by Adam Blade
Beyond the smashed doorway loomed an enormous chamber. The walls rose up in sheer slopes. Dangling high above the stony ground, with coils of rope wrapped around their middles, were Uncle Henry and Aunt Maria. The thick rope stretched high into the cavern above, attached somewhere out of sight. Tom’s aunt and uncle squirmed when they saw him, setting the ropes creaking.
“Tom! Thank goodness!” said Aunt Maria. “Help us down!”
Tom quickly scanned the walls of the cavern, but they were completely sheer, and slick with water and moss. There wasn’t a handhold in sight.
“Don’t panic!” he said. “I’ll think of something.”
Perhaps Epos could burn through the ropes…. No, that was a foolish idea. His aunt and uncle would plunge to their deaths. What they needed was something to land on. Something soft … like phoenix feathers …
“Epos!” said Tom. But the flame bird seemed to read his mind — she was already taking to the air, lighting the upper reaches of the cavern. She let out an echoing squawk as she swooped down beneath his aunt and uncle and hovered there, so their feet brushed against her feathers.
“She’s supporting them,” said Elenna. “Can you use your sword to cut the ropes?”
“How?” said Tom. “I can’t fly up there!”
“Throw it,” said Elenna.
“What if I miss?” he said. “I might injure someone.”
“We trust you,” shouted Uncle Henry. “We know you won’t let us down.”
His uncle’s words fired Tom with courage. He took careful aim, then hurled his sword through the air. It spun in dizzying arcs across the cavern, the blade whistling, and sliced smoothly through both ropes. Tom’s aunt and uncle tumbled safely into Epos’s cushioned feathers. The sword clattered onto the cavern floor.
“Well done!” shouted Elenna.
Tom rushed over to where the flame bird had landed. “I’m so happy I found you,” he said, hugging his aunt and uncle tightly. “I thought I might never —”
“Shush, nephew,” said Uncle Henry. “We knew you’d come. Malvel can’t stand in the way of courage like yours.” He turned to Elenna. “And Tom’s lucky to have a companion like you.”
“Thank you,” Elenna said. She gave a mischievous smile. “I’m just the brains of the team!”
“She’s not bad with a bow and arrow, either,” said Tom, laughing. Elenna blushed. “And we wouldn’t even be here without Epos.”
Uncle Henry stared at the Beast. “I … I’ve never seen a …”
“She’s the winged flame,” said Tom. “A good Beast. There’s nothing to fear.”
Epos ruffled her feathers and cawed.
“Incredible,” said Tom’s uncle. “Well, my thanks to all of you.”
Tom’s heart felt light with joy. His aunt and uncle were free, and Malvel was overcome….
Then the sound of slow clapping emerged from the gloom on the other side of the chamber.
Tom turned. “Who’s there?” he said.
“Well done!” said Sethrina, stepping into the light of the chamber. Beside her lumbered Nawdren, beak drooling thick saliva, and black talons scraping the cave floor. Epos rose to her feet and screeched in alarm.
Tom’s hand darted to his hip, but his scabbard was empty.
Sethrina bent down and picked up something from the ground. “Looking for this?” she sneered, holding up Tom’s sword.
“Give that back!” said Tom. “Let’s make this a fair fight.”
Sethrina’s laughter filled the echoing space. “What makes you think I want a fair fight? My brother told me how stupid you are. Poor, brave, stupid Tom. Didn’t you realize this was a trap?”
“Oh no!” said Aunt Maria.
“Drop the sword!” shouted Elenna. Tom turned to see that she’d strung her bow and was pointing an arrow at Sethrina. Nawdren gave an angry roar, filling the air with a heavy green mist. Tom moved to shield his aunt and uncle.
Elenna fired the arrow. It sped toward Sethrina, but with a deft flick of her wrist, she chopped the shaft in half.
“It’ll take more than your pins to stop me,” she mocked. “I’ve got Malvel’s magic on my side.”
Tom felt for the fragment of horseshoe on his shield. Ever since he’d freed Tagus, it gave him the ability to move at super speed. He’d need that now.
“I’ve got some tricks of my own,” he said. He shot forward, and before Sethrina could draw breath, he slammed into her. Tom’s sword fell from her hands.
