by Adam Blade
“If Gulkien trusts your Beast, that’s good enough for now,” Gwen replied. Her long cloak fluttered in the cold wind swirling around them, and Tanner caught the flash of metal at her waist. Her belt was lined with a set of throwing axes. Holding on to her Beast with one hand, she dipped the other hand into a secret pocket in the lining of her cloak and pulled out a slender rapier with a cross guard shaped like a wolf’s gaping jaw.
“Then you’ll help me get your brother back?” said Tanner.
“No, you can help me get my brother back,” she said wryly.
Tanner smiled, then gazed down at Gor’s army, far below. He put the Looking Crystal to his eye and swept it over the marching column. He paused when he saw the white shock of Geffen’s hair. His hands were bound and he was being dragged behind a varkule, slipping and stumbling.
Tanner stole a glance at Gwen. Her blue eyes gazed down at the army, her mouth set in a determined line. What were the chances of finding another Chosen Rider? It seemed incredible that this girl had a Beast, too. His grandmother had told him to come here to find the Mapmaker, but was Gwen part of the plan as well? There was no way of knowing yet.
Tanner and Gwen soared high above Avantia, tracking the army that moved quickly and with purpose. Gor took the lead on his horse, followed by the spearmen, swordsmen, and crossbowmen. On either side, loping ahead, were the fearsome varkules. When the wind turned in their direction, he heard the monotonous trudge of the troop’s footsteps, as steady as a funeral drum.
The sun sank behind the distant hills and a single star appeared above the horizon, where the dark shadow of a forest carpeted the landscape. Tanner was sure that in the gathering gloom none of the soldiers would be able to spot the two Beasts flying just above them.
“So, was the Mapmaker your father?” shouted Tanner over the wind.
Gwen shook her head. “Jonas isn’t our real father. Geffen and I were abandoned as babies. We were left in a hayloft. He found us one night when he was looking for somewhere to sleep. He fed us and kept us warm — he saved our lives. After that, we traveled with him as he mapped Avantia, crisscrossing the kingdom for years. He’d been training Geffen and me to follow in his footsteps. He disappeared years ago. He left a note saying he’d done as much as he could for us. There’s not a day I don’t miss him, but he never could stay long in the same place.”
“Why did your parents leave you like that?” The question was out of Tanner’s mouth before he could do anything to stop it. He’d lost both his parents at the hands of Derthsin, but he couldn’t imagine how it would feel to be abandoned.
Gwen’s face flushed and she turned away.
“I’m sorry,” Tanner said. He tried again. “What’s special about the map Gor stole?”
“Did you see it? What did it look like?” she asked.
“I only saw it rolled up, but it looked quite big. And it was yellow parchment with a wavy black border,” Tanner explained.
Gwen nodded sadly. “I know the one.” She pointed to an outcrop of rocks high on a hillside. “Let’s set down over there. We’ll be able to keep an eye on Gor.”
Firepos wheeled alongside Gulkien and together they descended. Tanner saw Gulkien’s four massive paws spread to cushion the impact of landing. He licked his long incisors and lay forward on his front legs to let Gwen dismount. Firepos folded her wings, and Tanner climbed off. Gulkien padded up to Tanner and sniffed him suspiciously. Tanner was startled but he held his ground; his head barely reached the wolf’s shoulder.
Seemingly satisfied, Gulkien rejoined Gwen’s side.
The four of them settled down behind the rocky outcrop, which sheltered them from the mountain winds. Glancing down the hill, Tanner spied Gor’s army heading toward the forest.
Gwen spoke quietly. “Judging by your description, the map General Gor stole is the only one covering all of Avantia. Jonas said it showed the way to a hidden power, even though it looks just like an ordinary map.”
“He never told you what he meant?”
Gwen shook her head, not meeting Tanner’s eye. “He said I’d know when it was time. That the answer was close to my heart.”
Tanner felt cold, even though the wind had dropped. Should he tell this girl about the mask and the hidden power of the scattered pieces? “Have you heard of the Mask of Death?” he said eventually.
“Only from the stories Jonas told us when we were small,” said Gwen. “They used to say it could control the Beasts of Avantia. But it was lost, wasn’t it?”
