by Adam Blade
“Kitchen delivery,” Tom said quietly, pointing at his rucksack.
The guard’s eyes narrowed. “Aren’t you a little late?” he asked, clearly suspicious.
Tom had a feeling this was a test. “Am I? Then I’d better hurry!” he said, taking a few steps forward.
The guard looked uncertain but lowered his weapon and let him pass, giving Tom a final piercing stare. This boy did seem somehow familiar… .
“Yeah, you’d better. And don’t even think about sneaking through the front gate again—I don’t care how much longer it takes to go around!” the guard shouted at the boy’s back.
Tom walked forward confidently. He didn’t dare look back until the guard was out of sight. Another close call, he thought to himself. Now I need to find the king!
Sticking to the shadows and staying close to the walls, Tom cautiously explored the palace. A delicious smell of roasting meat and vegetables came wafting toward him through a door that was slightly ajar. His stomach growled. It seemed like ages since his meal of bread and cheese the day before. The palace kitchens must be in there, he said to himself. My excuse already worked once. Maybe if I go in, I’ll find a way of getting to King Hugo.
“Act like you own the place,” he muttered, marching up to the door. “Then no one will question what you’re doing here.”
Excitement and fear beat through him. Would he get away with it? All he knew was that the future of his village depended on it!
As soon as Tom walked in, he was struck by a heat so fierce it reminded him of the forge at home. Huge iron cauldrons hung over open fires. Red-cheeked maids milled about, stirring the steaming stews and laying out food on silver platters.
A huge, doughy woman bustled up to him, blond curls escaping from her lacy cap. “Ah!” she cried. “You must be the new kitchen boy the Chamberlain sent.”
“What? Oh, yes, that’s right,” Tom agreed quickly.
“I’m Cook,” the woman continued. “Thank goodness you’re here! Two serving girls are off sick and the king’s supper is almost ready to be served.”
“The king’s supper?” Tom gulped. “You want me to serve food to the king?”
“You? Don’t be daft, the head usher tends to him!” Cook gave a hearty laugh. “But the king is dining with his lords and ladies of the Inner Council tonight. You shall help to serve them what little food we have left!” She wiped her nose on the back of her hand, then threw a handful of herbs into a cauldron. Tom couldn’t believe the food shortages were affecting the palace. The troubles were even worse than he had imagined.
In a daze, Tom followed Cook over to where platters of food waited, ready for serving. A steward gave Tom a quick lesson in balancing the platter with his hand held high above his head. Then he turned on his heel. Tom followed him and the other servants up to the beaten-bronze doors of the royal dining chamber.
The head usher led the way inside and Tom’s heart beat faster. There was King Hugo himself, seated at a long table lit by tall candles. He was surrounded by grim-faced lords and ladies. Tom felt his breath catch in his throat. He had somehow managed to trick his way into the very heart of the palace! This was surely his chance to talk to the king.
But, looking at the majestic figure at the head of the table, Tom suddenly felt nervous. What should he say? Should he bow? What if King Hugo had him thrown into the dungeon?
Remember everyone at home, he told himself. You can’t back out now.
Squaring his shoulders, he carried his platter to the far end of the table. A short, elderly man with a wispy white beard sat there. He was dressed in a gown of faded red silk, a pointed hat perched upon his head. The old man’s gray eyes seemed to glow in the candlelight, as bright as the jewel he wore on a chain about his neck.
I thought only wizards dressed like that, Tom thought to himself.
“Well, a blacksmith would look pretty stupid in these clothes, wouldn’t he?” said the old man with a smile.
Tom gasped. “You read my mind!”
“That’s because I am a wizard,” the old man murmured, watching him closely. “But what are you, I wonder …?”
Tom didn’t have a chance to reply. The dining room doors flew open. The ragged young boy with the piece of armor and parchment scrambled inside. Two guards followed closely behind him.
“Forgive me, sire,” the boy croaked. “I am Robin, squire of Caldor the Brave. I come to you at his command.”
The king rose to his feet. “Greetings, Robin,” he said. “But where is Sir Caldor?”
