"To sum it up," Tiger spoke in a low voice, "losing all of their Heartscales is a massive blow to the Empire, but it’s also completely enraged them."

Tiger continued, "Since the explosion at the lab, the Empire has intensified the hunt for Rebecca and me. Even Martin has been pulled in for questioning a few times."

Leon frowned slightly. "Did they go after Martin?"

Martin had been the youngest of Leon's comrades, and he had joined the Empire's dragon-slaying army purely out of admiration for Leon. When Martin learned that the Empire and Viktor intended to frame Leon, he …