The Secret of Ashona (62 page)

The Hermit pondered this. “Stand there and act confused? Pick your belly button, maybe?”

That was no help. Erec looked at his choices. He could give up on his quest, and let Baskania take over the world, or he could . . . try to become evil. But even then, would he survive the ride? It sounded so strange, not like something he should try.

Then again, it was his quest. If riding that horse fixed things . . . Erec still didn’t understand how stopping the Golem army could save his family trapped in Ashona, but he knew the Fates had a funny way of working. Erec just hoped it would do the trick.

How would he become evil? It sounded so crazy. What was he supposed to do—go around hurting people so he could do his quest? That’s when it came back to him—all his visions of being a horrible person, and the awful things that he did. Was that why he stole candy from kids and robbed a family? But when it came to charging at Bethany with a lance—no amount of evil would make him do that. Ever. He had to make sure that he kept control over himself.

“I can help, you know,” Spartacus said. “If you have to do evil
things, nobody said that I couldn’t go around after you fixing them again.”

That sounded like the best idea Erec had heard. “You mean, if I take things from people, scare them, and ruin their stuff, then you’ll make it all better again?”

“Why not? Let’s try it. First we should take a look at that Fire Horse. What do you say?”

That sounded wonderful. Everyone was looking at Erec like he was crazy for talking to the air, except for the Hermit who seemed perfectly fine with it. “Sorry, guys. I have to go. Would it be okay if you watched Trevor here for a while?”

Jack’s family was happy to keep Trevor. Erec found himself whisked back into the baking heat before Jack’s father could push an UnderWear suit into his hands. Before he had time to complain, though, Erec was inside of the Port-O-Door, which opened again into King Piter’s house.

Erec fell into the cool air, breathing deeply. He had not been outside long enough to fry, but even that quick blast of intense heat was hard to handle.

Spartacus asked, “So, are you ready to become evil?”

It sounded like a ridiculous question. “Not really.” He laughed. “Where is that Dragon Horse of Fire? Do you know where Diomedes’s stable is?”

“It’s on the outskirts of Alypium, not far from here. Want to try your first shot at being a villain there?”

Erec sighed. “I guess it’s as good a place as any. Let’s see that horse first, and figure out what we need to do.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
The Dragon Horse of Fire

I
T WAS AN EASY RIDE
to the stable under Spartacus’s arm. When Spartacus set him down, Erec stepped back in wonder. Before them was the largest and most beautiful horse that he had ever seen. Black, like the dragon horses that had belonged to the Stain boys, her eyes glowed a flaming red, and fire occasionally streamed from her nostrils. But this horse was three times the size of the others, and her face looked more intelligent. Her tail swished fast and hard, sounding like a whip cracking through the air.

Erec stayed far away. He had a feeling the mare would incinerate
him if he got too close. How would she know if he had done evil things, anyway?

But Erec could hear her thoughts in his head as loud as words.
You want to ride me, fool? Go away before you hurt yourself.

“Won’t you let me try it, just once?”

Of course not. Leave now if you want to live.

Erec could feel himself lose it. This horse could let him try to ride now, but she had to stick to her dumb rules. So he’d have to go do evil things instead for no reason. He was beyond frustrated. “I have to stop Baskania from taking over Otherness and Upper Earth! The three Fates sent me here—I’m supposed to ride you!”

There was a pause.
I see you are telling the truth. But I’m not sure that the Fates have really chosen me. The mythical horse of elements? That might be someone else.

Erec calmed down. At least she sounded reasonable. “I don’t know. My quests never tell me exactly what to do. The Fates don’t make things too easy for me. But you’re the only horse anyone could think of.”

You’re supposed to ride me into battle?
She paused.
But Baskania is planning to do that. He knows the only way. Beyond that, I pick and choose who I let on my back. But I despise Baskania and I would not stand by and watch Otherness get destroyed. I would much rather that you rode me.

“So you will let me try, then?” he was excited. “Even if I’m not evil?”

It’s not possible. I only let evil humans ride because it kills them. Any who fancy themselves rotten enough to hop on me die right away.

“But I’m supposed to be able to do this. I have dragon eyes and some dragon blood, so that might let me survive.”

I doubt it, but climb on and see.

Erec wondered how to get on the tall horse. But before he had time to worry, Spartacus was setting him on its back.

In seconds, Erec felt drained. He slumped over its neck, and everything went black.

Before long he opened his eyes, and was lying on the grass. “What happened?”

Your ghost friend lifted you off of me—just as I was trying to shake you to the ground to save you. You will never be able to ride me. Not even a foot. It is a shame—there used to be a way.

“What was it?”

A stream of fire blasted from the horse’s nostrils.
There was a gem in my stable that would let me carry a human if I wished. It was a special stone, huge, sparkling, and beautiful—like a blue diamond. It’s called Levrium. But Baskania took it. When he uses the Levrium he will ride me and I will have to obey. He is planning to use me soon to lead the battle into Lerna.

“Lerna?” Erec sat up. “That’s where my friend Tina lives! Do you think I can get the Levrium stone back?”

That would be wonderful. A man near here is hiding my Levrium stone for Baskania. This man has hurt a lot of people. He is the one who told Baskania about me, and offered my services. I’m sure he’s getting a fat reward. But I don’t know where he keeps the stone.

“What’s his name?”

Kev Hunter. He lives in one of the larger houses in the town nearby.