Tanner nodded. “Deliberately lost, I think. I mean it was hidden. We found it after my father fought … Derthsin.”
“Derthsin.” Gwen shuddered. “You’ve seen him?”
Tanner nodded. “Yes. He’s a murdering warlord. He killed my father and took my mother. I never saw her again …. I fear she’s dead, too. Firepos killed Derthsin and my grandmother took the mask, split it into four pieces, and hid them. That’s what she told me, anyway. Perhaps she had help from Jonas. She must have known him, or why would she ask me to seek him out? Now Gor is looking for the rest of it — he’s already found one piece.”
“Does he want the mask for himself, do you think?” Gwen asked.
“I don’t know.”
Gwen frowned. “Why would they have gone to the trouble of scattering and hiding all the pieces of the mask and then make a map to show where they all are?”
“You knew Jonas,” Tanner said. “Was he ever … clever with his maps?” Gwen smiled and cast her eyes down, so that Tanner couldn’t see her face. “Tell me,” he said.
She looked up. “It’s true that he wasn’t an ordinary mapmaker. Perhaps there’s something special about the map he drew.”
“Like what?” Tanner asked.
Gwen shrugged. “I don’t know. We’ll need to find out — if we get it back. And we have to, don’t we? We’ve already seen what those men are capable of. We have to stop Gor from spreading any more death and destruction.” She paced back to Gulkien. The mighty Beast lowered himself again, his fur bristling.
Tanner watched her swing onto her Beast’s back. I’m not sure we can avoid death or destruction, he thought. Tanner sensed that things were going to get worse before they got better. But what choice do we have? We have to fight.
He strode toward Firepos, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword.
Firepos and Gulkien swept down side by side, and landed in the thick grass of the meadow at the edge of the forest. The dense trees swallowed up the fading daylight, and Tanner could see only a few paces into the forest gloom. The track the soldiers had taken was clearly marked, though — the ground scuffed with heavy footprints. Branches had been hacked down along the track, as if the soldiers had enjoyed destroying anything in their path.
“We’ll have to leave the Beasts here,” said Tanner. Gulkien growled. “We don’t want them to get trapped under the trees.”
“All right,” said Gwen, “but let’s just scout out General Gor’s camp for now. I don’t want to take any risks with my brother’s life.” She pulled up her hood. Shadow fell over her face and only her mouth was visible.
Firepos ruffled her feathers and hissed softly. “I know, Firepos,” Tanner said. “I don’t like leaving you behind. But we’ll be careful.”
Taking cautious steps, they entered the forest. Night was falling. The air was cool and damp under the thick foliage. Each snapping twig and rustling leaf made the breath catch in Tanner’s throat. His mind was filled with terrible images. What if Gor decided he’d had enough of Geffen and killed him?
Gwen froze and held up her hand. Tanner stopped dead. Ahead, he heard the sound of metal on metal. Gwen put a finger to her lips and beckoned him to follow. They edged closer to the sound. Soon he could make out hushed voices. Tanner’s eyes strained to see between the trees. He spied an orange glow. Fire. He smelled smoke. That was good — it meant the breeze was blowing from the enemy camp, and the varkules wouldn’t pick up their scent.
The trees thinn
ed out as they approached a clearing. The moon had risen above the forest, giving Tanner a good view of the enemy camp. Tents were pitched beside a stream, and several fires crackled. Soldiers sat in groups, eating from bowls, and the smell of roasting meat drifted into Tanner’s nostrils. He realized how hungry he was. One soldier was running the blade of his sword along a sharpening tool; another was placing a bandage on his comrade’s arm. The varkules were lying on their stomachs, asleep after the day’s long march.
There was no sign of Geffen.
General Gor strode into view, still clad in his black armor. Tucked under one arm was his dragon helmet. He had broad, coarse features, with closely cropped red hair and a beard. Tanner shivered as he saw the malice in his deep-set eyes. Gor paused by a soldier who was sitting on a log, cleaning mud from his leather boots. He grasped a boot and turned it over, inspecting it carefully. The sound of angry words rose in the air and the general took a step back, then planted his foot firmly in the soldier’s chest, kicking him off the log.
