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    "Venger!" Eric grumbles. "He'll never stop trying to get his hands on our magic weapons."
    "Tell us something we don't know," Diana says, tossing her dark hair.
    You can't blame Eric for being cranky.  You and your friends have just barely escaped from the evil lord's fortress in the Black Mountains.  You're safe enough for now, though, camped beside a peaceful lake.  Silvery waters slap softly on the shore.  You lean back against a tree.  It's beautiful.  But you have the feeling the calm won't last long.  "It never does," you say softly.
    "Too true, Sheila, too true!" a familiar voice says, as if someone read your mind.
    All of you look up.  The strange little man you know as Dungeon Master stands before you.
    "What is it, Dungeon Master?" Hank asks.  As usual, the Ranger looks ready for anything.
    "You must find what is lost and give away what you cannot find," Dungeon Master says.
    "Always with the riddles!" Eric groans.
    Everyone turns to look at the grumbling Cavalier.  When you look up again, Dungeon Master is gone.
    "What did he mean this time?" Presto asks.
    Nobody knows.  It could have something to do with Venger, or with something very different.
    "We can't do anything until morning, "Hank says.  "Let's get some rest."  You look at the sunset.  A few stars have begun to appear.
    You're so tired that you fall right to sleep.  Then a loud sobbing jolts you awake.  Everyone else is sound asleep.
    The crying gets louder.  Rising and following the sound, you find a plump little old lady sitting on a mound of dirt.  Dressed in light blue robes, she wears strange buckled shoes, and a pointed cap, much like Presto's, sits on her head.
    "Can I help you? you say gently.  "My name's Sheila."
    "I'm Agnes the Witch," she says.  Then she bursts out crying again.  "Make that ex-witch.  Somebody stole my spell book.  Without it, I'm not a witch.  And I need the Spell of Fire and Ice to stop Tiamat from destroying my home, the Golden Woods.  Many magical creatures live there."
    You shiver at the name of the evil, five-headed dragon.  Even Venger fears Tiamat.  "Maybe my friends and I can help," you tell Agnes.  "Dungeon Master said we should find what is lost--like your spellbook."
    "Dungeon Master?"  Agnes smiles.  "He's an old friend of mine."  She follows you to wake your friends.
    "Whoever heard of a witch named Agnes?" Eric says, smirking.
    "It isn't a very colorful name," Agnes says, "but it's mine, all the same.  And so is the spell that can distract Tiamat by making her heads of fire and ice fight one another."
    "I'm for that!" Diana says, grabbing her magic acrobat pole. "But where do we start?"
    Hank grasps his magic bow.  "With Venger. If he doesn't have the book yet, he'll be after it.  He wants to have under his control everything that's magical in this land."
    Agnes shakes her head.  "He can't use my spells.  Only a good person can work them."
    "But does Venger know that?"  your brother, Bobby, asks.
    Agnes admits the evil lord doesn't know.  "He'll be after the book, that's true.  But someone good may have taken it to the Golden Woods to stop Tiamat," she says.  "Perhaps we should split up.  I can head for the Golden Woods."  To your surprise, the witch asks, "Sheila, will you come with me?  We'll go east, across the marshes," she adds.  "The others can try to find Venger."
    You've never left your friends before.  It scares you to think of being alone except for Agnes.  But you don't want to meet Venger.

If you want to stay with your friends, click here.  (p. 14)

If you go with Agnes....click here.  (p. 46)

"I can't make promises when I don't know what I'm promising," you say firmly.
    Sala roars mightily and springs at you.  You jump back, pulling your cloak around yourself and the shivering little worm.
    "No you don't!"  Sala screams.  She catches your cloak with one forepaw and pulls it away.
    "No longer invisible, you grab Mark and dodge behind a tree.  Sala stands, laughing and waving your cloak as if it were a victory flag.  "Oh, no," you groan.  Without your cloak, you're helpless!  You can't disappear and slip away from attackers.  You surely can't get close enough to Tiamat to cast the spell. "We'll have to get the cloak back before we can do anything else!" you tell Mark.
    "Will that be expensive?" he asks.
    You blink back tears.  "I'm afraid so," you say sadly as Sala's roaring laughter fills your ears.

