by Adam Blade
He took several steps back. Gathering all his strength, he ran and, at the very edge of the bluebells, leaped up into air, harnessing the power of the golden boots, as the flowers snapped at his heels.
“Oh, yes!” he shouted in excitement as he soared through the air, stretching out his legs for the landing. He knew it was going to be close….
But even such a great leap was not enough to clear the flowers. He landed near Tartok’s clearing, but right among the deadly blooms. The red stamens stabbed at him. Using his shield to ward them off, he strode toward the ice beast, hacking at the bluebells with his sword.
Tartok roared and surged forward to greet him, her long, shaggy arms open. Tom sensed the good Beast’s joy and relief as he stepped into the clearing. But the chain jerked her back, and her face crumpled with pain and anger as she tugged at the heavy iron links that held her captive to the amber rock.
“I’ll set you free!” Tom promised. He could see great sores where the chain had been rubbing his friend’s skin.
Tartok grunted and snorted as Tom inspected the shackles. Each link was as thick as his wrist, and the heavy chain was attached to the rock by great iron staples, driven deep into the amber.
“I’m going to cut the chain with my sword,” Tom told the ice beast. He picked up a length of chain and hung it over part of the amber rock. Taking a deep breath, he stepped back. He lifted his sword above his head in both hands and brought it crashing down onto the iron links. Clang! Tom’s arms shivered to the shoulder with the impact. But the chain held.
He could faintly hear Elenna shouting, “Come on, Tom! You can do it!”
Gritting his teeth, Tom lifted his sword again.
He brought the sword down with all his might. There was an echoing crack and a glow of amber light; then the chain broke apart!
Tartok rose up onto her back legs and gave a roar of delight while Tom held his sword above his head in triumph.
Now they needed to get back to where Elenna and the others were waiting. Tom couldn’t just jump across the flowers and leave Tartok behind. They had to do this together. He started hacking at the flowers, to cut a path through to his companions.
Then Tartok scooped Tom up in her great arms and perched him high on her shoulder. He clung to her fur as she began to make her way through the flowers.
“Thanks, Tartok!” he said, laughing.
The blue heads turned and the stamens stabbed viciously, but Tartok’s fur was too thick for their evil blades. She plowed onward, crushing the flowers beneath her huge feet. At last they made it through the sea of flowers and were reunited with Tom’s friends.
Tartok was free!
But Tom knew that was not enough.
“Kaymon is still out there,” he said. “Our next task is to find her and defeat her so we can send Tartok home.” He looked at Elenna. “I will not let Malvel win!”
The Quest was far from over.
CHAPTER FOUR
THE BEAST ON THE BATTLEMENTS
NIGHT HAD FALLEN, AND THE GORGONIAN SKY was gloomy and starless.
“We will find a way to get you back to Avantia,” Tom vowed to Tartok. “But Elenna and I need to find Kaymon first.” He hoped the ice beast would understand what he was asking of her, and concentrated on the ruby in his belt, knowing it would help him to communicate. “Will you stay here and protect Silver and Storm while we are gone?”
The good Beast frowned; then a gleam of understanding came into her eyes and she grunted and nodded, one large hand reaching out to rest on Storm’s neck, the other gently stroking Silver’s fur as he lay beside her.
“Why do you want to leave them all behind?” Elenna asked in a soft voice.
“There are three hounds out there,” Tom said. “We won’t be able to concentrate on defeating Kaymon if she can attack our friends when we’re distracted. We need to focus all her attention on us.”
Elenna looked uneasily at him. “I don’t know, Tom,” she murmured. “Will the two of us be enough?”
“Don’t forget,” said Tom, “that we also have the powers from the magic shield and the golden armor.” He put his hand on Elenna’s shoulder. “We can do this,” he said. “While there is blood in my veins, I will end this Quest!”
An excited light sparked in Elenna’s eyes. “So will I!” she said.
Tom looked up into the bleak night sky. “We should sleep now,” he said. “We can take turns to keep watch for Kaymon. And then, at first light, the Quest continues!”
