by Adam Blade
“Malvel’s Beasts are usually terrifying,” Tom said, confused. “This must have been done by something that looks harmless, but isn’t.”
“Something beautiful, even,” added Elenna.
“Beautiful and deadly,” Tom said grimly. “This is bad, Elenna. How do you fight something that doesn’t seem dangerous?”
“What do you think the Beast looks like?” asked Elenna.
Tom gazed sadly into the farmer’s face. “The only person who could tell us has been killed,” he murmured. But then he looked closer, staring up into the farmer’s eyes. Was it his imagination or had he seen a movement?
“Elenna,” Tom said urgently, “I think he’s alive.”
His friend looked carefully. “You could be right,” she said. As she moved closer, her elbow struck the statue. It made a curiously hollow sound.
Tom rapped his knuckles against the statue’s arm. Again, they heard the hollow sound.
“The stone is just a shell around him,” Tom cried.
“But how can we break the shell without hurting him?” Elenna asked. Tom drew his sword.
“You can’t!” Elenna gasped. “You’ll kill him.”
“Not if I find the weak point,” Tom said. “My uncle is a blacksmith, remember? He taught me always to search for the weak spot, and then to use it.” He circled the farmer. “There has to be a crack or a fault line somewhere,” he muttered. “There has to be!”
Suddenly, he noticed a hairline crack in the man’s chest — just above the heart.
“There!” he said. He lifted his sword and carefully placed the lethal tip against the crack.
“No!” Elenna cried out. “It’s too dangerous. If you slip — if you make one wrong move — the blade will go into his heart.”
“I won’t slip,” Tom said. “And we have no choice. We can’t leave him like this, and we need him to tell us about the Beast.”
“Be careful,” Elenna whispered, stepping back as Tom readied himself for the blow. But he felt very sure of himself, and the golden helmet gave him perfect vision as he guided the point of his sword toward the crack.
He twisted the sword and pushed the blade into the stone.
Nothing happened. Frowning, Tom drew back his hand and slammed his palm hard against the hilt of the sword. He heard Elenna give a gasp of alarm. Storm and Silver were watching with worried eyes.
He struck the hilt a second time. The stone rang — but the crack held.
This was no time to give up. Tom hit the hilt a third time. He saw the crack widen. A web of fractures spun out across the farmer’s chest and down his limbs.
Then the stone shell shattered into fragments and tumbled to the ground.
Farmer Gretlin’s chest gave a great heave as he sucked air into his lungs and fell forward onto his hands and knees, gasping and coughing. He was alive!
CHAPTER FOUR
INTO THE WOODS
TOM TOOK A WATER BOTTLE FROM STORM’S saddlebag and bent down to give it to the gasping farmer. As he drank, Elenna stood over him, arrow at the ready, eyes scanning the empty field.
“Who are you?” Farmer Gretlin gasped.
Tom took off his helmet and grinned.
“Tom!” exclaimed the farmer. “You’ve saved my life! Help me up.” He put a hand on Tom’s shoulder and got shakily to his feet.
“What did this to you?” Elenna asked.
The farmer gave her a curious look. “And who are you?”
“She’s my friend, Elenna,” Tom said. “We’re here to help. Can you tell us what happened?”
The farmer’s eyes narrowed. “There was fog over the marsh,” he said. “And a tall lady dressed in black.” A shudder went through him. “She had no face, just a huge green eye. It was the most beautiful eye I’ve ever seen. And then I couldn’t move.” He smiled gratefully at them. “Until you came to my aid.”
“How long ago was this?” Tom asked.
The farmer shook his head. “A day,” he said uncertainly. “Maybe more.”
“Who can this woman be?” Tom wondered aloud, as the farmer and Elenna went to check on the stone oxen.
His heart began to race as a familiar, cruel voice whispered in his ear, “Would you like to meet Soltra the Stone Charmer face-to-face?”
“Malvel!” Tom spun around, but saw nothing. “I’m not afraid of you, or any of your evil Beasts.”
The Dark Wizard let out a laugh like the hissing of snakes. “There is no victory for you here, boy. Soltra cannot be beaten.”
