by Adam Blade
As Tom hesitated, the dragon’s voice grew louder in his mind and the booming footsteps shook the trees around him.
“The footsteps are getting closer,” Elenna called down. “Tom, go and find Ferno — quickly!”
“I’ll be back as soon as possible!” called Tom. “Hold on, Elenna. Come on, boy!” He leaped into Storm’s saddle and urged the brave horse into the trees, toward the cries of the dragon.
Tom kept his sword ready, hacking and slashing at any ferns that came too close. The ferns moved away from him as he rode through the thick trees, and then closed in again behind him. Tom knew that without his sword, the ferns would have swarmed over him by now.
Finally he saw Ferno through the trees. The great dragon was huddled against a tree, snake ferns coiled all around his body so that he could hardly move. He looked exhausted. The evil tendrils were tearing at his scales and twisting around his limbs and wings. But at least he was alive!
Ferno lifted his head as he caught sight of Tom, and feeble puffs of gray smoke bubbled from his nostrils.
“He can’t breathe fire,” Tom gasped. The good Beast was helpless.
“I’ll save you,” he shouted, brandishing his sword. “Come on, Storm!”
The stallion neighed and plunged forward. Soon Tom’s bright blade would be hacking through those deadly ferns and Ferno would be free!
Then a vast shape came smashing out of the trees to their left. At first, all Tom saw were flying branches and whole trees uprooted and thrown through the air. Then, lunging through the chaos, came the most immense Beast Tom had ever seen.
Tusk came thundering forward, her huge trunk lifted as she roared, her feet crushing everything in her path.
The evil Beast was heading directly toward them!
CHAPTER FOUR
BEATEN!
TUSK’S BROAD, SHAGGY BACK WAS AS HIGH AS the tallest trees. Her trunk rose up over the branches like a monstrous snake ready to strike. The thick gray skin of her head was laced with old battle scars, and her huge ears were torn and ragged at the edges.
When she opened her mouth to roar, the air was filled with the stench of her breath. Tom found himself staring in terror down a great red throat, wide enough to swallow him whole. But most fearsome of all were the long, curved, golden tusks, their sides scored with deep scratches, their points razor-sharp. Now he understood what Ferno had meant by twin blades. A thick, slimy liquid dripped from the tusks. It stank horribly!
The mighty monster rushed toward Tom, an evil glint in her eyes. He had time only to raise his shield in defense before she was upon him.
Storm reared up, neighing in fear, and lurched to one side. Tom gasped with relief as the mammoth’s head went past them, her trunk rearing up as she bellowed in rage. Then his stomach dropped as he felt himself slip out of the saddle.
“No!” Tom cried. He threw out his hands to break his fall and felt the skin being scraped off his palms as he crashed through the dead plants. The force of the fall drove all the air out of his lungs and he lay gasping on the forest floor, his ears ringing and his bones jarred. Only the power of the golden armor had protected him from serious injury!
Storm was bucking and rearing, neighing furiously and kicking out with his hooves. Tom could see Ferno struggling uselessly, caught tight by the ferns. The dragon’s angry voice filled his head.
Tusk ignored the horse and the dragon, turning instead to fix her red eyes on Tom. He scrambled to his feet, backing away through the trees, his shield up, his sword in his fist.
“Come on! I’m ready for you!” he shouted.
The mammoth stomped toward him, her golden tusks tearing through the trees. But even as Tom struggled to think of a way to fight the Beast, he noticed an amber jewel embedded in one of the tusks. Another token for his magic belt!
But how was he going to triumph over this tremendous Beast?
Then a familiar mocking laugh echoed through the stifling air of the forest.
“Malvel!” Tom hissed, staring around for some sign of the Dark Wizard.
“You will never defeat Tusk,” said the cruel, cold voice. “She will crush you like an insect!”
Anger flared through Tom. He brandished his sword and shouted, “While there is blood in my veins, I will defeat every Beast you send!”
Malvel’s laughter filled his ears, but Tom wasn’t going to turn back from his battle.
Tusk was standing in an area of crushed trees, watching Tom with her evil eyes. Storm stood to one side, pawing the ground anxiously.
