Epos the Winged Flame (6 page)

“My sword! My shield!” Tom shouted. “Epos brought them back from the volcano!”

With a last, deafening screech, Epos soared up into the heavens. In her wake she left streaks of magical fire that burned away the dark clouds of volcanic smoke and ash hanging over the village.

Tom laughed as he found himself staring up into the clear blue sky of an early morning.

Aduro put a hand on Tom’s shoulder. “It is a new dawn for the whole kingdom — thanks to you, Tom.”

Just then, something else fell from the sky, right into Tom’s hand. It was a golden feather, still blazing with the phoenix’s heat. Instinctively, Tom knelt to place it in his shield. At once, a golden light shone out from the shield and bathed his skin.

“Aduro?” Tom called uncertainly. “Where are you?”

“Do not be afraid,” the wizard murmured. “Someone special wishes to see you — and he does not like to be kept waiting….”

Tom felt a jolt go through his body. His senses spun. He felt as if he were flying. Then the air was suddenly fresh and sweet in his lungs. All was quiet. Gingerly, he opened his eyes to find himself in a large, luxurious room, decorated in crimson and gold. He was kneeling on a polished floor of white
marble. A man sat in front of him on a magnificent throne.

With a gasp, Tom realized where he was. He was in the royal palace with his sword and shield — on his knees before the king!

“Greetings, Tom,” said King Hugo. “Wizard Aduro has brought you directly to me so I can thank you without delay.”

Tom gulped and bowed his head. “It was my pleasure, Your Majesty!”

“All Avantia owes you a great debt,” the king went on. “Ask for anything you desire, and you shall have it.”

Tom rose to his feet and bowed. “Please, Your Majesty, all I want is the answer to one question….” He swallowed hard. “What happened to my father?”

“It is time you knew,” the king said. “Taladon the Swift was a young knight. Many years ago he encountered Epos in the caves near the volcano.

Epos was under no spell, but she thought your father was an intruder. Your father fought the Beast — and lost. And from that day on, he made it his mission to know all he could about the Beasts. He went to stay with his brother in Errinel, read old books, gathered secret knowledge … and found a wife, of course.”

Tom nodded. “My mother.”

“Soon after, Taladon began to dream about the Beasts. Strange and awful nightmares which told him that something bad was going to happen. These nightmares did not go away….” King Hugo leaned forward. “He believed they were a prophecy that would one day come true. So did your mother. And because they both loved you, they wanted to protect the land in which you would grow up.”

Tom listened, astounded, as the king went on.

“Your mother’s dying wish was that Taladon should go on a Quest to find out more about the
Beasts. That he should track them down all over the world, learn their strengths and weaknesses. That way, if they ever did attack, the kingdom would be prepared — and its people could live without fear.”

“But, Your Majesty,” Tom began nervously, “Malvel said my father helped him.”

Wizard Aduro stepped up beside him. “Malvel stole Taladon’s journals, filled with hard-won secret knowledge of the Beasts,” he explained. “He used that information to gain control over six of them. That is the only way in which your father helped Malvel.”

Tom felt a surge of pride in his father’s achievements. “Then I have followed in his footsteps!” He looked hopefully at Aduro. “Do you know where he is now?”

“I do not,” Aduro admitted. “He has traveled to faraway lands now, to places even I cannot see.”

“One day I’ll find him,” Tom vowed. “We will meet, I know it. It’s my destiny.”

Suddenly, there was a clattering noise outside the throne room, and voices raised in surprise.

The king smiled. “Ah! Aduro has conjured some others who wish to greet you.”

The doors to the throne room were thrown open — by Elenna!

“Tom!” she yelled.

Before Tom could say a word, Elenna threw herself into his arms, almost knocking him to the floor as she hugged him tight. “Oh, Tom, you did it!”

“We
did it,” he told her. “I could never have done this without you, Storm, and Silver. Where are they?”

“It seems they are inside my throne room!” King Hugo exclaimed. Tom laughed as Storm clopped over and pushed
past Aduro, neighing loudly. Silver dashed in and out of the stallion’s legs in excitement, then licked Tom all over his face.

“I’m not sure I’ve ever entertained a horse and a wolf in my palace before,” laughed King Hugo. “But then, we’ve never had a hero like Tom before, either.” He beamed at Elenna and the animals. “Tonight there shall be a mighty feast — with you, Tom, and Elenna as the guests of honor!”

Tom bowed. “We are grateful, Your Majesty,” he said.

“I am the grateful one,” said King Hugo. “I shall speak to the people now.”

As the king crossed to the royal balcony, Tom looked at Aduro. “Is it really all over? Is Malvel gone forever?”

“Who can tell?” said Aduro. “Malvel was a great sorcerer with the power to travel great distances in
the blink of an eye. This Quest may be over, Tom, but others may lie ahead.”

A shiver of excitement ran through Tom. “I’ll be ready.”

“And we’ll face them together,” said Elenna.

Storm whinnied and Silver barked, as a gigantic cheer shook the palace. King Hugo had walked out onto the balcony to greet the people of Avantia, and now he was beckoning to Tom and Elenna.

Tom gulped. “We’d better go and face that crowd!”

Tom and Elenna took their place at King Hugo’s side. The streets outside were jammed full of jostling people, all of them clapping and cheering. Tom spotted Owen and Raymond smiling in the crowd, and waved to them.

“You’re the kingdom’s hero, Tom!” said Elenna excitedly. “Your story will be told throughout the land….”

Tom hardly heard her. For a second he thought he glimpsed a dark, hooded figure…. He blinked — and when he looked again, there was nothing. Were his eyes playing tricks on him?

If Malvel returns,
Tom thought gravely,
I shall be waiting.

But right now, it was enough to know that he had completed his Beast Quest, and that Elenna, Storm, and Silver were close beside him.

Tom smiled and held his sword aloft as the crowd cheered. He thought about the six Beasts, who were now free again to guard the kingdom. Just as they always had, since time began.

B
EAST
Q
UEST

#1: F
ERNO THE
F
IRE
D
RAGON

#2: S
EPRON THE
S
EA
S
ERPENT

#3: C
YPHER THE
M
OUNTAIN
G
IANT

#4: T
AGUS THE
N
IGHT
H
ORSE

#5: T
ARTOK THE
I
CE
B
EAST

#6: E
POS THE
W
INGED
F
LAME