Sethrina drew her sword and leaped toward him, swinging her blade. Tom rolled beneath the attack and plucked his sword from the ground. He turned to face her.
“Now the odds are even,” he said. “Let’s find out how good you really are.”
CHAPTER FIVE
THE FINAL FIGHT
SETHRINA LOWERED HER WEAPON AND ARCHED one black eyebrow.
“Don’t you dare to fight me?” asked Tom.
Sethrina smiled and sheathed her sword. “Why should I duel with you?” she said. “I have a Beast for that. Nawdren!”
At her command, the black phoenix stepped forward. Spiros, who had been resting near the door of the cavern, let out a cry of despair. Epos screeched and moved toward Tom. He held up his hand to tell the winged flame to stop, then raised his sword. This was his battle.
Nawdren spread her wings, which spanned half the cavern, and leaped in the air, her talons outstretched. Tom pushed his aunt and uncle aside, and Nawdren slammed into the ground a shield’s width from where they had been standing. The Beast smashed Tom off his feet with one of her wings, sending him flying to the edge of the cave.
Tom climbed dizzily to his feet. To his horror he saw Nawdren rearing to her full height above his aunt and uncle. Her black beak looked as sharp as an ax.
“No!” he shouted.
Suddenly, in a flash of red, Epos descended onto Nawdren’s back. High-pitched screeches pierced the cavern, and black and red feathers fluttered in the air.
“Uncle Henry,” Tom yelled, “you have to get out of here!”
Nawdren threw Epos off her back, and the flame bird landed in a heavy heap by the cave wall. Then the black phoenix turned to attack Tom’s uncle again. Tom swung his sword at the evil Beast. The blade rebounded off Nawdren’s beak with a sound like a blacksmith’s hammer, and sent Nawdren reeling backward.
Tom’s uncle and aunt darted toward the broken doorway.
“They’re getting away!” shouted Sethrina.
Nawdren turned her massive head and bounded across the cavern after them. Tom threw a desperate glance at Epos. She was moving, but only a little. There was nothing Tom could do.
Suddenly, an arrow buried itself in Nawdren’s chest feathers. Elenna! The Beast staggered. Tom’s friend unleashed another shaft, which thudded in next to the first. “Get back, slave of Malvel!” Elenna cried.
Nawdren’s howl of pain filled the dank air. Uncle Henry and Aunt Maria slipped through the doorway. The evil Beast bent her head to her chest and snapped the arrows away, flinging them to the cavern floor. Her eyes glowed silver with anger. Elenna fired another arrow, but Nawdren batted it away with her wing. Then she charged at Elenna.
Tom dashed to help. He swung his sword and felt it slice into Nawdren’s wing. The Beast screeched again and rose off the ground. She hovered, flapping one wing frantically, the injured one half-folded into her side.
Spiros was suddenly beside her, darting at the wound.
“What’s she doing?” asked Elenna. “She can’t help — she’s only a ghost!”
Spiros wheeled away, then dived again, letting out a desperate wail. Epos sent a cry from the cavern floor.
“She’s trying to attack the wound,” said Tom.
“Finish the boy!” shouted Sethrina. “Malvel wants him dead.”
Nawdren twisted away from Spiros and swooped down, her talons whistling through the air. Tom lifted his shield and felt the weight of the bird crash into the wood. He was knocked to the ground as the black p
hoenix retreated for another attack.
“Your shield!” cried Elenna.
Tom clambered up and looked at his shield. It was gouged where a talon had torn into the wood. This Beast was more powerful than any he had faced before.
“Your magic is no match for Malvel’s!” Sethrina laughed.
Tom gripped his shield tighter, and called upon the power of his golden chain mail. His chest swelled with courage. But he knew he couldn’t defeat Nawdren here on the cave floor. He needed a plan. I have to get into the air, he thought.
The evil phoenix dived again. Tom ducked under her stabbing beak, then rolled between her talons, his nostrils filling with the stink of rotting feathers. There, in front of him, was Epos. Tom sprinted toward the flame bird and leaped onto her back. She immediately extended her flaming wings and flew up.
Nawdren soared after them as Tom was carried to the upper reaches of the cavern. He clutched the feathers tightly as Epos twisted to avoid Nawdren’s talons.
