Heart of Avalon (Avalon: Web of Magic #10):

by Rachel Roberts

  “You must come right away!” He waved his arms in a clanking of rings and armbands. “The sea dragons are ruining the Wave Fest!”

  “Prince Marlin, you are using unauthorized mirror transmissions,” Tasha scolded.

  “This is the most important thing going on in Aldenmor!” Marlin exclaimed incredulously. “Attend me on the royal beach in five minutes. That’s an order!”

  The mirror abruptly went blank.

  “What’s his deal?” Adriane asked.

  “That’s the merprince of Aquatania,” Zach explained. “It’s a water city on the northern coasts of Aldenmor.”

  “And he’s a spoiled snob,” Lorren added. “He thinks these mirrors are his own personal line to the Fairimentals.”

  “The royal merfolk are fighting with the sea dragon riders.” Zach shook his head. “The royals are turning away from magic and claim the riders only care about themselves.”

  “I’m friends with several dragon riders and their sea dragons,” Adriane protested. “They’re not like that at all.”

  Zach nodded. “The Wave Fest is a goodwill party for the two groups to reconcile.”

  “I’ll go,” Emily volunteered.

  Everyone stared at the healer.

  She shrugged. “Maybe I can help out with the sea dragons.”

  “We’ll join you as soon as I’ve got the Level Two jewels logged,” Tasha said.

  “That okay, Emily?” Adriane asked, taking Zach’s hand.

  “Sure, Ozzie and I will call if we need anything.”

  “The mirror should take you right there.” Lorren bowed to Emily, gesturing toward the flat, glimmering surface. “All you have to do is step through.”

  “Let’s go,” Ozzie said.

  “Later, ’gaters.” Kara waved.

  Taking a deep breath, Emily closed her eyes and plunged through the mirror. It was like passing through a thin layer of chill water. She stepped out, gasping as dizzying waves of magic washed over her. Someone was in terrible pain.

  EMILY FOUND HERSELF on a rocky beach in the middle of a magical carnival. All types of creatures from Aldenmor—mergirls and merboys, elves, goblins, dwarves, fairies, and spriggans—were enjoying the Wave Fest despite the gray skies. A giant octopus Oct-A-Whirl tossed seashells full of merchildren in the air. Their delighted whoops almost drowned out the buzz coming from dozens of brightly decorated stalls lining the beach.

  Just offshore, a sprawling city of vast translucent bubbles rose from the aquamarine surf.

  Behind Emily, the mirror bent and remolded itself around Ozzie’s body as he stepped through. “Wow, Aquatania,” he marveled.

  “Ouch!” Pain pulsed up Emily’s arm as a spray of purple sparks burst from her jewel.

  “What?” Concern furrowed Ozzie’s furry brow.

  “Someone’s hurt.”

  The ferret jumped to attention, scanning the crowds. “Over there.”

  Down the beach, a group of merteens were facing off with the same merprince who’d spoken through the mirror. His elaborate silver robes and jewelry made him twinkle like a sparkler.

  “Your dragons are ruining everything!” the merprince shouted.

  “Oh, no!” Emily gasped. Dozens of huge green, purple, and blue sea dragons lay motionless in the surf. Waves lapped over their iridescent scales, tugging long, coiled tails back and forth in the tide. “Let’s go, Ozzie.”

  “Call off the Wave Fest!” A tall merboy wearing a shiny green and blue body suit was in the merprince’s face, his sea blue eyes flashing with worry and anger. “These dragons are sick.”

  “Well, get them back in the water,” the prince retorted.

  “They shouldn’t be moved.” Emily stepped forward self-consciously.

  The bejeweled merprince faced Emily and Ozzie. “Who are you?”

  “I’m Emily, a healer. And this is Ozzie.”

  The merprince scowled at Ozzie. “I asked for a Fairimental, not a furrymental.”

  “gAh!” Ozzie bristled, his fur ruffling. “I’m a mage!”

  The tall merboy who’d been at odds with the merprince shook Emily’s hand. “I’m Jaaran.” He motioned to the other merteens. All wore star-shaped jewels on bracelets or necklaces. “These are the dragon riders of Aquatania.”

  Emily felt their anguish and fear for their bonded sea dragons.