THE END

    Agnes is nice, but you feel safer with your friends.
    "I think I'd rather stay with my friends," you tell Agnes.
    She looks sad, then says with a sigh, "All right.  But let's get going on our separate paths.  We can't even wait for daylight."
    Agnes sets off toward the marshes.  Your group heads back toward the mountains to search for Venger.  Traveling across the plains, you make good time in spite of the darkness.  By dawn, you can see the Black Mountains.  They're craggy as a mouthful of broken teeth.  You hear the sound of marching feet coming over a low hill.
    "Wait!" you whisper.  "Listen."
    Hank motions for everyone to hide behind the tall bushes at the sides of the path.  A group of soldiers comes into view.  They wear brown and green clothes that blend in with the forest.  And they have pointed ears!
    "Elves!" Presto whispers.  "I think they're supposed to be friendly, but I'm not sure."
    The elves pass without noticing you.  Soon, you're all climbing the Black Mountains.  Everybody scrambles up the steep slope.  Uni bleats when the sharp stones jab her hooves.
    Hank points ahead.  "There's a level spot," he says.  "We can rest a few minutes."
    Even Bobby, who usually has more energy than anybody, is glad to lay down his magic club.  The rest of you drop next to him.
    "I'm so hungry, I could even eat orc food," Eric grumbles.
    "Good!" growls a mean voice.
    Uni bleats.  Diana yells.  Pig-faced creatures jump down from the rocks as Hank shouts, "Orcs!"  The leader grabs all the magic weapons.  The others grab your friends.
    You pull your cloak around you and disappear.  Panting and scared, you move to the side as you watch the orcs lead your friends away.  Either you'll have to follow them or rush to get help.  Whatever you decide, you'll have to do it quickly!

If you decide you must get help....click here. (p. 30)

But if you think you should stick close to your friends....click here.  (p24)

    "No!" you say, as bravely as you can.
    Venger howls in fury and zaps a lightning bolt at your feet.
    "Yipe!" you yell, jumping back.  The two orcs grab your arms.
    "Brat!" Venger shouts.  "You can rot in my dungeon with your friends!"
    "We'll get free," you call as the orcs drag you away.  "We've beaten you before, Venger.  We'll do it again!"
 
 

THE END

    "If the orcs find you, they'll take you to Venger," the sprite leader says.
    "You want me to give myself up to those horrible beasts?" you gasp.
    The sprite nods.  "It's the quickest way to get the spellbook to Venger," he explains.
    You hate the thought, but how else can you save your friends and the Golden Woods?
    "I'll have to risk it," you say quietly.
    "Are you crazy?" Mark shouts.
    If Mark doesn't come, you'll be all alone.  Still, it isn't fair to take him into this danger.  You hand the little worm to the sprite leader and say, "Please take Mark home."  Then, trying to look braver than you feel, you head toward the mountains.  It isn't hard to find the orcs.  They're everywhere.
    "For once, they're right where I want them," you tell yourself.
    "Oh, yeah?" snarls a deep voice.  You feel yourself being swung around to face the ugliest orc you've ever seen.  Another orc tears the spell book from your grasp and runs away.

Click here to continue....(p40)

    You're scared, but you know Agnes is right.  It makes sense to follow the biggest group of sprites.
    "Sorry, Mark," you tell the little worm.  "We don't have time to find your home right now.  We have to get that book."
    "Can't I go with you?" Mark asks.  "Then can you find my home?"
   You grin at the little worm. You won't be alone after all.  "You sure can," you tell him.
    "Well, then," Agnes says, "Let's get going.  And good luck to us all.  We'll find my book."
    With a cheery wave, the wtich sets off for the Golden Woods.  You put Mark on your shoulder and head east.  Soon, you are following a narrow path that winds through the wild and craggy Sunrise Mountains.
    Mark chatters all the time, asking about every bush and tree and rock.
    "Mark," you say, laughing, "you're the noisiest worm in the whole world!"
    "Can I take a hint?" the little worm whines.  He lies down on your shoulder.  His color changes from bright green to dull grey.  He looks like an ordinary worm--a quiet worm.
    The silence is wonderful, but it doesn't last long.  You're scrambling up the path when Mark rises back to his question mark shape.,  He turns green again.  "Do I see a tunnel?" he asks, waving his head toward a big hole in the mountain.  "Don't tunnels go through mountains?  Have I found a shortcut?"
    Maybe Mark's telling you it's a shortcut.  Maybe he's asking.  With question worms, you can never be sure.  You look closer at the tunnel.  It's dark and scary.
    "I don't know, Mark," you say.  "Going through here could save a lot of time.  Or it could get us lost."

