"Now what?" Zann stared at the wormhole, which had swirled open at their approach.
"I guess the Directory was right," Darb said. "Morb isn't in Magica."
"Yet." Saffa reminded everyone.
"This could be our chance to find him and stop him before he gets here."
Fala nodded. "We should tell Venna what's going on."
"Good idea," Saffa said.
"But this news is too important to entrust to a message moth. Someone might intercept it."
"You're right," Fala said. "I'll go speak to Venna in person."
She rubbed her hands together and zapped away.
As the others waited, they heard shouts from the area near Wyssa's old hut.
There was a burst of magical energy.
People peeked out from nearby shelters to see what was going on.
Saffa looked uneasy. "I hope nobody starts wondering what we're doing by the wormhole."
Fala reappeared. "Things are getting worse," she said breathlessly.
"I spoke to Venna. She's still safe—for now.
But the guards are looking for you, Saffa."
She turned. "And you too, Zann."
Zann gulped. Then he glanced at Saffa.
"Sounds like it'll be safer for all of us in the vortex. We should go now."
"What about Zing and the goose?" Darb said.
"We can't abandon them in the hatch."
"I'll stay behind with them," Fala said.
"I can use the Remote Eye to keep an eye on things."
Zann remembered the Remote Eye.
It was an old-fashioned magical device that could be used to see long distances.
"Good idea," he said.
Another series of shouts and shrieks rang out from the huts.
"Let's not waste any more time," Saffa said anxiously.
"Be careful." Fala patted Zann on the shoulder and then nodded to the others.
"I'll see you when you return."
She zapped away. Saffa stepped toward the wormhole. "Let's go."
"Wait!" Perda said. "Shouldn't we do a Shackle spell?"
"Why?" Saffa looked confused.
Zann and his friends looked at each other.
"Have you ever been in the vortex before?" Zann asked Saffa.
She shrugged. "I've read about it.
And of course I've discussed it with Nax and Asta and others."
Zann winced. He remembered how overwhelming the vortex was during his first adventure through it.
But then again, Saffa was a Magic Master. Maybe it would be easy for her.
"We always use a Shackle spell in the vortex," Zann explained.
"That way we're sure to stay together."
Once they were shackled, they dived into the wormhole with Saffa leading the way.
"Whoa!" she cried as soon as they were in the vortex.
She waved her arms, which sent the whole group spinning wildly.
"Stop that!" Gliss called. "Just let it pull you along."
"I—I can't!" Saffa sounded breathless and scared.
Zann glanced at his friends. "Maybe we'd better stop for a rest."
Perda nodded.
Zann grabbed the edge of the next wormhole.
The world they were passing looked safe, so he pulled the group through.
After landing on solid ground, he undid the Shackle spell.
Saffa took a few deep breaths and then sat up. She looked around.
"Oh my! Look, there are five suns. This must be Illumos.
Apparently the multiple suns have a multiplying effect on the magic here. Let's try it!"
She rubbed her fingers together.
A second later a hat appeared, followed by several more!
Saffa laughed with delight.
"It's just as Nax and Asta said!" she exclaimed.
"Oh, this is marvelous! I can't believe I'm really here."
She clapped her hands. "I wonder if we could find Chronos next?
I've always wanted to see that world. It sounds so relaxing."
Zann glanced anxiously at his friends. "Shouldn't we focus on finding Morb?"
Saffa's smile faded. "You're right, Zann. Sorry for getting distracted."
"It's okay." Darb grinned.
"We all got kind of distracted our first time visiting new worlds."
After a short rest, Perda redid the Shackle spell.
Saffa handed the glowing ring to Zann.
"Maybe you'd better handle this," she said.
"You have much more experience in the vortex than I do."
"Thanks," Zann said. "But actually, Perda is better with that kind of stuff than I am."
He handed over the ring.
Perda slipped it onto her finger. "Okay, let's go!"
This time Saffa was between Zann and Perda.
That seemed to help her stay calm as they flew through the vortex.
Zann glanced forward at Perda, who was leading the way.
"Is the Tracking spell working?" he called.
"Yes," Perda replied. "It's leading us this way!"
They sped past several wormholes without slowing.
Then Zann felt the ring pulling them toward a wormhole up ahead.
"This must be where Morb is!" Gliss exclaimed.
"Hold on, everyone!" Perda cried.
Zann didn't have time to look at the world before being sucked through the wormhole.
"Oof!" Zann grunted as he landed hard.
Perda stood up and looked at all the trees.
"Whew!" she said. "At least we're not in Fardark."
Zann grinned. "I was thinking the same thing."
"Where are we?" Gliss asked as she unshackled everyone.
Zann didn't recognize the world. But he could feel magic energy snapping through the air.
"I recognize those trees from the books," Saffa said.
"I think we're in Atmo."
Zann remembered that his parents had mentioned Atmo.
Suddenly he noticed that Perda was several dozen strides away and moving fast.
"Hey, Perda, wait up!"
"I can't!" she called breathlessly. "The spell is really strong here!"
Everyone rushed after her.
They nearly crashed into her when she abruptly stopped near an enormous tree.
"Careful!" Saffa whispered. "Morb must be nearby."
A cloaked figure stepped out from behind the tree.
"What in all the worlds are you doing here?" an irritated voice asked.
The figure threw back its hood.
Zann gasped. "Wyssa!"