She stepped away from Henry, now able to stand on her own.
“Thank you,” she said, bowing again to the men. Inside, she wanted to run up and hug them all. Meeting these men was just as amazing as meeting Zohar. Actually, even a little more, because her grandfather was here. But she didn’t want to make a scene and have them think her immature. So, she kept her excitement inside, bubbling.
Eason’s face lit with pride. “Thank you, granddaughter. If you hadn’t come, we would still be in chains.”
“It was fate,” Kingsley said.
“Yes, it was.” Eason turned to the others. “We need a plan.”
“Are you going to rescue my mother?” Anna asked.
“Your mother will be freed,” Eason said. “But first, we have to get out of this dungeon and find a way to stop Malzador.”
“Can I ask you guys a question?” Henry asked.
“Sure, but it’ll have to be quick,” Belnus replied.
“How did you get captured? I mean, aren’t you the strongest Sorcerers in the land?”
A grin rose on their faces, but it was Weston who answered. “They captured us while we were at our most vulnerable . . . while we were sleeping, and cast a spell to keep us asleep. They brought us here and somehow drained our power, which aged us. After that, they put us in these cells. The chains are made of raw iron and have an enchantment upon them. Being in such a weakened state, we couldn’t escape.”
“Didn’t you guys create these cells?” Henry asked.
“We did,” Belnus replied this time. “But we never thought they would be used against us.”
Henry nodded, satisfied with the answer. “So, what’s the plan?”
“First, we get out of this dungeon,” Eason replied.
Henry shot him a thumbs-up. “I love that plan.”
Eason led them up the stairs, but stopped abruptly.
“It’s a trap,” he yelled as a heavy, dark net dropped on top of them.
Henry shoved Anna backward, just in time. She tumbled down the stairs, and when she hit the bottom, realized she was the only one free. Crawling into the shadows, she slunk around the corner.
Eason and the others tried to summon their power, but the net was enchanted and their powers useless.
Then, from the top of the stairwell, a figure emerged.
“Ahhh, the fathers of Misteria, caught in a net. It’s quite amusing,” Malzador laughed wickedly. “Trying to escape while the Goblins were gone? It seems you’ve underestimated me.” From behind his back, Malzador revealed a crystal ball. It flickered to life, playing a scene of Eason and Anna touching hands in the cell. Then of him setting the others free, and introducing them to Anna.
Anna stayed still and quiet at the bottom of the stairs, listening. She glanced around the corner, and saw Belnus’s turquoise eyes staring at her.
“Run. Hide,” his lips said silently.
She pressed back into the shadows. But where would she run? Behind her was a dead end of cells.
“You think you can outwit the fathers of Misteria?” Kingsley boomed. “You’re nothing but a young, insignificant speck, polluting our great land.”
Malzador’s evil laugh sent a chill down Anna’s spine. “From my point of view, this insignificant speck seems to have the upper hand. I see four, tired, and old Sorcerers who’ve been easily captured. I also know you are creating a diversion to draw attention away from the girl.”
Anna took off running down the dark hallway. She’d always had someone with her, and now, at the worst possible moment, she was alone. There was nowhere to go or hide. She was as good as captured.
“You cannot hide from me, girl.” Malzador’s words reverberated down the dungeon’s corridor. “Bring her back to me, alive,” he ordered the Goblins. “And take these has-beens to the courtyard and prepare them for the ceremony.”
“Yes, Master,” they replied in unison.
Anna’s heart thundered in her chest as she reached a stone wall at the end of the hallway. The Goblins were coming and there was no way out. She knew she’d either have to go quietly, or fight.
She turned, readying for a fight. But instead of the Goblins, there was a ball of light fluttering toward her.
“Anna,” a familiar voice called from the light.
“Ashlyn?”
“Yes. Follow me!” The light entered one of the cells as the Goblins hit the last step.
“There she is,” A Goblin hollered, pointing at Anna.
Anna sprinted for the cell and slid inside, slamming the cell door shut behind her. On the back wall, she spotted Ashlyn landing in a small hole, about five inches wide.
“There is no way I’m fitting through that.”