Do you want to stay on the path?  If so.....click here.  (p44)

Or would you rather take a chance on the tunnel?  Click here.... (p36)

    There's no time to go for help.  You're scared, but you'll have to rescue your friends on your own.  Still invisible, you watch as the orcs tie your friends' hands.  One takes their magic weapons.
    "The master will be pleased to get these," the leader says, smirking.
    "Not if I can help it," you think.  Keeping your magic cloak wrapped about you, you follow the orcs.  But there's no chance to get to your friends.  They're surrounded by pig-faced orcs.
    All you can do is wait until the orcs decide to rest.  Maybe you can sneak into their camp while they're eating or sleeping.  You follow at a distance, shivering, even though it isn't cold.  Finally, the orc leader orders a halt.  The pig-faced soldiers make your friends sit together around the campfire.
    You hide on a ledge above, waiting for your chance.  Two orcs take food from their pockets and begin to eat.  Several doze off, snoring loudly.  The camp grows quiet, and you notice that the orcs aren't really watching your friends.
    You hold your breath and move slowly into the camp.  You make it past the snoring leader.  You're almost to your little brother when one of the soldiers shouts a warning.
    "Footprints!  Look!"
    Snarling orcs lunge toward you.  A dozen pairs of rough hands grab at the air.  You try to dodge them, but it's too late.  One of the orcs catches your cloak and pulls it away.
    Trembling and wide-eyed, you pop into view.
    "Let her go!" your little brother yells.  The other kids only groan.
    The orc leader snorts.  "Good. Venger has the spell book.  Now he wants the girl."
    One of the soldiers grabs Diana.
    "No!" the leader growls.  "This girl!"
    "Me?" you gasp, your voice squeaking.
    Then the main party starts to shove your friends up the path, and you shout, "Wait!"  But there's nothing you can do.  You're alone on the mountain with two snarling orcs, wondering what will happen to you now.

Click here to continue.  (p40)

    You feel sorry for the lost worm.  Besides, you'd rather have his company than be alone.  "I'll find the book and help Mark," you say.
    "Isn't that wonderful?" Mark babbles.
    The witch goes north toward the Golden Woods.  With Mark on your shoulder, you head deeper into the soggy marshes.
    There's no sign of sprites or worms anywhere.  You're getting tired and discouraged when Mark yells so loud that it hurts your ears.  "Don't I hear worms??"
    "Are you home?" excited voices answer.
    Suddenly, you're surrounded by plump green worms, all in the shape of question marks.  Smiling, you set Mark down with the othes.  "Here you are, Mark.  Home at last."
    Your mind spins with their questions.  You can't think straight.  But one clear thought does come to you before you're completely muddled.
    Home is the answer to Dungeon Master's riddle.  It's the think you can give away but can't find for yourself.  Then your mind becomes a jumble of questions.

THE END

    I can't do this alone," you tell yourself.  "The elves!  If I hurry, maybe I can get them to help my friends."  You race away.
    "Help!" you shout, when you see them.
    The leader raises his hand in greeting.  He's about your height and has golden hair and a mouth that looks as if it wants to smile.  He nods as he listens to your story.
    "Our home is the Golden Woods," he says when you finish.  "Returning from a hunt, we're on our way to fight Tiamat."
    "We're looking for a spell book that can stop the dragon," you explain.  "But my friends are in trouble now!"
    The leader thinks for a moment. "If we help you, then you can help us.  Let's go!"
    Two dozen elves with weapons follow you.  Soon, your group catches up to the orcs, who have stopped to rest.  You pull on the hood and disappear.  The elves creep forward.
    You see your friends surrounded by nasty orcs.  Everybody's hands are tied.  Their weapons are nowhere in sight.  The elf leader shouts a battlecry.  The orcs turn in your direction, growling.  As the fight begins, you dodge the battling orcs and elves to reach your friends.
    "It's me," you tell Diana when she jumps at the touch of your invisible hand.
    "Hooray!" Bobby yells.  Then he looks at his empty hands.  "My club!"
    "All our weapons are gone!" Presto wails.
    "Look!" one of the elves shouts, pointing at the sky.  "That smoke must be the Golden Woods burning from Tiamat's firey blasts!"
    You slump against a boulder, knowing that you've not only lost your weapons, but you've wasted too much time to save the Golden Woods.

