Ch1-For Merlin’s Sake

Dragon of the Red Dawn

CHAPTER ONE For Merlin's Sake Tap, tap, tap. Jack was dreaming that a white bird was pecking at his window. Tap… tap. A red bird appeared and pecked with the white bird. Tap… tap. "Jack, wake up!" said Annie.

Jack opened his eyes. "They're here!" said Annie. "Who? The birds?" said Jack. "No! Teddy and Kathleen!" Annie rushed to the window and waved outside. "They're tossing pebbles at our windows." "Teddy and Kathleen!" Jack jumped out of bed and joined Annie at the window. The two young enchanters of Camelot were standing in Jack and Annie's front yard. They were dressed in long, dark cloaks. They smiled and waved up at Jack and Annie.

"Merlin must have sent them!" said Jack. Teddy made a walking motion with his fingers and pointed toward the Frog Creek woods. Annie nodded eagerly. "They want us to meet them at the tree house!" she said to Jack. "Hurry and get dressed! Before Mom and Dad wake up!" Annie started out of Jack's room. When she got to the door, she turned. "Oh, and don't forget to bring the Wand of Dianthus!" Jack threw on his clothes. He grabbed his backpack and peeked inside. The

wand was there. Jack put his pack on his back. Then he slipped quietly downstairs and out the door. Annie was standing on the front porch. "Let's go!" she said. Jack and Annie ran across their yard and dashed up the sidewalk. "I wonder why they came for us!" said Annie. "I wonder where we're going!" said Jack. "I wonder everything!" said Annie. Jack and Annie crossed the street and hurried into the Frog Creek woods. The early-March trees looked weary from

winter, gray and brown with no leaves on them yet. "Look—" said Annie, out of breath. "They're waiting for us!" Jack looked up. Teddy and Kathleen were waving from the window of the magic tree house. Jack grabbed the rope ladder and started up. Annie followed. When Jack and Annie climbed inside the tree house, they threw their arms around Teddy and Kathleen. "We're so glad to see you!" cried Annie.