Epos the Winged Flame Read Online Free PDF Page B

golden shadow of a bird. Then the ball of light burst apart and, with a mighty squawk, a gigantic, majestic creature appeared.
    “Epos!” Tom cried.
    “She is a phoenix,” Wizard Aduro reminded him. “She must allow herself to die in flames, so that she can rise anew from the ashes.”
    The Beast circled above them, flapping her golden wings, leaving trails of golden fire in the air.
    “Now that she has thrown off her old form, all trace of Malvel’s evil has died with it,” Aduro murmured. “Thanks to you, Tom, she will be free forever.”
    “Wait,” whispered Tom. “There’s something in her mouth….”
    Epos opened her beak. A smoking sword and a blackened, wooden disc fell out, landing with a clatter at Tom’s feet.
    “My sword! My shield!” Tom shouted. “Epos brought them back from the volcano!”
    With a last, deafening screech, Epos soared up into the heavens. In her wake she left streaks of magical fire that burned away the dark clouds of volcanic smoke and ash hanging over the village.
    Tom laughed as he found himself staring up into the clear blue sky of an early morning.
    Aduro put a hand on Tom’s shoulder. “It is a new dawn for the whole kingdom — thanks to you, Tom.”
    Just then, something else fell from the sky, right into Tom’s hand. It was a golden feather, still blazing with the phoenix’s heat. Instinctively, Tom knelt to place it in his shield. At once, a golden light shone out from the shield and bathed his skin.
    “Aduro?” Tom called uncertainly. “Where are you?”
    “Do not be afraid,” the wizard murmured. “Someone special wishes to see you — and he does not like to be kept waiting….”
    Tom felt a jolt go through his body. His senses spun. He felt as if he were flying. Then the air was suddenly fresh and sweet in his lungs. All was quiet. Gingerly, he opened his eyes to find himself in a large, luxurious room, decorated in crimson and gold. He was kneeling on a polished floor of whitemarble. A man sat in front of him on a magnificent throne.
    With a gasp, Tom realized where he was. He was in the royal palace with his sword and shield — on his knees before the king!
    “Greetings, Tom,” said King Hugo. “Wizard Aduro has brought you directly to me so I can thank you without delay.”
    Tom gulped and bowed his head. “It was my pleasure, Your Majesty!”
    “All Avantia owes you a great debt,” the king went on. “Ask for anything you desire, and you shall have it.”
    Tom rose to his feet and bowed. “Please, Your Majesty, all I want is the answer to one question….” He swallowed hard. “What happened to my father?”
    “It is time you knew,” the king said. “Taladon the Swift was a young knight. Many years ago he encountered Epos in the caves near the volcano.

    Epos was under no spell, but she thought your father was an intruder. Your father fought the Beast — and lost. And from that day on, he made it his mission to know all he could about the Beasts. He went to stay with his brother in Errinel, read old books, gathered secret knowledge … and found a wife, of course.”
    Tom nodded. “My mother.”
    “Soon after, Taladon began to dream about the Beasts. Strange and awful nightmares which told him that something bad was going to happen. These nightmares did not go away….” King Hugo leaned forward. “He believed they were a prophecy that would one day come true. So did your mother. And because they both loved you, they wanted to protect the land in which you would grow up.”
    Tom listened, astounded, as the king went on.
    “Your mother’s dying wish was that Taladon should go on a Quest to find out more about theBeasts. That he should track them down all over the world, learn their strengths and weaknesses. That way, if they ever did attack, the kingdom would be prepared — and its people could live without fear.”
    “But, Your Majesty,” Tom began nervously, “Malvel said my father helped him.”
    Wizard Aduro stepped up