  “I’m Ozzie of Farthingdale.” Ozzie puffed out his furry chest and waggled his magic jewel. “Perhaps you’ve heard of it.”

  The loud merprince pushed in front of Emily. “I am Prince Marlin.”

  “She’s the healer mage!” A mergirl with green skin and hair braided with glittering pearls sat on the surf’s edge. She gently stroked her sea dragon’s horse-like head as the creature whined softly, its large golden eyes dull and glassy. “I’m Kee-lyn.”

  Emily marveled at the dragons. They were incredible creatures with long, sleek bodies and wide aerodynamic fins built for speed. Powerful hind legs could propel them through the rough oceans, while shorter forelegs were used for balance.

  “You. Healer. Fix these dragons before the Wave Fest is completely ruined,” the prince commanded.

  “Give her some room,” Ozzie ordered.

  Emily knelt beside Kee-lyn’s dragon.

  “I’m Emily,” she said softly to the animal. “What’s your name?”

  “Meerka.” The dragon’s voice echoed weakly in her mind. “The warrior mage is my friend.”

  “Mine too.” Emily smiled. Setting her backpack down in the sand, she patted the dragon and took a deep breath. “Easy, Meerka. I won’t hurt you.”

  Holding up her rainbow jewel, Emily placed her hand on Meerka’s neck. The dragon’s smooth scales felt slightly warm.

  “Ozzie.”

  The ferret was instantly at the healer’s side, orange stone glowing as he added his magic to hers.

  The healer opened her senses, trying to feel what Meerka felt. The dragon’s heart thrummed with a steady pulse as Emily searched for wounds, cuts, or broken bones.

  Physically, Meerka seemed okay. But something was making the dragon sick. Emily pushed deeper, trying to find the source of the illness. Tendrils like fine silk brushed her mind. The dragon’s magic flickered like a weak flame, threatening to extinguish with each breath. Something was eating away at Meerka’s magic like a virus!

  Emily sent glowing blue and green healing light cascading over the dragon’s immense body. She visualized the animal becoming healthy, picturing the strong muscles and bright, colorful scales.

  Her rainbow jewel sparked with an electrical charge.

  Emily recoiled as the dragon groaned in pain.

  “Emily.” Ozzie’s concerned voice grounded the healer.

  “It’s okay.” Emily stroked Meerka’s head, feeling increasingly nervous.

  She’d healed many kinds of injuries, but this was completely different. The sickness eating away at Meerka was something she had never encountered before. A broken bone or burns from Black Fire was one thing—broken magic was something else altogether. She had no clue how to put the deteriorating magic back together. Was healing Meerka simply beyond her Level One skills?

  She sat back and sighed, trying not to let the dragon riders see her worry. Unless Emily learned how to cure Meerka, all the sea dragons could lose their magic.

  Get a grip, she scolded herself. Kara and Adriane would be here soon to help.

  “Good. All fixed. Let’s go,” Prince Marlin ordered.

  “It’s not all fixed,” Emily said tersely. “The dragons have to stay here and rest.”

  “They’re blocking the goodwill ceremony!” The prince tapped his royal foot impatiently.

  “Do you have any idea what made them sick?” Emily asked.

  “Magic,” Marlin spat, and gestured offshore.

  Emily’s attention was drawn to a brightly colored splash on the horizon, like fireworks in the middle of the day. “What is that?”

  “The wild magic storm cloud,” Marlin inform
ed her. “It’s all those sea dragons’ fault! Magic attracts magic. Everyone knows that.”

  “What does a jerk attract?” Jaaran yelled.

  “Where are the rest of your dragons?” Emily asked, scanning the large group of riders.

  “There are no more,” a merboy said sadly.

  “Since the Dark Sorceress hunted so many, very few dragon riders even have bonded dragons.” Jaaran sighed. “These are the last of the sea dragons.”

  Emily’s heart went out to them. So many riders and no dragons to bond with.

  “You can heal them, right?” Kee-lyn implored, holding Meerka tight.

  Emily hesitated, but she couldn’t lie to the dragon riders.

  “I’m not sure. If we can’t find a treatment… they could lose their magic.”

  “Proves everything I’ve been saying for months.” Marlin crossed his arms. “The time of magic is over.”

  “What about the pups?” another rider asked.

  “Pups?” Ozzie looked around.

