by Tony Abbott
Eric’s mask was completed first.
“Cool it in the falls before trying it,” said Hob.
As the imp began Khan’s mask and Neal and Julie looked at the book Thog had given her, Eric wormed his way back through the tunnels.
He held the mask under the water, shook it dry, and slipped it on. It felt as if he had no mask on at all. He stepped out from the falls and onto the rocks.
The river glistened in the sunlight.
“Beautiful day,” he said to himself. “Maybe it will turn out okay. Maybe we’ll find Keeah —”
Crack! There was a sound from across the river. Eric jumped behind the waterfall and peered out.
A dozen gray animals, like horses, but covered with spikes, loped along the opposite bank.
On their backs rode … skeletons. Skeletons with ragged black cloaks pulled over their backs. Their eyes flashed with a sickly green color as they peered this way and that.
“Ghost riders …” Eric whispered.
In the middle of the pack, he caught sight of Keeah, tied onto a black saddle. She was struggling against the bonds, but could not break free.
His heart racing, Eric stepped out from behind the waterfall. He stood in plain sight, hoping Keeah would see him.
“They’re hiding somewhere,” hissed one of the riders, scanning the rocks where Eric stood.
So Hob is right. They can’t see me! Eric thought.
“Never mind!” snorted another. “We’ve searched too long. We must begin our journey!”
As the riders speeded up, Keeah turned, stiffening in her saddle when she saw Eric.
She spoke silently to him.
Don’t worry about me, she said. Salamandra is the one. She’s going to the island of Morka. Stop her!
A hollow laugh rose from the bony creatures as their beasts trotted off into the woods.
Keeah! Eric called out silently to her.
She did not answer.
Breathlessly, he ran back through the tunnel, skidding into Hob’s cave. “I just saw the ghost riders! Keeah, too. She’s okay. Nelag wasn’t there. But we have to get going. We have to!”
Eric felt strange taking command, but he knew Keeah wanted him to. He knew he had to.
“Put on your masks, everyone,” he said. “We’re on a mission to stop Salamandra!”
The imp jumped. “Hob will come, too. Neal’s mask is not done. Hob will finish it as we go!”
Neal slipped it on and tried to line up the nose holes with his nostrils. “It does sort of pinch.”
“Good enough,” said Eric.
Finding Morka on the map and recalling the words he’d once heard Keeah use, he decided to try a transport spell.
“In a circle, everyone. Now, volo-bolo-sleeee!”
A silver light began to swirl around them.
“How wonderful!” said Khan excitedly.
“First stop — the island of Morka,” said Eric. “And — here — we — goooooo!”
A moment later, they shot out of the cave, into the air, and up, up, and away over the lands of Droon.
The spiral of light spun swiftly, carrying the three kids, the Lumpy king, and the mask-making imp over rivers, plains, and mountains.
“Um, Eric, should we be wobbling so much?” asked Julie, holding tight to Khan and Hob.
“I’m pretty sure that’s normal,” said Eric.
Neal looked down. “We’re over water now.”
“The S-s-sea … of … Droon,” said Khan, his voice quavering as the light sputtered around him. “It is very d-d-deep … and very w-w-wet.”
Eric pointed down through the light. “If my spell is working, that dot down there is Morka. Not bad for my first time using this spell, eh?”
Julie grimaced. “It might be your last time if you don’t pull us up. We’re dropping fast!”
Eric frowned. “I don’t know how-ow-ow —”
The island seemed to zoom up at them, and — wham! thwunk! splash-sh-sh-sh! — they crash-landed on the tiny shore, rolling over and over on the beach and ending in a sandy heap.
Fzz-zz-zz-pop! The last of the sparks vanished.
Eric sat up, looked around at his friends, and laughed. “Was that awesome or what?”
Julie managed a smile. “I just hope we really are on the island of Morka. I couldn’t take another flight right now. If that’s what you call it.”
“It’s Morka,” said Hob, looking around. “Hob once spent time here escaping from Lord Sparr.”
Morka was home to the hog elves — chubby, pink, and mostly harmless creatures. The kids had met their king, Gryndal, once before.
