15 Ch15-On the Loose!

CHAPTER 15 ON THE LOOSE! Eko hugged Neru. The dragon nuzzled her with his furry snout. "How did you find me?" she asked. Her Dragon Stone glowed green as Neru answered. Eko turned to Rori. "Thank you for saving me," she said, hugging her. "We had to," Rori said. "You saved me and Drake from Maldred."

"I am sorry I ever agreed to help Maldred," Eko said. "I thought he wanted dragons to be free, like I do. I didn't think he would ever try to destroy the world— or hurt you two." "It's okay," Rori told her. The rescued wizards, the ones who hadn't poofed away, were looking around, dazed. "Where am I?" asked a wizard with frizzy purple hair.

"You will not get me, Maldred!" cried a wizard wearing brown robes. He swirled around, waving his wand. Griffith's voice boomed over the crowd. "Calm down, everyone! Maldred trapped you in time. But you are not in danger anymore. Maldred is not here, and you are free. We can help you get home." The wizards all began to talk at once. "Follow me," Griffith said. "We'll sort this out." He led them downstairs. "Was it scary inside the wall?" Rori asked Eko.

"Not really," Eko said. "I knew I was trapped. But it only felt like seconds. How long has it been? And where is Maldred?" "It's a long story," Rori said. Lukas interrupted them. "And now you have plenty of time to tell it," he said. "This is Lukas and his Time Dragon, Maj," Drake told Eko. "They're the ones who really broke the spell." "Thank you both," Eko said. "You're welcome," Lukas said. He turned to Drake and Rori. "Maj and I must return home. But you should visit us when you can."

"Sure," Drake said. "I'm sure we'll have a good time." Lukas grinned. Then Maj's body glowed and they transported back to Casgore. Drake, Rori, and Eko brought their dragons downstairs to Maldred's workshop. They found Griffith leafing through Maldred's journal. A few wizards were standing around the desk, drinking tea.

"These are the wizards who, like me, can't magically transport," Griffith explained. "Worm can help us get them home. But we have another problem." "What's that?" Drake asked. Griffith tapped the book with his finger. "There are definitely evil wizards on this list. Some of them are even worse than Maldred." Drake gasped. "And now they're on the loose!" "Yes, I'm afraid so," Griffith replied. "What do you think they'll do?" Drake wondered.