Page 38 of Bewitched

“Elric, can you tell us how to get the crystal key from the Pyramids of the Gods so we can open the portal and get home?” asked Rapunzel.

“Aye, and nay,” he answered, playing his silly games as always.

“Look, Elric, these ladies need to get home, and we have to also collect a dragon,” spat Rhys. “Now, tell us what we need to know.”

“I’ll tell you that the gods will expect an offering before anyone will be allowed inside the pyramids. And even if you do happen to find the right crystal key, there is no guarantee they’ll allow you to take it, or even that you’ll be able to use it.”

“Can you explain?” asked Alaina.

“Sure, but it’ll cost you,” said the elf, holding out his palm, wanting some kind of payment.

“This is ridiculous,” said Medea. “I’ve got enough magic that I’m sure I can get inside the pyramids, find the key, and return before this greedy elf is done playing his stupid games.”

Rhys watched in awe as Medea raised her hands above her head and disappeared. “Where did she go?”

“I’m not sure, but my guess is that she’s in the pyramids,” said Rapunzel.

“She should have listened to me,” said the elf, picking at a hangnail. “She’s only going to anger the gods and that is not going to be a pretty sight, I promise you.”

“I’d better go after my sister,” said Rapunzel. “I can transport there as well.”

“I’ll go with you,” offered Alaina.

“Stop!” said Rhys, holding up a halting hand. “No one is going anywhere. No one, that is, except me. I am going after her, and I don’t want any of you to follow. I am the knight, and I am going to protect you all. I will handle this myself, since I have the most experience with battles.”

“And you all call me the fool?” asked the elf. “I’m out of here. Good luck, oafs.” In a blur, the elf disappeared.

“Rhys, don’t go in there,” said Darium. “None of us knows what to expect.”

“He’s right,” agreed Zann. “It could be dangerous.”

“I’m not letting Medea do this by herself,” Rhys told his brothers. “She might need my protection.”

“The girl has magic! Why would she need you?” Zann started to pace back and forth.

“I don’t know,” said Rhys, heading toward the pyramids. “But something tells me she’s about to get into trouble. I swear, I’m not going to let her do this alone.”

Ten

Medea transported over to the edge of the water, looking out at all three pyramids situated in the center of a small lake. Entirely surrounded by water, they were not very approachable at all. Lily pads and pink flowers floated on the surface. Each pyramid, or temple, had a long, wooden hanging bridge leading from the shore to a doorway in the middle of the structure. At each doorway were tall burning torches. Lit torches around the entire lake lit up the pyramids and parts of the water as well.

The first pyramid on the left had yellow fire burning from a torch by its entrance. The next had green flames on the torches, and the last had red. On the shore in front of each pyramid and at the end of the foot bridge, was a stone statue depicting one of the three gods worshipped here. Burning torches surrounded the statues as well. She figured that the god carved in stone was the certain one worshipped for the temple behind it.

It all seemed so mysterious and magical.

“This is interesting, but it doesn’t look like anything to fear,” she scoffed, not seeing anything dangerous at all about it. “Now, which of the pyramids holds the crystal key?” She put her hand to her chin in thought, trying to decide which one it might be.

Finally, she chose the middle pyramid. There was no real reason, other than it had green fire in the torches and she liked the color green. As she approached the bridge, she saw a statue of a man carved out of stone. She wondered just who he was supposed to be, since she was not familiar with Mura’s gods. He looked old, and wore long robes with a hood. The statue also had a very long beard. Its face seemed to have wrinkles. There was some writing at the base by the statue’s feet, but she couldn’t read it because it was in a language that she had never seen before.

Just as she was about to start over the bridge, Rhys ran up and stopped her.

“Nay, Medea, wait.”

“I think the crystal key is in this one,” she told him, pointing to the pyramid in the water at the end of the bridge. “I’m going to go inside and take a look around. If not, I’ll try one of the other pyramids. I’ll keep looking until I find it.”

“Look, Medea, this is the temple of Zoroct, the god of power.” Rhys pointed at the stone statue of the old man and the writing by its feet.

“It says that?” she asked, looking down at the symbols or possibly letters carved into the stone. She wasn’t really sure what it was.