"Delia," Maia asked, "Is there a spell whereby both of us can remain invisible? Or is there another way?"

What about the boy. Can he help us? She wondered, forgetting that Delia was so linked with her, it was just as if she had spoken.

"Yes, Maia, I think that the boy could help us. If we can find him, and take him from the magical realm to your adoptive land, then Rouark may follow."

"Yes! That's it! If we can get Rouark away from the usurpers, and into my company, on my home ground, then we may be able to break the evil spell that binds him."

They continued, warily and invisibly, on to the royal castle, which had once ~ but only for a very short time ~ been Maia's home.

As they rode on, Maia wondered what on earth the future might hold ~ for her and for her friends and family.

She found out ~ and maybe Rouark found out too.
But did anyone else?
Might any of us?????

What's that I hear? The wind? Leaves rustling? Faint music?

A thought is forming, almost like the wind carries a subliminal message:

"You must truly want to know! When the time is right, and your desire is strong, the story will continue."

Then I shall wait patiently

Maia and Delia crested a small rise in the road, and suddenly in front of them a pair of granite spires began to appear. As they moved forward down the gravel path, the rest of the castle slowly came into view.

It had been a beautiful building once - two stories, graceful lines, a crenulated line along the roof. In the center of the building was an arched circle over a pair of richly carved double oak doors.

But as they slowly moved closer to the structure, details began to become more clear. The iron knockers were askew, barely attached to the wood. Weeds surrounded the base of the building. One of the large windows on the ground floor had a long, dagger-shaped crack across its lower edge.

Maia and Delia glanced at each other nervously, then, taking in a deep breath, moved forward towards the door.

*BANG*!!!

Maia was thrown back by a large blast. She saw Delia loose her footing, and get blown away by a second blast.

" Wha... what's going on...?" she wondered.

But then, the smoke started to clear, and Maia was suprised by what she saw through the faint, wispy, gray clouds...

Another dragon. This one was larger than Dalia, and had a hard gleam in his eye. There was no doubt in her mind that it was male, in part because of the wash of strange feelings she began to feel from Dalia.

And standing next to this new dragon was...

And standing next to this new dragon was ..... Rouark!

Rouark!

Was he friend or foe?

The vibes that Maia picked up from the male dragon were not exactly positive ones; well, she didn't think so, anyway.
She looked at Delia, and Delia was looking nervous for the first time since they had met.

Maia depended on Delia; a worried companion was a matter of great concern for the young girl.

Maia looked again at Rouark.

Friend or foe?!

Now that she had been thrown from Delia's back, she guessed that she was no longer invisible.

"Hello Rouark", she said, smiling nervously, "what is happening here? What were those explosions? "