Tom sprang toward the mammoth, leaping high, his sword whirling. The power of the golden boots sent him soaring above the tusks and he landed high on the mammoth’s trunk.
Tusk roared in fury, but before she had the chance to shake him loose, he jumped again, this time landing on her head. He dropped to his knees, one hand clutching at the Beast’s coarse hair to help him balance. He stared in astonishment at the deep scars that cut into the monster’s thick hide. How many battles had this huge creature fought and won?
I have to end this fight quickly! Tom thought. Was his sword strong enough to pierce her skull?
He lifted his blade, ready to plunge it down into the Beast’s head.
But Tusk was too quick for him. Her trunk came sweeping back, as thick as a log. Tom ducked, but the trunk smashed into his shoulder and knocked him onto his back. Before he could regain his footing, Tusk shook her head, trying to throw him off.
“I won’t let you!” Tom cried. He clung grimly to the Beast’s ear, desperate not to fall under those pounding feet. He could see Ferno letting out cries of distress and struggling wildly in the loops of snake fern. The good dragon was trying to come to his aid.
Suddenly, Storm ran forward, rearing up on his hind legs and beating at the mammoth’s sides with his hooves. But it was hopeless — Tusk seemed to hardly notice Storm’s blows. Then the Beast reared up high above the trees, swinging her great head in a final effort to throw Tom loose. Her enraged roaring shook the forest.
Tom felt his grip weakening. He scrambled with his feet, but couldn’t find a foothold. Tusk came thundering down onto all fours. The shock of the impact broke Tom’s hold and he fell to the ground.
He looked up, horror-struck. The great feet of Tusk were rearing up again, ready to crush him to death!
CHAPTER FIVE
POISON!
AT THE LAST MOMENT, TOM ROLLED ASIDE, THE blood pulsing in his temples.
“I won’t give up!” he gasped.
He heard Elenna’s voice calling from across the forest. “Tom! Are you all right?”
“Yes!” he shouted back.
Storm was still neighing wildly, and beating at the mighty mammoth with his hooves.
Using the power of the golden boots, Tom sprang up once more and regained his footing on the evil Beast’s great head. Ferno let out a delighted roar and Tom turned to see the trapped dragon struggling even more fiercely against his bonds.
“Come on, Ferno!” Tom urged the good Beast. “You can do it!”
Tusk gave a bellow of anger. Then she turned from the dragon, and went lumbering off through the trees with Tom still clinging grimly to her head.
Tom was being taken away from his Quest!
But Storm came galloping after them, foam at his lips and his eyes blazing as he chased the great mammoth through the trees.
As Tusk thundered along, Tom had to duck in order to avoid the falling branches and flying splinters of smashed trees.
He soon realized that the mammoth was approaching the place where the snake ferns held Elenna captive.
Gripping the coarse hair on the Beast’s head, Tom stared forward. Yes! He could see Elenna now. The snake ferns still held her tightly in their deadly grip.
Elenna twisted around to look at Tom. “Hold on tight!” she shouted.
Tusk came to a halt, her great feet pounding the earth as she peered through the trees. She had heard Elenna’s voice. Her trunk went up and she let out an ea
rsplitting bellow as her red eyes caught sight of Elenna dangling upside down in the treetops. The mammoth moved toward her, ripping up trees with her trunk as she went.
Tom had to do something!
Getting carefully to his feet, Tom balanced himself on the great swaying head. He had one hope of saving Elenna. He swung his arm back and sent his sword spinning through the air. The blade sliced through the ferns that were holding her. But it was not enough! One thick tendril still gripped her by the ankle.
Tom watched as his sword struck a tree and went tumbling to the ground. I’ve lost my weapon, and Elenna’s still not free! he thought desperately. He snatched hold of Tusk’s left ear and wrenched at it with all his might, trying to force her to turn aside. But even using every ounce of his strength, Tom couldn’t turn the evil Beast. Then Tusk’s trunk came swinging back toward him.
It struck him with another vicious blow, sweeping his legs out from under him and sending him plunging to the forest floor.
