Trial By Fire (Avalon: Web of Magic #6) by Rachel Roberts Read Free Book Online Page A

understood. “I have been in her lair. I know she covets the magic of such great creatures.”
    The riders looked at one another, astonished.
    “You escaped the dark circle?” Jaaran asked.
    “With the help of the pack and a boy named Zach,” Adriane explained. “I thought there were no other humans on Aldenmor until I met him.”
    “We are descended from humans thousands of years ago,” Jaaran said, “but our home now is in the great oceans with the sea dragons.”
    It was Adriane’s turn to look astonished. The animals of Ravenswood had told the mages that once, long ago, humans and animals worked together to make strong magic. But those were stories, legends of a time long past. This was real, happening now.
    As if sensing the warrior’s thoughts, Jaaran added, “The magic of Aldenmor grows weaker each day. And with it so does the race of merfolk.”
    “You also wear jewels. They must have magic,” Adriane observed.
    “These are the Jewels of the Sea.” Jaaran held up the sparkling jewel from his chest. “We are the select few chosen to ride with the dragons to protect our world.”
    “And one day we, too, shall be mages, friend,” Kee-Lyn added proudly.
    “I am honored to be called friend by you,” Adriane told them.
    Meerka raised her head to the sky above. “When the lights appear, magic will rain.”
    “Magic rain?” Adriane glanced at her packmate.
    “It was the last message from the Fairimentals before they vanished,” Jaaran said.
    The Fairimentals! “Do you know what’s happened to them?”
    Kee-Lyn’s face fell. “We fear for them,” she said sadly. “We fear the Dark Sorceress has taken their magic. Soon the seas will suffer the same fate.”
    “My friend, the blazing star mage, opened a fairy map,” Adriane said. “We think the portals could lead to the magic of Avalon.”
    “So it could be dark or light rain that falls,” Kee-lyn replied.
    “I don’t understand,” Adriane said.
    “Magic is only as good as those who use it,” Jaaran explained.
    Adriane hadn’t considered that the magic they were searching for could be dark or light. The battle to save Aldenmor would depend on magic that could heal—not hurt.
    “You and your friends must find Avalon before the sorceress.” Kee-lyn swung her dragon in a wide circle.
    Abruptly all the sea dragons came to a stop in the middle of open waters.
    “We are here,” Jaaran announced.
    “You said you know a portal that can take us to Mount Hope.” Adriane looked around, confused.
    Large ice floes drifted in the distance, and beyond a stark coastline spotted with browns and greens.
    With a snort, Meerka pointed her great head into the waters.
    “In the coral forest, below,” Kee-Lyn explained.
    Adriane focused on her wolf stone. The jewel blazed to life with an amber glow. There was strong magic here.
    She concentrated and the amber jewel grew warm and began to shimmer. When the shimmer became a broad arc of light, Adriane waved her arm, forming a circle. Storm pressed close to her, and the magic bubble enveloped them.
    “We’re ready,” Adriane said.
    Kee-Lyn looked into Adriane’s eyes and nodded. “The magic is with you.”
    Meerka rolled her body forward in a smooth motion, and suddenly Adriane was watching the surface light fall away like a hazy dream.
    They sank fast, watching thousands of bubbles circle around them.
    Below, the immense forest of coral revealed itself, like a jungle across the sea floor.
    They dove below towering reefs of vivid orange, red, purple, and blue. And the sea teemed with a cornucopia of colorful fish, plants, and sea creatures unlike Adriane had ever seen—or imagined. Schools of large sea horses swam through swaying kelp, front hooves kicking, fishtails fanning. Horse heads with flowing green manes peered curiously, watching the dragons and the strange creatures inside the magical globe.
    “Kelpies,” Storm observed, her golden eyes focused intently on the bubble wall. “Sea