Ignatius’s eyes lit up. “Clever girl,” he mumbled. Then he turned toward the rest of the wanderers and waved them forward. “To the mountains we go!”
Sherlock barked again.
On their way out, they maneuvered around the fallen bodies of Orcs and Dragon Tongue alike. They tried their best to ignore the death, but it was all around them. So was the destruction. The smell of burned buildings, the acrid smoke, charred flesh and sizzling remains.
As they approached the gates, walking over them and out through the large hole in the town’s fence, Sherlock stopped and whined. Ignatius looked at him, curious. The Bloodhound cocked his head in the direction of the mountains. His eyes narrowed. It seemed as if he was seeing something no one else could.
“What is it, boy?” Ignatius asked.
Claire and Tabby shielded their eyes from the waning moonlight. Above them, the storm had blown over and dawn was on the horizon.
“I think I see a figure walking down the mountainside,” Agnes said. “It must be Maria!”
Sherlock barked and took off running. He moved as fast and energetically as a puppy. Soon he disappeared over the low, rolling hills and became a speck in the distance.
Elation and joy filled Ignatius’s heart. I knew she could do it. With a wave of his hand, he urged the other wanderers onward. Then, focusing his magic, he opened a portal. It caused him to strain slightly, and mild burning rippled through his veins, but he did it. On the other side walked a very lethargic and hazy Maria Apple. She was covered in dirt and burns. Her clothes were ripped in places. Her sword hung low on her belt, the hilt and pommel glowing a dim red, like that of the eyes of the Dragon Tongue and Odarth the Bright. In her arms, clutched to her side, was the satchel containing the magical music box so coveted by all the evil creatures in Oriceran. The strap was broken and trailing behind her.
Ignatius stepped forward; the rest followed.
Before Maria’s eyes, the portal opened, obstructing her view of the downed gate and the still-smoldering remains of Ashbourne. She startled and thought she saw her family on the other side.
I must be losing it, she said to herself. Or all this power really is getting to my head.
Then her grandfather stepped through from the other side. As he appeared in front of her, she startled again. This time, because he was smiling—This seems so real, but Gramps can’t open a portal. He’s hurt—then he wrapped his arms around her in a hug. She smelled him, the strange scents of summer and other worlds that always clung to him.
There was Tabby and Claire, Salem and Agnes, the Gnome Gelbus and Frieda, too, and another woman whom Maria did not recognize.
It was one big reunion.
But it’s not real, she thought again, even though she could plainly feel her grandfather’s hug. Not long after, with tears in their eyes and smiles on their faces, Tabby and Claire hugged her, too.
“I can’t believe you really did that!” Claire said.
“You rode a fucking dragon!” Tabby echoed.
Maria said nothing, just took it all in. It was amazing how real this hallucination was.
After she had forced Odarth into the Cave of Delusion, her lack of energy got to her. She had sat on the same rock she and Sherlock had slept near when they were waiting for Gramps and Frieda to come out of the cave her first time through. She wanted nothing more than to close her eyes again, but knew if she did, there was a good chance she wouldn’t wake up for a long while…if at all. So she forced herself to keep going.
Near the bottom of the pass, where the air grew warmer and was easier to breathe, Maria had almost stopped and fallen over once more. She probably would've if she hadn't seen what she'd seen.
She looked around at the smiling people. There was a gleam of tears in her eyes; she longed for her family—not a dream, not a memory, but the real deal. As she scanned their faces, she realized that one was missing.
Sherlock.
“Where’s my dog? Did he not…” Maria began.
Gramps put his hand on her again, so real, and smiled. “He’s on his way. You know how impatient he can be sometimes. He decided to take off and come to you via the long way.”
“God knows he could use the exercise,” Maria said and laughed to herself. Wow, I’m even funnier in my dreams.
Agnes furrowed her brow. Her wild hair blew in the chilly breeze. “Maria, are you all right?”
Maria shrugged. “I guess. On one hand, this is the most realistic dream I’ve ever had and that’s really cool and all, but on the other hand, I miss you guys. I wish I was really there with you.”
“Oh, no,” Salem said, concern crossing his features. “She’s in shock, Ignatius.”
“Hell, I would be, too,” Claire mused. “Maybe I should slap her.”
All of the witches and wizards glared at Claire—even Tabby and Gelbus had joined in on the stare.
“What? I was just kidding. Geez, can’t you take a joke?” Claire asked.
Salem and Agnes looked to Ignatius and Frieda by his side. “I think you know what we have to do,” Agnes said.
“No, he’s much too weak for that,” Frieda moaned. “With all that happened on the beach and with the opening of the portal, Ig nearly killed himself.”
“We four can’t do it alone,” Salem replied. “It won’t be enough. Look at her; she will not last much longer. Once the words from the Dragon Rites are called upon, according to legend, the mind begins to eat away at itself.”
“We will have to purge it from her head,” Agnes said.
“No, then I’ll forget the spell,” Maria said. She looked past where the portal had been. Sherlock bounded up the landscape, panting, out of breath. See, buddy, I didn’t forget about you. Not in this hallucination, no sir!
“You will still know the words. Trust me,