I must get above her! he thought. Epos seemed to understand and flapped her wings harder to rise above the evil Beast. Tom saw his chance — and leaped off Epos’s back. For a moment, he was weightless, then he crashed onto Nawdren’s wing. His fingers struggled to grip the slimy feathers. He stabbed with his sword and pierced the wing again. Nawdren convulsed and Tom was thrown through the air. The cave floor rushed toward him, but the magic giant’s tear in his shield slowed his fall. He hit the ground hard, jolting his knees.
Nawdren squawked and drops of black blood splashed on the cavern floor. Sethrina’s laugh pierced the cave.
“If you kill her,” she said, “Spiros will never have her body back!”
As Nawdren hovered, Spiros bravely flew at her again, darting toward the injured wing. Nawdren twisted in the air, not letting her ghost draw near. Finally, Tom understood.
“Elenna,” Tom shouted. “Spiros is trying to reclaim her body. She’s trying to get in through the wounds.”
“No!” said Sethrina. “You’re wrong!”
But Tom could hear panic in Sethrina’s voice. “Ignore her!” he said. “We have to keep attacking. It’s the only way!”
CHAPTER SIX
THE RETURN OF SPIROS
ELENNA UNLEASHED AN ARROW TOWARD Nawdren. It fell short — the Beast was too high.
Sethrina burst out laughing. “You’ve only got three arrows left!” she cried.
“Elenna, use Epos!” said Tom.
His friend dashed toward the flame bird. A frown creased Sethrina’s pale forehead. She dived toward Elenna, swinging her sword. Tom hurled his shield, and it spun through the air to catch Sethrina on the temple. She sprawled on the ground, out cold.
Now Nawdren was only the evil Beast they faced. Elenna climbed onto Epos’s back.
“You need to distract Nawdren!” said Tom.
“But how will you get up there?” asked Elenna.
“Leave that to me,” he replied. “Wait for my signal.”
Epos sprang into the air, lighting the gloom with her wings. Nawdren swooped down to attack, and Tom’s heart almost stopped. It looked as though Epos would be torn to pieces by the black phoenix’s talons. But at the very last moment, the flame bird dodged to the side and rose above Nawdren. The evil Beast looped up to attack a second time.
“Now!” shouted Tom.
Elenna bravely let go of Epos’s feathers and placed the first of her last three arrows to the bow’s string. One after the other, she fired all three at the approaching phoenix. They whistled through the air and thudded into the Beast’s feathers. Nawdren let out a loud screech.
Tom took a deep breath. This is my only chance, he thought.
Using his magical speed, he ran at the cavern wall, then leaped into the air. He took one, two, three, four massive strides, climbing the rock, then pushed himself off. At the same moment, he twisted in the air and threw out his arms. He had no shield to stop him from falling now. His hands closed around the frayed end of the dangling rope in the center of the cavern.
With his heart pounding, he scrambled up the rope, hand over hand, until his arms burned. Nawdren was still keening in pain as Tom climbed below her. He tugged his sword from its sheath and lunged at the black phoenix. The blade cut a long gash at the base of her wing. Her cries pierced the air as hot ash and black blood sprayed across the cave.
Tom couldn’t hold on any longer and let go of the rope, tumbling downward.
But instead of landing on hard rock, Tom bounced into something soft and warm. He opened his eyes to see Epos’s feathers. Elenna sat astride her neck. The good Beast must have swooped down to save him.
“Thanks!” said Tom breathlessly.
He and Elenna jumped off as Epos landed. Above, Nawdren was frantically flapping her one good wing in a desperate attempt to stay aloft. The other hung limply, only half-attached to her body. Despite the battle, Tom almost felt sorry for the Beast.
“Look,” whispered Elenna. “Spiros!”
The ghost phoenix swept through the cave toward the injured Beast. The green light from her eyes faded and her diamond talons dimmed to gray. As she approached Nawdren, her body seemed to become more transparent, like a wisp of cloud stretched in the wind. The cloud wrapped itself around Nawdren’s body and Spiros was gone. Suddenly, the ash stopped falling.
The white cloud poured into the wound on the evil phoenix’s wing. Nawdren’s cries became weaker and she sank through the air. Tom watched as she came to rest on the cavern floor. Her black, slimy body was completely still.