  “The dragon babies.”

  “Take me to them.” Emily anxiously slipped the straps of her backpack over her shoulders.

  “Over here.” Jaaran hurried around a jagged rock outcropping.

  “I have to prepare my speech,” the merprince grumbled as he followed.

  Emily glared at him as she pulled her jacket tight against the sharp winds whistling through the high cliff walls.

  But the healer forgot all about Marlin when she saw the pups. The plump, seal-like babies huddled together, trembling, golden eyes wide with fear. Their soft, scaly bodies ranged from pearly pale blues to deep emerald greens.

  Emily knelt beside the closest pup. Power suddenly gathered in her jewel, tingling up and down her arm.

  “HaBlaaHHH!”

  Pups rolled across the sand as a purple blur erupted from the center of the pile.

  A purple dragon barreled toward Emily, its deep blue eyes gleaming.

  “Who are you?” Ozzie eyed the strange creature suspiciously.

  “Ooooooo.” The pup reached for Ozzie’s jewel.

  “Hey, don’t touch the ferret!” Ozzie yelped.

  “Schmootek!” The purple pup shoved the ferret aside, its wide mouth open in a toothy grin as it scampered up to the healer.

  “Hi, there.” Emily reached down and patted this odd dragon.

  “Blooop.” The creature’s wide face crumpled into a pathetic grimace. He pointed at his big toe and whimpered, shining blue eyes locked on the rainbow jewel.

  “All right, let’s take a look at you.”

  The creature sat on his rump, wide feet splayed. His skin was smooth, and instead of fins, he had big—toes?

  “You don’t look like a sea dragon.” Brushing red curls from her face, she picked up a foot and inspected it.

  The creature eyed her jewel intently.

  Emily felt his soft neck, trying to find his pulse. Nothing. She couldn’t feel a thing! The pup stared up at her with glinting blue eyes, his chest rising and falling with each breath. Maybe I’m just really tired, she thought.

  “What’s wrong, Emily?” Ozzie asked.

  “I don’t know.” The healer swallowed, her throat closing in panic. Her rainbow gem wasn’t picking up anything.

  “Beebee!” The creature suddenly leaped into Emily’s lap and grabbed at her jewel with lumpy fingers.

  “Get away from her!” Ozzie yelled, prying the creature away.

  “Haka!” Purple lips stretched wide, the plump dragon suddenly let go and ran away.

  At the same exact moment, thunder crashed overhead as flecks of light sparkled in the clouds.

  The rainbow jewel pulsed deeply, startling Emily. Pinpoints of magic prickled up her arms. Danger!

  Screaming erupted from the beach. But Emily’s eyes were locked on the dazzling lights twisting from the dark, billowing clouds.

  “Oh no!” Ozzie screamed.

  They had seen these before. Tornadoes of wild magic. She and Adriane had been caught in one, and it had temporarily switched their magic. Even Ozzie had been transformed into a berret.

  Scrambling around the dunes, she saw several cyclones whirl across the beach.

  “Stay out of their way!” Emily yelled at the crowds running for cover.

  Spirals of orange, silver, red, and blue advanced dangerously, digging deep trenches in the sand, tearing into food stands and overturning the Oct-A-Whirl. And in the middle of the chaos, the purple sea dragon shimmied and shook, attracting the twisters like bees to honey.

  “What is that?” Prince Marlin demanded, pointing at the dancing purple creature.

  Emily shrugged. “It’s your ocean.”

  Barreling through the crowded carnival, the baby dragon sent pixies and elves flying—the tornadoes chasing after him.

  Jaaran and the dragon riders circled their dragons, star-shaped jewels crackling with power as they formed a pearly protective shield.

  “Emily, watch out!” Ozzie yelled, pointing over her shoulder.

  The purple sea dragon was racing straight for her, mouth opened, tongue waggling—three sparkling twisters bearing down behind him.

  “Beebee!”

  “Emily!” Ozzie stepped in front of the healer.

  “Ozzie!” Emily reached out. But the sea dragon smacked straight into the ferret.

  “Gahhhhh!” The brave ferret tumbled head over tail as the twisters engulfed him.

  The sky overhead suddenly disappeared in a funnel of swirling colors. Caught in the full force of the churning magic, Emily took one last gulp of air as the world flashed brilliant white.

