by Adam Blade
The woman immediately brought the mortar and pestle and set them down by Elenna’s side. Tom took out a handful of the dried herbs from his pocket and dropped them into the mortar. Then Elenna ground them into powder with the pestle.
“He’s very ill,” she muttered softly, so only Tom could hear. “It’s lucky we came when we did.”
“And it’s also lucky you know about herbs,” Tom said. He felt a stab of anger. “This is all the fault of the evil Beast. We have to stop it!”
By the time Elenna had finished pounding the herbs the woman had returned with a bowl of steaming water. Elenna mixed the herbs into it. Then she raised the sick boy’s head and held the bowl so that he could drink the mixture in small sips. His mother looked on anxiously while Tom dipped a rag into the dish of water and bathed the boy’s forehead.
Almost at once the boy stopped moaning and let out a sigh of exhaustion. His eyes closed, and his breathing became deep and even.
Elenna gently lowered his head to the mattress. “He’s sleeping now.” She handed the bowl to his mother. “Give him the rest of that when he wakes up.”
“Thank you.” The woman used her headcloth to wipe tears from her eyes. “He hasn’t been so quiet in days. I’ll fetch your water.”
Tom and Elenna went to the door to wait for her. The other people settled down again, their glances more friendly now.
A few moments later, the woman came back carrying a leather skin of water and handed it to Tom. She held open the door, and the baking heat of the marketplace hit them once more.
“I’m sorry I was so unfriendly,” she said. “We’ve always welcomed strangers. But we’ve never known heat like this before. Times are desperate. Is there anything else I can do for you, to make up for it?”
Elenna glanced over at Storm and Silver, still waiting beneath the tree. “We could ask her to keep the animals for us,” she whispered to Tom.
Tom shook his head. He knew there was nothing more the woman could do for them.
“No, thank you,” he said to her. “You’ve already done enough. We’ll be on our way now.”
“Good luck, then.” She raised her hand in farewell as Tom and Elenna made their way back to Storm and Silver.
“Why wouldn’t you ask her?” Elenna asked. “We agreed we can’t take Storm and Silver into the desert!”
“We’ll have to.” Tom’s voice was shaking; he found it hard to control himself when he thought of what he had seen in this desolate town. “These people have nothing! We can’t ask any more of them. Besides, I’d rather risk Storm and Silver’s lives in the desert than leave them with strangers who have no water or food to give them.”
Elenna nodded. “You’re right. We need to stay together. But it’s going to be hard.”
Tom clenched his fists. “This is all Malvel’s doing!”
Elenna nodded. “I wonder where the Beast is hiding,” she said.
“I’ve no idea.” Tom gazed out past the houses to where the dunes of the desert rolled endlessly toward the horizon. “But it won’t be long before we find out.”
CHAPTER FOUR
INTO THE DESERT
TOM AND ELENNA BOTH TOOK A DRINK FROM the waterskin. Then Elenna cupped her hands and Tom poured water into them so that Storm and Silver could drink. Tom fastened the waterskin securely to Storm’s saddle and put on his golden armor: the helmet, chain mail, and breastplate. Then, leading the stallion, he set out along the street that led toward the desert.
A wall of heat hit them in the face as they left the shade of the last houses and stepped into the desert. The bare skin on Tom’s arms began to prickle and blister. He could even feel the hot sand through the soles of his boots. Fear stabbed through him. How could they bear this heat and still be ready to fight a Beast?
“Cover up,” he called to Elenna. “The sun will burn our skin as badly as a fire.”
He pulled his tunic down to cover his arms, and trusted that the magical golden armor would protect the rest of him. Elenna was wearing a long piece of fabric as a scarf, which she wound around her own head, covering her mouth and nose until all Tom could see was the slits of her eyes.
Before they set foot in the desert, Tom pulled out the compass that his father, Taladon, had left for him with his uncle and aunt in Errinel many years ago, before he disappeared. Once more Tom read the words inscribed on the back of it: For My Son. He had the chain mail for strength of heart, but when he looked at the compass he felt close to his father, as if Taladon were beside him, giving him courage.