Robin’s eyes brimmed with tears as he held up the piece of armor — a scorched breastplate. “He’s been burned to death by a dragon. Our quest is over.”
King Hugo groaned. “My bravest knight has perished,” he cried in despair. “Our kingdom is surely doomed!”
CHAPTER FIVE
SECRET IN THE FIRE
TOM COULD HARDLY BELIEVE WHAT HE WAS hearing. A chill ran through him. Was the king really giving up hope?
The wizard rose gravely from the table. “The Inner Council has private matters to discuss,” he said. “All those with no business here must leave at once.”
Two guards shooed everyone out through the dining room door. Tom hesitated — this was his chance to find out what was going on!
“Hurry up there!” the guards ordered, pushing past Tom. Tom seized his chance and doubled back to hide behind a thick pillar. He pressed his cheek against the cold stone. His heart was pounding so loudly that he was sure someone would hear it.
“Curse the Dark Wizard Malvel!” cried one of the lords. “We must break this evil spell he has placed upon the Beasts, before the fire dragon destroys us all!”
Dragons? Beasts? So it was true! A gasp escaped Tom’s lips.
Robin whipped around. “Who’s that in the shadows?”
“A spy!” exclaimed King Hugo.
“Please, let me explain!” Tom pleaded. Two guards lunged forward, but he leapt out of the way. A third threw himself at Tom’s legs, but Tom jumped over him. “I’m only here because I want to save lives!”
“Enough!” thundered Aduro, the wizard, and everybody froze. “What is it, Aduro?” asked the king sharply.
The wizard smiled. “There is more to this boy than you realize.”
Tom stared as a small, flickering flame appeared in the palm of Aduro’s hand. Aduro held his hand out toward Tom, and the flame turned violet. King Hugo looked at Tom through the magical fire, and his eyes widened.
“Why … this is Taladon’s son!”
“Taladon!” Tom said in disbelief. “You knew my father, Your Majesty?”
“Yes, I knew him,” the king said. “What is your name, boy?”
“Tom,” the wizard answered for him. “As you can see, he is every bit as swift as Taladon! Your Majesty, I must speak with you and Tom alone.”
King Hugo nodded to his lords and ladies. “You may go. Please treat Robin as your honored guest.”
Robin bowed and joined the lords and ladies as they left the room. As the doors closed, the wizard pulled the king to one side. Tom strained to catch their conversation as they talked in heated whispers.
At last, King Hugo beckoned to Tom. Heart pounding, Tom approached him.
“Tom, our land is in terrible danger,” said the king. “The Dark Wizard Malvel has hunted down the ancient Beasts and gained power over them all. Normally, they watch over Avantia and protect us all from danger. Now they have been turned against us and carry out acts of terror and destruction in Malvel’s name. Even my bravest knights are unable to stop them.”
So the Beasts did exist! They were real and living in Avantia!
“Who is this Malvel character?” asked Tom.
“Once, he was a good man, with a good life,” said King Hugo. “But his happiness did not last, and his life turned sour.”
Aduro took up the story. “He hoped to make it sweet again through magical means. He searched out forbidden knowledge, wisdom, and power dating back to t
he Dawn of the Beasts, that our ancestors decreed no one should possess.”
Tom’s mouth felt dry. “And he found that knowledge?”
“Or it found him,” said Aduro mysteriously.
“Why don’t you catch Malvel?” Tom asked. “Then you could force him to undo his magic.”
“As long as Malvel controls the Beasts, we cannot harm him,” said Aduro. “We only have the power to free the Beasts one at a time, and return them to good. But we mustn’t let the people of Avantia know the Beasts really exist. These creatures can only be at peace if they’re left to themselves.”
“Malvel’s evil powers make the Beasts almost unstoppable,” the king continued. “Ferno the Fire Dragon is burning all our crops. And the other Beasts — sea serpents, ice beasts, mountain giants, and more — are causing floods and avalanches elsewhere in Avantia. They will ruin our kingdom, unless we can set them free from the enchantment. That is why I sent Sir Caldor to unlock the dragon’s charmed collar.” He gave Tom a large silver key. “Only this will undo the lock.”
