiments with Kaya, Peter explored the castle. Hiri and Ebeko took turns following him about “in case he needed anything.” What Peter really needed was them to go away. The servants and guards in the castle all avoided him politely, answering questions when he spoke to them but clearly not wanting to be around him. “What’s in here?” asked Peter, trying a door on one of the four towers and finding it locked.

  “Nothing,” said Hiri. “The stairs are crumbling. That tower’s been locked for years. With so few of us in the castle, we don’t need the extra space and we don’t have time to deal with repairs.”

  Hiri had plenty of time to follow a guest around the castle for a whole afternoon, though, Peter thought, making his way back inside.

  Much of the castle did look like it was in need of repair. Carpets that were worn through to holes in places, broken furniture, and when Peter ran his hands over the walls in the main hall, he found a whole patch of loose stones.

  “What are you going to do when the castle falls apart?” he asked.

  Hiri shrugged unhappily. “It won’t.”

  It would, Peter thought. The volcano wasn’t dead, Marfak West had said, it was dormant, and one day it would erupt again. That time might be sooner than any of them thought. It was a good thing Brine was back because Kaya really needed someone to come up with a plan.

  * * *

  As afternoon turned to evening, they all gathered in the main hall to eat. Kaya had filled the long table with an amazing array of food but none of them ate. Peter sat between Brine and Tom, watching Brine pick unenthusiastically at a plate of greens. Tom spent the whole time fiddling with his wooden puzzle box.

  “Each surface is made up of sliding panels,” he said. “If you line the panels up just right, the box will open. It’s quite fascinating.”

  It didn’t seem fascinating at all to Peter. The shadows slowly darkened as the sun sank lower outside. Sunset, Peter thought. That was when Marapi would declare that their rescue had failed. What would happen to Stella then?

  Then the door slammed open and Ewan Hughes came in, wearing a clean shirt and a giant grin. “Cassie woke up,” he said. “She’s back asleep now, but she’s looking better.”

  Tom glanced up from his puzzle box. “That’s nice.”

  Peter kicked him. “Tom, pay attention. Have you spoken to Trudi, Ewan? Did they make it back to the village?”

  Ewan’s grin spread even wider. “Those speakstone things really work. Trudi said they went to the village and explained what had happened. Stella was there, she said, and—Is that roasted dinosaur?”

  “Help yourself,” said Kaya drily as Ewan stuffed meat into his mouth.

  Ewan wiped his hands on his trousers. “Anyway, Marapi’s back in charge at the village, but we’ll sort that out once Cassie’s up on her feet. Trudi, Rob, and Bill are back on the Onion. Trudi said to tell you not to worry about Boswell.”

  “Who’s Boswell?” asked Kaya.

  “The cat,” said Brine quickly. “It’s my job to look after him.”

  Peter was surprised how easily Brine had lied, and how easily Kaya appeared to believe her. He glanced at Tom, but Tom had his head down over his puzzle box again.

  Ewan swallowed another mouthful of meat. “I guess we’re staying the night, then. Where do we sleep?”

  * * *

  The next morning, Brine woke, wondering why everything felt so strange, then she realized what it was: She wasn’t moving. Instead of a swaying hammock, she had a whole bed to herself—a whole bedroom, in fact, at least twice the size of Cassie’s cabin on board the Onion.

  Over breakfast—real breakfast, not last night’s leftovers—Ewan reported that Cassie was feeling better. “Still not on her feet,” he said, piling a plate up with orange cheese, “but another day’s rest should do the trick. You three can amuse yourselves here today, can’t you?”

  Brine glanced at Peter and nodded. Tom ignored her, eating with one hand and sliding panels about on his puzzle box with the other. Brine snatched it from him and slapped it down on the table. “Tom!”

  “What?” He blinked at her. “Sorry. What were you saying?”

  Kaya stood up. “Oshima, I was thinking we should tidy up one of those rooms for you to have as your own. Do you want to choose one?”

  It didn’t feel quite so strange to Brine when he called her Oshima now, and that was strange in itself—that she could accept a new name so quickly. She got up from the table. She didn’t really want to choose a room as if she was going to stay here forever, but it was a chance to spend some more time with Kaya. “Peter? Tom?” she asked.

  “Still eating,” said Peter.

  Tom yawned. “Actually, I’m really tired. I think I might go back to bed.”