THE END

If you don't cooperate with Venger, he'll probably just keep everything he wants, anyway.  And Tiamat will still destroy the Golden Woods.  Taking a deep breath, you ask, "If I say yes, will you give us our magic weapons?"
    His pale face twists into a snarl. Then he snaps, "The weapons will be yours."
    For once, you're getting your own way with Venger.  It's such a good feeling that you dare to challenge him again.  "And the spell book--we need that too."
    Venger mutters under his breath.  Suddenly, he smiles as if he's quite proud of himself.  "Only if you face the dragon alone," he says.  "If I have to help you, then I keep the book!"
    "But you can't even use it!" you protest.
    "But I can stop my enemies from using it!"  Venger glares at you.  "What will it be?"
 
 

Do you have the courage to face Tiamat alone?  If so.....click here. (p56)

Or would you rather face Tiamat with Venger's help?  Click here.  (p50)

    "Maybe you're right, Mark," you say.  "If the sprites were good creatures, why would they steal Agnes's spell book?  We'll try your plan."
    Wrapped in your magic cloak, you and Mark wait until long past nightfall.  Then Mark pokes his head out for a look.
    "Are the sprites alseep?" he asks.
    "You're sure they're asleep?" you ask.  This is no time to confuse answers with questions.
    He nods, and you move out swiftly.  Stepping around sleeping sprites, you readh inside the trunk and grab the book.  Then you tuck it inside your cloak and hurry away.
    "Did we do it?" Mark says.
    You grin at the friendly little worm on your shoulder.  "We sure did!" you say.
    You rush toward the Golden Woods, hoping to reach Agnes in time.  But you're too late.  When you reach the woods, there's nothing left but smouldering, black tree stumps.  Tiamat has destoryed the Golden Woods.
    "On, no!" you moan.  "If we had talked with the sprites instead of waiting to trick them, we might have saved the forest!"

THE END

    "We can't afford to pass up anything that could save time," you tell the question worm.  Taking a deep breath, you step through the opening and head down the dark, damp tunnel.
    "Am I scared?"  Mark says.  "Is this awful?"
    Heavy footsteps sound behind you.
    "Not as awful as it can get!" you whisper.
    "Are those snake men?" Mark shouts.
    You turn and see manlike creatures with the faces of snakes running toward you.  Pulling up your hood, you disappear and start to run.
    The snake men  hiss, angry that they can't see you.  You run fast, but they keep close behind.  You think you're getting away, until you see snake men coming from the other direction!
    "Are we trapped?"  Mark screams from under your cloak.
    "Not if I can help it," you say.  Just as the two groups come together, you drop to your hands and kneew.  Dodging through a jungle of scaley legs, you make your way past the confused snake men, then race toward the exit.
    At last you see daylight ahead.  The tunnel opens onto a wide meadow.  You stand there, shaking.  You pull back your hood.
    "Did you save us from those snake men?" Mark chatters.  "Are you smart?  Am I happy?"
    "Yes, yes, and yes," you  tell him, laughing.
    As you walk across the meadow, Mark starts hopping around on your shoulder.  "Do I see sprites in those trees?" he says.  "Do they have a big book?"
    To your delight, you see in the trees ahead of you, fairylike creatures flitting among the branches.  They're sprites!  And propped in a hollow tree stump is the spell book!
    "It is the book!" you say happily.  "Good work, worm.  Let's go get it!"
    "But what about the sprites?" mutters Mark.
    "Agnes said sprites are good.  Maybe we can talk them into giving up the book," you say.
    "Do good creatures steal things?" Mark asks.
    "Not usually," you say quietly.
    "Should we wait for the sprites to fall asleep and then take the book?" Mark offers.

