Page 89 of Bewitched

“The dragon is going to kill us!” shouted someone from the crowd.

“Run! Hide,” yelled a guard, sending everyone else scattering, as terror broke out in the courtyard.

Rhys dropped his sword, jumping up as the dragon swooped lower. He threw his arms around the dragon’s neck, wrestling with it, trying to keep it from moving or attacking. He struggled, using his powers of intense strength to pull it to the ground and pin it down. He threw one leg over its body to hold it there so it wouldn’t hurt or kill anyone.

“Darium, Zann, get the pit ready. Hurry!” he shouted, holding the dragon all by himself.

“They can’t. There is already a dragon in the pit,” said Medea, running over to the pit to show them. She stopped when she approached it, realizing it was empty. There were no iron bars above it either. Somehow, it had all just disappeared. All she saw was a bunch of shiny shields down at the bottom of the deep pit.

“The pit is ready,” shouted Zann.

“We can help you,” yelled Darium.

“Nay. I’ve got it. Get out of the way.” Rhys dragged the dragon over to the pit, its wings flapping wildly as it tried to get out of his hold. However, since Rhys held it with his great power, it wasn’t able to fly away. Rhys picked it up over his head and dropped the dragon into the hole. “We’ve got to hold it here somehow,” he called out to his brothers.

“I can help,” said Rapunzel, waving her hand and creating a magical iron grate above the pit to keep the dragon from flying away.

With the other armies gone now and the dragon contained, Medea looked back over to the King.

“Shall we capture them and put them in the dungeon, my King?” asked one of the soldiers.

“Nay,” said Osric. “They are not to be harmed.”

“I don’t understand,” said his advisor.

“Then let me explain. Everyone, please gather around.” Osric, motioned for everyone to join him.

Slowly, people came out of hiding, and everyone gathered around the King. When everyone was there, Osric removed his leg brace and threw it down. Then he waved his hands over his head and a bright light encompassed him. Medea watched in awe as Osric’s body shifted, and he turned into Zoroct, the god of power.

Everyone gasped and clutched each other. Some of the peasants even dropped to their knees. The guards stood there with open mouths, not knowing what to do.

Zoroct looked exactly like the statue by the pyramid that Medea had seen. This frightened the soldiers, and they all lowered their weapons and backed away. Then Henriette shifted into one of Mura’s goddesses, although Medea didn’t know which one.

“I-I don’t understand,” said Medea. “What happened to King Osric and Henriette?”

“I’d like to know what in the name of Belcoum is going on?” growled Rhys.

“Don’t mention Belcoum’s name around me,” said Zoroct in a deep, powerful voice that shook the ground.

“This was all a test for the witch,” said the elf, climbing down from the seat of the wagon. “The gods set it up.”

“Rhys, I don’t have my powers anymore,” cried Medea, running to him and falling into his arms.

“I know, Medea. “The elf told us,” said Rhys. “That is why I hurried here to help you.”

“Then, you all knew about this?” she asked, as Rhys’ brothers gathered around.

“Nay, we only knew that you lost your powers, but that’s it,” said Darium, holding out his arm, and letting his raven land upon it.

“I’m confused,” said Medea.

“So am I,” added Rhys.

There was a blur and the elf ended up next to Medea. “They only knew what I told them about your powers. I wasn’t allowed to reveal more.”

“I knew,” Alaina spoke up. “The gods swore me to secrecy and wouldn’t let me use my elemental powers to help you, Rhys.”

“So... this was some kind of test from the gods?” Rhys shook his head, not wanting to believe it.