Fireball

Tragedy Strikes

Amos and Fireball stiffened as the intense flash hit. Chain lightning shot in all directions. Then nothing. Amos looked around trying to adjust his eyes. What had just happened? He was still alive. Whatever that wizard had done did not kill him. The figure knelt on the floor, facing away from them. Fireball wanted to attack the wizard, but he knew a powerful shield protected the wizard.

"Amos! Fireball! Come quickly." The wizard called out.

It was Prince Alexander's voice. Then he realized the prince hadn't just attacked them. He had removed his shield. Amos raced forward. He stopped beside Alexander in horror. He was cradling two lifeless bodies. Amos gasped as he recognized Alexander's wife and son.

"Alexander, are they...?" Amos' voice trailed off. He felt as if someone had their hands wrapped around his vocal chords. He could not say anything else. He was frozen.

The prince looked up at Amos. Tears streamed down his face, but the younger wizard saw the fire in his teacher's eyes.

"Selena is dead," the prince stammered. His voice had sorrow in it, but there was also anger. "Victor is very weak, but alive. We must save him. Amos, you must save him. I must leave so that he is safe. I couldn't save Selena, but I will avenge her death. I do not deserve my son. It is because of my thirst for power that Marcello is who he is and that my wife is dead. I don't want that life for my son. Please hide my son from me and protect the journal I wrote. It will guide you. I must go."

The prince kissed his son on the forehead and disappeared with a blinding flash. Amos stared at Fireball. They had to help the prince. For now, he thought, they would be best to take the boy to the dragons' island. Ashneel, along with a couple of his wizard friends and the dragons, could watch over him, at least until Amos and Fireball helped the prince deal with Marcello and his followers.

Fireball knew they had to hurry. He snatched up the boy in the pouch Amos had fabricated. Fireball nodded to Amos, then raced off to the island while Amos took off after the prince. The wizard was sure Marcello would head to the prince's castle on the island, where he knew Alexander would be. What he was not sure of was how powerful Marcello had become and whether he was confident enough to attack right away or wait for reinforcements and lie in wait for his best opportunity.