In the Time of Dragon Moon by Janet Lee Carey

dragons. She didn’t know what had happened to Father, unless Vazan had flown home to Devil’s Boot and told her. My hands went clammy.
    Jackrun stood again. “I’d like to see Devil’s Boot someday.”
    â€œIt’s a lush and dangerous place,” I said with pride.
    â€œYes, with a living volcano, so I’ve heard.”
    That living volcano had saved us when I was small. I had terrible memories of the English army burning our village, marching us south, closer to the mountain. When we reached the foothills, Mount Uther had rumbled, and spewed smoke and molten lava. The English army fled. We celebrated that year and every year after that with our explosive volcano dance. The only dance the red dragons admired, aside from the one we did on Dragon Moon.
    Jackrun said, “I plan to explore all of Wilde Island.”
    â€œYou’ve never seen it?”
    â€œWe’ve kept clear of it.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œIt is a long story, Uma Quarteney.”
    â€œBecause you are the Son of the Prophecy?” I asked.
    He looked surprised. “Some call me that. The firstborn with dragon, human, and fairy blood was supposed to be king, able to rule everyone, every race fairly. My mother married the wrong brother for that.”
    I rubbed the long scar on my palm. “Rule every race fairly? Even the Euit people? My people?”
    â€œOf course. Your people deserve respect like anyone else,” he said.
    Not if you ask Prince Desmond,
I thought. “That would be very different than it has ever been before.”
    â€œIt was all a dream anyway. My mother made her own choice. She infuriated the fairies, especially my grandfather. My parents fled Wilde Island to escape his vengeful magic, and took sanctuary here before I was born.”
    â€œAnd you’ve been safe here on Dragon’s Keep?”
    â€œIt depends what you mean by safe. We haven’t gone unpunished.” He hefted my father’s trunk.
    I blocked him. “I will take one end.”
    He shook his head. “You guide us up to the road with the torch while I carry it for you, Uma Quarteney.” I surprised myself, letting him. He carried it along the bluff toward the castle with ease.
    â€œIt’s a long way from Devil’s Boot to Pendragon Castle. I envy your journey. You must have seen the whole east coast of Wilde Island along the way.”
    He looked wistful, imagining a pleasant journey on horseback, not at all like the one I’d taken locked in Prince Desmond’s jail cart.
As soon as Mother sees you and your boy here, she’ll realize you’re a fraud. Healing infertile women. Ha. That’s a joke. I bet you used your prick, old man.
    Jackrun must have heard me moan. I hadn’t meant to make a sound. “You’re tired after the long voyage,” he said. “I’ll take you to your room. Then I’ll have to leave you and dress for dinner. My mother has planned an elaborate feast. The Great Hall will be crammed with islanders to welcome the king.”
    â€œBut no dragons?”
    He laughed. “I would love to squeeze them in, but our Great Hall is not
that
great.”
    â€œThe queen will be relieved.”
    â€œAnd you? Will you be relieved?” He looked at me out of the corner of his eye.
    â€œI won’t be there.”
    â€œWhy? You must be hungry after the voyage.”
    â€œI have work to do.”
    The wind followed us through the open double doors, troubling my torch and the ones in the wall sconces. Servants hurrying down the hall with food trays stopped to bow to Jackrun before going on.
    We mounted the spiral stairs in one of the four castle towers. “Tell me about the red dragons who live down south near your volcano,” Jackrun said. “I’ve never seen one.”
    â€œThey are fiercely independent.”
    â€œLike you?” he asked.
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œI had to fight to carry this