Chapter 19

chapter nineteen Lightning slices through the gathering clouds as the sky turns from gray to black. Carol gallops at full speed through the darkness, racing to stay ahead of the storm, ahead of the Drakkor... "Is it snack time yet?" Galamelon asks. "Nopers," Kimmy says. "Dance party time yet?" Kimmy cracks a grin. "Yeah, duh. HIT IT, PETE!" Breakneck race home dance party!

Smushed in the back seat, Quint ignores the oddly timed dance party. There's still a chance to turn this whole mess into victory, he thinks. And do it without conjuring. He looks down at his cane. It used to hold a world of potential: Incantations and conjurations. An incredible mix of science and other-dimensional energy. But maybe Dirk was right. Maybe it's all simply too dangerous. And after Galamelon's confession, the idea of being a conjurer just seems like a cruel joke. Exhaustion overtakes Quint, and his eyelids shut as two days of hero questing on just three minutes of sleep finally catch up. Carol's gait along with Pete's strange music is oddly soothing, and soon he's fast asleep... Quint is jolted awake by a sudden rumbling. He gulps, thinking it's thunder crashing, fearing the storm has arrived. But no. It's... cheering? "Huh?" Quint wipes drool from his cheek and lifts his head, which had been resting on Skaelka's shoulder. "You are fortunate I now remember you," Skaelka tells Quint, flashing a loving—but still disturbing—

grin. "Otherwise, I would have been forced to dismember you." "Missedya, Skaelka," Quint says. "Aww, so mushy," Kimmy says. "Time to focus, gang," Dirk says. "We're here." The heroes have returned from their quest. The queen in armor has been found as well. "How went the slaying of the Drakkor?" a monster calls out. "Did you make it suffer as it has made us suffer?

"Not yet," Kimmy says, as Carol slows to a trot. "But fear not, buddies—the Drakkor is on its way!" A terrified gasp comes from the gathered monsterfolk. "On its way?" one oafish monster cries. "Fear not?" another shouts. "Yup!" Kimmy says, all perky," 'Cause—" "Your prodigal son has returned!" Galamelon interrupts, standing and waving. "Now, can someone point me in the direction of the bathroom?" The sight of Galamelon turns the monsterfolk's fear to fury. "You left to slay the Drakkor, and instead returned with that bozo?" "Rain will soon come, the Drakkor is not dead, and Galamelon is back! We are doomed!" a monster cries, then hurries off to retrieve a rolling suitcase and comfortable walking shoes. Kimmy holds up a hand, silencing them. "Galamelon is definitely still lousy—but his lousiness actually came in handy-dandy. So, no one kill him... yet."

We are going to slay the dragon. Oh, and we're going to do it here on our turf. Oh yeah. We tried that and got our butts kicked. The monster is impossible to kill. Yellowmelon has poisoned Kimmy's brain with his sucking. The wizard has sleep.-Drool on his face. "HEY!" Skaelka shouts, standing in her seat. "Skaelka has also returned. And she will not leave until the Drakkor has been felled." "Who's Skaelka?" a monster asks. Skaelka sighs. "Me," she mutters. "The Queen in Armor." A few monsters mumble their approval. "You all wanted the heroes of Hero Quest," Dirk says. "Now, you didn't get those exact heroes—but you did get a warrior and a conjurer. A warrior and a

conjurer who will not run when the Drakkor shows up." "Quint has a plan!" Kimmy says. "A plan that will work." Quint gulps. He feels like a giant spotlight has suddenly been turned on him. Looking out at the monsterfolk, he sees their fear-stricken faces. A few, who were caught mid-farmaculture, hold monster versions of pitchforks—the prongs trembling. Quint feels a sudden elbow in his side. "This part's all you," Dirk whispers. "Ahem," Quint starts. His words are shaky and he expects his voice to crack at any moment. "Well, you see, the plan is like this. First, you will retrieve the Cine-Bites truck and bring it to the center of town..." Quint pauses. The monsterfolk are rapt, hanging on his every word. He sees the same thing he saw when they set out to slay the Drakkor: hope. It's clear the monsterfolk are willing to do whatever needs doing. He continues, gaining steam as he talks...