As the red sun rose over the hills the next morning, Tom was already on his feet. Elenna took a few moments to bid farewell to Silver. The wolf was still very weak, but he licked Elenna’s face gratefully.
“Are you sure you want to leave him?” Tom asked. “I can do this alone, if I need to.”
“No!” Elenna said fiercely. “Kaymon hurt Silver. I’m going with you to find her!”
Tom said good-bye to Tartok and the animals, and the two friends headed off in pursuit of the Gorgon hound.
“We can circle the bluebells and pick up Kaymon’s trail on the far side of the valley,” Tom said.
There they saw three sets of large paw marks that led up the hillside and across the rugged countryside. The hills were jagged and sharp-edged, like rows of broken teeth. A few bare plants grew among the rocks, every twig armed with a razor-sharp thorn.
After a while Tom noticed that the three sets of markings were becoming closer together. Suddenly, they merged into a single, much heavier trail.
“The hounds joined together again here,” Tom said. “Kaymon must split into three only when she’s in danger.”
Soon Tom and Elenna crested a hill and found themselves staring at a dark castle standing on a mound in the middle of a bleak moor.
Elenna opened the map. “There’s no castle shown here,” she said.
Tom stared out across the moor, his keen vision bringing the gloomy fortress into sharp focus. It was surrounded by a moat of murky green water. Tom narrowed his eyes. The towering granite walls looked as though they contained dreadful secrets.
“I don’t like the look of it,” Elenna said with a shudder.
Tom’s eyes rose to the jagged battlements. Something was moving up there. “I see Kaymon!” he said.
Pacing back and forth, high on the battlements, her tail swinging, was the great hound. Then she stopped pacing, and turned toward Tom and Elenna, her yellow eyes burning. A moment later, the wide jaws opened and a terrible howl echoed out across the moor.
“She’s seen us,” Elenna said.
Tom drew his sword. “Then we shouldn’t keep her waiting!” he said.
CHAPTER FIVE
THE EVIL CASTLE
TOM AND ELENNA RAN THROUGH THE LONG grass of the moor, zigzagging as they approached the castle. They darted between mounds and low hills, hoping that Kaymon would lose sight of them. Finally, they arrived at a ditch, where they lay to catch their breath. They were halfway to the castle now. It towered up, pitch-black against the swirling red sky.
“The drawbridge is down,” Tom said to Elenna, as he peered out of the ditch. “And the gate is open. There’s no sign of any people and there aren’t any lights. Perhaps the castle is abandoned?”
“We can’t be sure of that,” Elenna said.
“I know,” Tom replied. He felt uneasy. “But we have to go in there.”
“Can you see Kaymon?” Elenna asked.
“No. Not from here.” Tom summoned his courage. “Come on.”
They raced toward the castle, crouching low, and began to cross the drawbridge. The wooden boards groaned underneath them, and as Tom came to the middle, the rotting timbers cracked under his foot. He drew back as a piece of wood fell down into the stinking, weed-choked waters of the moat, leaving a ragged hole.
“Be careful,” he said to Elenna. “The drawbridge is falling to pieces!”
They moved forward, testing each step before putting their weight on the decayed wooden boards.
; Tom looked around as they entered the gateway. The stones were slimy. Foul-smelling water oozed and dripped all around them. They stepped into a courtyard. The castle was totally silent. Doors hung open on their hinges, revealing glimpses of rooms where the furniture was overturned as though people had left in a panic.
“What do you think happened here?” Elenna asked, looking anxiously around. “Where is everyone?”
“Perhaps Kaymon chased them away,” Tom suggested. He looked up toward the battlements. There was no sign of the evil Beast.
“Where is she?” Elenna asked.
“That’s what I want to know,” Tom said. “We have to find her before she finds us!” He held his sword out in front of him as he moved around the courtyard, kicking doors open as he searched for the Beast.