“I’ll beat her!” Tom snarled. “You’ll see!”
But there was no reply — the voice was gone.
Tom gripped his sword, wishing he could put the cold steel into Malvel’s wicked heart.
“The Beast is called Soltra,” he said to Elenna when she came back. He looked over to Farmer Gretlin, who was still checking the stone oxen. “Malvel just spoke to me. He says she can’t be beaten.”
“I don’t believe that,” Elenna said. “We’ll find a way!”
Tom nodded. “You’re right. We should go to the village — and let’s hope she hasn’t already been there.” What if his aunt and uncle had already fallen victim to Soltra? He tried not to think about it.
They walked back to Gretlin, Storm and Silver following with wide, watchful eyes.
“Can you bring these creatures back to life?” Farmer Gretlin asked.
Tom stared carefully at the two animals. There didn’t seem to be any sign of life in the stony eyes. He shook his head regretfully. “I’m sorry,” he said.
Tom and Elenna helped the farmer across the plowed field, then walked along the winding road that led to the village. Tom gazed around, memories flooding back, as the familiar rooftops and chimneys of Errinel came into sight above the trees.
The village was silent and deserted, save for three gray statues: one woman carrying a woven basket; another laying out wares on a market stall; and a man with his arm lifted, as if he were trying to shield his eyes from the sun. Soltra had been here.
A lump filled Tom’s throat. He remembered the village square as a place filled with noise and bustle as the cheerful people of Errinel went about their daily lives, not this empty, desolate silence. He examined the three statues but could not find a single crack to help him break their stone prisons. Farmer Gretlin had been lucky.
An urgent fear built inside Tom as he ran from house to house, hoping desperately to find someone who had managed to survive Soltra’s enchantment. But there was no one.
“The rest of the villagers must have fled,” Gretlin said.
They came to the forge where Tom’s uncle Henry worked. The familiar bellows lay beside the fire, and the ironworking tools were set out on the worktable as usual.
“Where has everyone gone?” asked Farmer Gretlin. “How are we to find them?”
Tom gave a grim smile. “We have a wolf, don’t we?” he said. He called to Silver, and the wolf padded into the forge and looked questioningly up at him. Tom took an old leather apron down from a peg on the wall. “Here, Silver,” he said. “This will have Uncle Henry’s scent.”
Silver sniffed at the apron. A moment later, he let out a sharp bark and ran from the forge. “Follow him!” Tom cried. “He’s got the scent!” Silver glided along, his body low, his muzzle to the ground, moving fast but stopping every now and then to allow the others to catch up. Soon he was leading them toward dense woodland on the other side of the town.
Tom turned to Farmer Gretlin. “Will you stay in the village in case anyone comes back?” he asked. “And keep Storm with you?” “I will,” said the farmer. “Good luck.” Leaving Storm and Gretlin, Tom and Elenna followed Silver. They pushed their way through brambles and ferns, keeping the speeding wolf in sight as they plunged deeper and deeper into the woods.
Soon they came to a dell filled with a tangle of ivy and briars. There was no sign of Silver. A few moments later, a sharp bark broke the silence. Tom turned and ran toward the sound, but he had only
gone a few steps when his foot caught in a snarl of ivy roots. He sprawled headlong.
“Tom! Are you all right?” called a familiar voice.
Tom struggled to his feet as Aunt Maria emerged from the cover of the trees, her face filled with joy and concern. And right behind her was Uncle Henry.
They were safe!
CHAPTER FIVE
REUNION
TOM WAS CAUGHT UP IN A HUGE BEAR HUG BY his aunt and uncle, and for a few moments he forgot all about the danger they faced.
“How many of you escaped?” he asked.
Villagers stepped out of cover and stood uneasily around him, their faces pale and anxious.
“We’re all safe,” said Uncle Henry. “All those who ran.” He frowned at Tom. “But how did you know what had happened?”
