3 King Roland's Threat

CHAPTER 3 KING ROLAND'S THREAT Drake looked over at his friend Bo. He could tell Bo was thinking the same thing he was: How did the king know one of the dragons was sick? "I have spies hidden in the Valley of Clouds," the king said, as if he had read their minds. "You almost let these dragons escape once, Griffith. I want to make sure they are ready when I need them."

"I understand," Griffith said. Drake remembered that when the tunnel had caved in, Griffith hadn't told the king that the Dragon Masters had taken the dragons out. Instead, he said the dragons had tried to escape. Griffith had lied to protect the Dragon Masters. Griffith had only wanted to protect us when he told that lie, Drake thought. But now the king is mad at him instead of us! "So I will ask you again, Griffith," said the king. "Is one of the dragons sick?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," said Griffith. "There seems to be something wrong with Kepri." All eyes turned to Kepri. Her eyes were cloudy. And her long, graceful neck was drooping.

"First the dragons tried to escape, and now one is sick," said King Roland. "This makes me very unhappy, wizard. You are supposed to know all about dragons. Heal her!" "I will look for a cure right away," Griffith promised. "You had better find one soon," King Roland said, his eyes fixed on the wizard. "If not, I will find another wizard." King Roland turned and stormed out of the caves. His guards followed. Drake's stomach did a flip. Another wizard? What would we do without Griffith? "What do we do now?" Ana asked Griffith, stroking Kepri's head. "I have many books about dragons," the wizard replied. "We will start there."

"We? You mean we can help?" Drake asked. "Of course!" Griffith said. "Please take your dragons into their caves. Then meet me in the Training Room. We must act quickly to save Kepri!"