‘Stop crying!’ ordered the eagle fiercely.
Raphael dried his tears on an arm of his pajamas.
‘Tell me what happened,’ demanded the eagle.
‘Mechanus, the Giant Sorcerer, stole Cassie.’
‘Which way did they go?’ asked the eagle.
‘I don’t know. The Sorcerer knocked me down.’
The eagle said nothing for a moment, but stared straight at Raphael until he felt uncomfortable.
‘We shall find them. Come with me,’ the eagle commanded.
‘But how can I go?’ asked the boy.
‘I shall take you. Climb on my back. Hurry,’ ordered the bird when he saw that Raphael hesitated. ‘I won’t hurt you.’