6 Home Must Wait

CHAPTER Six Home Must Wait "The forbidden city of Plud," Max said. "The Ninns have taken Princess Keeah to Plud!" Eric stared at the mirror. "She seems really afraid. What are we going to do?" "We must go to her!" Galen said, pulling a large sword down from the wall. "Plud is an evil place. It is where Keeah's mother, Queen Relna, fought her last battle against Sparr."

Neal shivered. "You mean, she's dead?"

"She was never seen again," Galen said as he slid the sword into his belt. "But that is not the worst of it. Sparr now seeks from Keeah the Red Eye of Dawn. It is one of the Three Powers I told you about. It is a jewel that commands the forces of nature." "Does Keeah have it?" Julie asked. Galen grabbed a helmet from a shelf. "I do not know. Even Keeah doesn't know. To stop Sparr from using the Powers for evil, I cast them to the winds and charmed them to change their shapes. No one knows what they have become." "But Sparr will stop at nothing to have them again!" Max chittered, scurrying toward the passage to the ground. "I fear for Keeah. Hurry!" Zzzzt! "Wait," Julie said, turning back. "The mirror." The hazy glass showed a city of bright towers as light and sunny as Plud was dark. In the distance, a black cloud of groggles was descending. "Sparr has tricked us!" Galen boomed. "His Ninns are attacking Jaffa City! Oh, I hope the princess can defend herself against Sparr until I return. I must go to Jaffa this instant." "Wait," said Eric, turning to his friends. "Keeah helped me in the forest. And she was going to get us home. Now

she's in trouble. I mean, we have to help her." "How can we get to Plud?" Julie asked Galen. "Hey!" Neal yelled suddenly. He jerked back, tumbling over a stack of books and hitting the floor with a thud. "Something just licked me!" "Leep?" cried Max. He sprang up and landed in midair. "The pilka! I'm sitting on her!" Galen quickly pulled at the air under Max. As he did, a silken fabric seemed to collect in his hands. And a creature took shape in the room. It was an animal the size of a horse. But with long white fur. And six legs. And a friendly face. It looked like a shaggy camel. "Pilkas are quite friendly," said Max. "And quite fast! Leep seems to like you, Master Neal." Hrrrr! The creature whinnied loudly. She plodded to the passage door and turned her head back, as if beckoning the children to follow. Eric looked around at his friends. "We're running out of time," Julie said. Neal nodded. "Plus, we're a team, right?" Eric felt his heart begin to race. "I guess we're going to Plud!"