Prince Danny's Arc

Chapter 3 of 11

Danny stepped off the last stair into a long stone hall. Torches burned low along the walls. Doors lined both sides, each one shut and silent. He knew the wrong door meant the dragon would hear him. He pressed his back to the cold stone and listened. Something glinted on the floor near his boot. A small hand mirror, framed in gold, lay tipped against the wall. A bright star spun slowly inside the glass, then steadied, pointing down the hall to his left. Allee. She had left it for him. His chest tightened. He picked it up and followed where the star pointed. The mirror led him past three doors. Then it stopped him in front of a heavy chamber at the end of the hall. Iron dragon carvings snarled above its arch. He almost reached for the handle — then the star in the mirror swung sharply away, pulling him back. Not that one. That was the beast's own door. Opening it would have ended everything. He turned. The star spun him toward a door across the way, bound in thick chains and watched by two stone elf statues with burning eyes. A grimy little elf was slumped asleep at its foot, drool on its chin. Danny crept close. He raised the silver sword and brought the pommel down hard on the creature's skull. It crumpled without a sound. He eased the chains loose, link by link, breath held. The door cracked open an inch. Inside, in the dark, he heard a small voice whisper his name. He had found them.