The Genie King Read online

  The thick band was freezing cold and felt like nothing so much as ice carved into a twisted length of black stone.

  “Stylish,” said Eric.

  Gethwing nodded slowly. “I have used it in the past to alert me to betrayers. Use it even against Sparr, if you must. Remember, only you and I shall rise together. Only we two are essential after this war is over.”

  So you’re giving Sparr the boot?

  I can use that.

  Eric grinned as evilly as he could. “Thanks for the jewelry.”

  Eric turned to the south. Zorfendorf Castle was no more than a speck of white among the far hills, catching the last flickers of daylight.

  “I’ll be back,” he said.

  “I know you will,” said Gethwing. “I know. Until then, find out about Sparr. Let him share his secrets with you. Be his friend. Go.”

  It was the dragon’s last word to him.

  As he watched Gethwing fly off, Eric thought he had held his own against him. Gethwing doesn’t suspect me, does he? I don’t think so. He even gave me a weapon. A magic bracelet. Yeah, well, I’ll turn it against you, Gethwing, the first chance I get. Now . . . to fool Sparr. In a different way.

  He climbed down to the groggle nest, reached the creature sleeping there, and woke it. Lumbering to its feet, the lizard knew from the evil cast of Eric’s armor to obey his commands.

  Leaping onto the lizard’s rough back, Eric grabbed the long fins on its head and gave it a nudge with his heels.

  The final war? The ashes of the old world?

  His blood ran cold as the creature soared over the smoky plains, beating its wings noisily toward the white-walled castle of Zorfendorf.

  Text copyright © 2010 by Tony Abbott.

  Illustrations copyright © 2010 by Scholastic Inc.

  All rights reserved. Published by Scholastic Inc.

  SCHOLASTIC, LITTLE APPLE, and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Scholastic Inc.

  First printing, June 2010

  Cover art by Tim Jessell

  e-ISBN 978-0-545-41864-5

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