“Clean yourselves up, you dogs!” he shouted. “We have a long march through the Broken Gorge tomorrow.”
He left the rest of the men grumbling and walked off. Tanner and Gwen followed the general, carefully navigating their way around the outside of the camp, darting from tree to tree. They reached a tent set aside from the others, with its own fire blazing outside. Gor was bending on one knee before the flames, his eyes closed. This was too good an opportunity to miss.
“Now’s our chance,” whispered Tanner. Gwen nodded, her mouth set in a thin line. He drew his sword silently, and Gwen brushed her cloak away from her side, pulling an ax from her belt.
“Come, Master!” said Gor suddenly. Tanner peered around the tree again. Gor had raised one arm to the fire, and his fingers were splayed. Slowly, he drew them together in a fist. “Arise, Lord of Avantia!”
The flames flickered and flared, stretching upward into a column, swirling around like a tornado, changing color from yellow to green. Magic! Tanner put out a hand to hold Gwen back and the two of them watched intently.
The fire died back, shrinking to an unearthly blue glow in the shape of … a man. Even from his hiding place Tanner saw a head with scorched hair and a face lined with vicious scars. The vision’s skin was blistered and raw; there was something terrible about the image in the fire. Something familiar.
He swallowed a gasp. Even with the deeply etched scars and the features melted by fire, there could be no doubt. He’d seen this face before, as a child.
Derthsin. The man who killed my father.
Greetings, Master,” said General Gor.
“Have you retrieved the mask?” hissed Derthsin’s image.
“I beg your forgiveness, Master, but I have not,” said Gor. “Only a fragment of the mask was in Forton, where it was lost. It seems that the meddlesome old woman has hidden the other pieces, with help from a Colweirian mapmaker.”
Gor glanced up into the vision’s rage-contorted face. He hurriedly continued. “But there is good news! We have retrieved a map telling us where the pieces are.” The general smiled nervously, rounding his shoulders as if he were trying to make himself smaller in front of his superior.
The blue image briefly flared brighter. Tanner closed his eyes against the glare. It was Derthsin, communicating with Gor through the fire. How had he survived being dropped into the volcano by Firepos, all those years ago?
“General Gor,” Derthsin hissed. “Do you wish to earn my displeasure?”
Gor shook his head.
“Burn every village; kill every peasant. I care not what you do — just get me my mask!”
“I will,” said General Gor. Tanner could see he was trembling. “I just need more time.”
“Very well,” said Derthsin. “But if you fail, I will turn Varlot on you.”
So the Beast is under Derthsin’s control!
“Yes, Master,” said Gor.
The image of the warlord shrank back into the embers with a hiss. Derthsin had gone; Gor’s time with him was over. The general climbed stiffly to his feet and retreated to his tent, emerging a moment later with the rolled-up map in one hand and the broken piece of mask in his other.
It was time. Tanner edged closer with Gwen at his side. They were only a few paces away when Tanner’s foot came down on a dry stick. Gor’s head snapped up. He stared through the trees into the darkness. He was looking straight at them — or was he?
Tanner didn’t move a muscle. He didn’t even breathe. Beside him, he sensed Gwen holding still. The general’s eyes narrowed. After what seemed an eternity his body relaxed and he turned back to the map, unrolling it on the ground and peering at it. He gave a low curse, then bellowed toward the camp. “Bring me the prisoner!”
Two soldiers appeared dragging a whimpering Geffen between the tents. His face was paler than ever. The soldiers threw him down at the general’s feet. “Leave us,” Gor ordered.
As the soldiers departed, the general leaned down and seized Geffen by his hair. He yanked the boy viciously to his feet.
Beside Tanner, Gwen raised one of her throwing axes, but Tanner shook his head. They might learn something useful.
“It seems we have a problem,” said Gor.
“Wh-What?” asked Geffen.
“The map isn’t telling me what I need to know.” Gor pushed him toward the unrolled parchment.
Geffen looked at the map and shrugged helplessly.
“You know as well as I do that the map has something to do with this,” he spat, holding up the mask fragment. “And you’re going to help me find the rest. What are the map’s secrets?” Gor’s face was contorted with fury, all his attention focused on the boy.
