Heart of Avalon (Avalon: Web of Magic #10): by Rachel Roberts Page B

one hair on this mage, I’ll—”
    “Ozzie,” Emily said, pulling the ferret back by his tail. “It’s okay. Marlin’s a friend.”
    “Humph!”
    Suddenly Ozzie slid to the prow as the Flyer plunged into a swell of choppy water. Emily grabbed the wooden railing, stumbling as the small boat pitched into the rapids.
    Ozzie squeezed in between Emily and Indi. “So, anyway, I was blown somewhere in the middle of the ocean and this big dumb turtle—”
    “Hey, guys?” Lyra tried to break in.
    “Not now, in a second—” Ozzie waved at the cat. “Adriane and Kara couldn’t just jump through one portal. Nooooooo, they had to jump though four!”
    The rapids churned and roiled, getting stronger and stronger. Foam sprayed the deck as the craft dipped in the swirling waters.
    “Guys!” Lyra tried to break in again. “There’s a huge—”
    “Hey, what’s that noise?” Ozzie asked suddenly.
    The mighty boom rumbled across the river, rattling the small boat.
    “Avast!” Cribby frantically spun the wheel as the noise turned to a deep thudding.
    Ahead of them a wall of foam sprayed skyward and—where was the river? It just seemed to vanish.
    The roar of pounding water filled their ears.
    “Um… what is that?” Ozzie squeaked.
    “It’s a giant waterfall, ya fish-tongued sea weasel!”
    “GAH!”
    “Hang on!” Marlin clung to the railing as the Flyer plunged forward.
    Indi planted his hooves wide apart on the deck, steadying himself and Emily.
    Oh no! I must have made a mistake, Emily thought, clutching Indi with one hand, Ozzie with the other.
    “Turn the ship around!” Cribby screamed, but it was too late.
    There was a moment of weightlessness as the prow hung over the falls, suspended on the crest—
    Emily’s stomach lurched as the ship pitched forward. She was looking straight down at least twenty-five stories! Foam and spray crashed against the rocks below.
    With a final shudder, the Flyer plummeted over the waterfall.
    “Skagawagger!”



E VERYONE SCREAMED AS the Fearless Flyer plunged straight toward the jagged rocks below.
    Emily clung to the mast as Ozzie rolled across the deck, crashing into Lyra’s side.
    Abruptly, the boat lurched, slowing its rapid descent as if someone put on the brakes in mid air!
    “What’s going on?” Marlin yelled, gripping the rail.
    The river tilted and spun beneath them as the boat swung away from the waterfall. The Flyer was living up to its name. It was flying!
    A large shadow swept across the deck, followed by a great rush of wind. Emily felt the dragon’s immense strength even before she saw him. “Drake!”
    Drake swooped from the sky, Adriane, Zach, and Dreamer on his back. Bands of silver and red magic lassoed the boat, lifting it up and away from the falls.
    “Drake, take us down easy,” Zach called out.
    “I am trying.” Muscles corded like iron along the dragon’s neck as mighty wings skimmed the outer edges of the falls.
    Orange light crackled wildly.
    “I can’t swim!” Ozzie suddenly remembered, focusing his ferret stone. The air around him responded to his power, a heavy surge that pushed the boat away from the tangle of sharp rocks.
    With a roar, Drake lowered the Flyer into calmer waters, splashing the already soaked crew. The boat settled in a mossy alcove a safe distance away from the thundering waterfall.
    Drake landed on the prow, tipping the vessel deep in the mud.
    “Dragon!” Cribby cried, terrified.
    A quick hand signal from Adriane sent Dreamer leaping from the dragon’s back. The black mistwolf pinned Cribby to the deck, lips pulled back in a fearsome snarl.
    “Clam almighty!”
    “Emily!” Adriane slid off Drake and swept up her friend in a hug.
    Zach leaped aboard the Flyer, red jewel blazing. “Don’t move!” he ordered Cribby.
    “No, wait! He’s a friend.” Emily pulled the mistwolf away. “This is Captain Cribby.”
    “Garg, he’s too bulky, man!” Cribby sprang up, trying to push the enormous dragon off