“Keep back,” he warned Elenna. “But keep an arrow on the string and be ready to fire the moment the Beast appears.”
They made their way into one of the rooms. Open doors led into more rooms, but still they found nothing.
“Perhaps she’s gone?” Elenna murmured.
“I doubt it,” Tom replied. “She’s ready for a fight.”
The faintest of sounds came up from beneath the floorboards.
“Was that a voice?” Elenna asked, her eyes wide.
Tom took a deep breath. “Hello!” he shouted. “Is anyone there?”
They strained their ears, hardly breathing. The sound came again, and this time there was no doubt — human voices were echoing up from deep beneath their feet.
At the same moment, a deep-throated howl boomed through the castle. Tom frowned, striding out into the courtyard. High on the battlements above the gatehouse, he saw Kaymon pacing slowly along the wall. Tom’s fingers closed around the hilt of his sword.
Then he noticed a movement in the shadows. A tall, bald-headed man emerged into the light. His clothes were ragged and he held a staff of gnarled wood. A patch covered one eye.
“Kerlo!” Tom gasped, recognizing the gatekeeper who had greeted him when he had first entered Gorgonia.
The man leaned on his staff, watching Tom keenly with his one eye. “It sounds as though someone needs help,” he commented.
Elenna appeared at the doorway. She looked at the gatekeeper for a moment, then turned to Tom. “The voices are getting louder,” she called. “They sound desperate.”
Tom stared up at Kaymon, who was still pacing. Then he drew his sword and followed Elenna inside. He would tackle the hound later. First he had to rescue the captives trapped in the castle’s dark heart.
CHAPTER SIX
THE DUNGEONS
TOM AND ELENNA RAN, LOOKING FOR A WAY into the lower regions of the castle.
They pushed through a creaking door and came into a long corridor with dank walls lit by flaming torches.
“What was Kerlo doing here?” Elenna asked. “I feel as if he’s on our side, although I can never be sure.”
“I know what you mean,” Tom replied. “I don’t always understand what he says, but I’m almost certain he’s not our enemy.”
They passed several doorways, but these led only to other deserted rooms. Winding stairways brought them deep under the ground where the air was stale and musty. Rats scuttled away.
“This place is huge,” Elenna said. “How will we ever find the captives?”
“We must!” Tom insisted. “Let’s listen!” They stood in a cobwebbed stone corridor, holding their breath, and heard the clamor of trapped people beneath them.
A single voice rose above the others. “Help us! Please help us!”
Tom stared at a ragged tapestry that hung on the wall. Its threadbare edge twitched as if disturbed by a breath of wind.
Tom strode over and pulled aside the tapestry, revealing an arched doorway. It led to another stone stairway that wound into the depths, its walls lit by smoking torches. He looked at Elenna. “This is the way!” He took a torch from the wall and together they made their way down into the gloom of the castle’s deepest cellars.
Tom shuddered at the sight of the grimy, stinking dungeons. Water trickled down the walls, and patches of fungus clung to the stones, glowing with a sickly light. Clumps of sticky spiderwebs stuck to their clothing as they brushed past.
“This is terrible,” Elenna whispered, her voice full of dread.
The voices grew louder. “We’re here! Help us!”
Tom turned a corner and at last he saw the prisoners. There were about a dozen men in a filthy chamber, their limbs shackled in rusting chains, their clothes in tatters.
The prisoners pulled against their chains. “Help us! Free us!” they called out.
Tom and Elenna ran forward, taking out their drinking flasks and giving the men a drink.
“Who are you?” Tom asked.
One man, taller and broader than the others, got to his feet, his chains rattling in the iron ring that held them to the wall.
“We are Gorgonian rebels,” he said. “Have you come over the moor? Did you see any of our comrades out there?”
Tom shook his head. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t see anyone.”
“Please free us,” the man said. Tom looked at the shackles. The iron was rusted and old. “Keep still!” he warned the man, taking out his sword and thrusting the tip into the locking mechanism. He gave his sword a sharp twist. The blade slipped and grazed the man’s skin. He hissed with the pain.
