11. A CALMING CRYSTAL

CHAPTER 11 A CALMING CRYSTAL Belydor's eyes widened when he saw that Llew was in danger. To everyone's surprise, he acted fast to save the boy. He pushed his head through the rock wall and it crumbled.

A crystal beam shot from his mouth, aimed at the ground. Where the beam hit, a smooth, crystal pathway formed. It led from Belydor to Llew. Llew swiftly wheeled down the pathway, out of the way of the rolling rock. Belydor quickly moved toward him.

Llew faced the dragon. "You saved me," he said. "You are the hero of your own story, Belydor. You can fight us and hurt us. Or you can let us help you. You decide." Drake held his breath. Will Belydor get angry and attack again? he wondered. Belydor listened calmly as Worm relayed Llew's words. Soon Drake heard Worm inside his head. Belydor will listen to what Llew has to say. Drake announced the news. "This is great! Llew can talk to Belydor through me and Worm."

"Griffith!" Rori cried suddenly. She rushed toward the cave. Griffith and Morgan walked out of the grotto. Drake blinked. "They're free?!" "ROOOOAAAAAAR!" Belydor roared at the wizards. "Everyone, get away from the Crystal Dragon!" Griffith warned. "He is dangerous!" "Our new friend Llew has a connection to him," Drake said. "We're working it out."

Llew turned to Belydor. "You are safe. Please stay calm and tell me your story." Belydor's body flashed brightly. Llew took the light blue crystal from his pocket. Llew said that crystal had a calming power, Drake remembered. Llew reached out and touched the crystal to the dragon's neck. "It's okay, Belydor," he said. "Nobody is going to hurt you." Belydor closed his eyes.

Then Drake's Dragon Stone began to glow. Beador says the wizard in yellow is the one who tried to control him, Worm told Drake. "Belydor says that Morgan tried to control him with magic," Drake said. "Is that possible?" "That is not something Morgan would do. I would ask him," Griffith replied, "but my poor cousin has not spoken since we freed ourselves from those crystals." "How did you get out?" Rori asked Griffith. "Worm's powers loosened up the crystals enough for us to use magic," Griffith explained. "But our escape seems to have taken a lot out of Morgan." He turned to his cousin. "Are you feeling better?"