As he peered down at the compass the needle swung wildly between Destiny and Danger. Clearly, it was too soon in this Quest to use it. Tucking it away in his pocket, Tom set his teeth with determination. There was no choice; he and Elenna had to go on. He checked his sword and hooked his shield over his arm; it bore the magical tokens from the good Beasts of Avantia he had freed in his first Quest: Ferno the Fire Dragon, Sepron the Sea Serpent, Cypher the Mountain Giant, Tagus the Night Horse, Tartok the Ice Beast, and Epos the Winged Flame. He knew they would come to his aid if he needed them.
Slowly they headed farther into the desert. Both animals had become very quiet. Storm plodded on determinedly, while Tom and Elenna walked beside him. Tom reached up to pat his neck. “You’re doing fine, boy,” he murmured. “Let’s hope we’ll be out of here soon.”
Elenna looked down to where Silver padded along in Storm’s shadow. “When this is over,” she promised, “I’m going to give you the biggest bowl of water in all of Avantia.”
Silver let out an approving howl.
As they trudged deeper into the sand dunes, they lost sight of the town behind them. All they had to guide them was the glowing red line on Wizard Aduro’s enchanted map.
The sun started to go down, but it glared as fiercely as ever and an eerie whistling noise filled their ears.
“What’s that?” Tom asked, sharing a startled glance with Elenna.
Slowly they both turned to look behind them. At first Tom could see nothing but the rolling sand dunes.
Then Elenna pointed upward. “Look!” she cried.
Tom saw that the sun was growing hazier, as if a thin curtain had been drawn across it, and the sky was turning a dirty yellow color.
“That’s sand!” he exclaimed. “It’s a sandstorm!”
Above them, sand was swirling in the sky, churning like a celestial whirlpool. As Tom stared upward, it took on a horribly familiar shape.
Malvel!
CHAPTER FIVE
SANDSTORM!
THE DARK WIZARD’S CRUEL LAUGHTER echoed across the sand dunes. “The hero of Avantia!” he taunted. “Not finding the desert so easy, are you?”
The swirling sand expanded until it covered half the sky, and, suddenly, Tom and Elenna could see Wizard Aduro, his hands tied behind him. He was bound to a chair, which dangled on ropes from a pole. Beneath him a pit of boiling tar bubbled and spattered. Tom stared in horror.
“No!” Elenna gasped, clapping her hands over her mouth.
“What have you done?” Tom yelled, drawing his sword.
A sneering smile crossed Malvel’s face. “What I’ve done doesn’t matter. It’s what you’re going to do. Every time you doubt yourself on your Quest, I’ll lower your friend’s chair farther into the pit. Whether Aduro survives will depend on you, Tom the Hero.”
Even as he spoke, Tom felt a flicker of doubt. How could he be responsible for Wizard Aduro’s life? It was hard enough trekking through the fiery desert, with an unknown evil Beast waiting for him.
Instantly, Aduro’s chair jerked downward, while Malvel’s mocking laughter resounded in Tom’s ears. “You see? Better stay confident, Tom, or Aduro will die.”
“No!” Tom’s anger helped him thrust away his brief doubts and the chain mail gave him extra strength of heart. He would defeat the evil wizard! “While there’s blood in my veins,” he vowed, “I’ll save Aduro!”
“You’re not going to win!” Elenna yelled defiantly.
“Keep thinking that.” Malvel sneered.
The vision of the Dark Wizard’s face broke up as the sand shifted and swirled, and they lost sight of the helpless Aduro. For a moment despair swept over him again, but Tom resolutely fought it back. He couldn’t doubt himself! Not now, when so much depended on him and the success of his Quest.
He slid his sword back into its scabbard as the sand whipped around him, stinging his eyes. Soon he realized that the sky was completely blotted out and he couldn’t see Elenna or their animal friends, even though he knew they were standing close by.
“Tom!” Elenna’s voice rose over the whistling of the wind.
