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  Something rose inside of me then that I had never felt before—not just a feeling, but a connection to the land around me that could only be love. Love for Allanah, Dena, and Merlin; for the Cadens; and most of all, for Earth. Although I had never lived there, even in a past life, this planet was meant to be my home.

  I crouched down and sank my fingers into the dirt, letting the dry dust fill the space under my nails and cover my skin. I closed my eyes, and power flowed between the ground and me, like a lightning bolt and an open field. My love pushed its way through the claylike roots, moving all the way down to the core of the planet and then back up to where I sat.

  When I opened my eyes, small trees were growing around us in a circle. In five places, more trees stretched in lines beaming away from the circle. The trees grew and grew until I could no longer see anything but bark and leaf. The tops of their highest leaves flamed like candles, though the trees themselves did not burn.

  “What is this thing?” Blair whispered to Merlin as the symbol made from full-sized trees grew taller and taller and brighter and brighter.

  Merlin touched the trunk of the nearest tree the same way he had touched the burned one, and then he smiled.

  “That, my Earth Dragon friend, is the mark of the Sun Dragon.”

  Chapter Eleven

  IN ORDER for our whole group to get inside the Jupiter compound undetected, we would need to avoid using magic.

  “Because Skelly already set Caden free, Shull will have the whole place riddled with antimagic spells and detectors,” Merlin explained once we returned to his cabin. Blair, Caden, and I sat around the kitchen table while Merlin used his walking stick to draw plans in the air. “The only way to get in and out without a transportation spell is to arrive in one of these.”

  The spaceship image that floated in the air looked much like Shull’s entire office: large, glass, intimidating.

  “And how will we get our hands on a machine like that?” Caden asked as he walked around the image and studied it closely.

  “We won’t.” Merlin patted Caden on the shoulder. “You’re going to build one for us.”

  Caden’s eyebrows rose. “Excuse me?”

  “The machine doesn’t need to actually run—as long as it looks convincing enough, I should be able to magically power and steer the ship there. Shull’s ships must have spells on them anyway, since there’s no technology advanced enough to make it to Jupiter’s core, so the spell detectors must be farther in the compound, well past the hangar. Once we fly through the entrance, we’ll leave the ship in the hangar and reserve all spell-casting for once we actually have the prisoners with us. Then we’ll magic off the planet and poof, it’s all over.”

  “And how long do I have to finish this?” Caden asked, his tone indicating that no amount of time would be enough.

  “Ten hours.”

  Caden sat down in his chair and rubbed his temples. “There’s no way. It took me an hour to fix one cable. I can’t build a spaceship alone in less than a day, and most likely I can’t do it at all.”

  “Oh, but you won’t be alone.” Merlin ambled over to the pantry doors and opened them, revealing a tiny old man tied to the shelves with rope and gagged with a napkin. The man seemed to be sleeping against the cabinet but startled awake when the doors opened. “Our prisoner is going to help you.”

  HIS NAME was Bernard, and he was a former Mansion page who had been hired by Shull to serve on his board of wizard advisors. Merlin had used his magic to remove Bernard from the Jupiter compound, and lucky for him, Bernard knew the access codes required for a ship to fly into the core. Bernard also had magical skills related to engineering.

  “So you’re telling me this poor man has been sitting in here this whole time?” I nearly shouted. “Have you fed him? Given him water?”

  “Of course I have,” Merlin said calmly, though he averted his eyes when he said this, and I had a sneaking suspicion he had forgotten Bernard entirely until that moment. “I take my role as host seriously.”

  Bernard was quite shaken from the ordeal, and after Blair removed the gag and gave him several sips of water, he was still unable to speak for several minutes. His eyes had large circles under them, and his greasy short white hair stuck up in all directions. His skin had taken on a sickly yellow tint, though from his stay in Merlin’s pantry or his work on Jupiter, I did not know.

  “Don’t pity him.” Merlin sat at the table while Caden helped Bernard up. “He’s a traitor.”

