How to Slay a Dragon - Bill Allen [96]
“Hold still!” shrieked Hazel, who was even worse than Nathan at doling out advice.
A blinding flash warmed Greg’s skin right through his tunic. The Shrieking Scrub burst into flames behind him, but he wasn’t hit. The amulets surged with so much power Greg could barely grip the chains. Their magic must be protecting me! If only he would get the chance to thank King Peter and Mrs. Greatheart for lending them to him. And Nathan for lending his staff. Then he remembered the dragon had given him something as well.
Ruuan’s ring could save him.
“You can’t escape,” Hazel cackled.
Yes, I can, Greg thought.
“Transportus!” he shouted desperately.
A final blue bolt sprang from Hazel’s fingertips straight at Greg’s forehead. Caught flat-footed, Greg cringed, certain he was dead.
But the lightning never struck. Greg felt a disturbing jerk, an icy cold washed over him, and then his feet landed on stone. His eyes popped open. He was no longer in the Shrieking Scrub. He was standing in Ruuan’s lair in the same spot he’d left, next to a glittering pile of treasure in an otherwise empty cavern.
Reunion of the Hart
A piercing whistle met his ears and intensified until Greg felt his head might explode. Out of the tunnel soared Ruuan, who in a flurry of leathery wings managed to stop just short of crushing Greg. The dragon’s pointed teeth pulled into an enormous grin.
“AH, YOU BEAT ME BACK. YOU HAVE DONE WELL, YOUNG GREGHART, AS ANY WHO KNEW THE PROPHECY MIGHT HAVE SUSPECTED YOU WOULD.”
Greg patted himself down and inspected his limbs in disbelief. Then he spotted Lucky, Priscilla, and Marvin Greatheart waving from the crack in the wall.
“COME,” said the dragon. “MY MAGIC WILL PROTECT YOU.”
The others looked reluctant.
“It’s okay,” Greg told them. “It’s safe.”
Priscilla squealed and rushed forward, hugging Greg tight enough to make him blush. “Are you really back? You were only gone a few minutes.”
“It’s the Shrieking Scrub,” Greg remembered out loud. “Nathan said time did some crazy things there.”
“Wait, you did it, didn’t you?” Priscilla suddenly realized. “You fulfilled the prophecy.”
Lucky moved to shake Greg’s hand, but broke down and threw his arms around him instead. “Was there ever a doubt?” he said, grinning.
Greg stared at the boy, tears in his eyes. “Yes,” he said. “Yes, plenty of doubt.”
“Congratulations, Greghart,” said Marvin. In addition to his loincloth he wore a band of cloth nearly as broad wrapped around his head, no doubt covering the bruise Priscilla left on his skull. He extended a hand for Greg to shake. “We heard you dealing with the dragon. Never thought of negotiating with one of the beasts. Seems a bit easier than the brute force way Dad taught me.”
Still trembling, Greg reached out his own hand. He spotted the two amulets clenched tightly in his fist, relaxed his grip until the color came back into his knuckles and raised the treasures out toward Ruuan.
“I-I guess you want these back.”
“I WOULD LIKE NOTHING MORE,” said Ruuan, “BUT I’M AFRAID THE TIME FOR THAT HAS NOT YET COME. KING PETER HAS PLACED HIS FAITH IN YOU TO RETURN THAT WHICH HE LENT YOU, AND LIKEWISE, MRS. GREATHEART ENTRUSTED YOU TO RETURN ONE AMULET TO HIM,” he said, nodding at Marvin.
“You’re going to let us keep them?” Greg said.
“FOR NOW. JUST AS I WILL ALLOW YOU TO KEEP THE RING I HAVE GIVEN YOU, FOR NOW. AND I AM GOING TO GIVE YOU THIS, AS WELL,” he added, reaching out his tongue.
Greg nearly declined—what would he do with a dragon tongue?—but then he noticed the spirelings’ amulet resting on one tip.
“AFTER YOU RETURN THAT TO ITS PLACE IN THE PASSAGEWAY OF SHIFTED DIMENSIONS, YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY HOME. MY MAGIC WILL SEE YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS SAFELY FROM THE SPIRE, BUT BE WARNED. ONCE OUTSIDE YOU’LL BE ON YOUR OWN. GO SAFELY, YOUNG GREGHART. I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR NEXT MEETING.”
“Our next meeting?”
“Come on, Greg,” said Lucky. “I don’t know if it’s my imagination or not, but I’m starting to feel awfully hot.”
“Huh? Oh, right.” Greg thanked the dragon for his help, and then