Blindly Tom stretched out a hand, and was relieved to feel Elenna’s fingers close around it. They clung together for a moment, buffeted by the wind. Then a powerful gust knocked them off their feet and they sprawled in the sand. Somewhere, Silver was howling.
Tom could feel sand piling on top of them. He tried to push it away, but it kept pouring over him, streaming into his eyes and his mouth until he couldn’t breathe. His heart pounded and fear froze his limbs. He and Elenna were completely buried!
Is this how my Quest will end? he thought.
Then Tom remembered that his golden breastplate gave him special strength. Perhaps he would be able to free himself and Elenna! Flexing his muscles, Tom heaved at the sand. At first, nothing moved; it was like pushing against rock. But Tom didn’t give up; he kept on pushing against the crushing weight of sand.
Suddenly, he felt it give way. He forced himself upward, sand cascading all around him. He managed to stand, then kicked his way out of the mountain of sand that had piled on top of him and Elenna.
His friend was struggling to get up. Tom reached down, grabbed her by the arms, and helped her to her feet. Elenna stood beside him, coughing and spitting out sand, and trying to wipe it from her eyes.
Tom blinked and looked around. Although the storm was dying down, the air was still full of drifting grains of sand, but the magical helmet helped him to see clearly. Storm was standing a short way off and came cantering up as soon as Tom called to him. Tom patted his neck, thankful that the stallion was safe.
But where was Silver? Tom couldn’t see any sign of the wolf.
He shook Elenna by the shoulder. “Silver’s missing!” he said.
CHAPTER SIX
THE TRACK OF THE BEAST
A NEW DUNE HAD FORMED. TOM AND ELENNA clambered up the side of it, their feet sinking into the sand at every step. From the top, with the help of the golden helmet, Tom could see a long way across the desert. But in that entire vast expanse, there was not one sign of Silver.
“Silver, where are you?” Elenna called out, panic in her voice. “Silver!”
A drawn-out whinny from Storm made them turn and look down at the stallion. Storm flicked his head three times in the same direction, then whinnied again. Tom stared at him, puzzled.
“He knows!” Elenna shouted. “Tom, Storm knows where Silver’s buried!”
Together they skidded down the dune and fell to their knees, digging frantically. Tom plunged his hands into the sand, but could feel nothing except for burning heat.
Then his scrabbling fingers touched something soft. “He’s here!” he gasped.
He and Elenna dug in the same spot. At last they uncovered the top of Silver’s head, his gray-white fur matted with sand.
“Yes!” Elenna punched the air in excitement.
She and Tom scooped away more of the sand until they could drag the wolf out into the open.
His body was limp. Fear stabbed at Tom’s heart.
Elenna bent over her friend, using her scarf to wipe sand from his eyes and around his jaws. Suddenly, Silver let out a huge sneeze. He blinked, and his tail began to wag slowly, beating on the sand.
“He’s alive!” Elenna exclaimed, tears in her eyes. “He’s going to be all right.”
The wolf staggered to his paws and gave himself a shake, scattering sand in all directions.
Grinning with relief, Tom went back to his horse, unfastened the water skin, and gave both Silver and Storm a drink. Then he and Elenna took a few sips.
The skin was still over half full, but Tom didn’t know how much farther they had to go. He fastened the stopper firmly. “It’s time we were on our way,” he said.
“Yes, but where?” Elenna asked, looking around.
The desert looked completely different after the sandstorm. All their tracks had been wiped out. Now Tom couldn’t tell which direction they had come from or where they were supposed to go.
He fetched Wizard Aduro’s map from Storm’s saddlebag. The glowing red line still pointed into the desert, toward the picture of the golden leg armor, but that wasn’t much use when they didn’t know where they were starting from.
The sun was reappearing through the haze as the sand gradually settled. It was much lower now and Tom didn’t want to spend the night in the desert with Malvel’s Beast lurking. They had to make a decision quickly.
“I think we should head for the sun,” Elenna said, pointing. “We know it sets in the west.”