“Oh no!” said Elenna. “What have we done?”
Tom rushed forward. He sank to his knees beside the huge body of the dead bird.
A soft cawing made him look up. The black feathers on the motionless head were glowing, first brown, then red. The color spread across the feathers on the phoenix’s back and then along the wings. Soon they were as bright as rubies, and Tom had to shield his eyes and step back. Elenna stood beside him, her mouth open. The Beast lifted its head and leaped up on its jeweled talons. Finally, the eyes opened, shedding emerald light across the cavern. Nawdren had been transformed!
With a whoosh, the phoenix shot out her wings. Her injuries had magically healed. She lifted herself into the air above them, scattering dappled light into the darkness.
“It’s Spiros!” said Elenna, with tears of joy in her eyes.
Epos cawed with delight and spiraled upward into the cavern, adding her own light to that of her fellow phoenix.
Tom caught sight of his aunt and uncle at the doorway of the chamber, gazing up. “It’s safe!” he called to them.
They walked hesitantly into the room, hand in hand, transfixed by the incredible new Beast. The magnificent phoenix swept over to Tom and Elenna, and lowered her head. Tom stroked her beautiful golden beak, and she cawed softly.
“Nawdren?” said a weak voice. Tom spun around to see Sethrina sitting up and rubbing her head.
“Nawdren’s gone,” he said coldly.
“And Spiros has her body back!” added Elenna.
Horror contorted Sethrina’s features. “It can’t be!” she said. “Malvel’s magic is too powerful.” She reached for her sword, but Tom was too quick. He knocked it from her hand, and stood with the point of his blade at her neck.
“Good magic always overpowers evil,” he said.
“This time, perhaps,” spat Sethrina. “But I’m not afraid to die.”
Tom looked into her dark eyes. Her hatred shone out. “I don’t want to kill people,” he said. “That’s what makes us different.”
Sethrina’s mouth twisted in anger. “That’s what makes you weak,” she said.
“How can we get out?” said Elenna, ignoring the other girl’s taunts and turning to Tom. “I’d rather not swim through the icy water.”
“She must know,” said Tom’s aunt, pointing at Sethrina. “She brought us here.”
Sethrina lifted her chin in defiance. “Why should I tell you?” she sneered. “You’ll
have me locked in King Hugo’s dungeon by nightfall.”
Tom looked at Elenna, raising his eyebrows. They needed Sethrina, and she knew it.
Elenna nodded. “Tell us how to get out of this place, and you can go free.”
“Just like that?” said Sethrina, her voice tinged with suspicion.
“Yes,” said Tom, “but you must promise never to return to Avantia again.”
Sethrina frowned, then sank back, defeated. “Very well,” she said.
Elenna gathered her arrows from the cavern floor and put one of them back in her bow, aiming its sharp point at Sethrina.
“Show us the way out,” she said.
CHAPTER SEVEN
FAREWELL TO THE PHOENIX
SETHRINA CLIMBED TO HER FEET AND WALKED to the far side of the cavern. Tom, Elenna, Uncle Henry, and Aunt Maria followed. Spiros and Epos hopped behind. It looked as though they were all heading toward a solid wall, but Sethrina stopped in front of it.
“Where now?” asked Tom.
Sethrina placed her hand on the slick rock and pushed. “Is no one going to help me?” she asked.
Tom came forward and leaned his shoulder into the wall. It wasn’t rock, he realized — just wood disguised to look like rock. He pushed again. A low grating sound echoed in the vast space, before a crack as tall as four men appeared in the cavern wall, casting a shaft of light into the dim cave. A secret door! With the help of his magical strength, the door swung open. A blast of stale air filled his nostrils.
Beyond was a tunnel, roughly hewn into the bare rock. The passage was tall and narrow, but Spiros tucked her wings into her side and squeezed through.
They reached the bottom of a spiral staircase cut into the rock. Tom looked up. Above, through the heart of the coiling steps, he could see a pale circle of greenish light.
“We’re almost there,” he said.
“Perhaps it’s a trap,” said Elenna.
Tom’s aunt and uncle shared a look of uncertainty.
“I’ll go first,” said Tom. “Epos and Spiros can fly up the middle. They’ll alert us to any dangers.”