“No problem,” Spartacus said. “I’ll just get the stone for you. Stay here, Erec.”

The horse seemed to have no problem hearing Spartacus. “You can’t do that, unless you’re the one to ride me. The stone will work for the person who steals it back only, now that it’s been taken from me. Erec must get it himself.”

Erec nodded. “I’ll find Kev Hunter, then. Spartacus, you can show me where he is.” The man’s name was familiar. “Is he related to Ajax Hunter, Baskania’s servant?”

They are brothers, but not on good terms. Kev wants to take his brother’s place. He struck a deal with Baskania to brainwash the kids in town to give him their eyes—which would leave them to be his blind servants. Baskania gave him a mind-control formula and made it into candy. Soon the kids in town will be turning in their parents if they don’t follow Baskania’s orders, and stealing money for Baskania’s cause.

“
I heard Baskania talk about that! He was going to make people into his slaves with it. This Kev Hunter is sick to go along with it. I have to find him. And I’ll take that candy away when I get the Levrium stone.” Erec stormed away with Spartacus close behind. He was so close now to finishing this quest. There was no way that he was going to let Kev Hunter ruin it.

And then he remembered one of the visions that he had been having . . . taking lollipops away from kids. That’s what it was about, wasn’t it? What a relief. At least he wasn’t so bad after all.

“Would you like to lead the way, or should I let you know where you’re going?” Spartacus asked, following Erec.

Erec could not help but laugh, even though he was upset. “I have no clue. Go ahead.”

The outskirts were dingy. Some of the shacks were propped with broken rakes and bent ladders. They passed a park full of children playing, their mothers looking on with smiles and chatting with friends. Erec walked closer, missing being younger and carefree, when he saw a few kids gathering around a dark-haired, slightly balding man in a yellow shirt. He was waving some kids over toward the bushes, and handing out lollipops. . . .

It all seemed to happen so fast. Kids were showing their candy to the other children and soon most of them were grasping small handfuls.

It was happening—and it was disgusting. How could this guy try to turn happy little kids into robots? In a moment the man was gone,
but kids ran all around the playground, handing out candy.

Anger seared through Erec, making him shake. “Give that to me!” He dove at the kids with a snarl. A low growl escaped from his throat as he grabbed candy from their hands. People stared at him with wide eyes, as if he were a maniac. But there was no time to stop—so many kids, so much candy. And he had to take it all!

Mothers darted toward their children, trying to save them. But Erec could run faster than they could. One of the toddlers was surprisingly strong, and Erec struggled a while before yanking the sweets out of his hand. His mother looked equally confused and terrified. Right behind her was a kid about to put an opened lollipop right into her mouth. Not when Erec was there—he’d get it first! Shoving the mother out of his way, he snatched the sucker out of the little girl’s fist, leaving her crying and rubbing her hand.

A few kids got knocked into one another as lollipops in their hands sailed into the air—Erec grabbing each one. Some kids still sat on the swings. They looked small and defenseless—taking their candy would be easy. He scooped the lollipops straight from their little fists.

One of the mothers stepped forward, outraged. “What’s wrong with you? These are little kids. . . .” She tried to grab his arm, but he shoved her back. There was still a lollipop he had missed, and she wasn’t going to get in the way. “Ow! Somebody call the police. This guy’s crazy! Let’s get out of here, Dougie.”

The last kid was older, and he struggled with Erec before letting go of his lollipop. Erec hadn’t meant to trip him, but the kid ended up on his face, his cheek cut and bleeding.

That wasn’t important. Erec had all the candy now, so he patted his pockets and turned away. He had won—he had taken every child’s candy in the whole park. But it wasn’t enough. Now he had to steal something else. . . .

Nothing was going to stop him on this mission. He followed Spartacus’s gliding strides, frustration growing with each step. It was bad enough that Baskania was causing so many problems—why did people like this Kev have to make it worse?

Spartacus stopped suddenly.

Erec said through his teeth, “Which house is it?”

“That one.” Spartacus pointed at a white-painted brick house on a hill, looming over the others. It figures, Erec thought, that Kev Hunter would have the only big house on the outskirts of Alypium.

“Let’s go.” Erec started walking toward the house, but Spartacus didn’t move.

“It’s not in there.”

“How do you know that?”

“I can read minds, remember? This was an easy one, even from this far away. Kev Hunter is in there, gloating about handing all the candy out. He’ll be testing his control over the kids later today.” Spartacus laughed. “Looks like he’ll be disappointed. I hope they scratch the project and send it back to the drawing board. But he’s also thought about the Levrium stone. He’s excited that Baskania will use it and he’ll get the credit. He hid the thing well. Typical, it’s making someone else miserable now. Guy hijacked a poor family that lives out in the woods, and set a bunch of Squirler Trees all around them, so they can’t get out and nobody can get in. Kev told them to keep the Levrium stone with their most valued possessions, and protect it with their life if they ever wanted to see the outside of their house again. Unbelievable.”

“What are Squirler Trees?”

“They’re like massive Venus flytraps—except they’ll eat any living thing, no matter how big. And they give off an aura that makes you angry just being close to them. They say that if the trees don’t snap you up themselves, you could die of rage just being nearby.
I guess your brain hemorrhages or something. Their branches are strong and they bend like snakes to grab animals or people. Then they roll you up and squeeze, sucking the life out of you. Generally something you’d want to avoid.”