Ashlyn held a vial up to her. “Drink,” she demanded.
Without hesitation, Anna took the vial and poured the contents into her mouth. It was sweet and as soon as it traveled down her throat she felt tingly. The walls around her elongated, and the next time she blinked, Ashlyn was flying down to her.
“Am I?” Anna was dizzy.
“Pixie-sized,” Ashlyn chimed. “Now, grab hold of my hand and don’t let go.”
Anna grabbed the Sprite’s hand and they immediately took to flight.
Goblins stormed the cell as Ashlyn flapped her tiny wings, struggling to carry them up, up, up toward the hole—their only exit.
“There!” A Goblin yelled, kicking the cell door open and charging after them with a long spear.
“Hurry!” Anna screamed.
Ashlyn pushed her wings harder and faster as the Goblin’s hand reached for them. Just in time, they tumbled inside the hole.
“No!” The Goblin’s elongated fingers poked in after them, grasping Anna’s foot between two of them.
Anna screamed as he dragged her back. Ashlyn dove forward and grabbed hold of her wrists, tugging her in the opposite direction. Kicking with all her might, Anna’s shoe slid off, setting her free.
Ashlyn yanked her back, and they scurried on hands and knees out of the Goblin’s reach.
“Blasted insect,” the Goblin growled, his huge eye peeking into the hole.
“I’m a Pixie, you ugly oaf!” Ashlyn hollered, blowing Pixie dust into his eye.
“Ooow!” The Goblin wailed, staggering back.
“Run!” Ashlyn hollered.
They both sprinted down the dark hole as the angry Goblin thrust his spear in after them, missing them by threads.
“She’s escaped!” the Goblin shouted. “What are we going to tell the master?”
“It wasn’t our fault the insect got in,” another answered.
“We better get out of here before he finds out.”
As soon as the Goblins were gone, Ashlyn’s body began to glow, illuminating the pitch black tunnel.
“How are you doing that?” Anna asked.
“We’re all born with the ability to glow.”
“That is so amazing,” Anna exhaled. She was happy Ashlyn was safe, and that she wasn’t alone anymore. “What happened to you? I was so worried when we lost you in the forest and when you didn’t show up in the ruins.”
Ashlyn’s eyes widened. “You were worried about me?”
“Of course I was.”
“I’m sorry,” Ashlyn sighed. “When the Howlers came, I hid. And when I returned, everyone was gone. But I’m here now, aren’t I?”
“Yes, you are. And just in time,” Anna said, hugging her friend, and Ashlyn hugged her back. “How much farther is it to the exit?”
“Not much, but I have to warn you . . . it opens into the courtyard, which happens to be crawling with smelly Goblins and countless evil creatures. So, we’ll have to be extra careful.”
Anna groaned, not wanting to see another Goblin for as long as she lived.
“I saw Will,” Ashlyn said.
“How is he?”
“He was broken, but I fixed him with Fairy magic. He’s with Raven and the Centaurs now and should be heading this way.”
Anna’s
insides were dancing, hearing her brother was alive and doing okay. She couldn’t wait to tell him about Eason and the others.
“You were right, Ashlyn.”
“About what?”
“When I met you, you insisted on coming with us because you said we needed someone as cunning as you. And you were right. We wouldn’t have made it this far without you.”
“You mean that?”
“With my whole heart,” Anna said. “And when this is all over, everyone in Misteria will know of Ashlyn, the brave and fearless Pixie who healed Will and rescued Anna from the Goblins.”
Ashlyn paused and smiled. “Thank you,” she said, glowing a bit brighter. “Oh. I guess I should tell you that the potion I gave you won’t last long. We need to get you out of this hole quickly.”
Anna’s heart nearly stopped. “What will happen if it runs out while I’m still in here?”
Ashlyn’s grimace was her answer.
“I’ll be crushed to death in this tiny hole, won’t I?”
Ashlyn nodded.
“How long do I have? How much further are we?” Anna’s growing anxiety suddenly made her claustrophobic, and she found herself breathing harder and faster.
“I don’t know. But you should know when the change is coming. You’ll start to feel real tingly and really dizzy.”
