Fireball

Into The Lair

"Ashneel – you, Drake, Kaida and Fausto should wait here. If we need you, I'll send Fireball. He is fast! Just hide out by those palm trees. I think we can be quicker, quieter and less conspicuous if just Fireball and I take it from here."

Amos looked over at Fausto who blushed red. Then he tripped and fell backwards into Drake knocking both of them down. Fireball understood then that Amos was making the right decision. If they wanted to get in and out undetected, leaving Fausto behind was their best chance.

Amos followed Fireball. The little dragon had been to the enemy's lair before, so he could show Amos the way in. They tried to stay hidden as much as possible behind trees and bushes, but there were a few open areas that left them fully exposed. They moved very quickly where they were visible.

As they neared the mountain there was a wooded area that offered sufficient coverage, shielding them from any wizard's view. Since Fireball had not been in the mountain, Amos had to devise a plan to get them inside. He was sure the answers they needed lay within the mountain, but getting in and out undetected would be difficult.

"Fireball, my new friend, Alexander has taught me a few tricks you don't learn at any wizarding school. Follow me but don't be afraid when my appearance changes."

The little dragon followed Amos but he was very confused. He trusted Amos, but he didn't understand him. Amos tried to stay low and keep hidden as they neared two wizards just outside the mountain. Fireball watched as one of the wizards walked away and Amos pointed his wand at the other one. The wizard turned and walked right toward them. Fireball was ready to shoot a flame, but Amos told him to wait. The wizard walked right by them and then lay down in the bushes, hidden from his friends' view.

Still confused, Fireball looked to Amos, hoping he would explain what just happened. He stared at Amos, his mouth agape, and he scrambled backwards. Not wasting a second, he prepared to blast a flame at what he saw. The wizard cried out to the dragon as his only defence.

"Fireball, its me, Amos! I told you to not be alarmed at what you might see. I put the other wizard in a trance. He will stay where he is until we return. I then assumed his image. Now we can walk right in."

"But what about me?" A very relieved dragon responded. "These wizards are after dragons. They will try to grab me for sure."

"I have not forgotten you."

With that Amos spun his wand and a leather rope appeared. Amos put the rope over his shoulder and motioned Fireball to come closer. Chuckling, he clipped something to Fireball's tail.

"Perfect," said Amos. "Now bite the other end of this and we are ready to go."

Fireball, still unsure of Amos's plan, chomped down on the rope. Amos used the clip on Fireball's tail to clip to the other end of the rope.

"There." Said Amos. "Now you are a dragon hide satchel. You are hidden in plain sight!"

Very smart, thought Fireball, but he did feel a little silly. The two were now prepared to go into the mountain.