4 Ch4-Jayana's Gazing Ball

CHAPTER 4 JAYANA'S GAZING BALL We must stop Astrid from casting the False Life spell!" Mina cried. Jayana walked over to her gazing ball. "Let's see where Astrid is right now," she said. Magic flowed from her fingers. The ball glowed with silver light. A picture appeared inside it. Drake saw Astrid riding a horse across a desert.

"Those are the red sands of Navid. And that is Mount Ruby behind her. But what is she doing there?" Jayana asked. Then she frowned. "Unless..." "Unless what?" Mina asked. "Unless she is heading to the Fortress of the Stone Dragon," Jayana said. "Why would she go there?" Drake asked. "That fortress is the most magical place in Navid," Jayana said. "It looks like she is about two days away." Drake remembered the mirror in his belt. He looked into the mirror. "Griffith?" he asked.

The wizard's face appeared. "Drake! What have you found out?" "I'll let Jayana explain," Drake said, and he handed the mirror to the Head Wizard. Jayana told Griffith what they had learned Griffith frowned. "A False Life spell," he said. "Is there any magic powerful enough to undo it?" "I don't think so," Jayana said. "I will have my top wizards work on it. The spell takes very long to create, so we will have time." "I'll see what I can learn from my books," Griffith said. "In the meantime, Drake and Mina, go to the fortress. Warn the Dragon Master there that Astrid is on her way."

Then the magic mirror went dark. "Let's go!" Mina said— and then she yawned. That made Drake yawn, too. Jayana looked out the window. A bright moon hung in the sky. "There is time for you and your dragons to rest and eat," Jayana said. "Worm can transport you to the fortress in the morning. You will still be at least one day ahead of Astrid." "Sleep would be nice," Drake said. "I do not need rest," Mina said, but she yawned again. She didn't argue when Jayana led them to the guest quarters. The wizards fed Worm and Frost. They brought Drake and Mina soup and bread.

The Dragon Masters and their dragons got a good night's sleep. Jayana met them at the dragon stable in the morning. "My wizards and I will join you soon. But first, we need to find magic strong enough to fight Astrid," she told Drake and Mina. "If Astrid gets there before we do, hide! Do not approach her on your own. She is dangerous." "I am from the Land of the Far North," Mina said. "We do not hide."

"Be careful, Mina," Jayana said. "And safe travels to you all!" Jayana waved as Worm transported Drake, Mina, and Frost to the Fortress of the Stone Dragon in Navid. When they got there, Drake felt the heat from the desert sand through his shoes. He squinted and looked up at the sturdy fortress. He counted eight tall towers, joined by high stone walls. A voice rang out from the nearest tower. "Who goes there?"