11 Ch11-Drake's Plan

CHAPTER 11 DRAKE'S PLAN Jean crashed into the temple wall and slid down to the floor. Drake and Darma ran over and knelt down beside her. "Are you all right?" Drake asked. Jean slowly opened her eyes. "I'm okay," Jean replied. "Just some— owl— bumps and bruises." The attack on Bracken had ended.

"Hmm." Maldred walked over to Drake and looked into the mirror. "Your castle is still standing. Perhaps I should make the Naga attack Bracken again? Or shall I attack somewhere else next?" The dark wizard strolled away, stroking his beard as he paced the floor of the temple. The Naga's eye appeared in the doorway as he waited for his next command. Think! Drake told himself. There has to be a way to get the twins to stop obeying him!

His eyes traveled up to the glowing eyes of the stone dragon above the Naga's door. A solution hit him. Drake quickly whispered to Jean and Darma, "If I can take the keys out of the eyes, Maldred won't be able to control the twins anymore. I'm going to climb up there and grab them." Darma nodded. "Go!" Jean urged him.

Maldred was still pacing, deciding where to attack next. Drake tiptoed to the doorway. The keys were up high on top of the door, inside the eye sockets of the stone dragon. Luckily, the carved body of the dragon along the sides of the door was perfect for climbing. Drake climbed until he was in arm's reach of the Gold Key.

I just need to grab it and then grab the Silver Key next, he thought. Unlocking the keys should disrupt Maldred's hold over Uri and Zelda. He gripped the top of the dragon's head with one hand. He stuck out his other hand to grab the Gold Key.

"Ouch!" Drake cried. The key had shocked his fingertips when he touched it! Maldred heard him and spun around. "What are you doing up there?" he asked. Then he aimed his magical fingers at Drake, ready to attack.