their washing, tending their rooftop gardens or watching the rainbow that had just appeared over the Farmlands. At the sound of the dragon wings beating far above, they stopped and waved - or just stared in amazement. Children, let out of stuffy rooms to play in the sun, ran along the open walkways of The Ramblings. Septimus heard their voices yelling with excitement, "Dragon, dragon!" But with Marcia's words ringing in his ears, Septimus knew he did not have much time for lingering and, reluctantly, he pointed Spit Fyre in the direction of the Palace. All too soon he was approaching Billy Pot's new vegetable field.
Septimus thought he made a good landing, but Billy Pot thought otherwise.
"Careful! Watch them lettuces!" Billy yelled as Spit Fyre folded his wings and set his tail down with a dull thud on some lettuce seedlings.
Septimus slipped down from Spit Fyre's neck. "I've brought Spit Fyre," he said rather unnecessarily.
"So I see," said Billy.
Billy Pot waited while Septimus patted the dragon's neck, rubbing his hand over the smooth scales, which were still chilled from the flight. After a minute or two he said, "Well, aren't you going to introduce us?"
"Yes," said Septimus, reluctant to leave his dragon.
"Dragons are sticklers for etiquette. They like to be introduced properly."
"Do they?" asked Septimus, surprised. "Well, Spit Fyre, may I introduce Billy Pot? And Billy, this is Spit Fyre, the best dragon ever. Aren't you, Spit Fyre?" Septimus gently patted the dragon's velvety nose.
Spit Fyre ducked his head and snorted a plume of air, which scorched some nearby carrot tops. Billy stepped up close. He met Spit Fyre's red-rimmed dragon eye and said, "I am honored to make your acquaintance, Mr. Spit Fyre."
Spit Fyre leaned his head to one side, considering what Billy Pot had said. Then he ducked his head once more and pushed his nose into Billy's rough tweed coat. Billy staggered back with the push and fell into a bed of parsley. But he jumped straight back on his feet and, after wiping his muddy hands on his corduroy tunic, he patted Spit Fyre's neck. "There," he said, "I can tell we'll be friends."
Chapter 18 IN PIECES
J enna was making her way back to the Palace. The squall that had caught Marcia and Septimus in Wizard Way had ambushed her, too. The driving rain stung her eyes and the wind sent her cloak flapping around her ankles as if it were trying to trip her up. Jenna put her head down and ran, one hand holding on to Ullr and her cloak, the other tightly clasping Nicko's notes and Snorri's precious map. She headed straight past the Palace Gates and ran for the relative shelter of the alleyway at the side of the Palace, which would take her to the kitchen garden. As she scooted into the alley she was going fast - so fast that even if she had been looking she would not have had time to stop - when a dark, lanky figure dashed around the corner and hurtled toward her.
The collision with Merrin sent Jenna flying backward; she hit the wall with a thud that knocked the breath out of both her and Ullr. Merrin went sprawling to the ground but, like a gangly spider, he scrambled back onto his feet. He glared angrily at Jenna and raced off, determined not to be late.
Dazed, Jenna allowed Ullr to untangle himself from her cloak. She stood up and rubbed the back of her head, where a large bump was already beginning to form. For a moment she felt confused and, as she glanced down, she wondered about the strange brown confetti floating in the puddles at her feet.
And then she knew.
Feeling suddenly sick, Jenna kneeled down and stared in disbelief. All Nicko's notes - and worse, Snorri's map - had been crushed in the collision and were now in hundreds of wet pieces on the ground. Their last chance of finding Nicko was gone.
Beetle was wandering slowly across the front of the Palace, oblivious to the rain, which was soaking through his woolen jacket and finding its way into his boots. The excitement of the last bizarre hour he had spent with Septimus and Jenna had evaporated in the downpour, and Beetle had begun worrying about what awaited him at the Manuscriptorium. He wondered if Marcia had already paid a visit to inform Jillie Djinn that he had been in the company of the Alchemist. Beetle was also worrying about how to get