9 Droonians, Unite!

CHAPTER Nine Dronians, Unite! The armored red warriors were waiting on the palace steps as the sleds and pilkas roared into the city. "Come on, everybody!" Eric said, gathering the kids of Droon together. "Snowballs out!" "Snowballs out!" the kids replied. "Ready," said Neal. "Aim—" "And… fire!" shouted Julie. Splat! Splat! Splat! "Aggkh!" the Ninns cried. Half of them dropped their bows. The other half fell to the steps, clutching their

shoulders and knees.

"Yes!" Neal whooped. "Kids one, Ninns zero!" "To the throne room!" King Zello shouted, rushing past the Ninns and into the palace. Blam! Crash! Kkkk! Poom! When they entered the round room, Keeah and Sparr were flinging lightning bolts at each other. "Whoa!" said Eric. "Keeah is awesome! I guess she figured out the magic!" A band of angry Ninns rushed at the kids, but the red wolves lunged, forcing the Ninns back. Then Max swung down from the ceiling and sprayed sticky silk on them. "Excellent!" Julie shouted. "Come on, kids, let's finish the job!" She and the children of Droon pelted the tangled Ninns with snowballs. King Zello led the grown-ups in a charge at Sparr. "Keeah, help Galen!" he boomed. Keeah rushed to the old wizard, reaching for her velvet pouch. Fwing! A Ninn arrow whizzed by her side. Keeah looked down. The pouch was slit in half. The sparkling dust spilled across the floor! "Oh, no—" she cried. Blam! Sparr hurled a bolt at Keeah, knocking her roughly into her father. They fell to the floor.

Eric looked around. "I'm going for the amulet!" he cried. "Neal, cover me!" "You got it!" Neal yelled. "Finally, I get to try my twisty fastball!" He pelted Sparr with snowballs all the way. Splat! Splat! Splat! The sorcerer fell back. Eric took a long slide toward the amulet. Suddenly—kkkk-blam! A beam of green light shot out from the amulet's crystal. Its light blasted the stone floor. "Umph!" Eric was thrown backward into Neal. They hit the floor hard. Near them, the giant map of Droon glowed where the beam hit. Sparr began to laugh wildly. "Yes! Yes! Yes!" "What, what, what?" Neal snapped. "The Dust Hills of Panjibarrh!" the sorcerer howled. "That is where great Zor lies sleeping!" "Sleeping?" said Eric. "But isn't he dead?" "The giant shall rise again!" Sparr cried. His fins turned black. He pulled his sword out of the floor. Then he towered over Eric and Neal. "Um… any ideas, pal?" Eric mumbled. Neal shrugged. He dug his hands into his pockets. "Sorry, man. Out of ammo." "I'm not!" Keeah cried. In a single motion, she twirled to her feet, faced Sparr, and thrust out both of her hands.

Before he could move—KKKK-BLAM! The room went totally white. "Ahhhhh!" Eric screamed, shutting his eyes. "Yeeooww!" Neal yelped, covering his face. But when the light vanished, Sparr was slumped against the wall. "You!" he shrieked at the princess. "You have wounded me!" He fell to the floor, yowling in pain like an injured animal. He clutched the amulet tightly. "All of you will pay for this!" Ninns surrounded him and pulled him to his feet. Waving their weapons at the kids, they dragged Lord Sparr quickly from the room. The red wolves howled and chased them to the gates of the city. A moment later, the wolves trotted back. Sparr was gone. "Hooray!" the children of Droon cheered. They jumped for joy. "We did it! He's gone!" Neal rushed over to them. "Slap me five, Droon kids!" he cried. They slapped Neal's hands. Then they did the same to one another. Suddenly, the throne room went quiet. Keeah looked up at Galen. She held the empty velvet bag. "I have failed you again. My magic is gone. I am not

worthy of being a wizard." Everyone stared at the old man's icy face. Max covered his own. Then the stony silence gave way to another sound. The sound of wings.