Tagus the Night Horse (6 page)

Tagus wheeled around and launched himself toward Elenna, his fur bristling with anger. He swung his arm wildly as they passed each other. Elenna ducked out of the way.

“Keep changing direction,” Tom yelled to Elenna. “We need to tire him. I won’t be able to get the collar off unless he slows down.”

Tom watched as Elenna bent over the horse’s neck, guiding him with her hands buried in his mane. “Storm! Come on, Storm!” she yelled in encouragement.

Silver darted around them, howling excitedly. Tom was terrified the wolf would be crushed under the trampling hooves. The furious Tagus dodged one way and another as he charged at Elenna.

By now they had reached the river’s edge. It was their last chance to stop Tagus before he crossed the river and scared the cattle into a stampede.
We can’t keep this up forever!
Tom thought. What more could he do?

“Cut us off!” Tom yelled to his friend. “Get in between us and the river!”

Elenna kicked her heels, urging Storm to go faster, passing Tagus and cutting him off just before he reached the river. The Beast was forced to stop for just a moment. Tom used the opportunity to slip the key into the golden glowing collar. In a magical puff, it vanished from Tagus’s neck.

Tagus let out a roar of fury as the collar disappeared. In that moment, Tom could feel all the Beast’s anger — the horror of his enslavement to Malvel — being released.

It was over now.

“W
E DID IT!” ELENNA CRIED. SHE BROUGHT
Storm to a halt. The horse’s sides were heaving after the long gallop. Elenna patted his sweating neck. “Well done, Storm,” she said.

Silver let out a howl of triumph and stood panting, his tongue lolling out.

Tom slid from Tagus’s back. On the ground, a crescent-shaped scrap of shining metal was lying next to one of the creature’s hooves. A piece of Tagus’s horseshoe!

“I know what that’s for,” Tom muttered, picking it up and thrusting it into his pocket. Tom walked back to Storm, Silver, and Elenna. Even though Tom knew the spell had been broken, he swallowed nervously as the Beast strode over to him.

For a moment, Tagus looked down at him. His dark eyes were calm now. He bowed his head majestically to Tom and Elenna. Then, looking up, he reached out with one hand to stroke Storm’s nose.

Tom spotted movement in the shadow of a rock. A cougar was slinking down toward the herd.

Tagus’s head swung around. He stamped his forehooves once, then took off across the river and after the predator. It fled, yelping in terror.

“Tagus can go back to what he’s supposed to do,” Tom said, watching as the magnificent Beast disappeared into the distance. Now Tagus would look after the people of Avantia; he wouldn’t trouble them again.

Elenna nodded. “The herds will be safe.”

“And the people of Dareton will have cattle to trade with the rest of the kingdom — they’ll be
able to rebuild the villages that were destroyed,” Tom finished. He felt happiness flood him. But he still had one more thing to do. He pulled the crescent-shaped scrap of horseshoe out of his pocket and raised his shield. He could already see the place where this token would fit, beside the scale of Ferno the Fire Dragon, the piece of tooth from Sepron the Sea Serpent, and the tear of Cypher the Mountain Giant.

As he slotted the scrap into place, a sparkling mist curled around Tom’s shoulders. He turned to see Aduro standing there. The wizard’s outline was pale and shimmering in the morning light.

“Well done,” Aduro said with a smile. “Thanks to your courage, another Beast is free.”

Tom and Elenna glanced at each other. Elenna’s eyes were shining at the wizard’s praise, and Tom felt he could burst with pride. “We did our best,” he said. “The whole of Avantia is in your debt,” Aduro
told them. Pointing to Tom’s shield, he added, “I see you found a piece of Tagus’s horseshoe.”

“Yes — what does it do?” Tom asked.

“From now on, you will be faster and more skillful in a fight,” the wizard explained. “But take care. Use your power only for good.”

“I will,” said Tom.

“Where do we go now?” Elenna asked eagerly.

“Yes, what’s next?” added Tom.

Aduro turned and pointed north. “You must go back the way you came,” he said. “It is your task to meet a Beast among the snowy mountains. Tartok the Ice Beast is waiting for you to free her.”

Tom looked to the horizon. In the far distance, he could see the white-tipped peaks of Avantia’s northernmost mountains. He shivered as he imagined the icy winds and snowstorms that blew there all year round. He’d heard about Tartok. About the Beast’s long yellow claws and fierce talons.

“What’s the Beast doing now?” Tom asked
Aduro, without turning around. Aduro came to stand beside Tom.

“Destroying the great ice flats,” Aduro said quietly. “Everyone there is in grave danger.”

Tom felt his hand tighten around the handle of his sword, and he raised his shield up to his chest. “I’ll save them,” Tom said. “It’s my Quest. I must complete it.”

Aduro nodded. “You’re more like your father than you know,” said the wizard.

Elenna came to stand beside Tom. “We’ll do it together,” she said, placing a hand on Silver’s head. Storm tossed his head and neighed. “We won’t give up now.”

“Then what are we waiting for?” Tom asked, grinning at his friends. “Let’s go!”

“Avantia salutes you …” Aduro said, fading back into mist.

The four of them watched the wizard disappear. Then they began the long, cold trek north.

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Text Copyright © 2007 by Beast Quest Ltd.
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Cover art by David Merrell
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eISBN: 978-0-545-29421-8