Dazed and gasping for breath, Tom saw Elenna struggling wildly. Her face was bright red from being held upside down for so long. He staggered to his feet and ran after Tusk, desperate to help his friend. Storm came racing up, and Tom leaped into the saddle, shouting at the top of his voice, “Tusk! Leave her! It’s me you want!”
But the evil Beast ignored him. Tusk’s long trunk reached out for Elenna, but before it was able to grab her, Elenna tore frantically through the final green tendril and plunged through the air. As she fell she knocked her arm against one of the mammoth’s jagged tusks. Its gleaming point pierced her skin and Tom saw red blood appear.
“No!” Tom shouted, as she landed with a thump on the forest floor and lay still. He jumped from Storm’s back and bounded forward, snatching up his sword from where it had fallen. He ran in close to Tusk’s hind leg and drove the point of the blade deep into the mammoth’s foot.
Tusk let out a bellow of pain that shook the ground.
Tom wrenched the sword out and thrust it in again, seeing thick red blood spurt from the wounds.
The mammoth reared up, roaring with anger as the sword dug deep into her flesh, then pulled away, her head twisting around and her trunk crashing through the trees.
But Tom was too quick for her. He bounded away through the forest, running in a curve that took him to where Elenna had fallen.
He pulled her under the cover of some thick bushes.
“Thank you,” Elenna whispered weakly.
“We’re not safe yet,” Tom said, looking anxiously at her. He quickly examined the wound on her arm. He could see that it was infected. The liquid that dripped from the evil Beast’s tusks must be poisonous!
He had to do something to help Elenna. But what?
CHAPTER SIX
ESCAPE INTO DANGER!
WITH A SURGE OF HOPE, TOM REMEMBERED the rebel camp near the forest’s edge. Surely someone there would be able to help?
But he had to act quickly. Tusk was close by, still bellowing with pain. He knew that at any moment those evil eyes might turn toward them.
“Can you walk?” he asked Elenna.
She struggled feebly to get to her feet. “No,” she groaned. “My legs have gone numb!”
“Don’t worry,” Tom said. “I’ll carry you. We’re going to the rebel camp.”
“It’s too far,” Elenna gasped. “You’ll never manage it.”
A fearsome roar blasted through the forest, and the hammering of huge feet shook the ground.
“Tusk is coming!” Tom gasped. How would they get away in time?
Then the sound of hoofbeats came echoing through the trees. Tom looked up — Storm had found them!
“Good boy!” Tom called as the stallion came to a halt at their side. “Stay with Elenna. I’ll see to Tusk!”
Tom stepped out into the path of the mammoth, his sword raised high. The evil Beast was bellowing with frustration and pain, her trunk swishing, her eyes blazing like furnaces. Blood oozed from her injured foot.
Tom ran in close, striking at her poisoned tusks with his sword. The blade cut deep scores in them. Tusk raised her trunk, preparing to bring it down on him in a killing blow.
“You’ll never catch me!” Tom shouted as he dashed toward a patch of dense snake ferns. At the last moment, he leaped into the air. Tusk lumbered after him, but became entangled in the mass of fern. As she tried to pull herself clear, more and more ferns came snaking down toward her, coiling around her tusks, gripping her trunk, reaching for her head and body.
“It worked!” Tom panted as he landed again. The more Tusk pulled and strained, the more tightly the ferns wrapped themselves around her.
He ran back to where Elenna and Storm were waiting. Gently lifting Elenna in his arms, he placed her on Storm’s back.
“Hold on tight,” he told her, pushing back a lock of hair from her pale face. Elenna smiled weakly and nodded. “Storm — follow me!” he ordered, turning away. Elenna mustn’t see that I’m worried about her, he thought.
Tom ran through the trees, Storm close behind. The forest rang to the sound of Tusk’s furious bellowing. Tom knew it was only a matter of time before she broke free and thundered after them.
They came out of the forest and Tom saw the rebel camp ahead of them with its high fence of sharpened wooden stakes. He brought Storm to a halt and lifted Elenna down from the saddle. Her face was gray and she was shivering all over.
“Elenna?” he murmured. Although her eyes were open, they were glazed and blank. The poison was working fast!