Tanner turned to Gwen and mouthed, “Ready?”
She nodded, her lips pressed together in a look of grim determination.
“I don’t understand,” said Geffen, his voice breaking. “Jonas never taught me how to read this map’s secrets!”
Gor snorted, and threw the piece of mask at Gwen’s brother. It bounced off his chest and landed on the ground.
“You will tell me,” said Gor, “or you will —”
Tanner felt Gwen’s arm swish past his ear, and an ax spun through the air. Gor jerked back as it thudded into a tree a finger’s breadth past his head. She rushed toward Gor, who quickly pulled Geffen toward him and placed his dagger against the boy’s neck.
“Stop!” Gwen pulled her rapier from her cloak’s lining, and held the slender blade to Gor’s throat.
“Gwen!” cried Geffen.
Tanner advanced on Gor, his sword leveled.
“Another step,” said the general, “and I’ll slice his throat like a pig.”
“If you kill him,” said Gwen, her blade steady as a rock, “you die, too.”
“Then it seems we have a dilemma,” sneered General Gor.
Tanner’s eyes were drawn to the map. The piece of the mask lay beside it. If he could only snatch them up …
A crunch — the sound of wood splintering. The ground began to shake.
Tanner spun around, lifting his sword. Horror swept through him.
At the edge of the clearing, Varlot stood with bronzed hooves planted wide, his massive chest rising and falling beneath his scaled armor. He reached out and gripped the branch of a nearby tree. With one massive tug, he tore the whole tree from the ground. Soil fell from the white roots, and leaves swirled through the air. Varlot roared and hurled the tree straight at Tanner.
Tanner dove out of the way as the tree descended. Branches and twigs lashed his face. He leaped back to his feet just as Gwen lunged with her rapier, the thin blade hissing through the air. Varlot was too quick for her and leaped out of the way, his bronze hooves smashing into the ground as he fell back to the earth. Gwen pulled an ax from her belt and sent it spinning at the Beast. It lodged in Varlot’s armored skin, making the Beast bellow with rage. Tanner hacked his sword at the Beast’s side, but the blade bounced off with a metallic ring.<
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Varlot lashed out with a hoof, catching Tanner in the stomach, sending him stumbling through the burning logs of the fire. He landed facedown in the dirt. Pain flared in his ribs, but he struggled up. Gor was dragging Geffen back to the camp. In his other hand was the mask and the map.
“Don’t tell him how to use the map!” shouted Gwen.
Geffen called something in reply, but Tanner couldn’t hear.
Varlot tore a branch from the tree and swung it at Gwen. She ducked beneath it and darted toward him, hacking at the Beast’s legs with her rapier. The armored hide was thinner there and the Beast staggered back, roaring, eyes swiveling wildly. Tanner ran to her side, swinging his sword.
“Run!” he shouted.
“I can’t leave without Geffen!”
Varlot crashed into a tree, tearing its roots from the ground. He dropped the branch and swiped his arm, catching Gwen on the side of her head. She sprawled across the ground and stopped moving. Varlot raised a deadly hoof above her body.
“No!” Tanner shouted.
Just then, the canopy of leaves above them seemed to press down, and a dark shape fell through, splintering branches. Gulkien, wings folded, landed on Varlot’s back and fastened his pointed fangs over the Horse Beast’s shoulder. The Beast’s cry echoed through the forest.
Tanner sheathed his sword and scooped up Gwen. She was unconscious. He ran, not caring where he went, as long as it was away from the camp. He heard the howls and snarls of the battling Beasts, and Gor’s voice shouting: “Find them!”
Gwen stirred in his arms, rolling her head weakly. Tanner risked a look back and saw points of light in the darkness. Torches. Adrenaline drove his legs, his arms were starting to ache, and there was a pain in his left side. Had he broken a rib?
A light appeared ahead, through the leaves in the sky. It was brighter than any torch and seemed to hover.
Firepos!
She was trying to guide him out. Tanner stumbled between the trees, tripping over roots, watching the beacon above. The noise of his pursuers faded away. Finally, he burst through the trees and out onto a track. Firepos, her wings burning against the black sky, dropped down beside him.