  “So are we,” Blair said matter-of-factly, “but that doesn’t mean that if Shull catches us he should hide us with the canned peaches.”

  “Oh, don’t worry, he won’t capture you. He’ll kill you.”

  This came from Bernard, who had made it into the chair next to me. His legs shook violently against the leg of the table, though he tried to calm them with a hand on each knee.

  “Merlin’s right, I am a traitor—and a regretful one too, even after the stint with Merlin’s boxes of oatmeal. Shull promised that pages from the Council would move up quickly in his ranks, but he just stole all of the information we had and then reduced us to laborers. And because we were low-level wizards, none of us could get out. We hauled and hammered and fused until our fingers were raw, and still Shull’s Jupiter Empire kept growing. As did the weapon he plans to use to take over this world once and for all.”

  “What weapon?” I prompted when Bernard went quiet.

  “Even after all of my time on Jupiter, I still am not quite sure. Each of us only knew the plans for the small part we built, and were not permitted to discuss our parts with anyone else. But one of the higher-ups started calling the machine Dragon Killer, and I suspect that’s exactly what it does. Finds the people Shull wants found and kills them—like a Sun Dragon, perhaps.” Bernard looked pointedly at me.

  “How many of the workers at Shull’s compound are loyal to him?” Merlin asked.

  Bernard narrowed his eyes. Then, instead of answering his captor, he turned to me. “I believe that if you liberate them, Sun Dragon, they will follow.”

  “Let’s hope you’re right,” Caden said. “From the way it sounds, we don’t have much time before the Dragon Killer is up and running. Merlin, can you transport us to a dump? I think it’ll be easier to build this mock spacecraft out of supplies we don’t have to form ourselves.”

  “Very well. Blair, you go with them too—they might need a strong Earth Dragon to do some heavy lifting.”

  “And me?” I asked, then finished the last of my tea. “Can’t I help with whatever these Sun Dragon powers are?”

  “You’ll come with me, Grian. I have something to show you.”

  He clapped, and we were alone, then elsewhere, in a dark place I recognized from the stories of Allanah that had traveled across time and space to Draman. The Lake of Pamuya, still flowing with power bestowed on the Igreefee by the magical woman, lay in front of us. Around the edge of the lake, flower petals left by Igreefee worshipers framed the dark blue water. In the center was the mark of the goddess who originally lived there, in this case a leaf formed by floating green pads that replaced the goddess’s actual presence now that she was free.

  “The Cave of Pamuya.” I knelt. “This is a sacred place. I thought only the Igreefee or the uncorrupted could enter here?”

  “You are the uncorrupted,” Merlin said as he walked to the water’s edge. “Not a wizard, but filled with magic. Older than these walls, and even older than a great sorcerer like me.”

  I tried to hold back my smile. Maybe Merlin had finally decided it was okay for me to embrace my powers, whatever they were.

  “And what should I do here? Soak in the cave’s powers? Call Pamuya? Show the Igreefee I should lead them with the sign of the Sun Dragon?”

  Merlin took me by the shoulder and walked me to the edge of the lake. Then he put his weight on my shoulder, indicating I should sit down on the bank.

  “The Cave of Pamuya is a place of reflection,” Merlin said soft
ly. “I want you to reflect.”

  I stared down at the water. Except for a bug skating along the surface, nothing happened. I pictured the face of the moon, large and white as the Egg, but nothing appeared.

  “So… how long should I do this for?”

  Merlin chuckled. “You haven’t even started. To reflect is to empty oneself—not just of magic but of the whole individual being. Sure, you’re the Sun Dragon, the beacon of hope blah-blah-blah, but what makes someone like the Sun Dragon so special is not powers or signs or a special robe. It’s something deeper than that, something you must find.”

  Only then did I realize that Merlin had slowly been taking steps toward the cave’s mouth. When I tried to follow, my legs would not obey my mind’s commands, instead staying flat on the ground as if they were suctioned there.

