3 White Snow, Dark Magic

CHAPTER Three White Snow Dark Magic Within moments the city was covered with ice. Biting winds swirled snow into huge drifts. "This is Sparr's dark magic!" Galen said. Crrrack! The fountain's silvery stream thickened and suddenly went still. "This is just like my daydream," Eric said. "It's a curse of ice." The colorful banners over the marketplace stopped waving. Icicles formed on the buildings and hung like daggers over the frozen streets.

Eric saw the fear in Keeah's eyes. He shivered, too. "What can we do to stop this?" Keeah turned to the king. "Our villages can't survive this cold. We must save our people!" Zello nodded. "I shall go help the villagers. Keeah, you stay here and keep Jaffa City safe. Galen, I must go quickly. Perhaps your latest invention…" "Ah!" the wizard said. "My water sled. Yes, it should ride quite well on ice. Follow me!" Galen led the king and his guards to the stables. "We'll help, too!" Neal said, clapping his arms around himself. "If we don't fr-fr-freeze f-first!" Max scuttled over. "Let me make you warm!" he chirped. "I'll spin you coats of my special spider silk. It's the warmest fabric in all of Droon!" Max's arms and legs began to blur in the air all around the kids. Soon, he had woven each one a thick coat and a pair of furry boots. "Thank you," said Julie. "They're very warm." A moment later, several shaggy six-legged beasts called pilkas trotted across the square to the gate. In the lead was Leep, Galen's own pet pilka. Behind them, the pilkas dragged a sleek wooden sled. It looked like a small boat and rode over the ice on long skis.

King Zello, bundled in a cloak of bright blue fur, was riding in the back. "Be careful!" Keeah said, hugging her father. "I shall be. And you, too," he replied. Errrr! Two guards pushed aside a large bolt and the city's huge iron gates swung open. The king snapped the reins, and Leep charged ahead, pulling Galen's sled into the swirling snow. Keeah waved one last time before—clong!—the gates closed. "I predict he will be safe," Galen said. Neal frowned. "But, um, what about us? Could Sparr just march in here with his Ninns?" Keeah beamed. "Galen charmed our walls! An evil spirit can't enter unless he is invited." "That is true," the wizard said. "An old spell." "And we never will invite evil ones into Jaffa!" Max chittered. "They have no manners!" "Excellent," said Neal. "I like being safe for a change." Keeah smiled. "Now, everyone, come. Let's get warm in the throne room!" Julie and Neal hurried in after Keeah. The guards went with Galen into the frosted palace. Max scuttled across the stones after his master.

But Eric stayed behind for a moment. He climbed to the top of the wall and looked out. The nearby villages were quickly being swallowed up by the deep snow. He shuddered. But it wasn't from the cold. Did I make this happen somehow? he wondered. Did I already help Sparr do this? How? "No! I couldn't have done this!" he shouted into the storm. "And I won't help Sparr, either! Never! Ever!" He turned to go into the palace. "Help!" a tiny voice cried out. Eric looked down. The courtyard below was empty of‐everything but ice and snow. "Help!" the voice called out again. Eric looked back over the wall. There, in the deepening snow, was a small figure. A boy. The boy shivered in thin clothes, his tiny arms wrapped around him. He looked just like the children playing in the square before. "Help me!" the boy pleaded. "I was playing. I got left outside." Eric turned to the gates. "Guards!" he yelled. But the guards had gone inside with Galen. The only sound was the red wolves starting to howl from their cave. The little boy trembled even more.

"Wait a second! Hold on!" Eric yelled. He ran down the steps to the front gate. He could hear the child whimpering outside. "Wait!" Eric called. With all his strength he pushed the gate's huge bolt aside. Then he dug his feet into the snow and pulled on the giant door. It wouldn't budge. He pulled harder. Finally, it opened a tiny crack.

Eric peered into the swirling winds. Ice pelted his face. "Where are you?" he shouted.