Tom consulted the map again. The picture of the leg armor was west of the town. Briefly he hesitated. If he made a wrong decision now, it could mean the end of all of them. Then he remembered Wizard Aduro, hanging helplessly over the pit of tar. Tom knew he couldn’t afford to be uncertain. He had to be brave and strong, or the good wizard would die.
“Right,” he said, folding the map and putting it back in the saddlebag. “Let’s go.”
Leading Storm, he chose a route that wound between the sand dunes, heading as directly as he could toward the sun. The desert still throbbed with heat, and the hot wind hissed like a snake, whirling sand around them.
Tom was sweating inside his armor. Grains of sand had worked their way under the metal and into his clothes, itching unbearably. But he was determined not to lose hope. He would find the Beast and defeat it, for the sake of Aduro — and all of Avantia.
They had not been trudging through the sand for long when, through the visor of his helmet, Tom spotted something ahead, disturbing the smooth surface of the desert. He quickened his pace until he stood over it. It was a wavy track, running into the distance as far as he could see.
“It’s beautiful,” Elenna said, crouching down to admire the pattern in the sand. “What could have made it?”
Tom shook his head, puzzled. “It looks like the sort of track Sepron would make if he were slithering around in the sand, instead of swimming in the sea.”
Elenna glanced up at him. “Sepron would never come into the desert.”
“No,” Tom agreed grimly. “But we know something else is here.”
“Malvel’s Beast?” Elenna glanced around warily. “You think this is its track?”
Tom nodded. “We should follow it.”
Elenna rose to her feet again. “Yes. The sooner we meet the Beast, the better.”
Tom led the way. The track wound through the dunes until he began to wonder if it would ever end. He watched and listened carefully in case the Beast should suddenly appear, but everything was silent.
Gradually, he noticed that the desert was changing. Instead of endless sand dunes, rocks poked up out of the ground here and there. A few scrawny plants grew in their shade, and now and again they passed a clump of spiny cactus, towering over their heads. The track wound between the clumps, heading for a jagged line of rocks not far away.
“I think we’re getting close,” Tom whispered.
Elenna halted, glancing around warily. “This place scares me,” she whispered. “I think we should leave Storm and Silver here, and go on alone.”
“Good idea,” Tom replied. There was no point taking their animal friends into needless danger.
He guided Storm and Silver into the shade cast by a rock. Then he gave them both a drink, tied the waterskin to his belt, and beckoned to Elenna. “Come on.”
They followed the track again, toward the
line of rocks. From time to time the wavy pattern disappeared as the ground became more rocky, but there was always enough sand for them to pick it up again.
At last Tom saw the track disappear between two rocks. He exchanged a glance with Elenna. His whole body was prickling with tension; he knew the Beast wasn’t far away.
He dropped to his knees and then to his stomach. “I’m sure we’re close now,” he whispered to Elenna. “We must stay quiet and hidden.” Awkward in his armor, he wriggled forward along the ground. Elenna followed him.
He edged his way to the rocks where the track disappeared, and peered down. In front of him the ground fell steeply into a valley and there, sprawled on the sand below, was Malvel’s Beast. Tom couldn’t keep back a gasp of horror, and exchanged a glance with Elenna.
A hot breeze sprang up, whipping the sand into tiny whirlwinds, and whispering a name into Tom’s ear:
“Vipero …”
Malvel cackled, his laughter echoing between the rocks.
CHAPTER SEVEN
A FIERY ORDEAL
TOM STARED DOWN INTO THE VALLEY. So THIS was the Beast! Vipero had the body of a snake, which lay on the sand in coils of red and green. But where the snake’s head would have been was the muscular body of a man. Its neck was split into two, and each part carried the flat, wedge-shaped head of a snake. The two heads swayed, hissing angrily, their tiny bright eyes scanning the desert.
Tom suppressed a shudder. Then he spotted the golden leg armor in the middle of Vipero’s coils. The swirling decoration on the metal glittered in the sunlight.
Though Tom was still a long way from the snake man, he could feel the waves of heat that were thrown out by his body. It was as if a wall of fire separated them from Vipero.
“That’s why the desert is even hotter,” Tom whispered to Elenna.