  “Uh, Merlin? I can’t move.”

  “Why would you need to move?” he said, his voice trailing down the tunnel as he disappeared from view. “To reflect is to empty oneself, to release oneself from the physical world and instead enter—”

  But I never heard the rest of his speech. The voice trailed off, and then I was alone.

  Chapter Twelve

  I TRIED everything.

  I whispered every spell I could remember, called upon my Sun Dragon strength, used every ounce of my power to transition, yet after several minutes I had not managed to wiggle a toe. The cave had grown darker and darker since Merlin’s disappearance, and I feared that eventually the little light there was would disappear entirely.

  In front of me, the water mocked my worries with its calmness. Not a bubble disturbed its peace, nor a fish or frog. The cave was silent and serene, while inside my blood pumped like a river’s rapids.

  How could Merlin just leave me here like a spoiled child sent to bed without supper? I was the prince of Draman, the only Sun Dragon in the entire universe, and the maker of magic even stronger than his. I was the reason for Shull’s secret weapon, and the only man his captives would trust. So what if my powers gave me a little self-confidence? I would need it on the journey to Jupiter and back if I hoped to defeat such a strong enemy.

  So you think you must act like Shull to defeat him?

  Startled, I whipped my head around, but the cave was still empty.

  Who’s there?

  My name doesn’t matter, and neither does yours. Prince or dragon or leaf on a tree, we are all just a piece of a puzzle the Artists created long before we were born.

  Listen, I didn’t ask for all of this. It’s not my fault that I’m the bearer of such great power, so why am I being punished for it?

  The voice laughed. Oh, Grian. You know nothing of your powers, nor how little they matter. What makes you so special is something deeper, something you may not even be aware of yet.

  Then how do I become aware of it?

  You let it go.

  The voice wasn’t making any sense. Maybe this was all a trick from Merlin to teach me a lesson, and in a minute he would pop back through the door?

  Merlin’s not coming back for you, the voice said as though it could read my mind. Either you walk out of here yourself, or you don’t walk out of here at all.

  He wouldn’t let me die, I said with more confidence than I felt.

  Why? Because you’re the special Sun Dragon? I have news for you, Grian—if you fail this test and perish, you’ll be reborn again as someone else. Merlin will find you, Caden will love you, I will test you, and everything will be as it should. As I said, you’re just a puzzle piece, and many others might fit the same corners.

  So in order to be the right piece, I need to forget all about fitting the mold? That doesn’t make any sense.

  No. You need to accept that the mold is not a savior or a prince or even a dragon, but a boy, plain and simple. You are Grian, and that is all you must ever be if you hope to defeat Shull. Your powers are outside of you, like Sara Lee’s Excalibur, to be picked up and wielded when necessary—they do not define you. Do you understand me?

  I guess.

  Good. That is the first test: to understand.

  From behind a rock on the other side of the lake came a woman with black hair and a leather dress. As she walked she began to come apart, dissolving into a cloud of black birds that flew past my face.

  Uh… hello?

  Hello, Grian.

  The voice was a new one, much older and raspier than the first.

  Who are you?

  My name doesn’t matter, and neither does yours, she repeated. Prince or dragon or leaf on a tree, we are all just a piece of a puzzle the Artists created long before we were born.

  So I’ve heard. Well, then, now that I’ve accepted that plain old Grian is all that matters, what’s your test?

  I cannot tell you the test; you can only pass it.

  I rolled my eyes, though luckily in the dark the voice didn’t seem to notice.

  Fine. So… what now? A little game of cards while we wait?

  Oh, trust me Grian, you do not want to play a game of cards with my deck. Those cards have a way of lasting beyond the final draw, if you know what I mean.

  I didn’t, but I decided not to mention it.

  No. Now we wait for you to accept what you have understood.

  And how might I go about doing that, exactly?

  By following me.

  I can’t move.

  Not with your legs. With your mind.