Tom looked thoughtfully at his uncle and aunt and the gathered villagers. Aduro had always told him not to talk to the ordinary folk of Avantia about the Beasts, but people of Errinel had been turned to stone by Soltra — and they deserved to know what she was.
He raised his voice so that everyone would be able to hear him. “What I’m going to tell you is the deepest secret in all Avantia, and no one must ever speak of it outside the village,” he told them. “I am under the guidance of Wizard Aduro, adviser to King Hugo. I have come here with my friends, Elenna, Storm, and Silver, to find the Stone Charmer, an evil Beast.”
There was a murmur of amazement.
Uncle Henry stepped forward. “You are the true son of your father,” he said solemnly. “And I see from your face, and from the weapons and armor you bear, that you are ready for your challenge. Tell us what we should do.”
It made Tom feel proud that Uncle Henry knew he could be trusted with such an important task.
“Soltra seems to have left the village for now,” he said. “We should go back there for rest and food. If I am to defeat her, I need to know everything that happened in Errinel.”
When they returned to the blacksmith’s house, Aunt Maria warmed up a stew she had made, while Uncle Henry told Tom and Elenna how a village boy had seen Soltra with Farmer Gretlin at sunset, and had run to warn the others.
“That is how most of us managed to escape before the Beast came,” Aunt Maria said as she ladled the hearty stew into wooden bowls for Tom and Elenna.
“So Soltra appeared at sunset last night,” Tom said. “She must not be able to survive in full daylight. That’s her one weakness.”
“It’s already late afternoon,” Elenna pointed out. “The sun will be setting soon.”
“I know,” Tom said. “So we don’t have much time.” He looked at his uncle. “We should lead the villagers to the shores of the lake for safety.”
“The lake?” Uncle Henry said in a puzzled voice. “But if she comes to us there, we’ll have deep water at our backs. How will we escape then?”
“The old tales say the water has healing powers,” Tom said. “Perhaps it will be enough to save the people of Errinel.”
Elenna looked curiously at him and leaned to whisper in his ear, “I thought you didn’t believe in that story.”
“I’m prepared to believe in anything right now,” he murmured.
“But shouldn’t we find the Beast right away?” Elenna asked.
“We will,” Tom said firmly. “But not before the villagers are all taken to safety. We’ll spend the night at the lake — then we’ll find Soltra when the sun comes up tomorrow. She’ll be more vulnerable then.”
Word was quickly sent around the village that people should prepare provisions for the night. Then Tom led them through the woods to the shining shores of the lake.
It looked beautiful in the golden light of the setting sun, hemmed with tall trees that were reflected in the wide, still waters. Looking out over the glowing expanse of water, Tom could almost believe that the lake really did have healing qualities. He certainly hoped so. But even if the lake had no special powers, at least the people were away from the village and perhaps harder for Soltra to track down.
It took a while for the large camp to settle down for the evening. The sun went down and the star-filled night turned the lake silver, but there was no sign of Soltra. Maybe the lake’s waters were protecting them.
Small groups of villagers sat around fires, toasting bread and roasting potatoes in the embers. Sometimes a few voices rose in song, but there was little laughter, and Tom could almost feel the simmering of subdued fear.
Tom and Elenna sat at a fire with Uncle Henry and Aunt Maria. Silver was curled up close to the flames, enjoying the warmth. Storm stood quietly close by.
“So, Tom,” Uncle Henry asked, “will you be staying here once you have defeated the Beast?”
Tom shook his head. “I have to find the rest of the golden armor,” he said, though he was happy that his uncle had such faith in him. He didn’t add that the Dark Wizard had stolen the armor and that a fearsome Beast guarded each piece of it. His aunt and uncle didn’t need to know about that. They would only worry.
The fires died down and the villagers prepared for sleep. Soon, only Tom and Elenna and their animal friends were awake.
“I’ll take first watch,” Tom said to Elenna. “I’ll wake you when I can’t keep my eyes open any longer.”
Elenna nodded. “Will she come?” she asked.
Tom stared into the trees, knowing that Soltra was out there somewhere.
“I hope she does,” he said. “Soltra attacked my home. I must defeat her!”
