I am still reading the Magician King for my novel.  Quite a bit has happened in the book since my last post.  For one thing, Julia and Quentin caught up with Josh about everything that has happened sionce they parted ways in the previous book.  Then, Josh explains how he got the money to get the mansion that he now lives in.  Sadly, Quentin is not pleased by what he hears.  Josh had gotten the money from selling a magic button that could take them to Fillory.  He also had sold it to a guy, who works for a dragon that lives in the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy.  Which happens to be where they are right now.

So, Quentin is not happy that they have to get the button back from the dragon, as nobody has really ever talked or seen a dragon.  Josh had called in a friend to help them, and her name is Poppy.  She apparently knows a lot about dragons, and practically everything thats been written in a book.  So, with her help, they determine that they will have to talk to the dragon.