Heart of the Hill (19 page)
A sudden smirk crossed her face. She could still win. While these children worked out the Earth Magic, she would entice the child in the dream realm to become her replacement, and escape before Myrddin arrived. She'd scare them first so they couldn't think easily. That would give her more time.
Vivienne erupted into the middle of the cavern in a burst of light.
The air crackled with static as her armor and jeweled sword sparked with energy.
Adam and Chantel shrank back.
“Go forth,” Vivienne roared and pointed her sword at the cavern wall. A new archway appeared. “There is the seal to the Crystal cave.” The mist within the arch glowed red and orange, then gradually dissipated as the heat of a roaring fire filled the entrance.
Vivienne advanced on Adam and Chantel. “There is the entrance. Face it, or face me.” She lowered the visor on her helmet and brandished her sword.
Adam grabbed Chantel's hand. “Come on,” he said.
“But the fire,” wailed Chantel, pulling back.
“It's okay. Fire's Myrddin's thing.” Adam grabbed her hand again. “Come on. It's easy. It's Earth Magic â earth, air, fire and water, remember? The Labyrinth is earth. We drank the waters of the Red and White Springs, and here's the fire.”
“What's air?” whispered Chantel.
“Gonna trust me?”
Chantel looked up at the terrifying warrior-woman and nodded.
Adam grabbed her hand, and they fled across the cavern.
“JUMP!” Adam yelled.
The two children leaped through the flames.
Vivienne groaned.
On the Tor, storm clouds gathered and darkness fell. Zorianna's wind howled around the hill. Thick clouds swirled and boiled in her wake, and an enormous rumble of thunder shook the ground.
Osprey and his followers grabbed blankets and packs and raced for refuge under the arch that tunneled through the dark tower. Mr. Smythe hustled in behind them.
“Make room for the children's keeper!” bellowed Osprey. People parted, and Mr. Smythe found himself in the center where blankets and sleeping bags were already spread on stone flags.
“We will soon be comfortable,” said a motherly woman. She rummaged in her pack and produced candles and tea lights that she lit and perched in niches and cracks high in the stone walls. The halos of light made a warm flickering glow.
Mr. Smythe looked around in amazement. “Do you always carry food and blankets and candles?”
“Of course,” replied the woman. “One never knows when Avalon may call.”
As the last followers pressed inside, the rain began.
It fell in a deluge that sealed off both ends of the archway with a solid curtain of water. There was a buzz of comment.
Osprey held up his hand for attention. “The children searching for the Crystal Cave asked us to sing. Neither wind nor rain must deter us. We are the vigil keepers.”
“Osprey, we're sitting over the heart of the hill,” said the harmonica player. “Meditation will center us perfectly with the Crystal Cave.”
“You are right.” Osprey held up his crystal. “Let us be at one with the center of Avalon. Let it guide our songs.”
Silence fell within the archway, accompanied only by the hypnotic thrumming of the rain.
Mr. Smythe closed his eyes and leaned wearily against the ancient wall. He was cold and stiff and very, very worried. Where were Chantel and Adam?
Faintly, through cracks between the slabs in the floor, wafted Chantel's voice.
“She'll be coming round the mountain
when she comes ⦔
Laughter rippled among the vigil keepers. They joined in.
Mr. Smythe wiped his eye and sighed with relief.
Within the Portal in the past, Arto knelt pleadingly in front of the sacred fire.
Vivienne was too busy to answer his call.
Owen and Holly watched anxiously from the dreamworld.
Owen nudged Holly. “Is it my imagination, or is the fire burning brighter?”
They stared at the flames.
Owen was right. The fire roared, and sweat dripped from Arto's face.
Arto gave up on the Portal Keeper. He spread his arms and called for the Lady. “Lady of Avalon, once I was a Magic Child who walked beside Myrddin. We honored your sanctuary, and many times I heard your voice. Now your sanctuary is abandoned, but again you called me.
“I answered. I am here. Give me direction once more, Lady, for the Crystal Cave is sealed and the Portal Keeper hears me not. How do I enter?”
The fire blazed. Flames licked the roof. The cavern blazed with light.
Arto jumped to his feet. “Lady, I hear you.” He threw back his head, his face filled with joy. “May the waters protect me,” he shouted and leaped through the fire.
“Follow him!” Holly's voice was determined.
“You're kidding? The Lady hasn't spoken to us.”
Holly wasted no time arguing. She started to run.
Owen hesitated, then followed her.
Sister and brother sped toward the fire.
“May the waters protect us,” they yelled and sprang through the flames.
Vivienne was distraught. Her Portal was out of control.
As Adam and Chantel leaped through the fire, Vivienne had turned to enter the dreamworld. Suddenly the vibrations in the past escalated into an alarming rumble. Magic was boiling over. A Portal door had been activated without her.
Vivienne rushed through the darkness. “Stop!” she screeched as she entered Arto's realm.
It was too late. Arto had disappeared through the flames of the sacred fire.
Vivienne had no time to think. She sensed similar movement in the dreamworld.
“Where did the new boy come from?” she gasped.
“How can there be a fourth Magic Child?” Panicking, Vivienne screamed for help. “Zorianna, I need you.”
Zorianna and Vivienne burst into the dream realm.
“Catch them,” gasped Vivienne. She lunged forward as Holly and Owen left the ground. Her fingertips scraped Owen's heel.
Owen kicked and vanished.
Zorianna made no attempt to reach for a child. A smile of triumph crossed her face as she watched. She could copy this magic. “May the waters protect me,” she yelled and followed the children into the fire.
The flames scorched and repulsed her. She tumbled back on the floor at Vivienne's feet.
“Traitor,” spat Vivienne. “You were to catch the girl who was to replace me.”
Zorianna laughed. “Wrong, Vivienne, I'm here to learn Earth Magic and locate the tool.” She turned to leap again into the flames.
Vivienne grabbed her cloak and pulled her back with superhuman strength.
Both lost their footing, fell and lay winded.
Shrieking like a banshee, Zorianna turned on Vivienne.
She pounded and fought, but the Portal Keeper was clothed in moonbeam armor. Zorianna's fists slipped off the magical surface.
Vivienne laughed. “You are wasting your time, Zorianna. You should have helped me catch them. They are now beyond our reach in the Lady's Crystal Cave.”
Zorianna tried to pry open Vivienne's visor.
“Desist, Zorianna. You can penetrate neither my armor nor the fire. Mixing fire and water is a special form of Earth Magic,” Vivienne gasped. “Neither you nor I have that power. The sacred fire will not let you through. Only a Magic Child goes that way.”
“They are within reach of the tool I seek. I demand the Portal!” shrieked Zorianna.
“It shows only the door of fire,” cackled Vivienne.
A burst of flame crackled the air, and Zorianna smelled her hair frizzle and scorch.
Furiously, Zorianna swung around to the flames. “I too can mix fire and water,” she screamed, turning herself into a twisting water spout that tried to douse the inferno.
Vivienne stood, laughing hysterically as the fire blazed still brighter.
“May you drown, Vivienne!” Zorianna screamed, trying to flood the cavern with water.