“I’m sorry,” Tom gasped. “I’ll try that again.” He really needed to concentrate! He pressed the tip of his sword to the shackles a second time. The man watched him anxiously. He twisted the blade again and this time the iron cuff snapped open.
“Thank you,” the man said. “Free my men and we will be gone from here.”
It wasn’t long before all the rebels had been released from their chains. They stood up, rubbing their numbed limbs, smiling with gratitude and relief.
“Who are you?” the tall man asked, resting his hand on Tom’s shoulder and looking sharply at Elenna.
“We come from another land,” Tom said. “We’re friends of a good wizard.” He wasn’t sure how much he should tell these people.
“You have aided the rebellion!” the man said. “Thank you! But tell no one that you ever saw us. Malvel must not get to hear of this!”
Tom shivered at the mention of the evil wizard’s name. “Malvel will hear nothing from us,” he said. “Can we do anything else to help?” He felt sure that anyone rebelling against Malvel had to be good.
“You have done enough,” the man said. “But remember: Never speak of this encounter!” He led his men out of the dungeon and soon they were gone.
The gatekeeper stepped suddenly from the shadows.
“Was that wise?” Kerlo asked, his one keen eye on Tom’s face.
Tom stared at him, troubled by a moment of doubt.
“They were starving,” Elenna said. “We had to let them go.”
Kerlo’s piercing eye turned to her. “Did you, indeed?” he growled. “Do you know what acts these men are capable of?”
Tom looked at the gatekeeper, uncertainty creeping into his mind. Had they been right to set those men free? “They are against Malvel. They’re on the same side as us — aren’t they?” he asked.
But Kerlo just turned and walked slowly up the stairway without replying.
Tom was about to mount the stairs after him when the flickering light of his torch shone on something that had been crammed into a crevice in the entrance to the stairway.
He moved the torch closer. It was a folded scrap of linen. He pulled it free. Elenna leaned over his shoulder as he carefully opened it.
“What is that?” Elenna asked.
“It’s a lock of hair,” Tom said in surprise. “And a piece of red silk.”
Elenna let out a gasp. She picked up the lock of chestnut hair and held it against Tom’s head. “It’s exactly the same color as yours!” she whispered.
Bewildered, Tom picked up the scrap of scarlet silk. �
�There’s something embroidered on it,” he murmured. “Elenna — hold it for me so I can shine the light on it.”
Elenna stretched the silk between her fingers.
It was a curling script, sewn onto the silk with fine yellow thread. “ ‘Midsummer’s Eve,’ “ Tom read. “But … but that’s my birthday!”
The two friends looked at each other.
“Could it have been left here by your lost father?” Elenna asked.
Tom had never seen his father, Taladon, who had disappeared when Tom was a baby.
“Do you think he may have been here?” his friend continued.
Tom stared again at the piece of silk. To think that his father might have stood in this very spot! For a moment, he felt closer to Taladon than he ever had before. His hand closed around the scrap.
“Come on, Elenna,” he said. “Taladon would want me to do the right thing. We have an evil Beast to defeat.”
Tom raced up the stone stairs. He was ready to bring this Quest to an end!
CHAPTER SEVEN
DEFEAT!
A DEEP-THROATED HOWL ECHOED DOWN THE stairwell.
“Kaymon!” gasped Elenna. “She sounds close!”
“She must have come down from the battlements!” Tom said, pushing the linen rag and the scrap of red silk into his tunic.
He raced up the stairs, groping in his pocket for his magical compass, which his father had left him. The scrap of silk had reminded him of it. The needle could point to Danger or Destiny to help Tom make vital decisions. He took it out as he ran along the corridor and saw that the needle was wavering.
There was no sign of the rebels. Tom guessed that they must have left the castle.
He heard Elenna right behind him as he came back into the room that led to the courtyard. Beyond the open door, he could see the huge shape of Kaymon moving restlessly to and fro, waiting for Tom.