by Adam Blade
“Be careful!” Elenna called.
Tom swung his sword so that the flat of the blade struck the creature’s leg. There was a resounding clang. Tom turned, grinning. “It’s just a statue!”
Elenna came to stand next to him. “It looks nasty,” she remarked.
They saw that the hedges were filled with many hideous statues, grown over by the holly so that they were half-hidden.
Krimon was still at the fork in the maze, growling and whimpering to himself, his head turning to and fro.
“He doesn’t know which way to go,” Elenna said, walking over to the Beast.
Tom stared along the two pathways. They were exactly alike. He walked a little way along the left-hand path. A thick green mist swirled around his ankles, rising from the ground beneath his feet. Sudden, darting pains behind his eyes brought him to a halt.
“What’s wrong?” asked Elenna.
“My head feels like it’s in a vise!” Tom stumbled back. The moment he reached the fork, the green mist seeped back into the ground and the throbbing in his head faded away.
“I don’t think it can be that way,” Tom said, staring uneasily along the left-hand path. “At least, I hope it isn’t.”
Suddenly, Krimon seemed to make up his mind — and to Tom’s relief, he went lumbering down the right-hand path. Tom was sure now that Vedra must be at the heart of this labyrinth.
He stared up at the inky sky. Stars twinkled frostily. The moon had not yet risen — but he dreaded at any moment to see it lifting above the snowy tops of the hedges.
They came to another fork. The left-hand path was narrow and heavily overgrown, but the red dragon pushed his way through, the prickly leaves scratching along his scales, the dislodged snow trickling down with a soft hiss.
Elenna followed, Tom close behind. But the moment Tom set foot on the path, a green mist filtered up out of the ground and swirled around his feet — and the headache returned.
“This can’t be the way,” he called. But above the Beast’s head the fireball was pulsing strongly. Elenna paused, a worried look coming into her eyes as she saw the mist that drifted around Tom’s feet.
“Krimon thinks it is,” she said. “Is the pain very bad? Don’t inhale any of that mist!”
Tom winced and tried to hold his breath as the throbbing got worse. If this was the way, then he would have to put up with the pain. “Don’t worry about me,” he said, hoping he sounded more confident than he felt. “Keep close to Krimon. I’ll be right behind you.”
Elenna turned and ran after the fast-moving Beast. Tom screwed up his eyes against the pain, covering his mouth with his hand, determined not to give up. A soft, low laugh sounded behind him. He turned. A hooded figure stood at the end of the pathway.
It was Malvel. The evil wizard’s laughter rang in Tom’s ears. An uncontrollable surge of anger burst through Tom at the sound of that hated voice. With a shout of rage, he ran back along the path, his shield up, his sword at the ready.
“Tom! No!” He ignored Elenna’s warning. Malvel was within his reach. He had the chance to defeat the evil wizard once and for all.
Malvel stood at the fork in the paths, his head thrown back as his laughter rang up into the night sky. He pointed and laughed again. Tom followed the line of the pointing finger. The upper arc of the moon had just cleared the tops of the hedges, the moonlight reflecting eerily on the snow. Time was running out!
Elenna caught hold of Tom and forced him to stop.
“What are you doing, Tom? You’re going the wrong way.”
Tom thrust his sword in Malvel’s direction. “I have to fight him!” he shouted angrily, trying to tear himself away from her.
“Fight who?” Elenna gasped. “Tom? There’s no one there.”
Tom stared at her. “Are you blind?” he shouted. “Malvel is standing right in front of us!”
“No, he isn’t,” Elenna insisted. “There’s nothing there. It must be the headache and the mist — it’s making you see things.”
Tom dragged his arm free of her grip, overcome with an intense anger.
“You need to calm down,” Elenna said gently.
Tom realized that he was almost panting with fury. What was wrong with him? Had Malvel made himself invisible to Elenna — or was she right, and it was just an illusion?
He slowed his breathing and the anger started to disappear — and the shape of Malvel faded away to nothing.