Khan snorted. “Gryndal stole my crown a while back. I don’t know if I can forget that!”
Julie scanned the steep hill rising over the island. “I spy a village. Should we check it out?”
“I think so,” said Eric. “Masks on firmly, everyone, and let’s go.”
“Mine still pinches,” said Neal, starting up the hill after Eric. “But after a trip like that, I guess I’m happy to be alive!”
Winding paths crisscrossed what proved to be more a mountain than a steep hill. After nearly an hour, they came to a quiet village of huts.
“It looks fairly deserted,” said Julie.
Hob shivered suddenly. “Not quite. Look!”
Huddled on a dusty street corner was …
“A monster!” the imp whispered.
It had scaly green skin and a spiky tail coiled in the dust. Sharp horns stuck out of its head.
Slowly, Eric stepped closer.
That was when the monster lifted its head.
Completely off.
With one of its hands — ploink! — the creature plucked its head up as if it were a helmet. Underneath was the chubby pink face and stubby three-nostriled snout of a hog elf.
Eric laughed. “It’s Gryndal! King of the elves!”
The hog elf looked up sadly. “King? Humpf! My people have a new ruler now. That terrible Salamandra has taken over their minds!”
“She’s here already?” said Julie.
Gryndal nodded. “Right now that wicked princess and her giant friend are digging in our mountain. And my own elves are helping! For some reason my monster mask saved me.”
“Hob discovered that trick, too!” said the imp.
Eric looked up the mountainside. “We’re here to stop Salamandra. You can help us.”
“Help you?” he said, getting to his feet. “You have to help me! If they dig too deep, they’ll hit our underground lake. We’ll all be flooded!”
“What if we help one another?” said Julie.
Gryndal jumped. “Would you do that?”
Khan glared fiercely at the elf king. “You did steal my crown once. But that seems long ago. And a hog elf in trouble is … well … still in trouble. Yes, let’s work together. And quickly, too!”
Plopping his mask back on, Gryndal led the small band up the mountain paths. Even before they reached the top, they saw the green beams of Salamandra’s magic staff coloring the air.
Thwump! Boom-oom!
They peered over the jagged summit to see Thog digging giant boulders out of the mountain peak and stacking them aside. Standing at attention nearby were rows of chubby pink hog elves.
Gryndal snorted angrily. “See what she’s done, that wicked princess with horrible hair?”
“Oh, she’s not so bad….” said Neal.
Everyone turned to see Neal, his mask lifted up and his eyes rolling slightly.
“Neal, are you nuts?” said Julie. “Your mask!”
“Huh? Oh, sorry,” he said, slipping the mask back on. “It’s just a little itchy under here.”
“Shhh!” said Khan. “Look!”
Thog had suddenly stopped digging.
At once there came a strange groaning sound from the mountain’s depths.
Eric shuddered. “Can anyone see anything?”
Khan peered up as high as he could, but shook his head. “Somethi
ng old. I can smell that much!”
Salamandra spoke. “Bring them up, big boy!”
The green light still glazing his eyes, Thog grasped two objects nearly as large as himself.
They were flat and rounded at one end and tapered to a point at the other.
“They’re … they’re … wings,” whispered Neal. “Big old dragon wings — made of metal!”
The wings were very large and clearly made of metal, but the odd, twisting designs hammered into them made them seem almost alive.
Hob shivered. “Hob knows those dark symbols. They are from Ko’s ancient empire of Goll!”
It was only then that Eric began to understand the powerful evil of Ko’s ancient ship.
“Thog said the real danger was where the ship flies to,” he murmured to his friends. “Wherever that is, we can’t let Salamandra get there.”
“We must act quickly,” whispered Gryndal, pointing to a small hole near Thog’s feet. It was bubbling with water. “Our underground lake won’t be underground much longer.”
“Then, let’s do it,” said Eric. Jumping up, he cried, “Salamandra! We’re here to stop you —”
“We’re all here to stop you,” said Julie, standing together with Neal, Hob, Khan, and Gryndal.
