Dragon Storm: Connor and Lightspirit

LIGHTSPIRIT

Eight months before...

From where he stood, Connor could see the universe.

It was night, and freezing cold; the sky above him was clear and the air sparkled with frost. The moon was a thin, faint crescent. Far below him, the city of Rivven was dark; most people were asleep, and only a few torches flickered.

Connor was standing on the roof of a small building at the edge of the Royal Palace grounds, which sat upon a huge rock that

towered over the city. He could see all of Rivven, and the hills beyond it, and the sea, sparkling silver in the darkness. There was no sun, hardly any moon, no other lights. There were only the stars … and the stars were glorious.

They glowed and shimmered so thickly they were like a cloud across the sky. The building

CONNOR AND LIGHTSPIRIT

he was standing on was Observer’s Point, the home of the Royal Astronomer. Connor peered through the eyepiece of a huge beautiful brass telescope, and the stars gazed back at him so brightly he felt he could reach out and touch them.

The biggest star was the planet Talis, which looked like a huge pale circle, or a silver coin.

Connor thought that sometimes he could even make out faint patterns across it. Some people believed Talis was a goddess. Others said it was a wandering star. But Connor had different ideas. He wondered what their own world would look like from so far away. Would it look like this, like a coin shining in the dark?

Could Talis be a world like theirs?

It was almost midnight and, peering through the telescope again, Connor saw what he’d been waiting for – a tiny mark, like a fly on the lens, creeping over the surface of the planet. It was hardly a speck, but Connor thought he knew what it was. He wrote some notes in his book, and then checked again. Connor loved this. He loved peering through the telescope and making his careful observations, and thinking his thoughts.

CONNOR AND LIGHTSPIRIT

Above all, he loved having the rooftop to himself. He wasn’t lonely. In fact, at times, surrounded by just the night and the stars, he almost felt like someone was with him, watching with him. Sometimes he almost thought he could see something, like a shape in his mind, two circles – no, more like…

Connor frowned. The image of Talis had blurred. Carefully he reached out and turned the small brass screw to adjust the focus…

And a face appeared at the end of the telescope. A face that was as big as the planet!

“Argh!” Connor leapt away from the eyepiece and stared up. There was nothing there. He blinked, then looked once more…

The face was there again! Not human

but not an animal either. It was green and purple, with a long slender snout, pointy ears and thick eye ridges. Green eyes looked back at him. It was like nothing he’d ever seen before! And yet…

Slowly Connor looked away from the eyepiece and stared upwards. There was something there – a half-shape in the darkness, peering down

into the lens. It glanced up and saw him and, with a quick movement like a cat, it looped twice round the huge telescope and came down to the rooftop.

It was much bigger than a cat – bigger than Connor even. It had four paws, and was long, like a snake, but thicker. It tipped its head to one side and examined Connor, and he stared back, open-mouthed.

They watched each other for a few seconds. Then the creature pointed a claw towards the sky and said, “What do you think it is?” Its voice was curious and precise.

You can talk! Connor thought. He stammered and finally answered, “Talis. It’s a planet—”

“Yes, yes,” said the creature, nodding impatiently. “Talis, second-brightest planet in the night sky. I know that. But what do you think the dot is?”

Connor shook his head. “I, ah … I thought it might be…”

“I think it’s a moon,” said the creature.

Connor gaped. “Yes!” he exclaimed. “Yes, I do too! Because it passes over the surface—”

“And you think it’s casting a shadow, yes? Well, if it is a moon, it must be, oh, let’s see, about a tenth of the size of Talis perhaps?”

“Well,” Connor found himself saying, “well, it depends on its orbit, of course.”

“Oh, of course!” the creature agreed, nodding. “But if it’s the same as our moon—”

“Excuse me,” interrupted Connor.

The creature stopped. “Yes?”

“Um... What are you?” Connor blushed. “I mean, sorry, that’s rude. I mean—”

“Good question!” said the creature. “Well, the evidence indicates that I’m… Hmm. Do you know, I rather think I’m a dragon.”

