Heart of Avalon (Avalon: Web of Magic #10): (6 page)

Panic rising, Emily reached out. A pulsing strength seemed to grow from the center of her being.

“Now hear their thoughts.”

Not knowing what else to do, Emily concentrated, focusing her will like a laser. Shadows played across the stalls, turning and gleaming in slow motion. Lights floated in a dream-like haze. The bazaar took on a surreal glow as shapes split into double vision.

“Focus.”

Random words fluttered across her mind. Emily was only half conscious of the thoughts until she paid attention. Suddenly the background noise of a hundred different conversations flooded her mind.

“Good. Now listen to the words.”

The hum of the crowd faded to a soft buzz as distinct voices crystallized.

“The merprince will fetch a king’s ransom.”

“I’ll make a fortune with that magic creature.”

“I wish I had a knicknoot.”

The thoughts flowed through her mind like water.

“With a magic jewel, I can become as powerful as the Dark Sorceress, and rule Aldenmor!”

“If that mage doesn’t figure out how to get us out of here, I’m not inviting her to Wave Fest II.”

The calm, cool voice broke through the throng. “
Tell them they don’t want this magic creature.”

Emily felt her magic lock onto their thoughts.

“You don’t want this magic creature,”
she called in her mind.

The trolls’ eyes glazed over. Their bodies went limp.

“Drop the sea dragon or I’ll… really get mad!” Marlin threatened, doing his best to look fierce.

“I don’t want this magic thing,” the large troll mumbled in a daze, letting Indi slip to the ground.

“Now, that’s much better,” Marlin said, puffing out his chest.

Emily scooped up the sea dragon.

“Beebee!”

“Shhh!”

“Beebee.”

“Tell them you were never here, you never existed.”

Emily sent the telepathic message to the trolls.
“We were never here, you never saw us, we never existed.”

“They were never here. We never saw them. They never existed.”

“Who?” a blue troll asked.

“I dunno. I’m hungry, let’s go to Bob’s Big Buoy.”

The creatures shuffled back, bumping into one another as they wandered into the crowded square.

Emily let out her breath, amazed. She could always sense what other people were feeling, but had no idea she could actually change what they were thinking. It was like she had erased their thoughts and replaced them with her own.

“What did you do?” Marlin asked, shocked. The crowd just milled around, paying no attention to them.

Emily inhaled sharply. “Whatever I did, I don’t know how long it will last.”

She scanned the mysterious alleyways and winding streets. “Which way to the docks?”

“This way, mage,”
the voice coaxed her forward.

This was totally creepy. But whoever it was had just saved them.

“Come on.” Marlin guided her down a corridor off the bazaar.

“No. This way.” Emily hurried down an alley in the opposite direction, holding Indi close inside her cloak. Marlin had little choice but to follow her lead.

Indi dangled in her arms, leaving a trail of twinkly bits with each burp.

“You ate too much junk,” Emily scolded.

“Blahhhhp.”

“He has Indi-gestion,” the merprince cracked.

Emily’s head swam as she felt her healing magic mixed together with every magical thing Indi had swallowed. At least she still had a connection to her jewel, however faint.

“I can see the docks!” Marlin exclaimed.

The smell of salt water wafted in the wind as they raced out of the alleyway. The streets all sloped downhill, converging onto a long boardwalk above the port. Several ramps angled down to rows of rickety wooden docks below the seawall. Boats of every size and shape were preparing to moor for the night.

Emily gasped and skidded to a stop, forcing Marlin to barrel into her.

Two large, nasty-looking, lizard-like creatures with sharp, gleaming teeth blocked the way. Emily recognized them. So did the merprince.

“Bulwoggles!” Marlin cried.

“I smell magic.” A bulwoggle smacked his lips, revealing pointed fangs.

“Well, well, the merprince and the mage,” the other growled, yellow lizard eyes staring hungrily at the glowing dragon. “You’re not thinking of leaving, are you?”

“Emily, do your mind trick again,” Marlin urged.

The healer tried to pierce the creatures’ minds like she’d done before. But this time it didn’t work. A weird sensation tickled along Emily’s spine as bright sparkles exploded in her head. For a second, she lost her breath.

The bulwoggles suddenly froze stone still, lizard eyes opened in surprise.

“It gets easier,” a cool voice spoke. “You don’t have the skill yet.”

That voice! Emily whirled around.

A tall woman shrouded in a black cloak stepped from the alley.

“It was you, wasn’t it?” Emily’s eyes opened wide.

“Who the heck are you?” Marlin demanded.

The woman threw back her hood, revealing a startlingly beautiful face. “I am a mage.”

“M
OVE TO THE
docks,” the woman commanded. “Now!”

