Beetle, Milo and the Wizards walked the Dragon Boat along the narrow confines of the Cut and guided her out into the Moat. Jenna, Nicko and Septimus looked at one another, remembering the night—so long ago now—that they had brought her there, wounded and dying.

“I never thought we’d all be here again. Like this,” said Nicko.

“I did,” said Jenna. “I knew we would. One day.”

While the Wizard escort made their way out of the boatyard, the Dragon Boat floated out into the middle of the Moat. She was watched in awe not only by Beetle, Milo and Eustace Bott, but also by a small boy in an attic window above the Castle Wall. Even Jannit Maarten looked mildly impressed as the dragon’s magnificent wings—neatly folded along the hull—began to move slowly upward and unfurl until they were spread so wide the wing tips touched both banks of the Moat.

“Ready?” Septimus called down to his crew.

“Aye,” said Nicko, lapsing into sailor-speak.

“Ready!” called Jenna.

“Septimus! Septimus!” a shout came from the boatyard.

“Wait,” said Septimus. “There’s Rose.”

Breathless, Rose reached the edge of the Cut. “I’ve”—puff, puff—“got something for you. From Marcia. Here!” She waved her arm.

“Chuck it over, then,” said Nicko.

Rose shook her head. “I’m a really bad shot,” she called. “It might fall in the water.”

“I can row you out,” Eustace offered. “I got my boat.” He pointed to a small rowboat tied up to the bank.

“Oh Eustace, you’re a star!” said Rose.

Eustace blushed. No one had ever called him a star before. A few minutes later Rose was standing on tiptoe, leaning against the smooth, burnished gold of the Dragon Boat’s hull, and Septimus was stretching down to take a small velvet Charm bag, in which he knew was the Flyte Charm.

“She’s such a beautiful boat,” said Rose shyly. “Does she really fly too?”

“Like a bird,” said Septimus.

“Wow . . .” Rose breathed. “That is just so . . . wow.”

“Are we going or what?” demanded Nicko.

“Oh, sorry, I’ll get out of your way,” said Rose.

“You’re not in our way,” said Septimus, reluctant to see Rose go.

“Oh, but I am. Good luck. I’ll be thinking of you.”

“Yeah. Me too.”

“Oh, for goodness’ sake,” said Nicko. “Get the girl on board and stop fussing.”

“Gosh!” said Rose. “I wish. But . . .”

“Marcia would have a fit,” Septimus finished for her.

“Yes, she would.” Rose smiled. “Well, safe journey.”

The Dragon Boat got ready for takeoff. She pushed down the tip of her tail and stretched out her neck as though reaching for something far away, and then with a loud thwoosh her wings came down, sending water splashing onto the banks and Eustace Bott’s boat rocking. She began to move down the long, straight section of the Moat in front of the boatyard, slow at first but soon picking up speed. Seven wingbeats later Nicko felt the thrum of the water running below the hull disappear and he suddenly remembered how disturbing it felt to be in a boat that flew.

Septimus, however, felt utterly at home. He was surprised how much flying the Dragon Boat felt like flying Spit Fyre. Confidently, he pushed the tiller away from him, wheeling the creature up above the Castle walls. A continuing gentle pressure on the tiller brought the Dragon Boat around once more above the boatyard where Beetle, Milo and Eustace Bott waved. Jannit, however, stood impassive, arms folded, not at all pleased to see her Senior Apprentice going absent without leave—although she was more than pleased to see that that wretched dragon was going too.

As the Dragon Boat flew high up above the Castle, Spit Fyre—like the dutiful son he was—followed her. But Septimus had yet to realize that Spit Fyre was coming too. All the Dragon Boat’s passengers had eyes for was what they could see far below: the Wizard escort now gathered outside the Manuscriptorium around the bodies of Ernold and Edmund Heap.

39

INTRUDERS

Simon was home for an early lunch when he and Lucy—like the rest of the Castle—had received the Alert. Every house that had accepted the Alert system now possessed a small luminescent box beside their front door, which normally glowed a dull green. When this was Activated by the Wizard Tower, the box turned a brilliant red (or yellow for practice drills). The door of the box then flew open and released the Lert—which looked like a large red hornet—which proceeded to buzz noisily through the house and Alert everyone there. Lucy hated the Lert.