When the heart craved something so forcefully, then reason became nothing but helpless observer.

Why do grown-ups think it's easier for children to bear secrets than the truth? Don't they know about the horror stories we imagine to explain the secrets?

And I plan to write a sequel to Dragon Rider.

Children, they're the same everywhere. Greedy little creatures but the best listeners in the world - any world. The very best of all.

Reality is a fragile thing.

So it's happened, I kept thinking, you're in the middle of a story exactly as you've always wanted, and it's horrible. Fear tastes quite different when you're not just reading about it, Meggie, and playing hero wasn't half as much fun as I'd expected.

Quite suddenly Meggie felt fear rise in her like black brackish water, she felt lost, terribly lost, she felt it in every part of her. She didn't belong here! What had she done?