Chapter 10

Morgana peered into her viewing globe. She had watched the whole scene and smiled evilly.

"Perfect," she snickered, "now that that bumbling reptile is wounded and weak, the children are defenseless. Nothing can protect them now!"

She took another glance into the globe. "And the mage brat's powers are no match for my minions' might," she said softly, looking at Alana.

"Soon, the whole world will fall before me…"

How could I have been so stupid? Jill thought to herself. Why did I ever leave the cave?

Ever since she had arrived at Alana's cottage along with the others, she had been in deep sorrow. She had been lying on a bed in the other room all afternoon. She had refused to talk to anybody, and she refused all comfort.

Jill thought about an argument she had had with her mother a few weeks before:

"Mum! Why can't I ever go with you?" Jill whined.

"Because it's too dangerous," Kayley replied.

Jill scowled. Her fists clenched. "I want to be a knight just like you!" she cried, "I want to go on adventures! I want to fight monsters, save villages and rescue people!"

Kayley knelt down and looked her daughter square in the eyes. "Jill, knighthood is not all fun and games," she said, "Sometimes, there are decisions that could mean life and death."

Jill looked at her mother with interest.

"And sometimes…" Here, Kayley paused. "Sometimes, there can be a terrible price paid."

Price? Jill wondered.

"One day you will understand what knighthood means," Kayley said.

Jill now knew what that price was: life. For as long as she could remember, she had wanted to be a knight. Now, she felt differently.

I'm not worthy to be a knight, she thought, I almost got Devon and Cornwall killed!

A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. The door opened and Alana came in. "Jill?" she asked.

Jill didn't answer. She turned away from the older girl.

Alana walked over to the bed and sat down beside the younger girl.

"Jill, I know you're feeling bad, but what happened was not your fault," Alana said gently.

"Yes it was!" Jill cried, "if I hadn't have left the cave, Devon and Cornwall wouldn't have gotten hurt!"

Alana sighed, and put her arms around the child. "Jill, listen to me," she said softly, "you had no idea those dragons would attack you and your sister. You couldn't have known that it would happen."

Jill sniffed and looked at Alana with tear-filled eyes.

"Nobody can predict the future," the mage reassured, "There are consequences to our actions, both good and bad."

Jill's heart sank. She knew it! It was her fault.

"But," Alana continued, "not everything that happens is our fault. Jill, everyone goes through hard times. The important thing is to cherish the good times, keep them in your heart, and don't give up!"

Jill's sorrow had made way for fascination. She had never thought of it that way. Her heart didn't feel so heavy anymore.

"When you do make mistakes, the thing to do is learn from them," Alana said.

For the first time that day, Jill gave a little smile. She gave Alana a hug. "Thank you, Alana…" Jill murmured.

A rumble from Jill's stomach interrupted the tender moment.

Alana stood up and went to the door. "I'd better check the stew!" she chirped.

Just as the young mage started to open the door, a loud screech came from outside. Following the screech was a loud scream. "ALANA!!!!"