  She showed me a vision then that I would never forget. We were back on Draman, only it wasn’t the Draman I had left behind; instead this Draman was a wasteland covered only in ashes and sand. When I looked to the west, the royal castle no longer watched over its country like a crown atop the head of a king.

  Where is the castle? Where are my people?

  The voice didn’t answer, but another voice did. Or rather, a terrible roar echoed down from the place where the castle had been.

  What was that?

  Again, the voice made no answer.

  Then, at the top of the mountain, a giant beast made of metal and glass flew into view and perched on a rock ledge. Larger than any real dragon species, the Dragon Killer’s wings spanned at least a hundred feet. Its claws were pure steel blades sharpened like knives, as were its talons and the spikes on its back. Every time the Dragon Killer roared, blue wizard fire spit from its mouth.

  As if drawn to my presence, the Dragon Killer turned its head toward me. Its eyes, as blue as its icy fire, focused on mine. Then it leaped off the cliff and flew directly toward me, emitting its deadly flames. Clutched in one of its fists was Caden, and I did not need to see him up close to know he was dead.

  I WAS back in the Cave of Pamuya. Panting, I leaned my arms back and tried to catch my breath.

  As you see, you are not the only target of Shull’s creation. You are simply a speed bump in the road to his rule, and as soon as he flattens you, the rest of the dragon species will fall. Now do you accept your place, Grian?

  Yes.

  Ah, but you don’t. If you did accept it, you would have already passed the test.

  How can I not accept what I’ve seen with my own eyes? All of my people dead, and the person I love too?

  The person you love? the voice said, and its tone was skeptical. You barely know him. Caden is just a character in the tale of Grian the Great, a sidekick who will stand by your side as you—once a prince with little talent and now the savior of the universe—bring down the bad guy.

  That last comment hurt more than I wanted to admit. The voice was right—I had been more relieved to discover I had secret talents than interested in getting to know Caden. Beyond his love of electronics, I couldn’t even list one fact about him.

  There it is, the voice said more gently.

  What?

  Acceptance.

  From beyond the rock, an older woman with long red hair and a dress made of leaves and sticks emerged. Without a word, she changed into a pile of dry leaves and blew away.

  Just one more test, said a thi
rd voice, now that you understand and accept.

  I knew better than to ask this person’s name, so instead I asked what the test was.

  To act, the voice said.

  But what must I do?

  A young woman with long white hair and a sea glass dress emerged. I knew her to be the Lady of the Lake as soon as I saw her, so closely did she match the description of Nimue, whom my mother was named after.

  You must give up your powers.

  My face must have shown my surprise.

  Such a request might seem impossible so close to a run-in with Shull, but that’s exactly why a sacrifice like this one is so meaningful. Give up your powers, and you will truly find the value of the person beneath them.

  This is crazy, I said. Shull will kill me if I can’t fight back.

  Perhaps. But if you don’t give up your powers, he surely will. I didn’t exactly have a choice. Sitting cross-legged on the floor of the Cave of Pamuya while the others flew Caden’s ship into Shull’s headquarters was pointless; at least if I gave up my powers, I could be there at the very end when they were destroyed by the Dragon Killer.

  Fine. Do what you must.

  It’s already done.

  The Lady of the Lake splashed down into a puddle of water, and in her place stood Merlin. He carefully stepped out of the water and shook each foot a few times to dry it.

  “You’ve made the right choice,” he said once he was satisfied with his shoes. Apparently I would not be getting an apology. “Now you may return to the ship. Caden and Bernard have really outdone themselves.”

  He moved toward the cave’s tunnel.

  “Ahem.”

  “Oh right. Your legs.”

  He clapped, and my legs finally came free from the floor. Kicking them vigorously, I managed to rid my thighs of the pins and needles.

  “Now you mustn’t tell anyone about this visit, Grian. Wouldn’t want to scare them off by informing them that their savior got a big head and had to be turned into a plain man, now would you?”