Tom turned the key over in the palm of his hand. Despite its size, it was very light.
“The key was created by Aduro, but can only be put to use by a warrior,” the king murmured. “Your father once served me — now I ask you to do the same. Aduro’s magic has shown me the strength and goodness within you, a match for any knight in my kingdom.”
A shiver of excitement traveled up Tom’s spine.
The king leaned forward. “Will you risk your life on the Beast Quest?”
“I will,” Tom said without hesitation. He had never been more sure of anything in his life. “Whatever it takes — I will!“
CHAPTER SIX
GATHERING STORM
TOM WOKE EARLY THE NEXT MORNING IN THE royal guest bedroom. Excitement swept through him and he jumped out of bed. New clothes and a silver chain-mail vest had been laid out on a wooden chest near the door.
His heart pounded as he slipped on the dark trousers and woolen, long-sleeved vest. Then, with a thrill of delight, he tried the chain mail on for size. It was beautifully made and fit him perfectly. Over that he wore a plain gray tabard to hide the chain mail. After all, his quest was a secret one. Tom smiled proudly as he looked at his reflection in the mirror. No one would guess that the king had given a simple blacksmith’s apprentice such a vital mission.
Suddenly he felt a moment of doubt.
Can I really succeed where the bravest knight in the land has failed? Tom wondered to himself.
“Yes, you can,” came a soft voice behind him.
Tom turned with a start to find the wizard Aduro at the door. He was holding a sword and a wooden shield.
“You may think you are an unlikely hero,” Aduro went on. “But in these strange times, all things are possible.”
“I suppose they are,” Tom agreed with a smile. “Are the sword and shield for me?”
“Let’s find out.” Aduro tossed the sword over to him.
Tom caught it by the hilt. It matched his grip perfectly and felt far lighter than the blacksmith’s tools he’d used for practice. “This is the sword for me!” he cried.
Now Aduro passed him the polished wooden shield. It was well crafted, but very plain. Tom remembered the knights at the king’s coronation with their bright, colorful shields and felt a twinge of disappointment.
“Appearances can be deceiving,” Aduro smiled, reading Tom’s thoughts. “On your quest, you will find allies in the strangest of places and in unlikely forms. But you have a wise heart, boy. Trust your instincts.”
“I’ll try. But tell me …” Tom hesitated. “I have always thought that my father left me to go on a quest of his own. Is that true, Aduro?”
“So I have heard,” the wizard said evenly. “And I believe his quest goes on, even now.”
“Then he had a reason for leaving me alone,” Tom realized. “And I shall do all I can to help save the kingdom — and to make him proud of me.” He paused, looking into Aduro’s eyes. “Do you think I will ever see him again?”
“All things are possible,” said Aduro quietly. “Now, I have other gifts for you. Firstly …” He took a parchment scroll from his pocket. The scroll was just like the one Robin had been holding the night before.
As Aduro unrolled it, Tom saw it was a map of the whole kingdom. Tom stepped closer for a better look, and the map came to life! Trees and hills and mountains rose up from the paper, standing as tall as Tom’s thumbnail. Cautiously he reached out to touch one of the white mountains in the north. His finger came away glittering with frost.
Tom looked up at Aduro, startled. The wizard nodded at the map.
“Look closer,” Aduro commanded. Now Tom saw tiny twisting paths spring up like veins on the pale parchment. They slowly spread across the map toward a large mountain in the southwest, dark and unwelcoming.
“The Fire Dragon’s mountain,” Tom guessed.
“Yes.” Aduro held up the silver key Tom had been shown the night before. A loop of leather cord had been threaded through the top, and Aduro hung the key around Tom’s neck like a medal. “Only if you set Ferno free can I begin to put right Malvel’s evil.”
“I will do all I can,” Tom promised.
“Now, you must go,” Aduro said. “Your horse waits outside.”
Tom picked up his sword and shield and followed Aduro out to the stable yard, where a groom stood with a jet-black stallion. Tom had seen many horses and ponies come into his uncle’s forge, but he had never before seen one as beautiful as this.
