5 Ch5-The Wizard's Plan

CHAPTER 5 THE WIZARD'S PLAN The portal quickly disappeared behind the three Dragon Masters. They stepped into a tall, round tower. A spiral staircase led down to many floors below.

Torches mounted on the walls lit up the space. The light was dim, but Drake could make out strange faces painted on the wall. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up at the sight of them. Then Rori tugged on his arm. She put a finger to her lips and pointed down. At the bottom of the tower, a wizard dressed in a red robe stood at a big desk. He had a long, black beard with a white stripe. And he wore an eye patch over one eye.

"It's Maldred!" Rori whispered. "This must be his secret hideout," Darma said. "And that must be his workshop. Look at all the books and potions down there." Drake peered over the railing. Maldred was five floors below them. Drake could see that walkways broke off the staircase and circled around the tower all the way down. There were doors on each of the floors. This is a huge hideout! he thought. Where in the world are we?

Down below, Eko walked up to the desk. She held a gold disc with unusual markings on it. It glittered in the candlelight. She is working with Maldred! Drake thought. Eko handed over the Gold Key. "Maldred, I have brought you the key," she said. The wizard smiled. "You did well, Eko," he said. "And now, together, we will release the Naga," Eko said. "We will create a world where dragons can be free."

Drake had heard Eko say something like this before. When Eko had tried to steal King Roland's dragons, she had claimed that she wanted all dragons to be free. She didn't believe that dragons should have Dragon Masters. Maldred held up the Silver Key. "Now I have both keys," he said. "But I still do not know where to find the Naga. I have read every page of The Lore of the Ancient One, but the book does not tell me where the Naga lives." He angrily slammed his fist on the desk. "Perhaps the answer lies in the keys," Eko suggested. "They have markings on them." Maldred raised an eyebrow. "You may be right," he said. "I will need to study them."

"Let me help," Eko said. "There is one way you can help me," Maldred told her. "Keep an eye out for Griffith's Dragon Masters. We cannot let them stop us from waking the Naga. If you see them, show them no mercy." "But we can't hurt them, Maldred," Eko said. "They're just children." Maldred stared at her. "I said no mercy," he repeated. "Nothing must stop my dream of ruling the world." "You mean our dream— of freeing the dragons," Eko said. Maldred smiled. "Of course, my dear, of course."