CHAPTER SIX
THE GIFT
THE LAKE’S WATERS SEEMED TO KEEP SOLTRA at bay. Tom woke ready to take on the Beast. The sun was bright over the treetops and the lakeside camp was bustling. He sprang up. But Aunt Maria stopped him with a gentle hand on his shoulder.
“Do you know what day it is, Tom?” she asked with a smile.
Tom shook his head, puzzled.
Elenna, Storm, and Silver stood nearby. “You didn’t tell me!” Elenna grinned.
He stared at her. “What are you talking about?”
“It’s your birthday, Tom!” Uncle Henry said. “Did you forget?”
“Is it?” he gasped. So much had happened that he had lost count of the days.
“Yes, it is!” said Elenna. “Happy birthday!”
Silver barked and Storm neighed.
“If things were normal,” Aunt Maria said, “we would celebrate properly, but …” Her voice trailed away.
“We have more urgent matters to attend to,” said Uncle Henry. “We’ll celebrate when this is over. Now that it is daylight again, we should return to the village and call a meeting.”
“Yes, Uncle Henry, good idea,” Tom said.
Elenna pulled him away from the others. “What’s the point of that?” she whispered. “They won’t be able to do anything to stop Soltra.”
“I know,” Tom replied softly. “But a village meeting will be the perfect cover for what I have to do. It will keep Uncle Henry and Aunt Maria busy and allow me to slip away unnoticed.”
“You mean it will allow us to slip away unnoticed,” she corrected him.
Tom smiled. He was glad that he had such a brave and loyal friend. “We can’t let another night come without confronting the Beast,” he told her. “Remember, when she enchanted Farmer Gretlin she had her back to the setting sun. I think she can’t stand to have her face toward sunlight. That might be our best weapon. If we can find her and force her into daylight, we may be able to defeat her.”
“Farmer Gretlin was in his field near the marsh when he was turned to stone,” Elenna said. “So we’ll have to start there.”
“Yes,” Tom replied. “And there’s no time to waste. While there’s blood in my veins, I’ll save my village and defeat Soltra!”
At mid-morning, the villagers gathered for their meeting in the main square. Tom, Elenna, and the two animals stood out of sight behind the forge, getting ready to leave for the marsh.
Tom was pulling on his chain mail when his uncle a
ppeared around the corner.
“You intend to leave the village while we talk,” he said, “to find the Beast.”
Tom nodded. There was no point trying to lie.
“I understand,” Uncle Henry said gently. “But before you go, there is something I want to give you.”
“What is it?” Tom asked. He felt proud, wearing the golden chain mail in front of his uncle. It glinted in the morning sunshine.
“It’s in the forge,” his uncle said. “Your father left it for you.”
Tom’s eyes widened in amazement; his uncle had never mentioned a gift from his father before. His mind raced as he and Elenna followed Uncle Henry into the forge. What could it be?
“Help me to move the anvil,” said Uncle Henry.
Tom grasped one end of the anvil and helped to shift it across the floor. Then his uncle took a spade and began to dig in the hard-packed earth.
Shortly, the spade rang on something hollow. A few moments later, a square wooden box was revealed, about a hand-span in length and depth.
Uncle Henry laid the box on the anvil and undid the metal clasp of the lid.
“It’s yours to open,” he told Tom.
Tom picked up the box, his thoughts whirling as he wondered what secrets his father’s box might contain.
CHAPTER SEVEN
DESTINY AND DANGER
EAGERLY, TOM OPENED THE LID. INSIDE THE box, something lay wrapped in a dark red velvet cloth. He lifted it out. It was heavy and solid. Tom unfolded the velvet wrap and gave a gasp of delight. It was a compass, made of brass and decorated with curling patterns of fine silver.
“It’s beautiful,” said Elenna. “But I’ve never seen a compass with such markings.”
Engraved on the top of the compass were two words, one at either side of the needle.
“ ‘Destiny,’ “ Tom read quietly. “And ‘Danger.’ “ He looked up at his uncle. “What does it mean?”
“Turn it over,” Uncle Henry said.