6 Ch6-Maldred's Helper

CHAPTER 6 MALDRED'S HELPER Maldred's head snapped up. His eye fixed on the Dragon Masters at the top of the tower. "Darma, quick!" Drake cried. "Open the portal again!" Drake turned around, but he didn't see Darma anywhere.

"Darma?" he called out. Rori grabbed Drake's arm. "We have to hide!" she said. "Let's get to one of the tower rooms. Maybe there is a window we can climb out of." Drake and Rori raced down the spiral staircase. Drake's heart pounded. Then, from the corner of his eye, he saw a flutter of red fabric. Maldred floated up toward them, his body glowing with red energy.

"Two Dragon Masters, how nice!" he said with an evil laugh. "You are like mice in a trap!" "You can't catch us!" Rori cried, still racing down the steps. Maldred pointed at Drake and Rori, extending his long fingers. "Of course I can," he said. "I am a wizard!" Suddenly, Drake felt his whole body tingle. "I... I can't move!" he cried. "Me neither!" Rori yelled.

"No, you cannot," he said. "So you won't be needing your sword anymore." Drake watched helplessly as his silver sword floated out of his belt and into Maldred's hands. Then Eko came running up the staircase. "Lock them up, Eko!" Maldred ordered. "I will deal with them later!" Eko grabbed Drake and Rori. Maldred snapped his long fingers, and Drake felt the tingling stop.

"Don't try to run," Eko warned. "Maldred may not be so easy on you next time." Eko led them to a thick wood door. She opened it and shoved Drake and Rori inside. "Why are you doing this, Eko?" Rori yelled. "You're smarter than this! He's just using you!" "Maldred understands me," Eko said. "He understands how I feel about the dragons. I thought you did, too, Rori, but I was wrong."

"Don't bring me into it," Rori shot back. "Maldred is using how you feel about the dragons so he can trick you! Can't you see that? He wants to control dragons! He does not want to set them free!" Eko glared at Rori. She turned away and slammed the door behind her. Drake heard a clicking noise. He ran to the door handle. "We're locked in!" he cried.