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Lazarus and the Alphas, along with Shannol, flew above the forest, and with their combined magic it was easy to levitate above the treetops.
The overpowering smells made all their eyes water, and he wished he were more fluent in magic so he could cast a spell that could dampen the nauseating scent.
"We are close," Shannol said. "I remember seeing the map fall somewhere around here."
Lazarus saw the stunted trees and black, charred earth. He saw waves of smoke wafting in the air and knew they couldn't an hour last floating in that place. He felt sick and nauseous as he looked around the edge of the Wilden Woods.
"Could something have taken the map?"
Something large and scaly suddenly moved across the ground. It was a huge lizard, the same color as the ground and the reason they didn't see it at first. The lizard had something in its mouth.
"There's the map," Cindy shouted.
The lizard moved fast on its talons and scaly legs.
"Hurry," Shannol said.
They rushed to intercept the creature, but it seemed to blend with the dirt and disappear.
"Hey," Royce said, "where did it go?"
They moved closer and then stopped. The ground wasn’t dirt at all, but hundreds of lizards moving on the earth. The reptiles’ yellow eyes stared up at them.
"Which lizard has the map?" Grace asked.
"Right there?" Shannol said, and pointed to a lizard moving swiftly up a small slope. They flew toward the creature. One of the lizards hissed, then sprayed a greenish yellow fluid at them. Before Lazarus could create a magical shield, Cindy waved her hand and the fluid sprayed back toward the lizard, that hissed at them again. The liquid burnt the creature’s skin. It was acid. It writhed in pain and then lay still. The beast’s face was eaten away and destroyed by the acid, and all that was left was part of the skull and its gray, milky brains, and yellow eyes.
While levitating above the ground, Lazarus created a tornado and flung it at the earth below. The group of lizards were lifted into the tornado and blown away.
"Wait, where’s the map?" asked Shannol.
"There it is," Royce said. “Drop me to the ground."
Lazarus ceased his wind tornado spell, and lowered Royce to the ground. Royce changed in mid-air to his regular countenance as an Alpha Grog, and looked like a large, muscular wolf as he sprinted toward the lizard holding the map.
The lizard reared up on its hind legs and morphed into an armored knight. His armor was black, with red filigree patterns on its breastplate. Royce pounced at the knight, but he raised an armor-clad hand and Royce was knocked away.
Grace created a magical dirt hand from the ground and grabbed Royce before he struck a boulder.
The knight held up the map. "Who invades my forest?"
Lazarus sighed, then floated downwards and stood before the Dark Knight.
"My name is Lazarus. I'm an Alpha Mage on a quest to find Merlin, the first Master Alpha Mage."
The Dark Knight merely stood there. Lazarus couldn't see through the knight's visor.
"I think I know of this wizard you speak of. He is my enemy."
A long sword appeared in the Dark Knight's hand, and he moved forward and struck at Lazarus, who instantly created glowing sabers and parried the killing blow. Sparks struck when the weapons touched, and two more knights appeared and tried to attack him.
Cindy and Grace shot powerful spells at the enemy, and the ground shook as fantastical creatures the color of midnight black emerged from the ground. They were fire-breathing, shadowy beasts with glowing red eyes.
Royce snarled and attacked the first creature. Lazarus parried another killing blow. Shannol yelled, and appeared next to him holding a silver sword. She moved in front of Lazarus and aimed several blows at the Dark Knight, sending the enemy backward.
Runes glowed on Shannol's sword. Lazarus knew her weapon was magical and infused with power.
"Lazarus, we will fight together," she shouted.
He lifted his hands and shot out a large blast of lightning, hitting the Dark Knight and his two minions. They all fell onto one knee under his onslaught.
"Dark knight, give me the map or I will destroy you," he demanded.
The Dark Knight tried to stand but Lazarus shot another lightning blast. Cindy and Grace also added to his magic. Violent flames shot from his hands.
"Enough!" the knight said. "You're very powerful. I was testing you. I'm not Merlin's enemy. I wanted to know if you're worthy to receive his blessing."
Lazarus ceased casting his spells.
"We were waiting for you to come to us, Alpha Mages."
"Who are you?" Lazarus asked.
"We are the dead Knights. Merlin told us you would be coming this way. You cannot travel through the Caves of the Dead without our help," the Dark knight said.
He held up his gauntleted hand. His sword disappeared and a small, black marble figurine glinted in its place. It was a sculpture of the Dark knight. He handed it to Lazarus.
He grabbed the figurine, which was deathly cold to the touch. "Why do you give this to me?" he asked.
"We owe Merlin a debt, and now it is repaid. Now, leave our woods. Only the dead reside here," the knight said.
"Thank you, Sir Knight," Lazarus said. "I will tell Merlin about you and your gift."
"You don't need to. He will know. Here is your map, but it is missing a location."
He opened the map, showing them the burn marks.
"These are the tunnels of the Caves of the Dead. This will lead you to the entrance to the Blessed Isles."
"What does this sculpture do?" Lazarus asked.
"It will protect you when you travel in the Caves."