Should you follow Mark's plan for getting the book?  If so....click here.  (p34)

Or would you rather try to talk with the sprites right away?  Click here.  (p67)

    Suddenly, you hear evil laughter and look up to see Venger hovering above you on his Nightmare.  His dark eyes gleam in the pale, evil face.  His cape flutters around a book in his hand-- the spell book!
    You gulp and wish that you could hide.  But you can't, so the only thing to do is bravely stand up to the evil lord.  "What do you want?" you demand.  Your voice is clear and strong.  You're surprised that it hardly shakes at all.
    "It's not what I want," Venger grumbles, "It's what I have to do--get help from a child--to stop Tiamat.  Then, for a time, Tiamat's power will be less of a threat to mine."
    Child!  How dare he call you a child!  You're about to set him straight, when a memory flashes.  Agnes said that only a good person could work the Spell of Fire and Ice.
    "You can't use the spell, can you, Venger?" you ask, feeling less frightened.  He needs you!
    "No!  But I can read it!" he shouts.  His voice sounds shrill. "You work the spell.  Then I will tell my orcs to let your friends go free."
    You hate to admit it, but Venger is making sense.  It might be possible to bargain with him.  But surely it will be dangerous.  You know that he'll trick you if he can.  "It might be the only chance we've got," you think, remembering your captured friends and the Golden Woods.
    "Well?" Venger demands.  "Is it a deal?"

If you don't want to bargain with Venger, click here.   (p18)

If you decide to take the chance, click here.  (p33)

    The path is longer than the tunnel, but at least you're sure it goes over the mountain.  As you climb, big boulders rise beside the path.  You hear a scraping noise.  "Do I hear something breaking rocks loose?" Mark asks.
    Before you can reply, pig-faced orcs jump out from behind the boulders and grab you.
    "What's this?" one of them growls.  He reaches for Mark, who is flat and grey now.
    "Jump!" you yell at the question worm.
    Mark jumps down.  The orc tried to stomp on him, but the worm escapes into the forest.
    Mark is safe.  You aren't so lucky.  You gulp as the orcs tighten their grip on your arms.
    "So," one of the orc soldiers growls, "Venger's caught your friends and put them in the dungeon.  Now we'll take you to him."
    "What?" you think.  "Bobby and the others trapped in Venger's dungeon?"  You bite your lip to keep from crying.
    "Shadow Demon!" the orc soldier calls.
    A dark, manlike shape appears in the air.
    "Bring the master," the orc says.  "He has special plans for this one."

Click here to continue... (p40)

    It's not fair for Agnes to search alone for her book when everyone else has company.  Your friends set out for the mountains where you last saw Venger.  You and Agnes head into the marshes.  The sun rises as you tramp across the soggy ground.
    A shrill voice breaks the silence.  "Is someboy there?  Do I need help?"
    You jump at the sudden sound.
    "Don't worry, Sheila," Agnes says, smiling.  "It's only a question worm."
    She points to a green shape on top of a rock.  It looks just like a littel question mark.  Laughing, you pick up the worm.
    "Am I lost?" the worm asks, eyes blinking.
    "He probably is," Agnes says.
    "What's your name?" you ask the creature.
    "Am I a question Mark?" the worm replies.
    "That means his name's Mark," Agnes says.  "You see, you never get answers from questions worms, only questions.  You have to figure out which questions are answers in disguise."  Agnes leans closer to the question worm.  "Did you see anyone carrying a large book?"
    "Have I seen sprites?" the worm replies.  "And did they have a big book with them?"
    "Sprites?" Agnes says.  "But they're good creatures.  Why would they take my book?"
    "Do I know why?" Mark goes on.
    The questions make you dizzy, but Agnes plows throught them.  Finally she figures out that a large party of sprites split into three different groups.  One group tramped further into the marshes, whild another headed for the Golden Woods.  The third and largest group went towards the Sunrise Moutnains to the east.
    "I don't think Mark knows which group had my book," Agnes says, sighing.  "We'd better split up.  I'll go to the Golden Woods.  You head east after the biggest group."
    "Alone?" you gasp.  The idea scares you half to death.  "I'd rather go with you."
    "I know, and you may.  But remember, Sheila, at most, we can follow only two paths."
    "What about the marshes?" Mark asks.  "Don't I live somewhere in there?  Couldn't you follow the sprites and take me home, too?"
    You look at Agnes hopefully.  If you have to leave her, you'd rather stay in the marshes.  Here, at least, you'll have Mark for company.
    "I don't think that's the best choice," the witch says.  "I'll bet some of them went into the marshes just to fool anyone following them."

