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Ben and the two brownies looked at one another in alarht him?" Maia looked at Firedrake "I’ve wanted to do that a hundred times -- a thousand tion-eater, protected by his golden skin, armed with a thousand ravenous teeth Is he as terrible as they said?"

"They weren’t exactly exaggerating," growled Sorrel

Firedrake nodded "Yes, he is terrible indeed, but I will fight hi around at the cave that was suddenly so bright once ether, perhaps we can do it That’s what I always told the others: United we’re stronger than he is But they were too frightened to try" Sadly she shook her head "See what fear does to you" She pointed with her head to the petrified dragons "See how they cower there, motionless and lifeless I don’t want to end up like that You knohat I think?" She ca him here It was bound to be so, and the two of us will overcoon rider returns, silver will be worth old"

"Just the two of you? Oh, wonderful!" Insulted, Sorrel wrinkled her nose "Don’t you think you could use a bit of help with all this fighting?"

"Er … they didn’t count me in, either," said Ben

"Don’t be silly -- we can do with all the help we can get," said Firedrake, nuzzling Sorrel in her furry stoht, thaton the tail of a stone dragon, "no, seven! Twigleg and the rat, too"

"Twigleg and Lola!" cried Firedrake "They’re still out there somewhere!"

"Oh, moldyfor us where we first landed There’s a mushroom cultivation tunnel that leads there Coet out of these hu the ht, and then the two brownies raced off together

Ben stayed in the cave with the two dragons

"A rat and a -- er -- a twigleg?" asked Maia curiously

Firedrake nodded "Neither of theer than one of your ears, but they are very brave"

For a few ons who had turned to stone

"Could they be revived?" asked Ben

Maia shook her head "How could you bring the moon down here?"

"Perhaps ly at Firedrake

"Moon-dew?" asked Maia

"Yes You knoe athers on the blue flowers growing down by the lake If you lick it off the petals and leaves, you can fly by day as well as by night Didn’t you know?"

Maia shook her head

"Forget it," said Ben "How are we going to collect dew fro down there in the lake?"