  SOMETHING GRITTY RUBBED against Emily’s cheek. A soft rushing noise filled her ears as she pushed herself up on her elbows, wiping sand and wet hair from her face.

  She was lying in the surf, the tide gently lapping at her feet. Struggling to stand, she shielded her eyes from the sharp glare of a glittering turquoise ocean. Patterns of bright light twinkled across the azure surface.

  “Ozzie?” She whirled around in panic. “Where are you?”

  A pristine white beach curved out of sight in both directions. Palm trees covered her in swaying shadows. She seemed to be on a tropical island. It didn’t look a thing like the rocky beach of Aquatania.

  But how had she ended up here—wherever here was?

  Emily could make out a coastline of rolling hills across the wide expanse of water. Wispy puffs of white smoke rose into the sky.

  “Hey!” She waved her hands until she realized no one could see her.

  Raising her rainbow jewel, she sent blue green sparkles twinkling in the air. “Ozzie? Come in, Ozzie!” she called. “Doc Doolittle to Fuzzy One.”

  Silence.

  “Adriane? Kara?” She paused, her pulse pounding in her ears. “Lyra, Dreamer, anybody?”

  Willing the magic to reach her friends, Emily sent a beam of jewel light swirling toward the sky. Abruptly the light splintered, showering rainbow sparkles.

  “What’s going on?” With a trembling hand she brushed tangled hair out of her face.

  Maybe her jewel wasn’t strong enough to reach her friends. But some magical helpers might be.

  “Fiona?” Emily called for the mini red fairy dragon. “Can you hear me?”

  Emily searched the air for the bright bubbles that announced the d-flies’ arrival.

  But nothing appeared. Just the gentle lapping of the tide against the shoreline.

  No reason to panic, she told herself, scanning the dense jungle vegetation shrouding the island’s interior. Kee-lyn and Jaaran were probably looking for her, and Kara, Adriane, and her other friends would be arriving at the Wave Fest any minute now. But she knew she was nowhere near the blustery waters and towering cliffs of Aquatania. So where was she? Was she still on Aldenmor?

  Looking out at the glittering sea, she felt her hopes sinking below the surface. She was stranded on a strange island, totally alone.

  Emily sloshed up the beach and swung off her backpack. A
t least the pack had stayed with her the whole time.

  She peeled off her denim jacket and set it on a piece of bleached driftwood. If only her rainbow stone was strong enough to make sure Ozzie was safe. This was the first time she could ever remember not being able to find him.

  What if she was stranded on the island for days, or weeks? What would happen to the animals back home in Stonehill at the Pet Palace? Mom will take care of them, she thought, settling back down. But still… what if she couldn’t get back? Her mom would totally freak!

  A wet strand of hair dripped stinging salt water into her eyes. Sighing, she opened her backpack to get a scrunchy.

  “Ozzie,” she said, giggling. Inside was a soggy package of oatmeal cookies, a water bottle, extra socks, turkey jerky, two Power Bars, a few apples, sunscreen, a brush, two scrunchies, and a ferret comb. Yup, Ozzie had done the packing. What she wouldn’t give to see that furry ferret standing there now.

  “Always looking out for me.” She smiled.

  “rrrrmmmmm.”

  A strange, low growl emanated from the depths of the tropical jungle. Emily swung around, jewel raised. “Who’s there?”

  A shadow bolted between thick palm trees. Squinty eyes peered at her from behind wide, fringed leaves.

  “You’d better not try anything!” She hoped she sounded calm. A wild animal would be able to read the emotions in her voice.

  But the creature who staggered from the jungle onto the beach was small and familiar.

  “Ozzie!” Emily exclaimed, running forward.

  “Beebee!”

  Emily grabbed the ferret in a huge hug, burying her face in his fur. He was slightly sticky and smelled like sea salt. The ferret pushed away, landed on his rump, and sat there, big eyes blinking

  “Oh, I was so worried!” She pulled back and studied Ozzie. He looked all right—except his normally gold and brown fur was purple! “What happened to you?”

  “Soda.” The ferret turned and grabbed Emily’s backpack.

  Oh, no! The last time Ozzie had been caught in a wild magical whirlwind, his tail had been transformed into a beaver tail. This time—