7 Ch7-The Castle of the Wizards

CHAPTER 7 THE CASTLE OF THE WIZARDS The guard frowned and crossed his arms. "You have to let us in!" Tessa demanded. "There's a wizard duel happening in Remus." "And our wizard has been turned into a duck," Drake said. Petra held out Griffith. "Quack!"

The guard raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? That duck sounds like an ordinary duck to me." He bent down and looked the duck in the eyes. "Quack! Quack! Quack quack quack quack!" Griffith scolded. The guard straightened up. "Yes, Griffith! You can see the Head Wizard right away!" "Can you understand birds?" Drake asked. "Mostly just ducks and chickens," the guard replied. "You kids can go in. But your dragons must stay here. Those are castle rules." "Sono needs to stay with me," Tessa explained. "She guides me." "Quack quack!" Griffith added.

"Yes, guide animals are allowed," the guard said. "But Sono can't use her dragon powers inside the castle." "Got it," Tessa said, and she and Sono moved past the guard. "You'll find the Head Wizard at the end of the hallway!" the guard called after her. Drake and Petra followed Tessa, leaving Zera and Worm outside the gates. This place reminds me of Bracken Castle, Drake thought, looking at the floors and walls made of gray stone.

As Drake and Petra passed by half-opened doors, they saw scenes very different from those in Bracken. In one room, boys and girls waved wands with sparkling tips. Right. Griffith said that young wizards train here, Drake remembered. In another classroom, a boy pointed his finger at an apple and it turned into a potato. Another room was filled with glittery purple fog.

Finally, they reached the door at the end of the hallway. Drake moved to knock on it, but the door swung open on its own. They heard a voice from within: "Griffith! What trouble have you gotten into?"