Anna moaned. “Can we move faster?”
“Yes, lets,” Ashlyn replied picking up the pace.
In no time, they were standing at the exit. Directly outside, the courtyard was bustling with every evil creature imaginable.
“Look.” Ashlyn’s tiny finger aimed up at the moon. “It’s beginning.”
A quarter of the blood moon was darkened . . . the eclipse had begun.
In the center of the courtyard were five wooden poles set upright in a circle. In the center of the circle was a large stone altar. Chained to a large troll off to the side, was Zohar.
“Oh no!” Anna’s heart pinched with pain when she saw the Unicorn.
Pandemonium erupted as the Goblins dragged Eason and the other Sorcerers toward the center. Beasts and creatures went wild, cheering, growling, and snapping their sharp teeth as the Sorcerers walked by—demeaning the creators of Misteria—the men that had been here since the beginning.
Rage filled Anna. She wanted to use her power, wanted to throw it at every wicked, disgusting creature and watch their heads explode. Her nails dug into her palms, hoping she’d get a chance.
The Goblins bound each of the Sorcerers to a pole, facing each other.
Henry was dragged off to the side, his wrists bound and attached to a large Troll guard on the opposite side of Zohar. Thankfully, he seemed unharmed.
“They still don’t have the last Sorcerer. See?” Ashlyn pointed to an empty pole.
Rhyder was out there, somewhere, so there was still hope.
Stuck inside the tiny hole, Anna and Ashlyn watched more creatures fill the courtyard. Her nose burned and eyes watered as the vile stench wafted toward them.
“How are we going to get out of here without being seen?” Anna whispered. “There are too many of them.”
Suddenly, the earth quaked, and somewhere in the distance, a loud roar made every being in the courtyard go wild.
All eyes snapped up to the sky.
“What is it?” Anna asked, anxious and terrified at the thought of the potion wearing off.
“I don’t know.” Ashlyn stretched her neck out of the hole, trying to catch a glimpse. “I can’t see anything.”
In seconds, all the beasts around them scattered, as three huge Dragons whizzed by, dangerously low.
“No,” Anna gasped, spotting the silver Dragon at the front.
Right behind Rhyder, less than a wingspan away, was the black Dragon, Slag. He was fast and agile, catching up to Rhyder quickly. With an extra push, Slag opened his large jaws and sunk his razor-sharp teeth into Rhyder’s tail.
The silver Dragon roared in pain. He whipped his long tail, causing Slag to slam into the outer wall of the courtyard. Rubble blasted inward, as if shot from a dozen cannons, obliterating everything in its path. Creatures were pelted with debris, some killed instantly.
Utter mayhem broke out. Blayze circled overhead, and atop him was Malzador, orchestrating the attack.
“We have a chance,” Ashlyn said, grabbing hold of Anna’s hand. “If their attention keeps to the sky, we can slip out.”
There were still a dozen Goblins, a Troll, and two Howlers inches from their escape, but Anna knew she couldn’t stay much longer. She was feeling tingly and wanted to get as far away from the courtyard as she could before returning to her normal size.
As the Dragons circled above, Blayze dove down, slamming into Rhyder’s side. So hard, Anna could feel the reverberations within the wall. With Slag’s jaw still clamped tight on Rhyder’s tail, the red Dragon sunk its talons into his silver wings.
Rhyder roared in agony as the talons shredded the delicate membranes.
Anna could hardly bear it. Her heart was being shattered, watching them injure her mentor.
Beasts scattered to safety as the three Dragons plummeted from the sky, heading straight for the courtyard. Malzador leaped off of Blayze before they crashed. Dragon limbs tumbled and coiled around each other—until they came to a stop, not more than eighty yards from the Sorcerers. Those unfortunate to be in their path were leveled and crushed.
Rhyder fought hard, but he was injured and overpowered.
“Now!” Ashlyn grabbed Anna’s arm and flew out of the hole, right into the middle of chaos.
Rupe, with Will on his back, slowed to a trot as they reached the woods outside the Crystal Castle where another Centaur greeted them.