Who
was
this person? Emily clutched Indi tightly. She could feel her jewel thrumming inside the sea dragon.

“Come on, Emily.” Marlin helped her down the ramp and onto the gently swaying docks. Beyond, the blues and blacks of the ocean stretched to the infinite horizon. Funny, Emily thought. There was no sign of the island she and Marlin had been stranded on.

“Where’s Cribby?” Marlin asked, scanning sailing crafts of all sizes and shapes.

But Emily was more concerned about the sudden appearance of the stranger. She watched the woman slowly back down the ramp, the bulwoggles still locked in her spell.

“How do you know me?” Emily asked.

“My name is Miranda. I helped you escape; that’s enough for now.” Her tone was cool as ice. “Trust me.”

Emily tried to keep her breath steady. Something didn’t feel right.

“Here I be!” Cribby’s voice announced.

“Over there,” Marlin said, and pointed.

A large, three-masted schooner sailed majestically up to the docks.

They broke into a run.

But the magnificent vessel glided past, revealing a much smaller craft.

Marlin screeched to a stop, mouth open in shock. Cribby whistled happily, bailing seawater out of a beat-up old scow, its single mast bent under weatherbeaten sails.

“This is your boat?!” Marlin cried.

“Aye, she is,” the sea elf said, proudly puffing out his chest. “A real piece o’ work.” He tossed a rope to the shocked merprince.

Planks of mismatched wood haphazardly nailed together formed a small cabin behind the mast. A shallow cockpit in the helm was crammed with barrels, rope, a spyglass, and assorted supplies.

“I am not getting on this,” Marlin declared.

“There they are!” a group of voices echoed over the waters.

Dozens of creatures stormed onto the docks, weapons gleaming in the fading sun.

“They’re trying to get away!” someone yelled.

“Come back with our magic stuff!” an angry merchant commanded.

The bulwoggles snapped out of their trance, roaring along with the crowd.

“What happened to the spells?” Emily cried.

The woman shrugged. “They wore off.”

The planks shifted as the angry mob thundered down the ramp. Battle-axes, swords, pitchforks, and blazing balls of magic fired into the evening skies.

“Clam almighty!” Cribby tossed his buckets and leaped to the steering wheel.

A flash of red crackled from Miranda’s long fingers. Several barrels tumbled down the docks, bowling into the crowd.

One of the bulwoggles deftly launched himself over the barrels, yellow eyes flashing anger.

Miranda swung her arm, creating a sparking shield.

Grinning, the bulwoggle reached behind his back and withdrew a long, wicked-looking sword. He swiped it through the air a few times, testing its weight. With a bloodcurdling cry, the monster smashed the shield into splinters of light.

“Hurry up!” Miranda yelled.

“Come back here, Cribby!” Marlin grabbed the rope attached to the craft. His heels slid across the wooden planks as he tried to hold on.

“Ye better heave ho, or I go!” the sea elf called out.

With one last doubtful look at the boat, Marlin heaved himself aboard, pulling Emily after him.

“Merman the mainsail!” Cribby called out, pulling the rigging tight as the boat rocked dangerously.

Marlin tripped over the ropes as the flimsy sail unfurled from the mast.

We don’t have enough time, Emily thought as she watched Miranda back toward the boat. Mage or no mage, the woman couldn’t hold off the bulwoggles for long, let alone the entire crowd. They’d never make it!

Panic suddenly gripped Emily. Where was Indi? In the confusion, she had lost him!

“HiC!”

The little sea dragon sat on the dock, burping a flurry of magic. The bulwoggles stopped, confused by the strange creature.

With another hiccup, Indi expanded, growing twice as big as the bulwoggles.

“What in the—Indi?” Emily gasped.

Body rippling, a green scorpion tail emerged from one end of Indi’s torso, a snarling lion’s head taking shape from the other.

“Chimera!” someone yelled.

With a roar, chimera Indi’s spiked tail swung over its body, ripping through the wooden boards.

The bulwoggles leaped away from the fearsome half lion, half scorpion.

With a ferocious snarl, chimera Indi hiccupped and shrank into a—pink bunny.

“It’s just a bunny rabbit!”

Laughter erupted as the crowd surged closer.

The bunny twitched its whiskers—“hIC!”—and expanded. Sharp, pointy teeth sprang from an elongated mouth. Red eyes opened from a wolf-like head, and purple hair sprang from Indi’s body.

“Werebeast!”

“A Har!” Werebeast Indi stomped up the docks, forcing the crowd back, giving Cribby time to set sail.

With one last enormous belch, Indi toppled over a pile of crates. Then, like a balloon losing air, the creature faded from view.

“Anchors away!” Cribby firmly spun the wheel as the boat pulled out of the harbor.

