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

horses.”
    “It’s incredible.” Adriane was overwhelmed by the magnificent beauty. Would there be enough time to save it all?
    “Is this where you live?” she asked.
    “We live down the coastline on the far side of the kelp forests,” Kee-lyn said. “In Aquatania.”
    “One day we will take you there,” Jaaran offered.
    “I would like that.” Adriane smiled.
    The sea dragons banked under a coral bridge and arrived at an immense underwater cave at the base of the reef.
    “This is it,” Kee-Lyn said. “The portal is just inside the mouth of the cave.”
    “Thank you,” Adriane said. “I hope we will meet again.”
    “As do we, warrior mage,” Meerka said.
    “We stand ready to fight or die with our world!” Jaaran raised his fist in a salute. “Good luck, mage.”
    “We pledge ourselves to your service,” Kee-lyn vowed.
    Adriane rested her hands on Storm’s soft silver fur and drew strength from the mistwolf. Whatever grand scheme was unfolding, she and her friends had a destiny to fulfill.
    She was a warrior. And ready or not, she would fight for this world.
    Adriane raised her arm, and the bubble moved forward, lightly floating from the dragon’s back. With a backward glance at her new friends, she and Storm entered the cave and were swallowed by a burst of light.



“W HO ARE YOU ?” The figure poked Emily with a sharp-pointed spear. Its face was particularly hideous, a viper’s open mouth baring long fangs below deadly glowing eyes. A dozen others stood around her, each face more monstrous than the next. Their spears were raised and ready.
    “My name is Emily. I mean you no harm.” She struggled to remain calm.
    One of the creatures pointed at her wrist. Her jewel pulsed with reds and blacks. “What is that dark power?” it asked.
    “She carries the darkness!” another yelled.
    “A witch!” came a shout.
    “No, I…” Emily began.
    “Hey, you! Leave her alon- aggaagaagaag!” Ozzie’s voice came tumbling down the ravine as the ferret rolled into a heap at Emily’s side. “Doof!”
    He sprang to his feet, boldly pushing the spear away from Emily.
    “What is this sorcery?” the creature asked, clearly taken aback by the talking ferret.
    “A woodland spirit!” someone shouted.
    “I am not a spirit.” Ozzie faced the creatures. “Take off that war mask, Crusp. You look like a tree wart!” Ozzie turned to Emily. “Are you all right?”
    “I think so,” she replied. Emily then noticed that all the short creatures wore wooden masks! Which accounted for the scary faces.
    The one Ozzie spoke to stepped back, clearly shaken. “How do you know my name, Spirit?”
    “Talk!” Another poked a spear at Ozzie’s rump.
    “Yeee! Watch it, Tonin! Or I’ll tell Auntie Melba to whack your elfish bottom!”
    The figures were clearly flabbergasted, talking and muttering to each other.
    “And the price tag is still stuck on the back!” Ozzie pointed to Crusp’s head.
    Crusp slipped off his wooden mask. A frightened face with big eyes, bushy eyebrows, and a small nose and mouth greeted them. Masses of curly brown hair flopped over his head.
    The other elves removed their masks as well. They stood about four feet tall, handsome and strong with thickets of long curly hair. Some were clean-shaven, some had neatly trimmed beards and mustaches.
    “You know my name. Who are you, Woodland Spirit?” Crusp asked.
    “Don’t you recognize your cousin, Ozymandius?” Ozzie demanded.
    The elves gasped.
    “Ozymandius?” Another elf stepped forward. “That elf was whisked away by dark forces. He’s gone!”
    “Well, now I’m back!” Ozzie stomped toward the shaken elves. “And this is my friend, Emily. A great mage.”
    “A mage?!”
    “That’s right, knothead!” Ozzie shouted.
    “This is nonsense!” Tonin stepped forward. “You... you’re a…”
    “Don’t say it! The Fairimentals transformed me so I could find Emily and her friends.”
    “Ridiculous! You’re all fuzzy!”