The stallion whinnied in greeting. It had a white mark the shape of an arrowhead between its eyes. Two leather bags hung down on either side of its saddle.
“The stallion’s name is Storm,” said Aduro. “He is young and fast.”
Storm pushed his nose against Tom’s shoulder and looked up at him.
Tom beamed. “I think we’ll get along well, Storm,” he said as he grabbed the reins and swung himself up onto the horse’s back.
He looked down at the wizard. “What will happen to my village? They are relying on me for help.”
“A cart is on its way there with food and water,” said Aduro. “The driver will tell your uncle you have been sent on a special errand for the king — and that you will return as soon as you can.”
Tom patted Storm’s neck. “Thank you, Aduro — and good-bye!”
“Farewell, my young friend. All our hopes go with you.”
Tom nodded and clapped his heels to Storm’s sides. Storm cantered away, out of the palace courtyard and into the hectic city streets. Storm’s hooves clattered on the cobblestones as he swerved around carts and passersby. Tom saw the city gates looming up ahead. His heart pounded with excitement. Soon he would be on his own. “Faster, Storm!” he urged.
Storm galloped out through the gates. As they headed toward the grassy plains, Tom gave a wild whoop. This was it! His adventure had begun!
Charging along on horseback, Tom felt any doubts he had slip away. Not only was Storm the fastest horse Tom had ever ridden, but he seemed to understand exactly what Tom wanted him to do. He slowed down at the slightest pull on the reins and sped up the second Tom touched him with his heels. He and Storm would be fine, so long as they stuck together.
By late afternoon they had reached the edge of the grassy plains. A vast forest stretched out before them. It looked dark and mysterious, but the map showed that the quickest way to the dragon’s cave was to cut straight through the woods.
“Come on, Storm,” Tom said, carefully guiding the stallion through the trees. “We’ll go this way.”
The trail twisted and turned through the silent forest. The trees seemed to press in closer and closer. Branches clawed at Tom’s hair and scratched his cheeks.
Pulling his sword from its sheath, he dismounted and started hacking at the undergrowth to clear a path.
Tom suddenly heard a rustling noise and stopped still.
“Who’s there?” Tom called. No answer
.
Pressing on, Tom sliced through a thick tangle of brambles. Did the trail get any clearer up ahead? Taking hold of Storm’s reins, he pushed his way through the thicket.
A set of gleaming yellow fangs suddenly snapped in his face.
Tom leaped back with a shout of alarm. A wolf! Its gray fur was matted, its amber eyes wild. Strings of drool hung from its jaws. Its huge paws were like clubs and ended in lethal claws.
Tom staggered back against Storm.
Gray fur bristling, the wolf bared its teeth and crouched down, ready to spring!
CHAPTER SEVEN
THE FOREST OF FEAR
STORM PULLED AWAY FROM TOM AND REARED up, kicking out with his front hooves. Tom threw himself into the bushes by the side of the trail. But the wolf didn’t attack Tom. It growled at something that was crashing through the undergrowth.
Suddenly, three soldiers smashed their way into the clearing, their eyes glinting fiercely through the slit in their helmets. The wolf advanced toward them and its growl grew angrier.
“We’ll teach that girl and her vermin to steal from our master!” snarled the first soldier, aiming his crossbow at the wolf’s head.
“No!” Tom scrambled up from his hiding place just as the soldier shot an arrow. Thinking quickly, Tom threw his sword. It spun through the air and sliced the short, heavy arrow in half before plunging into a tree trunk.
“Another poacher! Get him!” One of the soldiers charged at Tom, sword raised. But the wolf threw itself at the man’s legs, knocking them out from under him. Outraged, the other two soldiers charged toward Tom.
Tom grabbed Storm’s reins and swung himself onto the horse’s back. Lying low in the saddle, he rushed at the men with the wolf at his side, sending them running. Steering sharply, he pulled Storm back around and wrenched his sword from the tree trunk. He rode toward the soldiers once again, scattering them into the woods. The wolf pulled ahead, and Tom and Storm galloped after it.