Tom looked at Elenna. “Thank you,” he said quietly. “Malvel must be using that green mist to try and control me. But what do I do if I can’t trust my own eyes?”
Elenna took his shoulder. “Trust mine,” she said. “Come on — we mustn’t let the dragon get away from us.”
They ran side by side along the path. The green mist was gone and now Tom’s head felt much better.
Krimon was standing still, facing a great dark door that blocked off the path. The young Beast was keening and wailing softly. The door showed scorch marks where the dragon had tried to burn it, but the glossy wood was unharmed by his fire.
The orange glow was still bright on his chest, and the fireball flared above his head.
“This has to be the way,” Elenna said. “We should look for a key, or some other way to get the door open.”
“But there’s no handle,” Tom said, his anger flaring up again. He lifted his sword in both hands, smashing again and again at the dark wood. Splinters flew, but the door didn’t move.
He hammered his shield into the wood, pounding with the hilt of his sword.
“Tom, stop!” Elenna called. “That can’t be the way!”
Tom ignored her, letting out a howl of rage as he made one last effort, kicking at the door with all his strength. It swung open on creaking hinges. Tom glared at Elenna. “See!” he shouted. “I did it! I knew I could get it open!” Wild elation filled him as he shoved his way through the door. But all that met him was another snow-covered path.
“No!” Tom cried. He ran from side to side, beating at the hedges with his sword. “I hate this place!” he screamed.
Krimon backed away from him as though Tom had become something to fear.
Elenna darted forward and caught Tom’s sword arm. “Get off me!” he snarled, wrenching his hand free. He lifted the sword and was about to bring the blade down on her head when he looked into her eyes and realized what he was doing.
With a cry of alarm and horror, he staggered back a few steps. Then he threw his sword down, and fell to his knees.
“I’m sorry!” he gasped. “I’m so sorry!”
Elenna knelt in front of him, her hands on his shoulders.
“Look at me, Tom,” she said firmly.
He gazed into her eyes, his chest heaving and his limbs shaking.
“This isn’t your fault,” she said. “Something has been done to you. It’s making you behave in this way.” Tom heard fear in her voice. “Tom — I think that the dust that Seth threw in your eyes has put you under an evil spell. You have to fight it, Tom. You have to fight it really hard — if you don’t, then Malvel will win.”
Tom could barely speak. He didn’t know what to do. This Quest was too hard. Everything felt hopeless.
“I CAN’T CONTROL MYSELF,” HE SAID. “MALVEL’S magic is too strong! I can’t beat him, Elenna. I can’t!”
“You have to try,” Elenna said. “I’ll help you.”
“But you don’t understand — What if I attack you?”
“You think you can take me?” Elenna said, arching an eyebrow. “Don’t be so sure!”
Krimon was still eyeing Tom nervously, as though he could sense the evil charm. “Don’t be scared, I’m better now,” Tom said, hoping that he would be able to control his rage.
“Come along,” Elenna called to the Beast. “Let’s go and find your brother!”
With a snort, Krimon pushed through the open doorway and went trotting along the pathway.
Following, Tom glanced up at the sky. Half of the full moon wa
s visible now over the holly hedges. They had so little time.
They had not been going for long before they came to a wide chasm that stretched across their path. Krimon stood at the edge, peering over to the far side.
Tom stared down into the chasm. It was very deep, and far, far below them he could see flames flickering. He knew the tokens in his shield would protect him from the fall, but that would be no help to Elenna.
“We have to get across,” he said.
“I know. But how?”
While they were still wondering what to do, the dragon took a few steps backward and then leaped across the chasm. His wings spread as he landed safely on the far side. He turned, looking back at them.
“Come back!” Tom called. “You can carry us over.”
Krimon snorted and let out a belch of flame. He clawed at the ground and turned his head, indicating that he wanted them to go with him.
“It’s too far!” Elenna called. “You have to jump back and help us.”
But Krimon did not understand; he just stood there watching them with a confused expression. Tom felt tears sting his eyes. He wished that they had not left Epos and Ferno behind; the two grown Beasts could easily have carried them over the chasm on their backs.
