Epos the Winged Flame Read Online Free Page A

their Quest. But now he had to leave them. Heturned 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.

C HAPTER S EVEN

T HE D ARK F IGURE
    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 atEpos. 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 youtrek 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.