Back to his sea dragon form, Indi staggered to the end of the dock, gazing at Emily with wide eyes. Pieces of him sparkled as he tried to use Emily’s magic to shapeshift.

“Wait!” Emily ran to the stern, causing the Flyer to tilt alarmingly.

“Let him turn into a whale and swim to us,” Marlin said.

“He can’t!” Emily cried. “He used all his magic to save us.”

“Emeemee.” The creature held out his stubby arms.

The bulwoggles reached for the shapeshifter. But before they could grab him, Indi fell forward, tumbling into the water.

Cribby held the wheel firmly as the Flyer headed for the breakwater. “Off we go, then.”

“Indi!” Emily screamed, searching the churning waters. There was no sign of him. Spray and foam obscured Emily’s view as she scrambled over the railing.

“No, wait!” Marlin pulled the struggling girl back. “I’m a merboy.” His mouth twitched with a quick smile. “I can hold my breath for twenty minutes… I think.”

Marlin threw off his robe and dove into the dark waters.

“Turn us around!” Emily commanded Cribby.

“Are ye all mad?” The sea elf held the fluttering sail with one hand, gripping the wheel with the other. “We’ll never make it outta here!”

Water sloshed over the prow as the Fearless Flyer smacked into turbulent waves.

Emily hung on to the railing, watching for any signs of the merboy.

“He’ll never catch up!” she fretted.

But suddenly a sparkling purple ball bobbed to the surface, held aloft by a pair of light green arms. Marlin was moving through the water at amazing speed. In no time the pair was alongside the boat.

Emily stared opened mouthed. “How did you swim so fast?”

“I didn’t.” Marlin was swiftly raised above the surface, astride an amazing creature. Huge sea green eyes blinked from a wide, horse-like head. Purple and green sparkles ran down her scales.

A wild sea dragon!

“Help!” Marlin clutched the creature’s neck.

“Give me your hand.” Emily reached out.

The dragon’s head swung to the boat and locked eyes with Emily. Instantly, she felt the creature’s pain. The dragon was suffering from the same virus as the sea dragons in Aquatania.

“Save the merboy,”
the dragon’s voice cried in Emily’s mind.

Miranda helped Emily hoist the boy on board. In an instant, he was sprawled onto the deck, out of breath. Indi landed with a loud
Thump!

“Avast, ye crabbers!” Cribby yelled, turning the boat abruptly. “I’m coming aboot!”

“What?” Emily asked.

With a rush, the boom swung dangerously across the deck, missing Emily’s head by inches. Sails filled out as the vessel leaned into the wind and sped off.

With a last look, the incredible sea dragon dove into the water, glistening fins vanishing in a spray of foam.

“Emily, you see that?” the excited boy pointed.

“That was totally amazing!”

“Finally, we’re all on board.” Cribby smiled, heading the Fearless Flyer into open waters. “Swift as a gull, she is. Off we be—”

“Niva!” Marlin yelled.

“Turn around!” Cribby shouted. “Wait—who’s Niva?”

“The sea dragon.” Marlin dashed over to the stern, searching the waves.

“I ain’t taking a sea dragon on board, ya barnacle brain!” the elf captain cried.

Emily’s eyes widened. “You heard her?”

Marlin stumbled, his face reflecting fear and wonder. “How… why?”

“Easy.” Emily eased him back to the cabin, feeling his forehead and checking his pulse.

“I’m okay,” Marlin said, smiling weakly. “We made it.”

“Of course we made it!” Cribby boasted as the sails snapped in the wind. “I ain’t Cribby the sea elf for nothing.”

“Good job, elf,” Miranda said.

“Hooya!” Cribby slapped a hand on her back. “Hey—who are you?”

Emily crouched by Indi. The shapeshifter had coiled into a tight ball. She could barely sense her jewel, pulsing softly inside, keeping him alive.

“What’s wrong with him?” Marlin asked.

“He’s run out of magic,” Emily said worriedly, then turned to Miranda. “Can you help him?”

“I believe I can,” the tall woman said.

“Where did you come from?” Marlin asked.

“There will be time for answers later.” The woman’s hypnotic voice washed over Emily. “You must all rest now.”

The salty sea air made knots of Emily’s curls. She gazed at the golden sun sinking into the ocean. Little by little, she felt free, as if she hadn’t a worry in the world. At last she was on her way to Aquatania. Her heart soared, knowing she would soon be with Ozzie, Kara, Adriane, and her other friends. Everything was going to be all right.

But first she needed to rest for a few minutes. Cribby and Marlin were nodding off, sinking to the deck.

She was so tired… so tired.

The last rays of sunset vanished as darkness closed in.