"What are those things doing here?" Zann thought as he stared at the gorzog that had just tried to attack Perda. It had crashed into the dirt when it missed its target. Now it rolled over, growling with frustration, and climbed back to its feet.
"Look out!" Perda shouted.
Zann spun around and saw another gorzog running toward them. He and Perda leaped aside, and the creature passed between them, crashing into the first one. Meanwhile Zann noticed a third gorzog peering out the farmhouse door.
"We have to get out of here!" he called to Perda. "Grab my hand!"
All three gorzogs charged, slime dripping from their curved teeth and ugly snouts. The one from the house jumped out and landed in between Zann and Perda, turning one way and then the other as if wondering whom to attack first. Zing whistled in fear while zipping around overhead. Zann realized there was no way he could get to Perda before the gorzogs got to both of them.
"Just zap!" she called, already rubbing her hands together. "Meet me in front of Zira's house!"
Zann nodded. As Perda zapped out of sight, he reached up and grabbed Zing, snapping his fingers with the other hand to create friction. "Zap!" he cried.
Splash!
Zann landed in a fancy stone fountain inside a large room. Zing muttered and spit out water and steam as Zann looked around.
"Uh-oh," he thought as he recognized the room. "I tried to zap in front of Zira's house like Perda said. But instead I zapped inside her house!"
The room was deserted, but Zann heard voices coming closer. He jumped out of the fountain, grabbed Zing, and hid behind a piece of furniture.
"Oops," he thought as he saw the wet footsteps he'd left behind. He quickly snapped his fingers and used magic to dry them.
A second later Vilkor and Mellis stepped into the room. "Uncle, please listen to me!" Mellis was saying. Zann realized that the pair must have zapped into the house at about the same time he had.
Vilkor's eyes swept the room, but he didn't spot Zann. "Where is Zira?" he snapped. "She won't be pleased to hear about your disloyalty, niece!" He glared at Mellis. "Why couldn't you just go along with our plans? We have a good thing going here—it's everything we've ever wanted!"
"No, it's everything you wanted!" Mellis said. "I don't care about power and glory. All I want is a peaceful land where everyone can use magic to create what they need."
Vilkor frowned. "But then I wouldn't have any more power than anyone else."
"Exactly," Mellis said. "What's wrong with that?"
Vilkor rolled his eyes. "You don't understand," he said. "You remind me more and more of your mother. She was always a do-gooder too. But I won't let you ruin this for me!"
Before Mellis could respond, Zira zapped into the room. Krub was with her, along with a pair of hideous gorzogs.
Vilkor gasped. "Look out! Gorzogs!"
Zira smirked, seeming to enjoy his fear. "That's right," she said, holding up one hand and examining her own purple-stained fingers. "I've discovered yet another useful application of my otherworld potions. I've figured out how to use their extra power to tame these fearsome beasts and bend them to my will."
Zann's eyes widened. "The oogberries!" he thought, glancing toward the nearest window. Through it, he caught a glimpse of the courtyard where the purple-berried bushes were growing. "Perda was right," he told himself grimly. "Zira wants to use the berries' power to make herself even more powerful."
Krub snickered. "Don't worry, Vilkor," he said mockingly. "The gorzogs won't hurt you as long as you obey your supreme ruler—Zira."
"What?" Vilkor frowned, seeming to forget about the gorzogs for a second. He took a step toward the other two. "Hold on one second. Have you forgotten that I'm the supreme ruler?"
Zira snapped her fingers. One of the gorzogs crept closer, its eyes locked on Vilkor.
Vilkor gulped. "Er, on the other hand, there's no need to be hasty." He took a step back. "When I said I was the supreme ruler, I meant we, of course. We're all in this together, a team. We're, um, partners, right?"
Zira looked disdainful. "Are you really that feeble-minded, Vilkor? I suppose you are. After all, you don't even realize when you're being spied on. Otherwise you never would have dared to call me . . . what was it? Your assistant?"
Zann realized Zira must have seen what Vilkor had said to the mountain villagers. "But how?" he thought. "Did she discover spy flies? Or . . ." His gaze wandered back to the window. "I know! It's probably another otherworld trick she invented using those oogberries."
He forgot about that when Zira's nose twitched, and then she turned to stare toward his hiding place. "Ah, and it seems you're being spied on again right now," she said to Vilkor. "We both are. But not for long."
Raising one hand, she made a beckoning gesture with her purple-stained fingers. Zann couldn't help crying out as he felt himself being magically lifted into the air. He floated out of his hiding place toward Zira.
"It's you," she hissed when she recognized him. "This time I'll make sure you don't escape. Immobilize!"
Zann felt his limbs go numb. "Zing, quick!" he croaked out, seconds before the spell took away his ability to speak. "The berries!"
Luckily the little dragon understood. As Zann felt himself go motionless, Zing sprang into action, flying out the window and spitting fire. Zann's face was already immobilized, so he couldn't even smile as he saw the oogberry bushes burst into flames.