by Blade, Adam
The wolf moved like the wind, only slowing once it had led Tom and Storm a safe distance from the soldiers. Tom eased Storm back down to a trot.
And then they saw the girl.
She was tall and skinny, dressed in breeches and a dirty blouse. Her black hair was short and messy, and her face was red with scratches. In her hand, she clutched a bow. A quiver of arrows was slung over one shoulder. As she crouched to welcome back her wolf, her green eyes narrowed at Tom.
“It’s all right. I’m not going to hurt you,” he promised, pulling back on the reins until Storm stopped. “My name is Tom,” he said, dismounting. “You can trust me.”
The wolf trotted over to him and pushed its nose into Tom’s hand.
The girl visibly relaxed and grinned at him, her smile full of warmth. “Well, if Silver trusts you, so will I.”
“Where did you get him?” Tom asked.
“I found him injured on a hunting trip to the North,” the girl replied. “I nursed him back to health, and we’ve been friends ever since.” She stepped forward, took his hand and shook it firmly. “My name’s Elenna.”
“Were those soldiers after you?” asked Tom.
Elenna frowned. “My father’s a fisherman — but now that the river has dried up, there’s nowhere to fish and nothing to eat.” She sighed. “Silver and I came here to hunt rabbits. But the soldiers thought we were after the local lord’s deer.”
A noisy crashing came from somewhere behind them. Tom looked around in alarm. “Quick! We’d better get out of here!” Putting his foot in a stirrup, he swung himself onto Storm’s back. “Come on!” Seeing Elenna hesitate, he grabbed her hand and helped her scramble onto the horse behind him.
Storm snorted and leaped forward into a gallop. They raced through the woods, Silver bounding ahead of them.
“Hold tight!” Tom shouted to Elenna as Storm swerved between the trees.
“I am!” she gasped, clutching him. “Hey!” she exclaimed suddenly. “Is this chain mail you’re wearing? You’re too young to be a knight, aren’t you?”
“I’ll tell you everything once we’ve lost the soldiers,” Tom said, glancing behind him anxiously.
To his relief, the soldiers were no match for Storm’s swift hooves and Elenna’s knowledge of the forest. Soon their shouts died away into the distance and Tom eased Storm back down to a walk. “I think we’re safe,” he said, turning off the trail.
A small stream was bubbling nearby. The stallion plunged his head into the cool water and drank deeply. Silver joined him.
Elenna looked at Tom. Then, without asking, she opened the horse’s saddlebags, revealing Tom’s sword and shield stowed there. “Village boys don’t carry weapons this fine,” she said. “What’s all this about, young knight?”
Tom hesitated. Something told him he could rely on this girl, and Aduro had told Tom to trust his instincts. He had to tell her the truth. “I am on a quest,” he said. “A quest for the king.”
“The king?” Elenna echoed, sliding down from the horse.
“The Beasts have returned,” he said.
Elenna raised her eyebrows. “You don’t really believe in the Beasts, do you?”
“I’m serious!” he snapped. “You did ask what was going on.”
“All right,” she said. “I just thought you were teasing me.” She paused. “See, I always thought the Beasts were more than just a story… .”
“They are,” Tom told her, gravely. “Ferno the Fire Dragon is under an evil spell and I’ve got to stop him from burning the kingdom’s crops… .”
By the time he’d finished, Elenna’s eyes were large and serious “So that’s what’s been happening!” she breathed.
Tom frowned. “You believe me? Just like that?”
“It all sounds unbelievable,” Elenna replied. “But it explains so much! I knew nothing natural could make an entire river dry up overnight… .” She bit her lip, and then nodded as if she had reached a decision. “I think I’d better come with you.”
“You can’t!” Tom protested. “It’s too dangerous!”
“Not as dangerous as you trying to stop a dragon all by yourself!” Elenna shot back.
“But what about your family?” Tom asked.
Elenna shrugged. “I often stay out hunting for days at a time. They won’t be worried.” She lifted her chin. “So, let’s go and find this dragon then.”
Tom half smiled as he remembered the wizard Aduro’s words: On your quest, you will find allies in the strangest of places, and in unlikely forms… .
The wizard was right.
