Osric landed on the wooden floor of Wulfric’s workshop with a heavy thud. He laid there for several moments, his breath rapid and...

Lavender brought the rope with her and lowered it, but as she already knew, it wasn’t long enough to reach Osric. She could see the rock...

Lavender reached the exit and flew up along the cliff below the palace. The bear ran through and dug all four of its paws into the rocky...

Osric braced himself for a wild ride, then dug both his boots into the bear’s skin. Nothing. He tried again, then a third time, and then...

“Alive?” Lavender said. “What do you mean?” “I mean this giant creature is furry, warm, and breathing,” Osric said. “Last time I checked,...

They walked for what seemed like hours through the dark tunnels, but the disorientation from the darkness made time meaningless, a word...

Osric couldn’t see, but he heard Lavender’s voice calling his name. He heard the chimes of her wings flapping and felt something cool and...

Osric waited until the magical force emanating from his hands reached its zenith, then he spoke a word and thrust his hands at the ghost....

Osric tucked the crown inside his robe as he ran, which made the chamber dark and difficult to navigate. He followed the sparks given off...

“The crown of the Elf Queen is the only treasure left because the elves set a curse on it,” Lavender said. “How do you know?” Osric...

Osric pulled with all this strength on the gold door to his right. It didn’t move for several seconds, but then it swung open slowly,...

“What is this place?” Osric asked. “Again, no human can understand our words for it,” Lavender said. “I’m better than most humans with...

They walked along stone-paved streets laid with such precision that not one blade of grass emerged in the seams between stones. The...

“We meet again,” Osric said. “I’m Osric.” “My name is unpronounceable to humans,” the faerie said. “You may call me what you please.”...

Within moments, the pale, white trunk of the Ornament Tree was adorned with what Osric surmised was the faerie equivalent of a coat of...

Lights and sound grew brighter and louder the farther he walked into the center of the city. Beautiful, unearthly music echoed through...

The faeries paid no attention to Osric as he walked beside the trees that supported their homes, shops, and common buildings. The trees...

The tunnel wound down in the same spiral as the cavern that had led Osric to the dragon. He couldn’t see this, but the centrifugal force...

The floor of the cavern surrounding the sleeping dragon was covered with ash, a powder so fine it looked like gray sand. Osric stepped on...

Instead of the green glow of the moss, the pattern on the walls glowed reddish orange, the color of flame. The pattern didn’t cast light...