“They’ve been captured and taken inside,” the Centaur spoke, his eyes shifting to Will.
“Who?” Rupe asked.
“The Unicorn and the children.”
Will slid off Rupe’s back. “My sister?”
The Centaur glanced down at him. “Yes, she and the red-haired boy.”
Will froze as the information sunk in. Then, anger ignited inside. “Who took them, and where?” he asked, his hands clenched at his sides.
“Your sister and the boy were taken to the dungeon, and the Unicorn to the courtyard for the ceremony.”
Without another word, Will ran toward the edge of the trees.
Rupe galloped after him, taking hold of his shoulders. “You mustn’t, William. Not yet.”
“I have to save my sister,” Will said, trying to break free from Rupe’s hold.
“Malzador is in the sky with Blayze,” another Centaur said. “It’s too dangerous to go now.”
“We need backup,” Rupe added. “We have to gather anyone who can fight.”
A tussle of leaves had Rupe turning, his sword raised. The rest of the Centaurs stepped from behind trees with weapons ready and bows drawn.
“Tis me!” Tobin hollered, stepping out from the shadows with his arms in the air. “We’ve come ta let ya know dat Lady Lavinia an’ da Elves are on dere way.”
Will exhaled a deep breath after seeing his friend. “Tobin, you made it.”
Tobin smiled widely and stepped closer to Will. He then called out into the trees, “Come on. Dem is me friends.” Behind him, at least twenty little men appeared. They all looked just like Tobin, but were wearing armor and had small swords and shields.
“Buguls?” Will asked, slapping his hand on Tobin’s shoulder.
“Dey are. An’ ready ta fight,” Tobin answered with pride in his eyes. “Tis good ta see ya, child. Where’s yer sister?”
Will shook his head. “Captured and taken to the dungeon.”
“We’ll get ‘er back. Don’t cha worry.”
The woods began to fill with a sweet aroma, much the opposite of the horrible stench bleeding out from the castle. Then, without as much as a broken branch or a rustle of leaves, they were surrounded by hundreds of Elves.
Rupe exhaled and dropped his guard. “I
f you weren’t on our side, this arrival would have been disconcerting,” he muttered.
“Elves are sneaky folk,” Tobin admitted.
“What of the survivors in the ruins?” Rupe asked.
“We’ve lost many friends and kin tonight, but so did the enemy,” Lavinia said, stepping out from behind a line of Elven warriors. Her eyes fixed on Will. She headed toward him, opening her arms and enveloping him in an embrace. “I heard you were injured.”
“I was. I broke some ribs but a Pixie friend came and healed me with some Fairy magic.”
Lavinia’s eyes scanned the group. “Where’s Anna?”
Will sighed, his heart crushed all over again. “We were separated by the river. They told me that she, Henry, and Zohar were captured. She was taken to the dungeon.” Will had tried to contact Anna, time and time again, but she never answered. Something—or someone—must have been blocking their thoughts.
Thaddeus approached, sweaty, but with a smile on his face.
“It’s good to see you, William,” he said with a tip of his head.
Will nodded to his friend. “You too.”
Loud roars echoed in the sky, rattling the trees and shaking the ground.
All eyes lifted, watching a large silver Dragon shoot overhead, closely followed by a black, and then red Dragon.
Oriana appeared next to Lavinia. “I knew Rhyder wouldn’t be able to stay away. He can never back down from a fight, stubborn old man.”
Lavinia shook her head and sighed. “His stubbornness could very well lead to our end.”
Will faced Lavinia, fear and worry embedded in his brow. “Rhyder won’t be able to fight off both dragons.”
“I know,” Lavinia replied, her eyes shutting tight. “He was supposed to stay away. He was supposed to stay hidden in the forest.”
A loud, painful roar followed by a boom, rocked everything around them. Trees swayed and beyond the castle wall, debris and dust shot high into the sky. Another pained roar reverberated in the air, then the ground quaked under their feet. Rhyder was in trouble.
A large black bird descended from the sky, landing in the trees nearby. In the blink of an eye, Raven exited in her human form and came to stand with them.