more traps One after another nets dropped from the ceiling But Tuk Tuk rolled right underneath them Halfway through though Tuk Tuk spied a bug He waddled after it forgetting all about his job Tuk Tuk Raya whispered Come on Focus Tuk Tuk curled back into a ball and rolled to the end of the tunnel Raya crawled under the nets to where he was waiting She gently picked Tuk Tuk up and patted his head Hey bud That was awesome Gimme some shell Tuk Tuk tried to high-five her but he lost his balance and rolled onto his back I gotcha Raya turned him upright then placed him back in her satchel Ahead of her was a large circular stone door Raya removed her fighting sticks from her belt and unlocked it Wiggling out of her shoes and leaving them at the entrance Raya stepped through the opening She gasped in wonder Incandescent blue flowers dotted the darkness like stars lighting the way Emerald water flowed against gravity up a flight of stone steps Sh was entering the Chamber of the Dragon Gem Four great dragon statues held up the ceiling which was open to the sky The floor was a pond And in the
center of the chamber suspended in midair by its own magic was the glowing Dragon Gem Raya took a deep breath This was it the moment she'd prepared for all her life A series of stepping-stones led over the water to the center of the room Raya started across them then paused Wait a second this feels too easy She turned and glanced behind her When she looked forward again she saw a golden-masked warrior standing between her and the Gem Raya's grip tightened on her fighting sticks Chief Benja look I know it's your job to try to stop me but you won't she said Don't mistake spirit for skill young one the chief replied Behind the golden mask his voice sounded deep I promise you will not set foot on the Dragon Gem's inner circle Not even a toe Raya glanced at the sword at his waist Chief Benja's sword was well-known to Raya Its curved blade could expand into a whip that would take out three warriors at once It wasn't skill alone that made Chief Benja the baddest blade in the lands You might want to take out that blade Raya said boldly though her heart was pounding You're going to need it
Not today Chief Benja detached his sword from his belt but he didn't unsheathe it In a quick move Raya lunged to the left hoping to catch the warrior off guard Chief Benja blocked her path Raya's fighting sticks spun through the air But each time they missed When she saw an opening Raya tried to dodge the chief her feet searching for purchase on the slippery rocks For a moment it seemed like she might slip past With a swift parry Chief Benja disarmed her and knocked her down Her fighting sticks clattered on the stones Raya sprawled on the ground struggling to catch her breath Chief Benja stood over her For a long second they stared at each other Then with the tip of his sheathed sword he reached out and tapped Raya's nose Boop He lifted his golden mask Raya looked up into her father's face His eyes were full of pride as he smiled down at her Like I said not one foot in the inner circle You lost Raya he said Raya raised one eyebrow Did I Her father glanced down Raya's foot was stretched out in front her The tip of her toe rested on the Dragon Gem's inner circle
Raya Her father shook his head and chuckled I probably should have said two feet Raya stood up grinning Hey Don't beat yourself up too much Chief Benja You gave it your best I won't And it's either Father or Ba to you You did good dewdrop he said using the old Kumandran term of endearment You passed the test He held out a hand to Raya inviting her to join him in the inner circle Raya paused savoring the moment Her dream at last had come true She stepped into the inner circle The Dragon Gem hovered just inches away washing her face in blue light Up close Raya could see the glimmer within the stone She could feel the power of its magic Wow she whispered The spirit of Sisu Benja knelt and bowed raising his hands in a circle before his forehead Raya did the same She watched entranced as tiny droplets of water rose into the air swirling and spiraling around the Gem For generations our family has sworn to protect the Gem Benja told his daughter Today you will join that legacy Benja scooped up a handful of the sacred water and poured it over Raya's bowed head As the water trickled