  He wandered out. Brine stared after him in surprise and then looked down to see his notebook on his chair. “Tom never leaves his notebook behind,” she said.

  Ebeko snatched it off her. “I’ll give it back to him.”

  She hurried after Tom. “But—” began Brine.

  Kaya rested his hand on her shoulder, wheezing heavily. “Ebeko will take care of it. Don’t worry. There’s a very nice room in the south tower, hasn’t been used in years. Come and see.”

  Casting Peter a despairing glance, Brine followed.

  * * *

  Kaya kept her so busy for the rest of the day that Brine barely saw Tom or Peter. She ached with the need to talk to them, but Kaya was always with her and Hiri and Ebeko took it in turns hanging about so that conversation was impossible.

  “How’s Cassie?” Brine asked Ewan.

  “Sleeping again. Her leg looks completely normal now. Trudi said to tell you the cat’s missing you.”

  The cat meaning Boswell, of course. Brine missed the little dragon, too. As soon as Cassie was back on her feet, they should go and fetch him, she thought. Maybe she’d like the castle better if she had Boswell here. It was worth a try, because Kaya clearly expected her to stay. It was as if he still saw her the way she must have been three years ago. But a lot had changed since then, and Brine wasn’t the same person. Maybe Kaya would understand that in time. Or maybe in time Brine would start feeling like she belonged here again. She had to try, because she was Kaya’s daughter and he needed her. That was the whole point of a family, wasn’t it—being there for people when they needed you?

  She went to bed in her new, big room halfway up the south tower, but she couldn’t sleep. She lay there for maybe an hour, and then, sighing, she got up, pulled her clothes on, and slipped out the door.

  * * *

  Peter couldn’t sleep. He was used to lying in a hammock with Brine right above him, the sound of snoring pirates echoing back and forth. This room was too big, too quiet.

  Someone opened his door a crack. Ebeko, checking on him, Peter thought, though it was too dark to see. He lay still, breathing steadily, pretending to sleep until the door shut quietly. He stayed where he was for a while after that, then he got up and sat by the door until he was sure he couldn’t hear any noises from the castle. Kaya was hiding something, he was sure. Perhaps it was because of his experience with Marfak West, but Peter didn’t trust any magician who appeared friendly.

  On tiptoe, he slipped out of the room and ran to the stairs that led to the battlements. He didn’t stop to see whether Brine or Tom was still awake. Someone was bound to notice if they all left their rooms, but Peter was used to sneaking about the Onion. He could do this better on his own.

  A few torches burned in the corridors and on the stairs, but their light seemed to push the s
hadows together, so in certain places you couldn’t see a thing. Peter kept to the darkest patches, walking slowly so his feet didn’t make any noise on the steps.

  Above the battlements, the sky stretched dark and wide, and the constellation of Orion the dragon burned fiercely, every star looking like a tiny stab wound in the night. Peter put his hands flat on the wall and tried to feel for the tingle of magic. If the castle walls were full of spellstones, he should be able to feel the magic coming off them. It took him several seconds of concentration before he caught it: just the faintest tickling against his palms. It ought to be more than that. Nothing here made proper sense. It was like Tom’s puzzle box—if they could only get the pieces in the right order, the whole thing might open up, but at the moment it felt like there were several pieces still missing.

  A door opened. Peter shrank back into the shadows as a guard came out, looked around briefly, and went back inside. Four towers, Peter thought, and one of them was kept locked. He flexed his fingers and felt the tingle of magic in his palm. He wondered briefly whether he should go back to the library and take more starshell, but that would increase the risk of getting caught. The little bit of magic he carried with him would be enough.

  Peter had become better at opening locks since the first time he’d tried it. This one only took a couple of minutes, and that included having to stop and hide once when another guard came out.

  The door swung back soundlessly and smoothly, considering it had been locked for years and the hinges should have rusted shut. Peter took a torch from its bracket and hoped that no one would notice it was gone; then, tentatively, he opened the door and stepped through.

  * * *

  Back on the Onion, Trudi Storme was also having trouble sleeping.

  Yesterday’s conversation in the village hadn’t gone well. Marapi hadn’t won yet, but she’d acted as if she had—and so had most of the village. Trudi wished she’d brought Cerro and Stella back to the Onion, but she wasn’t quick-thinking like Cassie or good at making plans like Brine. She was just herself and she’d been worried, fed up, and had wanted to get back to the ship as quickly as possible.