Tom took Epos’s feather from his shield. It had the ability to heal all wounds. He touched it to her swollen arm. Elenna groaned but nothing happened.
“This Gorgonian poison must be too strong,” he whispered. He left Elenna resting against a tree, with Storm watching over her. Then he ran toward the camp. The gates were shut and there was no sign of life.
“Hello!” he called, hammering desperately on the gates. “I need help!”
He knew he was putting the rebels in danger by shouting out like that and drawing attention to their camp, but he had no choice. He had to save Elenna!
No one answered. Was the camp deserted? Had the rebels fled?
He stared up anxiously at the tall gates. There was no way he could climb over them. How was he ever going to get into the camp?
I’ll send in my shadow, thought Tom. He’ll find out what’s happening in there.
Tom felt a curious sensation in his feet as his shadow peeled itself free, scaled the fence, and dropped out of sight. Soon he began to see through the shadow’s eyes as it wove between the huts. Where was everyone?
Then the shadow peered out from behind a hut. Tom’s breath hissed through his teeth. Now he could understand why no one had answered his calls.
All the rebels had been lined up in an open space in the middle of the camp. Armed Gorgonian guards were watching over them, while more guards ransacked the huts, searching for weapons.
Tom’s heart quickened as he saw the tall, thin boy who was in command. It was Seth! Tom had encountered this boy before in previous Quests; he was one of Malvel’s most trusted followers.
At that moment one of the guards shouted and pointed. He had seen the shadow! Seth spun around, his blue eyes blazing.
“Capture it!” Seth shouted. “Don’t let it escape!”
“Come back!” Tom whispered urgently. The shadow turned and ran. A few moments later the wooden gates of the camp were flung open and a troop of guards came running out, carrying swords.
His plan had gone horribly wrong. Instead of helping Elenna, he had led them into another perilous situation. He had to get his friend to safety. He turned to run back to Elenna and Storm — but found he couldn’t lift his feet. No matter how hard he tried, his feet remained glued to the ground.
His shadow must be too far away! It had to be part of the magic. So long as he was separated from it, he was helpless!
CHAPTER SEVEN
AN OLD ENEMY
; SETH RAN AHEAD OF THE GUARDS, DRAWING HIS sword and coming toward Tom with an evil smile. Tom struggled hard, but he still couldn’t move.
Seth was a good swordsman. Tom knew he would not survive if he could not move, no matter how desperately he tried to twist his body to defend himself.
But then Tom’s shadow came leaping and bounding through the grass. For a moment, Seth and the shadow were neck and neck, only ten paces away from where Tom stood frozen.
“Come on!” Tom urged.
His shadow gave one final burst, springing ahead of Seth. It gave a twisting leap into the air and landed at Tom’s feet.
Tom turned on his heel and bounded to the side just in time, avoiding Seth’s blade as it sliced the air at his throat. Snarling with rage, Seth lifted his sword high and brought it slashing down toward Tom’s head. Instinctively, Tom lifted his shield to block the attack, then dug his heels into the ground and thrust out with his shield, throwing Seth’s blade to one side. Then Tom brought his own sword up, aiming for Seth’s evil heart!
But Seth was too quick to be caught out easily. He danced aside, knocking Tom’s sword away and then spinning around with his sword held out in both hands, the sharp blade slicing toward Tom’s neck.
Tom ducked as the razor-edged blade bit the air above his head. He hoped that the miss would have thrown Seth off balance, but as Tom moved in, Seth leaped out of reach.
They glared at each other.
“I will enjoy killing you!” Seth snarled.
“I feel sorry for you if killing gives you pleasure,” Tom retorted angrily. “But I will never be your victim!”
Seth lifted his sword high and charged at Tom, howling in anger and hatred.
Tom stood firm, gripping his sword and raising it as Seth brought his blade down. The two swords clashed, the impact numbing Tom’s arms and jarring his shoulders.
They were face-to-face. Tom looked into Seth’s furious pale eyes. The boy’s mouth twisted in an ugly grimace as he used all his strength to try to force Tom’s sword back.