It looked down at itself as if for the first time. “Yes,” it murmured. “I’m a dragon. And

logic suggests that I am your dragon, or, rather, you are my human? Yes! How intriguing!”

“But dragons don’t exist,” said Connor, trying to sound sensible.

“Really?” said the creature, in an interested voice. “Fascinating! You have proof?”

“Um…” Connor stopped. “Well, no. But dragons are a myth. Nobody’s seen one for a thousand years. The stories say they left…”

“Ah…” The creature thought for a moment. It looked up at the stars. “My name,” it said, “is … Lightspirit. And if your stories say that the dragons left –” it grinned – “then it seems we’re coming back.”

CONNOR

Eight months later...

“Checkmate!” said Connor, moving his knight across with a sharp click, and he sat back.

“Oh, well done!” said Lightspirit. His friend Mira gasped, staring at the chessboard in shock. “What? No way, I was about to win!”

Connor grinned. “It was a trap!”

Beside Mira sat a creature not much bigger than her. His body was angular, with strange brown and bronze markings, as if he was made

of metal and wood. His front paws were crossed, and he was glaring at the board. His name was Flameteller, and he was a dragon.

It had been eight months since that evening on the roof of the Observatory, but sometimes it felt like yesterday. Connor could still remember it and Lightspirit’s delight at everything.

CONNOR AND LIGHTSPIRIT

(“Wings!” she’d exclaimed, flapping two rather small, stubby wings on her back. “Wonderful!”)

That evening they’d learned that she could fade out of this world but still stay connected as a voice in Connor’s head. Their bond seemed to break when Connor slept, although he found it easy to connect again. Two days later, a man named Malik had come to visit Connor’s parents. Connor’s school grades were excellent, he told them. The king’s clerks were looking for a new apprentice. A smart lad could advance from there to a great career in the diplomatic service – would Connor be interested…?

But when Connor joined, he’d discovered far more. Malik was the king’s clerk, but not just that. There were others like Connor: children who had found dragons. People like Malik had devoted their lives to finding them, and bringing them here – to the Guild

Hall, the heart of the Dragonseer Guild.

Watching Connor play chess was his friend Tom, with Ironskin, a large creature, red like glowing iron in a forge. Beside him sat Erin, with the enormous and fierce-looking Rockhammer. Kai and Ellis chatted over a map of the city. Kai’s dragon, Boneshadow, had white skin and a deep red mark on her chest. Ellis loved exploring and his dragon, Pathseeker, was like him – sturdy and

practical and often gazing into the distance, wondering what was over the next hill…

“Your bishop move was a mistake,” said Cara, next to Connor.

Cara was slim and quiet, and her dragon, Silverthief, was the same, with mottled skin almost like camouflage. “If Mira had brought her rook up, you’d have been in trouble.”

Connor shook his head. “I was ready for that,” he said loftily. “When you’ve played a bit more, you’ll understand.”

Cara studied him. Her eyes were pale, almost silver. “Hmm. Perhaps—”

“Time for class!” called Kai, as Vice Chancellor Creedy strode towards them.

Connor laughed. “Any time you want a lesson, Cara, just ask!”

As the young dragonseers entered their classroom, Lightspirit and the other dragons faded out of view, but Connor could still hear her voice in his mind.

You know, I think Cara was right, she said.

Connor grinned. He knew she was right; he’d seen it as soon as she’d pointed it out, but he wasn’t going to admit it. The first rule of winning was to not let others see your weakness…

Creedy stomped to the front of the class. He was a grim-faced man, who was usually dressed in grey and black like a grumpy raven. He taught history and dragon riding.

“Settle down,”

he called, and the children fell silent. But before he could begin, there was a knock at the door, and Lady Berin entered.

“Good afternoon,”

she said. “Sorry to interrupt, Mr Creedy. May I speak with the children?”

Creedy nodded curtly and Berin faced them. She was tall, with thick white hair and a kind face. She wore blue robes and carried a staff with a bright-blue jewel. She was the chancellor of the Dragonseer Guild.