CHAPTER EIGHT
DAWN OF THE DRAGON
“THIS IS THE LAST OF THE FOOD,” SAID TOM, passing Elenna some bread. The air was cold, and the first streaks of dawn were just shooting across the sky.
“Should we save it?” she wondered.
Tom stuffed some more into his mouth. “You can’t fight dragons on an empty stomach.”
“Stale bread makes a rotten last meal,” Elenna decided, gnawing at the crust. “But it would make an even more rotten victory feast!”
For two days and nights Tom and Elenna had traveled, until they reached the outer limits of Avantia. Now they sat atop a hill. While Storm rested his muzzle on Elenna’s shoulder, Tom opened the map and studied it closely. The fire that had warmed them through the night was dying, but it still gave off enough light to see by.
“Let me look!” cried Elenna, running to kneel next to Tom. Ever since he had first shown her the magical map, Elenna had been fascinated by it.
“We’re very close now,” he said. “There should be a river near here. But I haven’t seen anything.”
“The Winding River! Of course!” Elenna said excitedly. She pointed through the mist to a massive stack of boulders piled up across a valley. “Perhaps the river has been dammed up by all those rocks.”
“By the dragon? I wonder …” Tom pressed his finger against the parchment, and sure enough, it came away bone dry. “I think you’re right,” he said. “Come on. Let’s take a closer look.”
They lit a torch with the last dying embers of the fire, then set off, following the dry riverbank to the base of the mountain. The mist was thicker here. It was impossible to see what might await them at the top. They walked slowly, squinting through the fog for any signs of life — or a way up. Tom noticed a promising foothold and stepped forward, torch in hand. Storm threw back his head and nickered, and Silver’s hackles rose in warning.
Tom stopped dead. The key seemed to tingle on the cord around his neck, and his stomach felt knotted with nerves. Silver pressed himself up against Elenna’s legs, while Tom stroked Storm’s rough mane for comfort.
“I’m not surprised the animals are spooked,” Elenna said, taking an arrow from her quiver. “It does look pretty scary.”
Tom passed the torch to Elenna as he retrieved his sword and shield from Storm’s saddlebags. With weapons at the ready, they leaned in closer.
The rock was black and glassy. In the flickering light of the torch, it almost seemed to shine like dark scales.
Silver let out a long, low growl. “Shhh, not now, boy,” Elenna whispered soothingly, without taking her eyes from the rock. The usually obedient wolf only growled louder. Elenna turned around to give a hushed reprimand, but the words stuck in her throat. Now she could see what Silver had been growling about. A dark shape was flying toward them — fast. “Tom!” she shouted in alarm, “Get down!”
Before Tom could obey, he was knocked to the ground by a roaring wind. Using all his strength, he rolled onto his back in time to catch a glimpse of the largest creature he had ever seen passing right above them. It was traveling at incredible speed. The gale slowed to a gusty breeze as the creature slowed, circling. It was the dragon! Tom stumbled to his feet, not taking his eyes off it.
“Storm and Silver found safer ground,” said Elenna, pointing to a sheltered spot close by. “If we follow them, we’ll have better footing.”
; Tom nodded. “We’d better hurry, I don’t think we have much time.”
A dreadful roar echoed all around them. The mountainside shuddered, pitching an avalanche of rock down the slope. Tom held up his shield to protect them as he and Elenna ran toward Storm and Silver. Boulders were tumbling down on all sides, dangerously close.
Morning sunlight glinted on black-red scales as Ferno the Fire Dragon settled slowly on the mountain. Tom covered his ears as Ferno let out another echoing roar. Silver howled, while Storm skittered backward.
“What are we going to do?” Elenna shouted.
The dragon towered over them, his unfolded wings like huge, jagged sails blocking out the sky. His head was coal-black and spiky; and tight around his neck was the enchanted collar, held in place by a golden padlock that glowed with a strange, magical light.
“We have to remove that collar,” said Tom. “Then Ferno will stop serving Malvel and go back to protecting the kingdom.”
“But that dragon is as tall as a mountain!” Elenna cried, clutching Silver for comfort as he edged forward to join them. “How will we ever reach the collar?”