Salamandra wheeled around, staring into their eyes. “What a cute little army! I see you’re all wearing masks, too. How clever. Still, the dragon ship will fly — and I will rule Droon!”
Kla-boom! She sent a bolt of green lightning at Eric. He dodged the blast, swung around, and shot back at her. Wump! A chunk of watery dirt blew up, splattering her with mud.
Julie laughed. “Actually, that looks good on you! Are you ready for your mud bath?”
With Neal and Khan on one side and Hob and Gryndal on the other, they hurled rocks into the gathering mud puddles, splattering the thorn princess.
Angrily waving her staff around, Salamandra sent a huge blast at the ground.
Kla-booooom! Water gushed from the depths in huge spurts.
Laughing, the wicked princess turned again to the children. “I hope you enjoyed your little fight. Our real battle hasn’t even begun. Thog — come. In two minutes, this little island will fall right into the sea!”
With that, she twirled her staff three times and she and the giant vanished into thin air.
No longer under Salamandra’s spell, the hog elves went scurrying for cover. An instant later, a huge wall of water exploded from the mountaintop and thundered down toward the elves’ tiny village.
The water gushed down into a narrow pass above the village, threatening to crash through and sweep the village away.
“Somebody do something!” cried Gryndal, jumping up and down.
Eric turned to Julie. “Fly me to Thog’s pile of boulders. Then help everyone get out of the way.”
“You got it!” said Julie. Taking Eric’s hand, she shot to the rock pile, then flew back to help move the elves to safety.
Staring up at the huge boulders, Eric closed his eyes and summoned up some magic words.
“Nomee-akwee-petree!”
A blast of blue sparks burst from his fingertips and struck the tower of rocks.
Rmm-blam-boom! A boulder rolled off the top and tumbled onto the pass below. Splash!
“And again!” he said to himself. Another blast, and another boulder rolled from the pile. Then another. And another. Finally, the entire pile Thog had dug up went crashing onto the pass.
Rmmm-fwoosh-ppkkshh! The rushing water struck the wall of boulders, curled high, then rolled back on itself.
The village was safe.
“Yee-bo-yee! Plit-plit-plit!” the elves cheered.
So did Neal. “Woo-hoo! You did it!”
Gryndal rushed to Julie and Eric. “How can I ever thank you? You have saved our village!”
But Eric’s thoughts had returned to Salamandra. He shook his head. “We lost her. She’s already across the sea.”
Gryndal smiled. “This isn’t over yet. Salamandra stole some old wings, but we have other wings to offer you. Come, come!”
The king and his hog elves scurried beyond the village to a field where two giant birds were grazing. Two birds … with four wings each.
“Soarwings!” said Julie. “I remember them!”
They all remembered how Keeah had once flown away on a soarwing in search of her mother.
“Climb on,” said Gryndal. “Find Keeah. Stop the wicked thorn princess. Save Droon!”
“Thanks for all you’ve done,” said Eric, climbing with his friends onto the backs of the birds.
“No, thank you!” cheered the hog elves.
At once the giant birds lifted, circled the tiny island, and soared up to the wispy pink clouds.
They flew swiftly across the ocean. In what seemed like no time the children were over the coast.
“Where do you think Salamandra has gone?” asked Julie, peering down through the clouds. “Droon is huge. She could be anywhere.”
“Not far, I suspect,” said Khan, sniffing the air.
Eric shrugged. “We’ll just have to search until … until … holy cow!”
Dipping below the clouds, they saw the shimmering towers of Jaffa City. And inside the city walls, crossing the main courtyard, were Thog and the wicked princess herself.
“This can’t be good,” said Hob.
“That’s not the worst of it,” said Neal. “Look.”
They saw King Zello, Keeah’s large, club-carrying Viking of a father, standing in a swirl of green light, frozen to the palace stairs. Next to him was Queen Relna, Keeah’s wizard mother.
“Salamandra put her charm on them, too,” said Khan. “I knew I sniffed danger.”
“I can’t sniff at all,” said Neal. “My mask really pinches my nose. Hob, could you please … ?”
