Page 31 of Wynter and the Stone Dragon

“Oh,” Wynter muttered.

“Come along. We don’t have much time,” Eirene ordered.

Wynter followed Eirene, and Harmonia took up the rear. Eirene led them to the end of the corridor, then reached up and ran her hands along the rough stone. An opening appeared revealing a spiral stairwell.

The steps seemed to go on forever. When they reached the upper parapet, Eirene held up her hand, then motioned for them to follow her.

“You will need to hide far away until I’ve dealt with Ceto. You cannot go back to Zelos. I need you to take these and protect them,” Eirene said, holding out a medium-size sack.

“What is it?” Wynter asked, taking the bag.

“Your father’s Rings of Power,” Eirene replied with a smirk.

“Where should I go?” she asked, looking into the bag.

“Move around, often. Pow-pow will join you.”

Wynter looked up at Eirene. “How will I know when it is safe to come home?”

Eirene’s eyes softened with compassion. “Give me your hand.”

Wynter offered her hand. Eirene held it between her two hands, closed her eyes and whispered an incantation. Wynter gasped when she felt a pain burn through her palm in a concentrated spear. Eirene’s grasp tightened when Wynter tried to pull away. Only when the pain subsided did Eirene release her. Wynter blinked away her tears and studied her palm.

“A mark will appear when it is safe. It may take time, Wynter. Ceto’s deceit has woven deeper than I first realized. Go quickly. Be careful, and at the first hint of danger, travel to another world. Harmonia, signal Pow-pow.”

Wynter nodded and Harmonia casted an elegant signal with her hands. Seconds later, Wynter heard the familiar swish of Pow-pow’s wings. Eirene gave her a fierce hug.

“Be safe, child. I know not how long it may be until we meet again,” Eirene whispered.

Harmonia sniffed and hugged her quickly. “I’ll watch over mom and dad,” she promised.

Wynter nodded. “I love you, Harmonia,” she said.

Pow-pow landed on the parapet. Wynter hurried over and climbed onto his back. Alarms sounded.

“Go, Pow-pow,” Wynter instructed.

She clutched the bag of rings in one hand and Pow-pow’s spinal plate in the other. Pow-pow lifted off with a mighty burst. The upper tower guards began a fiery attack. Reaching into the bag, she grabbed a ring and hoped the other side was a habitable place. She tossed the ring in front of them and willed it open. Her breath caught when she saw a lush world with giant mushrooms.

Pow-pow dove for the portal as a group of guards in flying machines advanced. Wynter reached out behind her, palm extended, and commanded the ring into her hand, closing the portal a split second before a volley of powerful blasts struck.

ChapterThirteen

Six months later:

Wynter cursed under her breath, gripped Pow-pow tightly with her legs, and held onto his spinal plate as they plunged through a thick forest in yet another world. Behind them, Ceto’s mercenary guards pursued her. Pow-pow released a powerful burst of stone spikes from his mouth. The spikes shattered the trunk of a massive tree. The stone dragon passed under the tree as it fell. A loud explosion behind them told Wynter that one of the mercenaries had been stopped.

Two more to go,Pow-pow said, swerving when a blast swept too close for comfort.

They broke through the edge of the forest over a steep cliff. This world was filled with reptiles twice the size of Pow-pow. Some were herbivores, but some were absolutely omnivores or carnivores. Being out in the open was dangerous.

Pow-pow, on your left!Wynter warned.

A large flying carnivore had spotted them. She pressed herself closer to Pow-pow’s neck.

A blast struck the dragon’s side, sending him into a steep spiral. The scent of scorched rock wafted around them.

The two mercenaries were gaining on them. Wynter glanced back and forth. On one side was the bird of prey, its colorful twenty-foot wingspan, three-foot talons, and serrated beak swerving toward them. On the other, a mercenary with a magical shield and a plasma rifle.

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