SWNOVELS Chapter 25: Emerald Ice
Ran-Da stood watching as Jar-Ed and his men returned to the palace, disappearing inside. Loud music and voices resumed as the celebration continued. Under the cover of darkness, the red dragon flew quietly around the palace perimeter to the shed. The horns down his spine quivered in anger. “Now he has the red stone pendant and all its magic!” he muttered softly.
Moving to the shed where his friends were being held captive, Ran-Da felt a sudden icy quiver run down his spine to his tail. For the second time that day, he felt the ancient call of his forefathers course through his dragon veins. Emerald green eyes shone brilliantly as an icy green mist began to stream from them. Spreading out, it flooded silently over the wooden shed that held Jar-Ed’s captives, covering it entirely.
Red flames flickered around Ran-Da’s nostrils, reaching out to touch the icy green vapor on the shed. As the two elements met, they hissed and crackled. Soundlessly the boards broke into splinters, turning to dust before they touched the ground. The green, vaporous cloud, mixed with flickering red flames, hovered silently over the cluster of dusty, frightened prisoners.
Molly strained to see beyond the fire-charged vapor lingering above them. When her eyes locked onto the red dragon, the fairy whispered loudly in disbelief, “Ran-Da! Is that really you? You are safe! I thought you had been killed in that awful explosion!”
Vastly relieved that her friend survived the black wand, Molly’s heart swelled with hope. The prisoners, previously crammed into the small shed, now stretched their arms into the air and moved freely about.
“I am here, Molly. Here to rescue you and your friends,” Ran-Da reassured them in a low voice, not wanting to draw the attention of those in the palace.
“Wonderful!” exclaimed Molly, feeling overwhelming relief. “Just in time! It was unbearably hot and stuffy in there!”
“Much better,” agreed King Simon, “now that we can breathe!”
Molly ran to Ran-Da, hugging him tightly, grateful he was safe and she had not lost him forever as she had feared. Smiles of relief lit up the faces of all the prisoners and the large group made ready to sneak back toward the red stone path. However, they soon noticed that the noise from the palace had ceased and it now lay in darkness except for one dim light shining from a partially open window. Only a few exterior lights remained.
“It looks like our friends have retired for the night,” said the king. “Those are my rooms,” he said, pointing at the lit window. “I’m willing to bet that’s where our evil sorcerer is spending the night!” The light went out as he spoke, leaving the inside of the palace in total darkness.
A slight noise behind them startled the king and he whirled quickly around. They watched as the huge pile of black dust silently disappeared before their eyes. The icy green mist and sparking red flames remained nearby.
“So much for Jar-Ed’s wand,” said Hoddi, still gulping in the fresh air while wiping the sweat from his forehead.
“Yes!” affirmed Molly. “It doesn’t seem to last. However it causes much damage just the same!” The fairy’s hand stole to her neck finding only the empty space where her pendant had been. She had worn it every day since her father gave it to her and she already missed it.
“Come Molly. We must leave before those thugs find out we are gone,” warned King Simon, his eyes dark with concern.
Molly stepped back. “I cannot leave the red stone in the hands of that demented sorcerer!” protested the Spungle fairy, angrily. “I must get into the palace!”
“No, Molly! It is much too dangerous!” said Hoddi, appalled by her suggestion. He desired only to get to a safe haven as quickly as possible.
Ran-Da added, “It’s my job to keep you safe, my friend. You cannot go in there alone. You will surely be captured!”
All agreed that entering the palace was too dangerous to even consider. However, Molly felt determined to retrieve the stone pendant. Without another word, she unfurled her beautiful wings, flying swiftly away from them. Within a few seconds, she hovered over the rooftop of the palace.
Molly perched quickly behind one of the turrets that stood in front of the large window that had been lit just moments before. Just like King Simon, the Spungle fairy also thought it likely that Jar-Ed was spending the night there. Molly, not making a sound, slipped through the open window, disappearing from sight.
Below, the men stood in shock, not daring to call out to her in case they were heard by their enemies.