“I want to talk to you all about what’s happening,” she said, and Connor and the others sat up.

Life in the Dragonseer Guild was wonderful, and Connor wouldn’t swap it for anything. But there were risks. Outside, dragons were feared, not loved. Most people thought them to be myths – there were old stories of terrifying monsters that caused destruction wherever they went. The dragonseers had to keep their abilities, and their dragons, secret. But, even so, danger seemed to be coming closer.

“As you know,” said Berin, “Connor and Erin have recently returned from our lodge at Stillness. While they were there, the lodge

CONNOR AND LIGHTSPIRIT

was attacked. Mr Creedy was injured, and an ancient magical artefact, the Solace Stone, was stolen.”

Creedy scowled and touched a scar on his head. It was true. Connor, Erin and Creedy had only survived because Erin’s dragon, Rockhammer, had saved them.

Berin said, “People are scared of dragons, and scared people do strange things. But something else is going on. Someone is holding a dragon prisoner in the Royal Palace. Someone is building a new army. Someone … is gathering power.”

“King Godfic,” said Connor.

Berin hesitated. “Yes,” she said quietly.

“We believe so.”

She glanced around the classroom. “I’m sure Mr Creedy has taught you about the Dragon Storm: a terrible time, when dragons and humans became corrupted by power and waged war. The dragons were sickened by what they had become, and left this world.

They did not return for a thousand years. He may not have told you that the Dragon Storm began with a man who captured a dragon and called himself the Dragon King.”

The room was silent. Mira, in a nervous voice, asked, “Will there be another war?”

“No,” said Berin firmly. “We will not provoke one, or allow one. I will not.”

Connor noticed a curious thing then –as Berin spoke, an odd, angry expression

flickered across Creedy’s face. But then his usual scowl returned. Berin smiled.

“I don’t want to alarm everyone, but you should know the truth. We are preparing.

We are readying our defences here in the Guild. And we are carefully contacting people who can help. We are keeping calm, and I ask that you all do the same.”

She nodded. “That is all. Thank you, Mr Creedy.”

When she had left, the children all started speaking at the same time.

“QUIET,” bellowed Creedy. He glared at them, though he seemed distracted. He shook his head. “A challenge for you today,” he said. He turned and wrote something on the board.

It was a long string of letters with no spaces. They made no sense. In fact, some weren’t even letters but strange symbols, almost pictures: a small fish, an eye, a fist; others Connor didn’t recognise at all…

“What is it?” asked Cara.

“You tell me,” said Creedy. “Let’s call it a contest.”

CONNOR AND LIGHTSPIRIT

“Is there a prize?” asked Erin.

Creedy gave a thin smile. “The prize,” he said, “is to be the one who is right.”And with that, he turned and left.

The children looked at each other. “What was that?” asked Mira.

Fascinating! came Lightspirit’s voice. Do you know what it means?

Connor gazed at the board. “No…” he murmured.

Slowly he reached for his notebook and copied the letters out.

THE CODE

“It must be a code,” said Kai. “A secret code?”

“Maybe,” said Mira. “But what?”

“Perhaps it’s something simple,” said Kai’s dragon, Boneshadow. “Perhaps all the A’s actually mean E’s, and the little fish pictures are B’s or something?”

They’d moved outside so that the dragons could join them, and were gathered round a table with the letters and symbols written out.

CONNOR AND LIGHTSPIRIT

“We’ll need a key,” said Ellis. “Something to tell us which letter means what.”

“What do you think, Connor?” asked Lightspirit.

Connor peered at it. “Maybe…” he said doubtfully.

“Those symbols remind me of something,” said Lightspirit. “An old language perhaps?”

“We could try all the combinations,” said Mira. She grabbed a piece of paper and started drawing a big grid of letters.

Connor frowned. He loved this kind of puzzle, but only when it was just him and Lightspirit. He moved a little bit away and stared at his notebook.

“It’s not a code,” he said later. “Or not a normal code. I don’t know why, but I’m sure.”