Slowly, the dragon lowered his head, sniffing the air, eyes bright and blood-red. His dreadful gaze fell on them. Tom stared deep into the monster’s eyes and felt a terrible paralyzing fear. Somehow he was able to rise to his feet and pull out his sword.
Ferno was faster. Uncoiling his huge forked tail, the Fire Dragon lashed it out like a deadly whip. But before it could strike, Silver bravely pounced on the end and snapped his teeth into the scaly flesh. With a screeching cry, Ferno jerked his tail up into the air with Silver clinging to it.
Ferno swung his tail viciously this way and that, until the wolf could hold on no longer. Thrown like a stone, he landed with a thump and lay still.
“Silver!” cried Elenna, sprinting toward him.
“No, Elenna!” Tom shouted. “Don’t!”
But Ferno had noticed Elenna’s sudden movement. He opened his massive mouth and let out a furious roar.
Ferno is going to attack Elenna! Tom realized in horror. She doesn’t stand a chance!
CHAPTER NINE
FINAL COMBAT
IN DESPERATION, TOM SWUNG AROUND AND whistled to Storm. The jet-black pony galloped over. “Come on, boy!” Tom cried, leaping into the saddle. “We’ve got to save Elenna!”
Elenna had just reached Silver’s motionless body as Ferno prepared to strike. Tom touched his heels to Storm’s sides and the horse leaped forward. They galloped across the hillside. Over the pounding of the stallion’s hooves, Tom could hear the roar building in the dragon’s throat.
“Elenna, get down!” Tom shouted.
She turned and saw the dragon’s open mouth. She gasped and froze in fear.
Tom drew all his weight backward and pulled on the reins. As Storm skidded to a stop, Tom hurled himself from the horse’s back. He landed badly. Pain shot through his ankle, but he didn’t have time to stop. There was a boulder just behind Elenna. If they could both just get behind it … But it was too late.
Ferno’s eyes narrowed to fierce slits. With a roar, he blasted an enormous fireball. Ignoring the stabbing pain in his ankle, Tom dove in front of Elenna and threw up his shield. The deadly flames rained down around them, fire singeing the hairs on Tom’s arms, catching the rim of the shield. He saw the dragon shrink back as the fire rebounded at it. But Tom knew Ferno would attack again, and quickly… .
The inferno died down until only thick black smoke remained. The dragon pulled his head away, roaring in anger. Tom’s shield was badly scorched, but at least it was still in one piece. He swung it over his shoulder and helped Elenna to her feet. “Are you all right?”
“I think so, thanks to you and Storm,” she said. “But what about Silver?”
“We can’t help him until we’ve stopped the dragon,” Tom said. “If that thing roasted us, nobody would be left to look after Silver.”
Elenna sighed and nodded. “We have to get that collar off! But how?”
Tom whistled for Storm. Neighing loudly, the horse tore through the curtain of smoke and skidded to a stop beside them.
“Well done, boy, you were very fast,” Tom told him. “But now you’ve got to be even faster.” He gave Elenna his sword, checked that his shield was secured over his shoulder, and scrambled onto the saddle.
“What are you going to do?” she asked. “I’m going to free the dragon!” Tom cried. “Wish me luck!” With a whoop, he dug his heels into Storm’s sides. Eyes stinging from the drifting smoke, he pushed Storm into a gallop. The horse shot like an arrow toward the dragon.
Ferno loomed up ahead of them. Fighting to keep his balance and wincing at the pain in his ankle, Tom scrambled into a crouching position in the saddle. The horse was racing right for the beast’s gigantic, outstretched wing. As Storm ducked down to gallop underneath it, Tom leaped into the air and landed on top of the wing. It felt hard as stone, but blood-warm. The dragon flapped its mighty wings in slow, staggering sweeps. Tom felt a gale whip up around him, tugging at his hair, teasing tears from his eyes. Struggling to find a handhold, he felt himself start to slip.
With a furious hiss, the dragon thrust its head up close to inspect its unwanted passenger.
Seeing his chance, Tom ducked under its craggy chin and threw himself at the enchanted collar around its neck.
