by Adam Blade
The ice dragon arched his back, and readied himself for the killing attack. But instead of fear, Tom felt a strange calm. There was a way out of this predicament. He just had to outsmart both the Beast and the Dark Wizard.
Tom took a few steps forward.
“What are you doing?” shouted Elenna. “You’ll get yourself killed.”
“Stay back!” said Tom. If Elenna was too close, his plan would fail.
White smoke appeared in Blaze’s nostrils and the dragon opened his mouth to release his icy breath. Tom waited until the last possible moment and then lifted his shield as the blast shot forth. The freezing air hammered into his shield. Peering over the rim, Tom saw the flow of ice rebounding off the shield’s surface and deflecting back at Blaze, encasing him in ice. Tom held on as the wood of his shield creaked. The air around him was bitterly cold, but Tartok’s claw, which he’d won when he freed the ice beast, protected him.
Slowly a thick, icy barrier appeared between Tom and Blaze, and it reached all the way out to the edge of the volcano’s wall.
Tom checked behind him and saw his friend shivering with the cold. Her teeth were chattering, but she managed a smile. Tom was glad she’d stayed back; any closer, and her blood would have frozen in her veins.
She held a shaky arm out, and pointed past him. “M-M-Malvel,” she stuttered.
Tom turned back and saw the Dark Wizard lying on the ground beside the frozen Beast. The cold must have driven him out of Blaze’s body. He climbed to his feet, shaking his head in confusion before catching sight of Tom through the ice wall. He stepped forward and ran his fingers over the cold surface, his eyes never leaving Tom’s.
“Blaze is finished,” Tom told Malvel. “And so are you …”
The Dark Wizard smashed one fist against the wall. Then the other.
“This isn’t over!” he screamed. “I’ll have my revenge!”
Tom ran at the wall, hoping to smash through it. A thin crack appeared. He wanted nothing more than to face his arch enemy one-on-one.
But Malvel’s mouth curled to a smirk, and he slowly backed away. “Another time, young adversary,” he said. “Another time.”
“While there’s blood in my veins,” shouted Tom, shouldering the ice again, “I’ll defeat you!”
Malvel’s form seemed to drift out the volcano wall, and Blaze faded away with him. The sword that had been in the dragon’s belly clattered to the ground.
Epos appeared by their side, her wings blazing with healthy flames. A fireball hovered between her talons. Tom stepped back from the wall as the winged flame sent it spinning into the ice.
As the fire died, a hole appeared in the center, melting outward. When it was big enough, Tom and Elenna climbed through.
Tom knelt and picked up his sword. “Malvel was so close to us,” he said. “Almost close enough to touch.”
“Don’t worry, Tom,” she said. “At least we have this.” She held up the amulet piece.
Tom took it and joined it with the other amulet pieces that were around his neck. As soon as he did, a light appeared before them, almost blinding in its brightness. And there, only a few paces away, was a ghostly shape he knew as well as his own reflection.
“Father!” Tom cried.
“You have triumphed once more, my son,” said Taladon. “Epos is safe, and Malvel is driven back for now.”
Tom longed to throw his arms around his father, but he knew it was impossible. Until he collected the sixth and final piece of the amulet, his father would remain a ghost.
“We only have one more Quest to go,” said Tom. “Then you’ll be flesh and blood again.”
Taladon nodded slowly. “One last Quest, but a Quest deadlier than all those that have come before. Hold fast your courage. You will need it.”
With those words, he disappeared.
Tom longed to keep his father with him, but put his sadness from his mind.
The winged flame spread her wings. “I think she’s offering us a ride,” said Elenna.
Tom climbed onto the winged flame’s back, and Elenna settled beside him. Epos leaped into the air, beat her wings, and took them up through the glowing crater. When they emerged into the clear air of Avantia, Tom heaved a sigh of relief. The frost from the land had gone.
They dismounted Epos on Stonewin’s peak, and the winged flame dove back into the volcano.
Tom was pleased that he succeeded in this Quest but he knew that Malvel’s sorcery would not be kept at bay for long. There was a sixth and final Beast to face.
“The end is close,” Elenna said.
“One last push,” he replied. And I’ll be ready when you come again, Malvel, Tom thought. I’ll always be ready.
TOM
PREFERRED WEAPONS: Sword and magic shield
ALSO CARRIES: Destiny compass, jewel belt, and ghost map
SPECIAL SKILLS: Over the course of his Quest, Tom has gained many special items for his shield, giving him protection from fire, water, cold, and falling from heights, extra speed in battle, and magic healing ability. He also has the powers he gained from the golden armor, giving him incredible sight, courage, strength, endurance, sword skills, and energy.
ELENNA
PREFERRED WEAPON: Bow & arrow
ALSO CARRIES: Nothing. Between her bow and her wolf, Silver, Elenna doesn’t need anything else!
SPECIAL SKILLS: Not only is Elenna an expert hunter, she is also knowledgeable about boats and water. But most important, she can think quickly in tight spots, which has helped Tom more than once!
STORM
Tom’s horse, a gift from King Hugo. Storm’s good instincts and speed have helped Tom and Elenna from the very beginning.
SILVER
Elenna’s tame wolf and constant companion. Not only is Silver good to have on their side in a fight, but the wolf can also help Tom and Elenna find food when they’re hungry.
ADURO
The good wizard of Avantia and one of Tom’s closest allies. Aduro has helped Tom many times, but when Aduro was captured by Malvel, Tom was able to repay the wizard by rescuing him.
MALVEL
Tom’s enemy, determined to enslave the Beasts of Avantia and defeat Tom. This evil wizard rules over Gorgonia, the Dark Realm. If he is near, danger is sure to follow.
Beast Quest series created by Beast Quest Ltd., London.
BEAST QUEST is a trademark of Beast Quest Ltd.
Text © 2009 by Beast Quest Ltd. All rights reserved.
Interior illustrations © 2012 by Scholastic Inc.
Published by Scholastic Inc., 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012, by arrangement with Working Partners Ltd.
SCHOLASTIC and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Scholastic Inc.
First printing, April 2012
Cover art by Steve Sims
Cover design by Tim Hall
e-ISBN 978-0-545-45503-9
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher. For information regarding permission, write to Scholastic Inc., Attention: Permissions Department, 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012.