6 Ch6-The Garden of the Beasts

CHAPTER 6 THE GARDEN OF THE BEASTS Drake and Mina stared at each other in shock. "Who is Astrid?" Caspar asked. "We came here to warn you about her," Drake said. "Astrid is an evil wizard. She's working on a spell that can bring things to life." "That sounds impossible!" Caspar cried. "Tell us about these bones," Mina said. "What kind of creatures have bones as big as these? Are they dragons?"

"These are the bones of giant beasts that lived long ago. Long before humans and probably even before dragons," Caspar replied. "Come." Caspar walked them over to one of the walls. "These are paintings of the beasts. Of what we think they looked like." Drake studied the pictures. Some of the beasts had very long necks. Others had long tails. Some walked on two legs. Some walked on four legs. "They kind of look like dragons," Drake said.

"They do," Caspar said. "But many of the beasts were much bigger than dragons. And we do not know what powers they had." "They look strong and dangerous," Mina said. "Astrid would probably use them to do terrible things. Caspar, we must prepare for her attack!" "This fortress is made of stone. Nobody can get in here unless Shaka opens the door," Caspar said. "Shaka can crush things. She can make the earth shake. And she has a secret power that she can use in an emergency." "Astrid is a very powerful evil wizard," Drake said. "Not more powerful than Shaka," Caspar boasted.

"I must tell Hulda that we know what Astrid is planning," Mina said. "Frost, create an ice—" Boom! They heard a loud noise outside the fortress. "To the tower!" Caspar cried. He and Shaka climbed to the top of the nearest tower. Worm transported Drake, Mina, and Frost there. They all looked down at the scene outside the fortress and gasped. "It's an army!" Drake cried.