Tom fought hard to keep down his anger. It wasn’t the baby dragon’s fault. But they had to get across.
A thought struck Tom. “If we had a pole, we could vault over,” he said.
“A branch from the hedge might work,” Elenna agreed eagerly.
Tom ran to the holly hedge and hacked at it with his sword. He sliced off the smaller twigs and branches from one long limb, cutting it free and dragging it onto the path. He trimmed the long branch so that it became a smooth pole twice his own height.
He tested it. It seemed flexible enough not to break. “I’ll go first,” he said. “Then I’ll throw it back for you.”
He lifted the pole and rested it on his shoulder, taking several steps backward, his eyes fixed firmly on the far side of the chasm. He ran forward. The pole hit the ground. It slipped a little on the snow, then held firm. He sprang into the air, twisting in midair, propelling himself forward. He hung in the air over the chasm, glancing fearfully down to see the deep gulf gaping to swallow him. He gave a final jerk of his hips, the balance shifted, and he was safe on the other side.
He threw the pole back to Elenna and she caught it easily. A few moments later she was at his side.
“Let’s hope that was the last obstacle,” she said.
They walked on, but Tom quickly noticed that something was wrong with Krimon.
The Beast would falter every now and then, lifting a foreleg and rubbing at his neck with his claw, whining as if in pain. As they went on, Krimon got more and more distressed until finally, at a place where seven paths led off, he fell to the ground, tearing and scratching frantically at his neck.
“What’s wrong with him?” Elenna asked.
Tom ran forward and fell to his knees beside the writhing dragon. “It must be the link to his brother,” Tom said, panic rising in him. “Something bad must be happening to Vedra.” He looked at Elenna. “Krimon is suffering the same pain!”
The dragon thrashed about on the ground, crying out in agony. Above the maze of hedges, the moon was rising in the sky, its cold light giving the snow a ghostly sheen.
Suddenly, the fireball over Krimon’s head sputtered and went out, and at the same moment the orange glow on his chest disappeared. The Beast stopped writhing. He lay panting for a few moments, then got to his feet. Tom saw the look of loneliness in his eyes. Krimon began to whimper, thrusting his huge head into Elenna’s shoulder, fat tears running from his eyes as she wrapped her arms around him.
“The link between Vedra and Krimon has been broken,” Tom said. “Something very bad must have happened to his brother.” He felt desperate. He had failed. This really was the end — without the red dragon to guide them, how would they ever get into the heart of the maze?
“WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?” ELENNA ASKED. Tom could see tears shining in her eyes as she cradled the Beast.
“Why ask me?” he snapped. “I’m not a wizard who knows everything!”
Elenna bit her lip.
“I’m sorry,” he said, breathing deeply. He knew he had to fight against the anger. It would only cloud his mind and make things more difficult. But the whimpering of Krimon was making his head ache.
The dragon cried out again. Tom turned to the Beast, shaking, his hand on his sword hilt as he snarled, “Be quiet!”
“Tom, he isn’t making a sound,” Elenna said.
Tom stared at her. “I can hear him,” he said. “He’s howling and moaning.”
“No, he isn’t.”
Tom looked at Krimon. The red dragon was perfectly still and calm. Then where was the whimpering and crying out coming from?
A sudden understanding dawned. “It’s Vedra!” he gasped.
“I can’t hear anything,” Elenna said.
“I can — listen closely. There!” Tom said. He stared around the junction of the seven paths. Facing one of them, he heard Vedra’s cries grow louder.
“He’s this way!” he said. “Come on — try to get Krimon to follow.”
Tom ran down the path, filled with new faith in himself. Seth had put an evil charm on him to try and make him fail — and now that same charm was leading him to the Quest’s end.
Elenna and Krimon followed as Tom ran through the maze, kicking up clumps of snow as he went. His breath was white smoke in the freezing night air. Krimon’s voice was loud now — the lost Beast was very close.
