Epos the Winged Flame (4 page)

“Look!” Elenna pointed up at a dark figure
gliding in wide circles above the volcano’s summit. “There’s Epos!”

Tom felt a thrill of fear and wonder at the sight of the Beast. Its body glowed with a dark, magical light. As he watched, Epos plunged down into the volcano — only to burst back out seconds later in a torrent of flames and boiling lava. The lava seared a burning path down the side of the volcano, slowly pooling into the bubbling moat at the base. The village was now completely covered in the molten rock.

“If Epos keeps stoking the volcano like that, the eruption will be massive,” said Tom. “The lava could even reach the royal city.”

Elenna looked pale. “King Hugo could end up buried in his own palace!”

“It would leave the whole kingdom in chaos,” Tom said gravely. “Exactly what Malvel wants.”

“Tom, look!” shouted Elenna, pointing into the sky. “I think Epos has spotted us!”

Tom felt a stab of fear as Epos’s screech tore through the smoky air. Grabbing his sword, he locked eyes with the hate-filled Beast. The Winged Flame made a wide circle in the dark sky, slicing through the thick smoke like a lightning bolt. Then, with terrible speed, the giant bird dove straight toward Tom and Elenna!

T
OM LEAPED DOWN FROM STORM, SWUNG HIS
shield from his shoulder, and drew his sword as the shadow of the Beast fell over them. Tom looked up, desperately trying to spot the enchanted collar Malvel had placed on the bird. Epos was moving so quickly it was hard to be sure, but Tom thought he caught a glimpse of a golden glimmer around the bird’s neck.

With a battle cry, he lunged upward, his sword held high above his head. If he could just grab the enchanted band …

But Epos’s deadly talons knocked the blade from
his hand and sent it flying through the air. Storm reared up and kicked the air as the flame bird swept overhead, sparks of fire peppering the air in her wake. Silver barked ferociously, baring his teeth.

In panic, Tom looked around for his sword. It must have fallen in the bushes behind him. He would never find it in time to defend against another attack!

But then he saw what Elenna was doing. She had climbed down from Storm and pulled her bow from one of his saddlebags. Then she raised her weapon and took careful aim.

Whoosh!
As Epos swooped down, Elenna shot an arrow. The Beast screeched and turned nimbly to avoid it. Quickly, Elenna sent another arrow after the first. It whistled past the creature’s head. The Beast’s eyes burned crimson with rage, then she turned and soared away, spiraling up through
the thick smoke toward the mouth of the volcano.

“Elenna, you did it!” Tom yelled. “You drove her away!”

Silver barked behind them. He had pulled Tom’s sword from the bushes with his teeth. Tom patted the wolf and picked up his weapon.

“How are we ever going to cross that lava to climb the volcano?” Elenna wondered.
“We’re
not,” said Tom. “But I am.” She frowned. “Alone?”

He picked up his shield. “This protects me from fire — and after the battle with Tagus the Night Horse, it can also help me reach amazing speeds. I can use it as a raft and skim across the surface of the lava.”

Elenna’s frown deepened. “But, Tom, if you fall in —”

“There’s no other way,” Tom insisted. “And
there’s no room to take anyone else. I’ll stand my best chance of defeating Epos in the heart of her territory, at the top of the volcano. But she might try to attack me as I climb. If she does, I’ll need you to drive her off again with those arrows.”

“I won’t let you down.” Elenna’s eyes narrowed with determination.

Fear, excitement, and anticipation were all jumbled up inside Tom. But he knew one thing for sure — the greatest trial of his life was approaching.

He hugged Elenna. Storm pushed Tom’s arm with his nose, then blew gently on his hair. Tom smiled and stroked his horse’s neck. Then he crouched down to say good-bye to Silver. The sleek gray wolf licked his hand and gazed up at him intently.

Tom looked at his friends with a mixture of pride and sorrow. They had all grown so close on their Quest. But now he had to leave them. He
turned away and walked down the hillside to the lava’s edge. His heart was pounding and his skin prickled with the heat as he carefully slid his shield onto the surface of the molten moat. The enchanted wood hissed and steamed.

“Here goes,” said Tom, holding his breath as he stepped lightly onto the shield. It wobbled, but held firm beneath him. Then he dug his sword against the bank and pushed with all his might, propelling himself across the moat of lava.

White-hot drops of lava spat up from the seething lake of fire, and Tom held his arms out to help him balance as his shield skated across the surface, picking up speed as it went. The dragon scale given to him by Ferno and the horseshoe from Tagus were both helping him to cross the deadly moat!

