Heart of Avalon (Avalon: Web of Magic #10): (16 page)

“O
VER THERE, WARRIOR
.”
Dreamer pointed his nose toward the ridgeline.

Adriane straightened her flying goggles, thankful she had taken Zach’s advice and packed them. She was warm enough in her black tank-top even though she had packed her jacket. Her body, lean and toned from years of running, sat comfortably in the saddle. She held the reins lightly, giving Drake enough room to keep his speed without jostling his riders.

“Take us in, Drake.”

Feeling the tap of her right boot, the dragon soared in a wide arc, picking up speed as his wings caught the dry updrafts rising from the cliffs below.

“We’re not the only ones here.” Adriane leaned forward as the mighty dragon cleared the ridgeline. Blackened campfires spread over the low-lying hills, their smoky remains a sure sign that someone—a lot of someones—had recently been here.

“Wolf Fire to Base,” Adriane spoke into Fred’s blue belly.

“Copy, Wolf Fire. Go,” Tasha’s voice responded.

“We’ve spotted the remains of several encampments,” the warrior reported as they flew into the canyon.

“This is so exciting!” Tweek’s voice cut in. “You’re in a whole new quadrant of the web! I’m extrapolating!”

Fred let out a few beeps and boops, the sound of Tasha adjusting her magic meter. “The power crystal is dead ahead, but I’m getting some very strange readings. Stay alert, Wolf Fire, you’re probably not the only ones after that crystal,” the goblin advised.

“Roger, Base.” Adriane paused. “What’s new from Star One and Doctor D?”

“So far, so good. They’re both on the trail of crystals.”

“Okay, Wolf Fire out.”

Drake soared over another canyon, the largest one Adriane had seen so far. Dust devils spun in the deep basin, obscuring the eerie landscape with shimmering reds and golds.

The mistwolf growled in sudden alarm.
“I’ve got something!”

“Where, I don’t—”

The sky exploded in fire.

Dreamer howled as Drake staggered in mid air. Adriane responded instantly, hauling the reins tight and forcing the dragon’s eyes away from the blast.

Something whizzed by Adriane’s head. An arrow, flaming with bright blue magic! A split second later, another arrow trailed vivid light across the sky. Several more detonated like fireworks, shooting across Drake’s wings.

The ground tilted crazily as the dragon fought for control, roaring in anger.

Another volley whistled dangerously close.

“Base! We’re under attack!” she yelled, then realized Fred had disappeared.

The warrior raised her right wrist, jewel blazing as she struggled to guide Drake through a maze of exploding magic.

“Dive! Dive! Dive!” she commanded.

Wings folded, the dragon plunged straight toward the ground.

“Hang on, Dreamer!” Adriane shouted. Silver fire streaked through the air, disintegrating dozens of arrows.

The mistwolf hunkered low in the basket, hackles raised.

“Now!” Adriane shouted.

At the last minute, Drake extended his wings, skimming the ground like a red rocket.

Groups of heavily armored lizard-like creatures swarmed into the canyon.

“Magic hunters,” Adriane spat.

Drake swept overhead, roaring fire and scorching the ground. In a flurry of screams, the hunters ran off in all directions.

“Easy.” Adriane pulled the reins left, sweeping Drake in a tight circle.

Whipping her arm, she flung rings of fire around the hunters.

They threw down their weapons as the silver magic crackled fiercely against the red sand. Her message was received loud and clear: Don’t mess with us!

“They’re after the power crystal,”
Dreamer said.

“Good luck, chumps!” Adriane waved at the hunters as Drake zoomed away, adding a powerful roar of agreement.

“Something smells.”
The mistwolf sniffed over Drake’s flank.

“I took a bath before leaving The Garden,”
Drake insisted.

“The power crystal?” Adriane asked.

“Yes, up ahead in the next valley,”
Dreamer confirmed.
“But there’s something else.”

The warrior’s wolf stone blazed deep red.

She gripped the reins tightly and leaned low against Drake’s neck. “Okay, let’s do it.”

The red dragon caught an updraft. With a powerful beat of wings, they crested the ridgeline and dove into the wide valley. Before them, thick coils of purple smoke whirled, glints of light sparkling inside.

“What is that?”

“
Power crystal!”
Dreamer howled.

The smoky coils thrashed as if alive, snaky threads twisting into a shape with venomous eyes and gleaming teeth.

This wasn’t just smoke. It was some kind of creature. Adriane raised her wolf stone as the monstrous apparition turned burning eyes to face her.