The Serpent of Eridor by Alison Gardiner Page A

stables.
    The crocodiles circled down towards a lake. Banking sharply, they flew straight at the water. Their silver noses broke the surface as they plunged into the turquoise lagoon.
    Wings working like gigantic flippers, the crocodiles spiralled downwards past shoals of tiny blue fish, electric eels, orange-striped starfish and golden seahorses. Lobsters scuttled for cover under coral banks as the crocodiles ploughed past. The surroundings lightened and they popped through the water into clear air. Looking back, Alex could see the bottom of the lake.
    It’s like a floating slice of water. A liquid door
, transferred Alex.
    Sooo pretty,
said Keeko.
    Below them lay a huge old-fashioned farmhouse made from blocks of pale stone, covered with a black grey slate roof. The crocodiles touched down in a courtyard which was surrounded on three sides by the house. The fourth side was made up of a row of stables.
    As soon as the dome doors opened Alex climbed out, grinning at Keeko and Ikara as they got down from their crocodiles. ‘So this is where we were aiming for. The place on my map.’
    Zorrin nodded. ‘Yes, but you would never have got past the magical defences. Come on in.’
    He strode through a doorway into a vast kitchen, which was warmed by a crackling fire. In the centre stood a long oak table, beyond which sat a cluster of navy sofas and squashy chairs.
    A beautiful young woman was hanging upside down from the ceiling by her toes like a bat, eyes closed. Bunches of long candy-pink hair cascaded upwards over her black cotton trousers and shirt. Everything hung neatly, as if she were the right way up. As they entered she somersaulted down, landing lightly on her feet, running across to hug Zorrin.
    â€˜Welcome to Ravenscraig. I’m Flick. His sister,’ she said, her voice bubbling with laughter. ‘Zorrin, it’s good to get you home. The crystal picked you up once the spell began to shatter.’
    She swept a hand over her hair. It changed into a mass of red smoke and silver sparks, as if the Chi Llang spell was combusting round her head.
    â€˜No concern, tears, pleas not to get captured again or wild hysteria?’ replied Zorrin.
    â€˜Not my style. Although I was worried when you vanished from the crystal. At least the Live Wizards List confirmed that you weren’t dead.’
    Flick waved her hand over her head again. Her hair became a short dark green bob. ‘Why don’t you ever change the resting colour of your mood streak? Blue could be nice.’
    The streak on Zorrin’s hair changed to brilliant blue then white, followed by blue with white stripes, as the wizards fought for supremacy. Myth pricked up his ears as he watched, growling softly.
    â€˜Don’t worry, Myth. She’s only teasing,’ said Zorrin as he held Flick’s gaze, while turning his locks back into pure white.
    For a moment the hair became pale blue, then sparkling white with blue blotches. A few blue sparks spat from Zorrin’s hair, then it changed back to pure white and stayed that way.
    â€˜You win,’ said Flick, bowing to Zorrin. ‘Park your posteriors,’ she said to the visitors. ‘I’ll dig out something to tide you over till supper.’
    Alex gazed around the kitchen, fascinated. High up, on the wall to the left of the fireplace, was a shelf filled with rows of weird containers. A bright blue glass one contained gnarled black mushrooms; a yellow one held snail shells; the one next to it held dried lizards. Assorted plants suspended on invisible shelves grew in rows along the walls, tangled roots free in the air. Though revolted, Alex couldn’t take his eyes off the bottles. Flick intercepted the look.
    â€˜Don’t worry,’ she said, placing a plate of biscuits and a large sticky chocolate cake on the table. ‘Those ingredients are for my medicines – they don’t go into the food.’
    â€˜She’s a very talented