If you want to stay with Agnes, click here. (p64)

If you decide to take Mark and follow the group that went into the marshes, click here. (p29)

But if you think you should go alone after the main party, click here (p20)

    Venger might be evil, but he has great power.  You figure your chances of stopping Tiamat are better if he goes with you.  "Maybe later, someone can save Agnes's spell book," you say to yourself.
    Looking up at the huge figure of Venger, you say in a small voice, "I'll help you."
    "Then I'll take you to Tiamat," Venger bellows as Nightmare settles to the ground.
    The next thing you know, you're riding the wind on the black horse!  You bobble and bounce, screaming once when you almost fall off.
    "Sit still!" Venger commands.
    "I'm trying!" you tell him.
    "How can you learn the spell if you can't even stay on the horse?" he snaps.
    You hold on tight to the Nightmare's mane as you watch the ground sweep past below.
    Venger opens the spell book and reads the spell over and over, making you repeat it each time.  Your tongue trips over the strange words, but soon, you can speak them perfectly.
    "Look!" Venger shouts, pointint to a forest of tall trees.  "The Golden Woods."
    Tiny, round leaves shimmer in the sunlight.  They look like clouds of golden coins.  Further north, you see still more trees.  Some are burning.  Some are covered with frost.  All kinds of forest creatuers run screaming from the woods.
    Close behind comes Tiamat, the awful, five-headed dragon!
    You shiver as the Nightmare swoops down.  Now you see fire coming from the dragon's red head and frost from the white.  You can even smell the deadly green gas from the dragon's green head, and you cover your nose.
    Tiamat's blue head spots you and Venger and blows streaks of lighning at you.  Venger flings fiery bolts of his own.  "NOW, Sheila!" the evil lord yells.
    Gripping Nightmare's sides with your knees, you spread your arms wide and shout the words to he Spell of Fire and Ice.
    Tiamat's red head turns suddenly and spits fire at the white one.  The white head screams and blows a cone of frost in reply.  The dragon stomps and rages.
    "It's working!" you shout.  "Tiamat's attacking herself instead of the woods!"
    "She will return to her realm now," Venger says.  "The spell will keep her busy for quite a while."
    From the ground below, you hear the forest creatures calling to one another, "Come home, everybody!  We're safe.  Come home!"
    Suddenly you remember Dungeon Master's riddle.  Now you understand its meaning.  Home is the thing you can give away but can't find for yourself!
    Soon, you see familiar lands below.  Your friends are waiting for you.  They are all safe, and they all have their weapons!
    "I kept my promise," Venger snarls.
    Nightmare settles to the ground.  You jump off.  Venger speeds away, holding the spell book.  "Beware, Sheila," he shouts.  "Someday, the weapons will be mine as well!"
    Your friends rush to greet you.
    "What happened, Sheila?" they shout.  "How did you get away from Venger?"
    As you answer their questions, one thought haunts your mind:  "How am I going to tell Agnes the Witch that I lost her spell book?"

THE END

    "The further away I am from Tiamat, the better I like it," you say.
    You chant the spell.  Nothing happens.  Tiamat still breathes fire and frost and acid.  Golden trees still wither and die.
    Far above, you hear an evil voice, laughing.  "Do you need my help after all, Sheila?" Venger calls.
    "He never thought I'd do this alone," you think.  "He must really want Agnes's spell book"
    "He's not going to get it," you say aloud.

Click here to continue...(p75)

    Dungeon Master told you to find what is lost.  If he meant the spell book, bargaining it away to Venger isn't your idea of finding it.
    "I'll go alone," you say, hoping you sound braver than you feel.
    Venger glares at you, muttering something aobut the spell book.  "All right," he says at last.  "I'll take you to the edge of the woods to meet Tiamat."
    Before you can protest, you're riding the wind on Nightmare.  Venger teaches you the spell.  It's in a language you can't understand.  But soon, you have it completely memorized.
    "Speak it exactly as I teach you," Venger says as Nightmare settles to the ground.
    You jump off the horse quickly, glad to get away from Venger.
    "Now we'll see how brave you really are," he sneers.  "You're all alone now."
    The evil lord soars up into the sky.  Ahead, you hear the awful noise of Tiamat's five heads, all roaring at once.  You see smoke rising from the trees.  Many creatures race by, terrified.
    You take a deep breath to stop yourself from shaking.  Tiamat's roars grow louder.  The ground shakes from her geat feet.  The smoke smells stronger.
    "She's coming this way!" you say.  Your heart pounds and your hands feel sweaty.
    The black head rears into view, spitting deadly acid.  Then you see the red one breathe out, and a golden tree explodes into flame.  Three other heads appear, twisting on their long necks.  Tiamat moves slowly closer, until you see all of her great, scaly body.  She's still far away, but it feels as if she's already looming over you.
    Maybe you should work the spell now, before the dragon gets any closer.  You're afraid you might be too far away, though.  Presto's proven that some spells don't work at a distance.  You can't afford to fail now.