The full moon had risen above the hedges and was shining down into the labyrinth of snow-laden holly trees. But they still had a little while before it reached the top of the sky. Time to succeed … or time to fail.
Tom came to a fork in the maze.
“I can hear him now,” Elenna cried, coming up behind him as he hesitated at the junction.
With Tom in the lead, they turned a final bend and came stumbling into a wide circular clearing. Vedra was there in the center — pinned to the ground by thick spiked chains of gold. As the Beast struggled, the spikes tore his flesh, and Tom saw that the injuries were worst around Vedra’s neck, where threads of blood ran down his shining scales. Tom realized that these must be the injuries Krimon was feeling.
Standing just out of reach of the dragon was Seth. The boy smiled as Tom and Elenna and Krimon came into the clearing.
“I see you have come to watch the full moon with us,” Seth said with a mocking bow. “My master hoped you would be here in time to see the Beasts corrupted.”
Tom was about to launch himself at the smirking boy, when Krimon ran past him toward his captive twin.
To Tom’s surprise, Seth took a sudden sidestep toward Vedra and jerked at the end of his chains. The golden links fell away from the Beast and he rose from the ground.
But Tom could see that something had happened to the green dragon. As his twin ran forward, Vedra reared up, his eyes gleaming with wicked magic. His jaws opened and a burst of fierce red fire spurted toward Krimon. A moment later, Vedra leaped at his brother, roaring with anger, his jaws wide, his claws raised.
Malvel’s dark magic was in Vedra’s blood — he had already been turned to evil. Tom was too late.
WITH A CRY OF RAGE, TOM RUSHED TOWARD Vedra to stop him from attacking his twin. But Seth sprang forward, his bronze sword whirling in the moonlight. “You can’t do anything now. Vedra is ours!”
“Try fighting me one-on-one,” Tom challenged his opponent. “No magic tricks.”
Seth grinned, his face pure evil. “I don’t need magic to defeat you.” Quick as a snake, Seth struck out with his bronze sword and sent Tom’s blade leaping from his hand.
Tom fell back as blow after savage blow rained down on his shield. He stumbled down onto his side in the snow, just managing to keep his shield up. Over to one side, he could see Vedra and Krimon engaged in their own feroc
ious fight.
Seth straddled Tom, his sword rising and falling.
Tom felt his arm muscles weakening under the relentless assault. He could not think properly and despair and defeat were filling his mind.
Then he heard a high-pitched yell and above the rim of his shield he saw Elenna attacking Seth from the side, wielding Tom’s own sword, beating Seth back, trading attacks as she forced him away from Tom.
But even as Tom tried to get to his feet, he saw that Elenna’s attack was failing. Seth was too strong for her. He fought back with hard and fast strikes. Using all his strength, Tom hurled the shield, skimming it just above the ground. It caught Seth below the knees, sending him crashing.
Elenna was quick to take advantage of their enemy’s fall. She brought her foot down on his wrist, stooping to snatch the bronze sword from his fingers.
“Well done, Elenna!” Tom shouted, scrambling to his feet.
“I’ve got him,” Elenna called. “Take this — help Krimon!” She threw Tom his sword, transferring Seth’s weapon to her right hand and aiming the point squarely at the sprawling boy’s throat. Seth glared up at her but didn’t try to move.
The noise of the fighting twin dragons was terrifying. Their roars filled the clearing as tails lashed and flame spurted and claws lunged. Vedra was winning the fight, the evil inside him making him fight more fiercely. As Tom ran forward, he saw Krimon tumble onto his back with a howl.
Vedra pounced on his twin with a blast of fire. The snow turned to spurting steam all around them. If it weren’t for Krimon’s scales, he would have been scorched to death by the blast of flame.
The fact that Vedra’s attention was focused on his brother was Tom’s only advantage. He knew what he had to do and with the moon high in the sky he had only a few seconds left to do it. He remembered Aduro’s words. He had to score Vedra’s underbelly with the tip of his sword, marking him with the sign of Good. And he had to do it before the possessed Beast noticed him.