Winter of the Ice Wizard

wait!” Jack called. But Annie had already disappeared into the sparkly room. “We have to follow her,” he said to Teddy and Kathleen.
    The three of them hurried after Annie. Beyond the columns, steps made of carved ice led up to a platform. Sitting on a throne on the platform was a huge bearded man.
    The man on the throne was definitely
not
Merlin. He was dressed in a worn robe trimmed with dirty fur. He had a rugged, weather-beaten face, a bushy beard, and a black eye patch. He leaned forward and glared down at Annie with his one good eye.
    â€œWho are
you
?” he demanded. “I was expecting Jack and Annie of Frog Creek.”
    Annie stepped toward the throne. “I am Annie and he’s Jack,” she said. “And these are our friends Teddy and Kathleen. We come in peace.”
    â€œAnnie? Jack?”
the man snorted. “You are not Annie and Jack! You are far too small!”
    â€œWe’re not so small,” said Annie. “I’m nine. Jack’s ten.”
    â€œBut you are
children,
” the man said with scorn. “Jack and Annie are heroes!”
    â€œWell, I don’t know if I’d call us heroes,” said Annie. “But we sometimes help Merlin and Morgan le Fay.”
    â€œAnnie, shhh!” said Jack. He didn’t trust the man on the throne and worried that Annie was saying too much.
    But Annie went on. “In fact, Merlin told us to come to the Land-Behind-the-Clouds today,” she said. “He sent us a message written on a stone.”
    â€œAh … ,” said the man on the throne. “Perhaps you really are Jack and Annie.” He leaned forward and spoke in a low voice:
    To Jack and Annie of Frog Creek:
    My Staff of Strength has been stolen. On the winter solstice, journey to the Land-Behind-the-Clouds. Travel toward the setting sun and retrieve my staff—or all will be lost.
    Jack didn’t understand. “How … ?”
    â€œHow do I know what was in Merlin’s message?” the man said. “I know because I wrote itmyself! I hoped it would find its way to you somehow.”
    Jack stepped back. So Merlin hadn’t sent them on this mission at all. The weird man on the throne had tricked them!
    â€œWho are you?” demanded Teddy.
    â€œI am the Ice Wizard,” said the man. “The Wizard of Winter.”
    Teddy gulped.

    Oh, no!
thought Jack. They had heard about this wizard on their past Merlin missions. It was the Wizard of Winter who had put a spell on the Raven King and who had stolen the Sword of Light!
    The wizard glanced coldly from Teddy to Kathleen. “And who are the two of you?”
    â€œI am Teddy of Camelot,” said Teddy. “I am an apprentice to Morgan le Fay, in training to be a sorcerer myself.”
    â€œA sorcerer?” said the wizard.
    â€œYes,” said Teddy. “My father was a sorcerer. My mother was a wood sprite.”
    â€œAnd I am a selkie,” said Kathleen, “one of the ancient seal people.”
    â€œSo you are both from
my
world,” said the Ice Wizard. “You are of no use to me.” He looked back at Jack and Annie. “I am interested only in the two mortals, Jack and Annie of Frog Creek.”
    â€œWhy are you interested in us?” said Jack.
    â€œBecause of what you have done for Merlin!” bellowed the Ice Wizard. “For Merlin, you found the Water of Memory and Imagination! For Merlin, you found the Diamond of Destiny! For Merlin, you found the Sword of Light! Now I want you to find something for
me.
”
    â€œWhat do you want us to find?” asked Annie.
    The Ice Wizard grabbed the black patch covering his left eye. He yanked it off, revealing a dark, empty socket underneath.
    â€œYikes,” Annie said softly.
    â€œI want you to find my eye,” the Ice Wizard said.
    â€œOh, man,” said Jack. He was horrified.
    â€œAre—are you quite serious?” said Teddy. “You want them to find your
eye
?”
    The wizard covered his empty eye socket with the patch again. “Yes,” he said. “I want Jack and Annie to find my eye—and bring it back to me.”
    â€œBut—why?” said Jack. “Even if we found it, we couldn’t make it work. We’re not medical experts or anything.”
    â€œAnd anyway, why can’t you get your eye yourself?” said Annie. “You’re a wizard!”
    â€œDO NOT QUESTION MY