Will you move closer to Tiamat before casting the spell?  Click here.  (p75)

Or will you try the spell from where you are?  Click here.  (p55)

    "Dealing with Venger is too risky," you say.  "I'll take the book to Agnes."
    You head north, with Mark on your shoulder and the book in your hands.  You travel across the plains and into a forest.  Sunlight splatters through the overhanging branches of huge trees.
    "Is this a nice place?" Mark asks happily.
   "Indeed, it is," a low, musical voice replies.
    You spin around.
    "I'm Sala," a smiling creatures says.  Golden wings spread out from the shoulders of a lion's body.  She is crouched like a cat, on a big rock.
    "I-I'm Sheila," you stammer.  "And this is Mark."
    You try not to stare at Sala, knowing it's rude.  But it's hard to act as if she were a normal person.  Mark seems just as amazed.
    "Are you beautiful?" he gasps.
    Sala laughs.  "I think so," she says.  "I'm also very smart." She looks straight at you.  "For instance, I've studied magic languages since I was a kitten.  I can read any spell."
    "You can?  That's great!" you cry.  "Can you teach me the Spell of Fire and Ice from this spell book?"  It will save you a lot of time if you don't have to find Agnes before working the spell.
    "Of course," Sala purrs in a voice rich as velvet.  "But I want payment for my work."
    "I don't have any money," you groan.
    "I don't need money," Sala purrs.
    "But all I have is my magic cloak.  Dungeon Master said I should never give that away."
    Sala stretches.  "Not your cloak either," she says lazily.  "I won't tell you unless you agree to pay my price.  Will you do so?"
    "Can we afford it?" Mark asks.
    "I don't know," you say.  you don't like making blind promises, but you must stop Tiamat before there is no Golden Woods to save.
    "Well?" Sala says, staring at you with her great, golden eyes.

If you'd rather not pay Sala's mysterious price, click here.  (p12)

If you decide to pay it, click here.   (p71)

    "I'm afraid to go alone, Agnes," you say.
    Agnes gives you a sad smile.  "I understand.  We'll follow the sprites that went toward the Golden Wood.  I hope they have my spell book."
    Mark hops on your hand.  "Can I go?  Would you leave a poor worm here?"
    "Of course, you can go," you tell him.  "We'll take you home after we get the book."
    As you walk, the marshes soon give way to rocky hills.  You're climbing up a steep hill when Mark starts bouncing on your shoulder.  "Do I see sprites flying from the north?"
    You squint up at the sky.  Coming toward you are tiny, fairylike winged creatures.
    "Sprites, wait!"  Agnes yells to them.  "Give me my spell book!  I can stop Tiamat."
    "We don't have it," one of them calls.
    "Our friends took it over the Sunrise Mountains," added another.
    "Oh, no!" you gasp.  "We followed the wrong group!"  You bite your lip, trying to hold back tears.  Now you'll never get the book in time to save the Golden Woods from Tiamat!

THE END

    Agnes told you that sprites are good creatures.  You figure they must have been in big trouble to take her spell book.  "I'll try talking to them," you say.
    Mark bounces and huffs and grumbles, but you ignore him and hurry toward the glade.
    "Sprites," you call as you pull back your hood and become visible.  "Tiamat is destroying the Golden Woods!  I know somebody who can stop her."
    You must have said the right thing.  All the tiny, winged creatures gather around you.  Most of them hover in the air, like hummingbirds.  One sits quietly on the edge of the spell book, staring at you with bright eyes.
    "The Golden Woods is are home," he says.  "We borrowed this book to save it."  The tiny man stands up.  His face is framed by thick, dark hair.  He looks important dispite his tiny size.  "Maybe the spell's in here,' he says sadly.  "But we can't read the book."
    Now that you understand why the sprites took Agnes's book, you feel sorry for them.  Quickly you tell them about the witch and her Spell of Fire and Ice.  "We have to get the book to her," you say.
    "Not to her," chirps one sprite.  "There's no time to find the witch now.  We need Venger!"
   "Venger?" you and Mark shout together.
    "Is that dumb?" Mark snorts.
    "Venger hates Tiamat, and fears her," the sprite says calmly."He might help.  Maybe he'll even agree to let your friends go."
    "My friends?" you gasp.  Afraid of the answer, you ask, "He caught them?"
    The sprite nods.  The others chirp and chatter, teling you how they saw the pig-faced soldiers taking Bobby and the others to Venger's dungeon.
    "Oh, no!" you groan.  "Not orcs!" Your legs feel weak.  "Maybe I will have to bargain with Venger."

