11 The Naga's Door

CHAPTER 11 THE NAGA'S DOOR Drake held his breath as the door to the Naga opened. I've been worried this whole time about Zoltan freeing Maldred, Drake told Worm. What if he frees the Naga, too?

But there was no giant eye behind the door, no enormous body covered in huge white scales. No Naga. Only darkness. The Naga's eye is not turned toward Barga, Worm replied. But once he senses the door is open, he will come and— A shower of red sparks exploded inside the Earth Dragons' energy bubble and it burst. Free, Zoltan reached toward the open door. "Da mihi, Maldred!" he shouted. Whooooooosh! The red bottle holding one hundred flies appeared inside the open doorway. Zoltan's spell had pulled it away from the Naga.

The Wizard Dragon grabbed the bottle in his claws. "Maldred, I have saved you!" he cried. Worm's and Kinguq's bodies glowed as they powered up for another attack. "SATIS!" Zoltan bellowed, thrusting his free hand toward the Earth Dragons. The dragons' green magic fizzled.

Zoltan raised the bottle and began to chant. When this prison opens, Maldred shall be free. One hundred flies are in here now. But Maldred there shall be! As he spoke, a red glow swept over the bottle. Nuna looked at Drake. "We cannot let Zoltan open that bottle, and we need to close the door! Our dragons must use their most powerful attacks." "I don't want to hurt Zoltan, but I think you are right," Drake agreed. "No!" Wolfgang said. "Let me try once more." Nuna and Drake nodded at each other. We have to let him try, Drake thought, and Nuna must have thought the same thing. They both nodded again. Wolfgang turned to his father and thrust out his wand. "Radish kadabrish!" the young wizard cried.

Poof! A purple radish appeared in midair and began to bob and twirl. Zoltan raised a bushy eyebrow. "Ha!" he laughed. "The dancing radish spell? Do you expect to stop me with such silly magic?" "It's the first spell you ever taught me, Dad," Wolfgang said. "Remember?" The Wizard Dragon stopped. "That was... so long ago." "Not that long ago, Dad," Wolfgang said. "I'm only eight!"

"You were so good at magic, even at age five," Zoltan said. He looked at his son, remembering. "I was so proud of you..." Wolfgang is reaching his father! Drake thought. But the red bottle glowed brightly, and the dreamy look in the Wizard Dragon's eyes faded. Zoltan's claws reached for the stopper on the bottle. "I am so close. So close to more power than I have ever imagined. Nothing can stop me from releasing Maldred now." "Please stop, Dad!" Wolfgang pleaded. ROOOOAAAAR! A dragon's cry came from one of the tunnels. Drake turned toward the sound. Vulcan the Fire Dragon emerged, with Rori and Jayana on his back!