“Got you!” he cried, slipping an arm through the golden hoop of the giant padlock. Under here he was safe from the dragon’s fire — but already the dragon was shaking its head from side to side, trying to send Tom falling to the ground.
Tom’s arm felt as though it was about to be yanked out of its shoulder socket, but he gritted his teeth and held on. With his free hand, he pulled the charmed key from around his neck and tried to jam it in the lock.
Ferno roared in anger. The noise was deafening. Tom’s arm burned with terrible pain and the world started spinning about him. I can’t pass out now! he thought desperately. But the key slipped from his fingers and fell to the ground far below.
“No!” he yelled. The dragon threw its head forward and twisted its neck, but still Tom held on. How could he get the key back?
Suddenly, through the drifting smoke, he saw Elenna charging toward him on Storm. She was still holding her bow and arrow, and it looked like she meant to use it. But she was aiming at him!
“Your shield!” she yelled. “Tom, use your shield!”
“What are you doing?” he shouted in confusion. He quickly shifted his grip and raised his shield — just as Elenna let loose the arrow.
With a thunk, he felt its arrival in the scorched wood. Tom peered over the top of the shield.
There was the charmed key, tied to the end of the arrow.
The dragon lunged forward and blew another deadly fireball at Elenna, but Storm was quicker. He thundered over the scorched grass, carrying her away from danger.
With the key in his hand, there was still hope! With a final burst of energy, Tom pushed the key into the lock. It turned with a smooth click.
The collar glowed brilliant blue for a moment, then both the collar and the padlock faded away.
Tom couldn’t believe it. I did it! he thought. I really did it! Then, in the same split second, he realized that now he had nothing to cling on to but the key. With a shout, Tom found himself plunging to the ground… .
But as Tom fell, the dragon brought its wing under him, providing a safe but uncomfortable landing. All of a sudden, Tom was engulfed in a sea of black, unsure of what was happening. Ferno tipped his wing, sending Tom tumbling down the leathery surface to land softly beside Elenna and Storm.
“I can’t believe it!” gasped Elenna, handing him back his sword. “Ferno broke your fall!”
“Did he?” Tom asked, still bewildered. Then Silver bounded through the smoke toward them.
Elenna gathered up the panting wolf in a hug, but her green eyes were still troubled. “What about Ferno?” Tom turned to face the Beast. Ferno squatt
ed among the hilltops, his red eyes fixed on them. But this time, Tom wasn’t afraid.
“Thank you,” Tom called out softly. “You’re free now.”
The dragon shook out his massive wings. Then he took off into the sky. Flurries of air whipped Tom and Elenna’s hair back from their faces.
Ferno swooped over the dry riverbed and lashed out with his tail at the barrier of boulders. The huge rocks shattered and a wave of water surged down the riverbed like a caged creature released.
“This was just for starters, Malvel!” Tom shouted into the sunlight as the last of the mist melted away. “I won’t rest until all the Beasts are free again!”
Ferno drank deeply from the water. Then he threw back his spiky head and roared. The fire dragon took flight for the far horizon, leaving a rainbow of fire across the blue sky.
CHAPTER TEN
THE BEGINNING
“WHAT NOW?” ASKED ELENNA.
Tom wasn’t sure. “I suppose we should go to the palace and tell the king what’s happened. We’ve done it! We’ve set Ferno free!”
“I still don’t quite believe it,” Elenna admitted with a nervous laugh.
“Me, neither!” said Tom. “But it’s true!” It felt like his blood was roaring through his body with as much power as the water surging through the valley below. He grabbed Elenna in a joyful hug.
Suddenly, she sprang away from him, pointing to one of Storm’s saddlebags. “Look, Tom!”
Something inside was glowing. Light spilled out from under the flap of the bag.
Tom quickly reached inside, pulled out the magical map and unrolled it. A puff of smoke escaped the tiny palace marked on the parchment. It rose up before him, growing steadily larger. Storm nickered, and Silver bared his teeth.
“Is it Malvel?” Elenna asked, her voice only a whisper. “Has he come to get us?”
“I don’t think so,” Tom told her, both perplexed and enthralled, as the smoke took the shape of someone very familiar. “No, it’s all right. It’s the wizard Aduro!”