As Tom reached the other side, he jumped for solid ground with a whoop of joy. He had made it!

He heard Elenna cheering, and waved to her.

But as he pulled his shield out of the lava, the ground shook beneath his feet. He looked up to see Epos still circling through the fire-clouds that belched from the top of the volcano.

Up there, his destiny was waiting.

Tom slung the shield over his shoulder, slipped his sword into its scabbard, and started to climb.

T
OM SCALED HUGE CRAGS OF ROCK, MAKING HIS
way toward the summit of the volcano. But the ground grew more and more treacherous. Several times he slipped on loose stones and almost fell. He was clinging to a sheer rock face when Epos caught sight of him through the black clouds. With a piercing shriek, the Beast swooped down to attack.

Tom went for his shield. But Epos grabbed hold of it with her beak and wrenched it out of Tom’s hands.

“No!” Tom shouted, panic-stricken. He yanked his sword from his scabbard and swung wildly at
Epos. The Beast retreated a little way, still holding the shield in her beak, just out of Tom’s reach. Then she turned and flew away, fire streaming in her wake.

Tom felt sick as he wiped sweat from his brow. He had lost his best defense — his magical shield. But he had come too far to turn back now.

He continued his steep climb. Stinking smoke gushed from vents in the trembling rock, stinging his eyes. His throat and lungs burned every time he breathed in, and the fumes made him light-headed. Tom stopped for a moment and drank thirstily from his water bottle. Battling Epos on this terrain wasn’t going to be easy — if he didn’t stumble off the path in all this smoke and fall to his doom first.

“Turn back, Tom. This Quest is beyond you now.”

The icy whisper came from behind him. Tom whirled around in surprise.

A tall figure in dark robes was standing just a few paces away, wreathed in sickly yellow smoke. Its face was hidden by a hood. Its thin arms were folded across its chest. The figure made Tom shiver, despite the fierce heat.

“Who … who are you?” Tom stammered.

“You know who I am.” The figure took a step toward him. “I am Malvel.”

Tom felt a dizzying rush of terror. The Dark Wizard, who had enslaved all the Beasts of Avantia for his own evil purpose, was standing before him! With trembling hands, Tom tightened his grip on his sword.

Malvel laughed. “I know you’re brave, Tom, but I didn’t think you were stupid. Do you really think a sword can harm me?”

“Stay back,” said Tom, trying to stop his voice from shaking.

“You and Aduro are both fools,” rasped the dark, hooded figure. “While he has been watching you
trek through the kingdom freeing the Beasts, he’s been too distracted to hunt for me — and Epos, the most powerful Beast of all.” Malvel strode away through the smoke. “You have served me well, boy. Just like your father …”

Tom felt a shiver run through him. “You don’t know my father. You’re lying.”

“Taladon helped me a great deal,” said Malvel. “My plans could not have succeeded without him.”

“Liar!” Tom bellowed. He raised his sword and angrily flung himself at the hooded figure. With a laugh of triumph, Malvel disappeared.

T
OM STOOD ON THE LIP OF THE VOLCANO
feeling lost and powerless. Had Malvel really used his father? The thought seemed too terrible to even consider. For a brief moment, Tom forgot about everything he had been through. He had come so close to finishing his Quest, but now he was not sure he could. If his father couldn’t succeed, how could he?

Before Tom had a chance to feel any worse, he caught a glimpse of Epos out of the corner of his eye. The Winged Flame was coming to finish him off!

No!
thought Tom fiercely.
I won’t let my Quest end this way.
He hadn’t set free the first five Beasts only to be beaten by the last! He thought of the way Malvel had tricked and almost killed him — and an angry determination built up inside him. He would fight Malvel and his evil plans to his last breath. Tom was still clutching his sword, and now he gripped it more tightly than ever.

“I’ll never stop fighting,” he gasped.

With a burst of energy, Tom jumped for the golden band around Epos’s neck as the Winged Flame swooped by. But he couldn’t quite reach it. He stretched and strained, but it was no use.

Epos circled back, gaining more speed as she dove through the smoky sky. Once more Tom reached up to cut the golden band — just as Epos changed direction. The sword slipped from his grip and tumbled down into the volcano.

“No!” yelled Tom. He felt numb. He had lost
his shield and his sword. How could he ever win now?

I’ve still got my wits,
he thought bravely. “I’m not giving up!” he yelled at Epos.