7 Vixberries

CHAPTER 7

Vixberries The king summoned André and Grom to help the sick dragon. The wizards brought herbs, magic stones, and charms to the lair. They mixed garlic, red nettle, and raspberry tea. Grom laid a circle of magic stones around the dragon. Then Grom opened Ruskin's mouth while André spoon-fed the potion. They rubbed ointment on the dragon's scales and waved charms around his head. The wizards even gave him an herb bath. But Ruskin was still limp, and his eyelids drooped.

André stood before Lucas and the king. "I'm afraid the hatchling is very ill," he said. "I've seen this before. The illness comes on fast and rarely ends well."

"André, you have to help him," Lucas pleaded. "I don't want to lose him!" "Nor do I," said the king.

André looked grim. "There's only one known cure," he said. "What is it?" they asked. "A combination of mint tea and vixberries," André said. "The trouble is, vixberries were once plentiful in the kingdom. But now they're almost impossible to find."

"Nothing's too hard for the king's men," said the king. "I'll order a search party. Where shall I send them?"