7 Ch7-Astrid's Army

CHAPTER 7 ASTRID'S ARMY Down below, a huge swirling portal of red energy had opened up in front of the fortress. An army of men and women wearing armor marched out of it. The soldiers carried shields, bows, and arrows. And behind them, floating above the ground, was Astrid!

"How did she get here so fast?" Mina asked. "Jayana said she was at least one day away." "She must have created a magic portal to take a shortcut," Drake guessed. "And it looks like she picked up some soldiers on the way."

"She can bring all the soldiers she wants," Caspar said. "Nobody can break into this fortress!" More soldiers came out of the portal. They marched in straight lines toward the fortress. Some pushed weapons on wheels.

"What are those wagons?" Mina asked. "They're called catapults, and they throw rocks," Drake replied. "Jean, the Dragon Master of the Silver Dragon, uses them to protect her castle." Remembering Jean, Drake reached for the silver sword she had given him. I wish I had taken some sword-fighting lessons from Jean, he thought. But one sword won't stop this army. We need wizards! He took the magic mirror from his belt. "I will let Griffith know we need help," he said. Drake looked into the mirror. "Griffith! It's Drake! Astrid is—"

Wham! An arrow slammed into the mirror, knocking it out of Drake's hands. It smashed onto the stone floor. Drake picked up his mirror. The glass had shattered. "No!" Drake cried. He turned to Mina and Caspar. "Jayana told us we should hide if we saw Astrid." "We must fight Astrid now!" Mina said. "Shaka and I will not back down," Caspar said. "It is our duty to protect this fortress!" The soldiers stopped marching. They all drew their arrows at once. Drake noticed for the first time that their eyes were glazed over red. But Astrid's eyes were clear. She walked to the front of the army, wearing a glowing red crystal around her neck.

She's controlling the soldiers, he realized. Mina saw it, too. "The soldiers can't help what they are doing," she said. "Astrid is controlling them. Just like Vasty the Ice Giant used a blue crystal to control Frost." "I remember!" Drake said. "I had to destroy the crystal to undo the spell," Mina added.