Trial By Fire (Avalon: Web of Magic #6) (18 page)

“W
ARRIOR
.”

Adriane stood in the meadow under the shade of the great tree, Okawa. Its branches glistened with greens as if it, too, rejoiced in the coming rains. But the bright rippling colors were in stark contrast to the rain that fell in Adriane’s heart. Around her a hundred mistwolves, the entire pack, had gathered.

Moonshadow, Silver Eyes, and Zach approached her.

“Will you lead us in the wolf song?”
Moonshadow asked.
“We will wish Stormbringer well on her journey to the Spirit Pack.”

Adriane was honored to lead the sacred ritual, reserved for members of the pack only. She threw her head back and sang the wolf song from deep in her soul as it had been taught to her by her lost friend. The pack joined, their voices echoing across the Fairy Glen.

Slowly, the mistwolves walked away. Adriane, Zach, Moonshadow, and Silver Eyes watched soft grasses and rainbow flowers wave under the light breeze.

“I can’t say good-bye,” Adriane whispered.

“You don’t have to,” Zach said gently.

“She is not lost to us, but a part of the Spirit Pack,”
Moonshadow said.

“If you listen, they speak to us still from within.”
Silver Eyes brushed Adriane’s side.

Adriane ran her hand over the packmother’s soft fur.

“Hold on tight to every memory,
” Silver Eyes said.
“It is what makes your heart strong.”

Adriane closed her eyes and let the memories come—memories of her and Storm. The first time she realized they could communicate. The two of them wrestling across the hills of Ravenswood. Storm helping her understand the magic, and friendship. And their journey—together and separately—to Aldenmor.

“When does it stop hurting?” Adriane struggled to stay strong.

“Not for a long time,” Zach said. “But you go on and you
hold
on! Think about what Storm would want for you.”

“I don’t know if I can,” Adriane said truthfully. Her heart lay in pieces, locked away in a place she could not reach.

“Wolf daughter,”
Silver Eyes said.
“You must not close your heart to those who love you.”

From the corner of her eye Adriane caught movement. Silver Eyes was nuzzling a fuzzy mistwolf pup forward.
“It is time for the student to become the teacher,”
the packmother said.

Dreamer shifted shyly on his white paws. The wolf pup lifted his head to the warrior mage.

Adriane knelt and gazed into the pup’s deep green eyes. “I guess we’re both alone now,” she whispered.

Dreamer understood. He moved into Adriane’s arms. Feelings flashed—anger, fear, sadness, and loss—but underneath, tenderness and beauty, the promise of hope, and a conviction to fight for love, the heart of a warrior.

Holding Dreamer in her arms, Adriane cried.

“I’ll always be with you.”

Dreamer’s wolf eyes filled with love. And the bond was forged like iron between the lone wolf and the lone warrior—forever.

T
HE FAIRY GLEN
was packed.

Pegasi, wommels, brimbees, jeeran, brimbees, all the magical animals from Ravenswood had returned to a place they never thought they’d see again. The waters of the fairy lake sparkled and glistened, reflecting the bright colors of the sky and the shimmering white of the portal that hung open near the shore. The wondrous Fairy Glen, seen by so few, was renewed. The heart of Aldenmor beat strong once again.

Ozzie stood chattering with a group of wide-eyed elves, astonished to be at such an extraordinary place. Emily, Kara, and Lyra waited patiently as Adriane approached with Zach, Moonshadow, and Silver Eyes. Emily smiled as she noticed Dreamer walking protectively at the dark-haired girl’s side.

No words were spoken. Just a warm embrace by each told Adriane how much she was loved, how much she was needed.

“The prophecy has come to pass.” The soft windy voice belonged to Ambia, an Air Fairimental. A thicket of twigs, brush, and leaves tumbled together as Gwigg, an Earth Fairimental, appeared. The beautiful Watermental, Marina, swirled up from the blue-green lake, glittering in the sun.

The entire glade hushed at the presence of such magical creatures.

“Three mages have come to our aid and healed Aldenmor,” Gwigg said. “One has followed her heart, and found the strength of a warrior.” Gwigg rumbled by Adriane.

“One has seen in darkness and found the light of healing.” Marina sent gentle waves rippling through the lake.

The Air Fairimental flitted over to Kara. “And one has changed completely and found—”

“A jewel!” Kara held up her unicorn jewel.

“—restraint!” Ambia twinkled.

“Oh, that too,” Kara said, smiling.

“You changed from the prettiest to the ugliest,”
Lyra teased.

“Yeah, but I’m back. And I’m still a princess!” Kara giggled, then glanced at Emily and Adriane. “Long story.”

The portal on the shores of the lake shone brightly. Glimmering curtains swirled open to reveal a sprawling web of curved and looping lines.

The crowd stared in wonder at the magic web.

The Fairimentals gathered at the portal. “It has been a long time since magic has flowed across the strands of the web.”

“Did I release Avalon’s magic?” Kara asked.

“We do not know,” Gwigg rustled.

“But the prophecy… didn’t we find Avalon?” Emily asked.

“The prophecy can only guide us,” the Earth Fairimental explained. “It can mean different things. You make it your own as you walk your path.”

“I was on this island,” Kara insisted. “There were the most beautiful fairy wraiths there.”

“There are wraiths and sylphs who guard the most special of magical places.” Ambia fluttered on a cool breeze.

“What the blazing star found was the Gates of Avalon,” Gwigg said.

