3 Ch3-Was That Magic？

CHAPTER 3 WAS THAT MAGIC? Rori stepped closer to Darma. "How can you be so calm?" she asked, her voice rising. "If Eko is working with Maldred, that means he has both keys! He will be able to release the Naga and destroy the world!" "Who is Maldred?" Darma asked. "He is a dark wizard," Rori replied. "The baddest guy you'll ever meet."

Darma closed his eyes. After a few seconds, he opened them. "We can still stop him," he said calmly. "How do you know that?" Rori asked. Drake decided to step in. "I'm Drake," he told Darma. "This is my dragon, Worm. And this is Rori and her dragon, Vulcan." Darma nodded. "It is nice to meet you," he said. "You, too," Drake said. "We knew Maldred was coming here to steal the Gold Key. I'm sorry we didn't get here in time." Darma smiled. "That is okay. You are here now." Rori interrupted. "We have to figure out where Eko went!" She turned to Darma. "Were Eko's eyes glazed over red?"

Darma shook his head. "They were not." Rori frowned. "I thought maybe Maldred put her under a spell," she said. "But I guess he didn't. So if Eko is helping him, it's because she wants to. But why?" "Does it matter?" Drake asked. "She has the key now. She probably took it to wherever his hiding place is." "Right," Rori agreed. "We need to find Maldred's hideout and get there fast!" Darma spoke up again, in his soft, calm voice. "I know how to find Eko," he said. "Follow me, please."

Darma and his dragon began to walk up the mountain. Drake and Rori followed. As they walked, the silver sword tucked into Drake's belt felt heavy. Jean, the Dragon Master of the Silver Dragon, had given it to him.

Will the Gold Lair look anything like the Silver Lair? he wondered. The Silver Lair had been filled with piles of amazing treasures! Soon they heard the sound of running water. They came to a small waterfall. Darma motioned for the others to follow him. Then he stepped behind the waterfall. Drake, Rori, and the dragons followed.

They were inside a damp, cool cavern. Six golden dragon statues, each as tall as the Dragon Masters, formed a circle in the center. "They're beautiful," Rori whispered. Darma walked up to one of the statues. He pulled down on the dragon's tail, and a door slid open on the cavern wall. Darma led them through the door, into a dark tunnel. Drake couldn't see a thing. They walked for a few minutes.