If you think you should look for Venger, click here.  (p19)

But if you decide it would be safer to take the book to Agnes, click here.  (p60)

    If you don't agree to pay, Sala is big and fierce enough to take whatever she wants anyway.
    "Okay," you say.  "Tell me your price."
    Sala stretches and purrs.  "Well, dear one, I've lived a long time and learned a great deal.  I have answers to everything but nobody to ask questions.  I want the question worm."
    "But Mark is his own person--I mean, worm," you protest.  "He's not mine to give."
    "You promised," Sala snarls.
    "But I can't pay what I don't own!" you shout, getting reaty to run.
    It looks as if Sala's going to have you for lunch.  Then Mark starts to giggle.
    "Can I stay for a year?" he asks.  "Is a year long enough?"
    Sala stares at the little worm.  then she chuckles with pure delight.  "Is twenty years too long?" she asks.
    "How do you feel about five?" Mark offers.
    The strange bargaining goes on and on.  Both Sala and Mark seem to be enjoying it.
    "This is perfect!" you think.  "Mark will love asking questions, and Sala, answering them."
    "Do I have a new home?" Mark asks happily.
    "It looks as if you do, you tell him, now understanding Dungeon Master's riddle.  Home is the thing you can find for Mark but not for yourself.
    The little worm jumps off your shoulder.  he lands between the lion-woman's great paws.
    Sala keeps her promise and quickly teaches you the Spell of Fire and Ice.  Then you set out for the Golden Woods.  You race across plains and mountains until you see a soft golden glow in the sky.  "That must be coming from the Golden Woods," you say to yourself.  "I hope so."
    You dash up and over the next hill.  As you do, you nearly crash into one of Tiamat's huge legs!  Each of her five heads is blowing out fire, acid, or some other deadly substance.
    Swiftly, you chant the words to the Spell of Fire and Ice.  At first, nothing happens,  Then Tiamat trembles.  Her white head and her red one both scream, then start battling one another with blasts of flame and frost.  The spell works!  You saved the Golden Woods!

THE END

    You didn't come this far to take a chance on the spell not working.  You gather your magic cloak around you and turn invisible.  A lightning bolt from  Tiamat's blue head stings your feet.  You scream and jump back.  Your heart hammers in your chest.  You feel like running away, but you force yourself to walk toward the raging dragon.
    You're invisible, so Tiamat can't see you.  But that doesn't make you feel any safer as you watch her five heads twist around.  Each seems to be looking for a new target.
    Swiftly, you chant the words to the Spell of Fire and Ice.  At first, nothing happens.  Then Tiamat trembles.  Her white head and her red one both scream, then start battling one another with blasts of flame and frost.  The spell is working!
    The dragon backs away, screeeching and stumbling.  She's too busy fighting herself to do any more harm to the Golden Woods.
    Venger swoops down from the sly above you.  "Brat!" he bellows at you, throwing lightning in every direction.  At last, he flings the book at your feet. "There!  Take it!" he snarls.  "I never thought you'd be brave enough to do it alone."
    You smile to yourself, proud that you were braver than the evil lord thought you could be.  "What about my friends?" you call.
    Venger growls and fires another lightning bolt near you.  "They'll be waiting!" he shouts as he speeds away.
    As you pick up the book, you hear a happy voice calling your name.  Agnes the Witch runs toward you.  She must have found another way to the Golden Woods.
"You did it, my friend!" she shouts.  She hugs you so hard you can barely breathe.  Smiling, you hand her the spell book.
    "What was lost is found," Agnes says.  Then she turns round and round, smiling on all the Golden Woods.  "Look!  Everyone who lives here is coming home!"
    You wath the happy creatures returning, and you remember Dungeon Master's riddle.
    "Yes, home," you say softly, knowing that you've given to others what you can't find for yourself.