“Oh, all right!” said the imp, taking the mask. “But keep your head down and don’t peek!”
The giant birds skimmed the ground, and the kids slid off their wings one by one, tumbling onto the soft grass outside the walls. A moment later, the birds soared into the clouds again.
Being careful to keep out of sight, the small band made its way into the city’s main square.
“Salamandra’s been busy,” said Julie, pointing.
Strapped on Thog’s back were the two gleaming wings, a jeweled ship’s wheel, and a large dragon’s head formed of bronze.
Eric shuddered. “Wow. She’s almost finished collecting the pieces of the ship.”
“What’s happening?” asked Neal, his eyes shut tight. “Can I look?”
“Not until your mask is done,” said Hob, quietly tapping the metal.
Before they knew it, Thog went to the royal stables, shooed some pilkas away, and began digging a long trench under the stalls.
The kids crept along the city wall, then darted behind a high pile of hay and peeked over.
When they did, they saw Thog pull a giant silver hull up out of the dirt. It was formed like a dragon’s body. Its scaly sides glinted in the sun.
“And now … the final piece!” said Salamandra, her eyes scanning the paper stolen from Galen’s tower. She pointed past the stables. “Thog, find the sail of my dragon ship!”
The green light still swimming in his eyes, Thog stomped like a robot to the main square. Reaching up, he tugged the city’s giant flagpole up out of the ground. Ploink! The large blue flag drooped and dragged across the ground.
“Oh!” said Khan, burying his head in his hands. “The noble flag of Droon! I cannot look!”
“Look?” said Neal. “Look at what? What’s going on?” He lifted his head.
“Don’t look at anything!” said Hob, still tapping. “I haven’t quite finished —”
Neal’s eyes opened just long enough for Salamandra’s green light to flash in them.
“Oww! Whoa! Huh?” he mumbled. “Yes, princess. Of course, princess. You bet!”
He stumbled toward her, murmuring softly.
Eric
turned. “Neal? Neal! Get back here —”
“Droon, prepare to be mine,” cried Salamandra. “Shadowthorn will live again. When I fly this ship, there will be no stopping me!”
“Shadowthorn sounds nice,” mumbled Neal, his eyes rolling. “Can I get a room with a view?”
Laughing, Salamandra waved her hand. “Thog, come. We have one more stop!”
The giant stuffed the flagpole into his bundle, picked up Salamandra, and carried her away over the walls.
Neal started after them, but Eric and Julie held him down while Hob slapped the mask on him.
“You’re staying with us,” said Eric.
Neal blinked “Huh? What? Oh, man. Thanks, guys. I glanced at her ugly staff, everything went green, and — boom! — my mind was gonzo.”
“Now that’s a scary thought,” said Julie.
“It was scary!” said Neal. “Especially when she started telling stuff to my brain. I forget most of it, but I did learn Salamandra’s next stop.”
Eric gulped. “Some place not good?”
“Some place very not good,” said Neal, taking the map and tapping his finger on a black spot. “She’s going … are you ready? … to Plud.”
“Plud!” Khan said with a gasp. “Lord Sparr’s terribly creepy castle in the Dark Lands?”
“Where all of Sparr’s chubby red Ninn warriors live?” asked Julie.
“The Forbidden City of Plud?” asked Hob.
“Plud the wicked? Plud the evil?” asked Eric.
“That’s the place,” said Neal. “Sorry.”
“But I thought Plud burned down,” said Eric. “Why would Salamandra go there?”
“We can tell you why,” boomed a loud voice.
The kids turned to see King Zello, free of Salamandra’s spell, running across the square toward them. Queen Relna was running right next to him.
Everyone bowed to them.
“If Salamandra is going to Plud,” said Relna, “it is because the highest tower remains … and the weapons workshop.”
King Zello nodded his head. “Whatever else they are, Ninns are builders of things. Weapons mostly, but anything in metal.”
“That’s it!” said Eric. “Salamandra needs to rebuild the ship. And Plud is the one place that has the workers and the tools.”