It was after lunch, and Connor and Lightspirit were still staring at the symbols.

The dragon frowned. “Then what could it be? It’s no language I’ve ever seen. Although some of it…”

The air rippled, and Cara’s head appeared.

“I think it’s Cabaryc,” she said.

Connor yelped and fell backwards. There was a shimmer, like a sheet of thick glass, and the rest of Cara appeared, and, behind her, the dragon Silverthief.

“That’s not funny!” complained Connor,

sitting up. “You can’t use Silver’s power to spy on people!”

Silverthief smirked. “We only did it to make you jump!” she said. Lightspirit snorted crossly.

Every dragon had a power, something special that only they could do. Drun, who helped the young dragonseers with their

summoning, liked to say: “No one knows what a dragon’s power will be, but it’ll be somethin’ you need, and it’ll happen when you need it.”

Connor didn’t know what Lightspirit’s power would be, or when it would happen. Each dragon was unique. Tom’s dragon, Ironskin, was loyal and protective, and could make a magic shield. Mira and Flameteller loved tinkering, and Flameteller could talk to machinery and hear what it was saying. And Silverthief had survived on the streets of Rivven with Cara, hidden in shadows. She could turn herself invisible and make others invisible too…

“Anyway, the code,” said Cara, “I think it’s Cabaryc.”

CONNOR AND LIGHTSPIRIT

The Cabar were people of the far north, whalers and fur traders. Their language was very different, even their alphabet. But Connor frowned.

“No. They don’t use our letters at all, and some of these symbols aren’t in the Cabaryc alphabet.”

“Perhaps it’s old,” suggested Lightspirit. “Have the symbols changed?”

Connor pursed his lips. “Perhaps…”

“Why do you think Creedy gave us this?” asked Cara suddenly.

Connor shrugged. “For a challenge? A test?”

“Hmm.” She sounded doubtful. “I think he’s up to something.”

Connor hesitated. No one was quite sure about Creedy. Berin seemed to trust him, but a few times recently his behaviour had been … odd. Tom had seen him talking to a stranger the night a dragon had set fire to the town. Cara was convinced he’d tried to steal a dragon’s secrets, and when Connor and Erin had been at the lodge at Stillness, Creedy had disappeared just as the soldiers attacked…

But Connor shook his head. “I think he’s OK.”

“You say that because he likes you,” said Cara. “But he only likes the ones who do well in class. He’s mean to Erin, haven’t you noticed?”

That idea made Connor uncomfortable, so he tried to ignore it. He looked back at the code. He had a feeling that it wasn’t Cabaryc, or Borolan, or Vennish, or any of the languages he knew. Not even an ancient version of them. But perhaps … perhaps it was all of them? All jumbled up, by someone who knew them so well they could hop from one to the other…?

“We think it’s lots of languages!” said Kai.

It was later, and they were getting ready for self-defence class.

“All mixed up!” said Mira excitedly.

“Borolan, Vennish and something else!”

“That’s what Connor thinks too!” said

Lightspirit. “Borolan, Vennish and Cabaryc, isn’t that right, Connor?”

Connor frowned. “Yes.” He felt slightly cross. It was something he’d figured out.

“Cabaryc, eh?” said Ellis. “From the snow lands…” He pulled out an old guide from his bag. Ellis loved exploring and always had some scroll or map of faraway worlds. Now he pointed. “Look – it’s the same symbols!”

“But what does it mean?” asked Kai. “My Cabaryc isn’t very good. Um … horrible … something, something?”

Connor sighed. “Mysterious angry rock,” he said. “That’s all I’ve got so far.”

“That can’t be the answer, can it?” said Mira, puzzled.

Connor shrugged. Surely not…

“Good afternoon!” trilled Daisy, the selfdefence instructor. “We’ll be practising staff-fighting today.”

“Yes!” cheered Erin, punching the air.

Connor groaned. Erin loved fighting, but Connor wasn’t very good at it, and he’d much rather be working on the puzzle.