Chasing Evil (10 page)

“What is it?” Castor demanded. “Tell us, for Avantia's sake.”

Vendrake had been carrying a piece of the mask, stroking it. The mask had been surrounded by a halo of light that seemed to call to Tanner. He felt sick to his stomach. He'd wanted to reach out to the piece of the mask, to put it on. Could he tell his friends how he'd wanted to be the wearer of the mask?

“I was thinking about Vendrake. That's all,” he said quickly.

Beyond the window of the cottage, Firepos took to the night skies, flames licking around the edges of her feathers. She called out strongly to Tanner.
Our Fates await us.
He knew Firepos was right. But what did Fate have in store for him?

Gwen and Castor watched Tanner silently.

“I don't know what else is out there,” he said. “I can't promise we'll make it through this alive.”

Castor shrugged, with all the casual bravado of a boy who had spent his life waiting to fight with his sword.

“I don't care,” he said. “I'm in this now, and I'm not coming back to my village again until I come back a hero. Even if you have to carry my body here. I want to grind Derthsin beneath my heel.” He twisted his foot against the ground, churning up dust.

Gwen stepped closer to Tanner. “I want to carry on fighting, too,” she said quietly. “I've lost so much already. I don't want to lose this battle, too.” She gazed past Tanner's shoulder, out to the landscape beyond the cottage window. “I love my kingdom.” Her glance snapped back to Tanner. “And I know you do, too. Let's find the pieces of the mask.”

Tanner felt his hands clench into fists by his sides.

“Whatever it takes?” he asked.

Castor nodded, and Gwen pushed her cloak aside to reveal the throwing axes in her belt.

“Whatever it takes,” she agreed.

Derthsin was out there, somewhere, waiting for them.

We're ready for you,
Tanner thought.

T
anner pressed his drenched hair out of his eyes and held up the mask to show her. Lightning snarled across the sky behind him. In the flash, the wet leather seemed to glow at the edges, as if it were burning white-hot.

“Do it, Tanner!” Rufus said. “Quickly! It will help, I promise. Gor will sense the mask's power when you wear it and direct his troops back here.” His lips were trembling and he watched Tanner's face intently.

As Tanner lowered the mask, his heart beat frantically. The leather dripped cold rainwater, but the surface seemed to shimmer. This is wrong. The fear in Tanner's chest was deep, but …
We have to lure Gor back here. It's our only hope of retrieving the other pieces of the mask.
With both hands, he eased the mask closer to his face. Rain beat the old leather. Tanner felt a thin layer of soft fuzz inside, like the lining of a cured animal skin. Tiny hairs flecked the surface. Tanner closed his eyes. The last thing he heard was Firepos screaming.

 

Growing up,
ADAM BLADE
was fascinated by an ancient sword and shield that hung in his father's office. His father told him they were a Blade family heirloom. Adam spent all of his time creating imaginary adventures around the true owner of these weapons. As an adult, Adam decided to bring these tales to life by writing about the dangerous land of Avantia. Adam Blade is also the author of the Beast Quest series.