Ed Wicke

Akayzia Adams and the Masterdragon's Secret

BlacknBlue Press UK, 2004.

The fog thickened. The tops of the taller trees disappeared and the park sank into a wet gloom pierced by streetlamps. Kazy and her grandmother counted the "missing" trees on their right as they walked. They stopped at the third gap. A large oak stood there, set back from the straight line of trees. Kazy pushed the wheelchair towards the misty shadows of its spreading branches. "What'll we do now?" she asked. "I can't see zip in this fog"

Kazy has an appointment to meet the 'red-furred creature...the shape and size of a small, slender bear' but with an 'almost human' face, that she freed from captivity yesterday. A helpful tramp has explained the conundrum of the missing trees - they had mysteriously disappeared after they were first planted - but they're not sure this is the right one.

Mrs. Adams turned her head. There, standing calmly in the fog-darkened shade of the oak tree, was the creature Kazy had seen the day before. "~aa~aa~aa~aa~aa~aa~". The red-furred animal beckoned them forward. Kazy turned the wheelchair and pushed it fully under the canopy of branches..."Hiffa Ammiti," it said. "What?" Mrs. Adams asked. "Just call me Hiffa," it said. "The human Inlanders mostly do." "And what's an Inlander when it's at home?" "It's - ah - the opposite to an Outlander, which is what we would call you. I'm afraid it's all a little complicated"

Of more concern at the moment are the sinister cloaked and hooded figures searching the park for Kazy, but three times round the missing tree transports the trio to the Inner Lands - an alternative version of planet Earth without all the dirt and litter. Here Kazy learns dragon-riding and spellcraft, and joins her classmates in the quest for the Masterdragon.

Akayzia Adams and the Mirrors of Darkness

BlacknBlue Press UK, 2004.

Regents Park was broad and people moved across it in ones or twos. She could be seen so easily...She lingered about one entrance, then walked around to another, and another. Third time lucky. He was there, his white beard and white hair straggling in the breeze...He winked at her but then walked right past her, muttering into his beard: "Over here, Missy"

Kazy has been transported back to scruffy everyday London against her will, and needs help to escape the hooded Watchers searching for her. Old Billy, the tramp who had explained about the missing trees, is the only person who can help her.

She followed him along one of the many paths and they turned into a small enclosure with some benches and children's play equipment. He settled onto a bench and put his shopping bag at his side...Kazy sat on the other side of the bag..."I'll do what I can, girl. But not in daylight. Dem's here already, your little crew. Includin' a couple wearin' dark hoods. Saw 'em creepin' in a few minutes afore you. Dat's why I brought you round here. We'll have to come back after dark"