Perda didn't have time to focus on where she wanted to go when she zapped away from the gorzogs. When she landed, she found herself by the well.
"That's the Wormwood tree," she thought, staring at the tree growing behind the wall Zira had erected. "Even though nobody will call it that for years, I suppose."
For someone like her, who wanted to be a researcher, it was a dream come true to travel to ancient Magica. But with a shiver of anxiety, she wondered once again how she and Zann would ever travel back to their own time.
Perda noticed several gorzogs near the wall. She almost zapped away again but then saw at least two dozen people hanging around nearby.
"Why aren't the gorzogs attacking anyone?" she thought.
"Perda! Is that you?" a familiar voice called. It was Anso. He hurried over.
"What are you doing here?" Perda asked him.
"My father heard that the well's waters have special powers," Anso said. "He brought my mother to see if it might cure her illness."
"What's holding back the gorzogs?" Perda asked.
Anso shrugged. "Nobody knows. But they've been staying right by the wall. They growl when anyone goes too close."
"I bet Zira figured out how to control them," Perda said. "She probably ordered them to guard the well."
As she took a step closer, her foot hit something on the ground. It was a cracked pottery cup—the same one Zira had dropped days earlier. Perda wondered why it looked so familiar.
Then she gasped as she realized it looked exactly like that ancient, cracked cup at Zann's parents' lab!
"It's a relic," she whispered. "At least, it will be one someday."
"Where's Mellis?" Anso asked. "Is she safe?"
"I'm not sure," Perda said. "Zann and I are going to help her though. I just need to find him. But first, let's heal your mother."
Anso brought Perda to his parents. At first his mother looked nervous, but she agreed to let Perda try to heal her illness. Perda was nervous too. She was good at healing cuts and scrapes, but she'd never healed anything serious. She created friction and then touched the woman on the arm.
"Heal," she murmured.
Anso's mother immediately looked healthier. Anso and his father gasped.
"It worked!" Anso cried. "Thank you so much!"
"You're welcome," Perda said.
At that moment Zira zapped into view, surrounded by goons. Krub was there, too, holding onto Zann, who wasn't moving.
"Oh no," Perda thought. "It looks like Zira did an Immobilization spell on him!" In her own time, people were supposed to use that spell only in self-defense. She hid behind a flowering shrub so Zira wouldn't see her while she decided what to do. Anso came with her, looking confused.
Then Vilkor zapped into view, gripping Mellis' arm. "Zira!" he cried. "Please reconsider your decision, my old friend!"
"What decision?" Anso whispered.
"I don't know," Perda whispered back. "But we have to get Zann and Mellis away from Zira."
She noticed that neither of her friends was saying anything. She guessed that Zira had put a Muting spell on both of them.
Vilkor dragged Mellis closer to the others. "We make such a good team, Zira!" he exclaimed. "And you can trust me. I'll prove my loyalty however you like."
"Really?" Zira smirked, clearly enjoying his groveling. "Then perhaps I'll give you one more chance. You can prove your loyalty by tossing your niece to my gorzog guards." She glanced toward the beasts guarding the wall. "They're getting hungry."
Vilkor gasped. So did Perda.
"He won't do it," Anso said, sounding uncertain. "Will he?"
"Please, Zira!" Vilkor grabbed her sleeve, looking distraught. "Choose another test, I beg you. Mellis is my only family, and she's a good girl. Well, mostly, anyway!"
"I've made my decision." Zira shot a cold look at Mellis and then returned her gaze to Vilkor. "Now you must make yours."
Perda held her breath. Would Vilkor actually sacrifice Mellis just to get back into Zira's good graces?
She was shocked when Vilkor started shoving Mellis toward the gorzogs.
"Sorry, Mellis," he said. "This is your own fault, you know. You should have stuck to our plan." Then he glanced back at Zira. "They won't eat me, will they?" he asked nervously.
"We have to do something!" Anso whispered urgently.
Perda nodded. "Leave it to me."
She rubbed her hands together and stepped forward. Vilkor was still pushing Mellis in the direction of the gorzogs. The creatures watched, sticky saliva dripping from their snouts. The largest took a step toward Mellis.
Perda knew she had to act now. "Blast!" she shouted, sending a strong bolt of magic energy straight at Vilkor. She felt a touch of guilt, since Blast spells were supposed to be used only in self-defense. The magic energy hit Vilkor and sent him flying through the air.
But the gorzogs were still creeping toward Mellis. She backed away, looking anxious. Perda created friction, preparing to repel the creatures.
At that moment Zing flew into view, panting with exertion. Perda guessed that Zira and the others had left him behind in the village when they'd zapped out here. The little dragon must have been flying as fast as he could to reach Zann. He shot a burst of flame at Zira, who jumped away from Zann to avoid being burned.
"Zing!" Perda shouted. "Help Mellis!"
Zing spun toward the gorzogs, shooting more fire. They growled and spit at him, but he had learned their tricks and stayed just out of range.
Meanwhile Zira glared at Perda. "You!" she hissed. "You'll regret crossing me, little girl!"