The mages glanced at one another.

“The wraiths said we need a key,” Kara said.

“That is correct,” Gwigg replied.

Ambia shook her head sadly. “Avalon has been lost to us for a very long time.”

Moonshadow stepped forward.
“In my spirit vision, I saw the crystal city, broken and covered in webs. It was a dark place.”

Gwigg trembled, twigs and leaves falling to the ground. “We fear for Avalon.”

“I saw a different Avalon.” Kara stepped forward. “It was beautiful, an incredible city sparkling with lights.”

The animals gasped.

“It means the future is uncertain, in motion, constantly changing.” Ambia twinkled brightly. “Still, the rain falls, covering Aldenmor with glorious magic. It is full of possibilities and also fraught with dangers.”

“The Dark Sorceress has been exiled to the Otherworlds,” Gwigg told the mages. “But even now, dark creatures are gathering to hunt the magic.”

The voices of the Fairimentals echoed across the Fairy Glade. “Ravenswood is more important than ever now. You must protect the magic that has been seeded there.”

“So it begins, mages,” Ambia said. “You have proven yourselves by healing Aldenmor.”

Marina drifted to the shore’s edge. “Now you must open the Gates of Avalon, this is your destiny.”

“Right on, which one is it?” Kara studied the many portals dotting the web.

“The fairy maps have been destroyed,” Ambia told the mages. “You are mages now, you will find another way.”

The image in the portal changed. Phel waved to them from a field of rainbow flowers. Emily smiled and waved back.

“The Fairy Realms are ready to support you,” Gwigg rumbled.

The portal shimmered and blue-green oceans appeared. Fountains of water erupted as sea dragons with merfolk upon their backs arched into the air.

“We stand with you, mages!” Kee-Lyn called from the back of Meerka.

The picture shifted to show hundreds of elves atop rolling green hills of the Moorgroves. They raised their arms in cheers. “Go, Ozzie!”

“Ozymandius,” Ambia called out.

Ozzie shuffled forward and kneeled before the wisp of wind.

“For your heroism and loyalty, you are hereby decreed a Knight of the Circle, a special protector of Avalon. Rise, Sir Ozymandius.”

A twinkle of light suddenly glowed in the ferret’s paws. When the light faded, Ozzie held a glittering golden stone. His eyes widened. “A ferret stone!” he shouted, showing his jewel to the astonished elves.

Everyone cheered at this amazing honor.

“The first mage from our village!”

Crusp and Tonin and the rest of Ozzie’s relatives proudly puffed up their chests, patting their newly famous elf kin on the back.

“Thanks! But… can I change back to my real body?” Ozzie scratched his ear.

Ambia circled the ferret. “If you choose to stay here on Aldenmor, you may return to your elf body and honor us with your service.”

“Yes!”

“But if you choose to return with the mages and join them on their quest, you must remain as you are.”

“Oh.” Ozzie looked at the elves then turned toward Emily.

The healer bit her lip.

Ozzie shuffled back and forth, fraught with indecision. “What should I do?” he asked, clearly torn.

“What you’ve always told us, Ozzie.” Emily smiled. “You have to follow your heart.”

Ozzie’s brow crinkled as he clutched his new jewel and walked to the elf clan.

The animals of Ravenswood crowded around Kara, admiring her unicorn jewel.

“It is magnificent,” Balthazar said.

“It sure is!” Then Kara smiled humbly. “But you guys are the ones who deserve this, not me.”

“Nonsense,” Rasha said. “Your magic comes from within, the jewel is just a reflection of your true beauty.”

“Thank you.” Kara hugged the animals that had become so close to her over the past months.

“Kara.” Gwigg tumbled to a halt near her feet. “The blazing star faces the hardest lessons of all in the days ahead.”

“Right, but what about the Skultum’s magic?” Kara queried. “You know, that fairy stuff about absorbing its powers.”

“It is hard to say if you will keep it. You are not skilled enough to sustain that level of power,” Gwigg responded.

“I see.” Kara scrunched her nose. The jewel warmed and flashed—and her hair turned bright purple!

“Ooo!” The animals admired her choice of color.

Quickly, before anyone else could notice, she turned her hair back to blonde.

“The magic runs deep inside you now,” Gwigg warned. “It is a gift. To use your powers impulsively only makes you more and more dependent on them. You must be careful lest you fall under its darker pull.”

“What do I do?” Kara asked, suddenly worried.

“Stand strong with your friends,” Ambia advised, leading Kara to the bright light.

Kara walked to the portal and stood beside Adriane and Emily. The three girls clasped hands.

Ozzie and the elves were in deep conversation, then did a lot of hugging and more hugging. Emily watched as the ferret walked away from the elves to stand next to her.

“I’m going to miss you, Ozzie,” Emily sniffled.

“Why, where are you going?” Ozzie looked confused, then smiled. “’Cause wherever it is, I’m going, too.”

Kara, Lyra, Emily, Ozzie, Adriane, and Dreamer stood before the portal that would take them home. As the rainbow of lights twinkled in the skies over the Fairy Glen, they knew one thing for sure. Their friendship would see them through any new challenges and adventures they would face in the struggles ahead. They had saved Aldenmor. But the mages had learned that the power to triumph over evil was ultimately not in the magic itself, but something more powerful: the magic of the ties that bound humans and animals, nature, and all living things—that is the spirit of Avalon.