Tagus the Night Horse Read Online Free PDF Page B

morning light of the still prairie, Tom and the Beast ran at full speed toward each other. There was no way Tom could survive this. Tagus was five times his size and had ten times his strength. With just one swipe of the Beast’s powerful arm, Tom would be knocked out cold.
    But Tom had another plan. Just before the two met in a bloody collision, Tom slid to the ground. He went right under Tagus’s thrashing hooves, grabbing the rope that trailed along on the ground.
    Standing up, Tom now held the rope in his hand. Tagus pawed at the ground furiously. His eyes glared red with pure hate. Rearing up, the Beast charged again, this time with even more speed and anger.
    Where was Storm
? Tom wondered. It wasn’t like his horse to abandon him. Without Storm’s incredible speed, it would be much more difficult to defeat Tagus. What could he do?
    Tom held his ground, staring Tagus down as he closed in. Just as the half man–half beast swung a deadly blow, Tom ducked.
    This time, Tagus stopped in his tracks. Tom was now under the Beast’s massive body. Holding tightly to the rope, Tom rolled himself out from under Tagus. The Beast reared again. Tom ran around the creature as quickly as he could. Tagus thrashed, but Tom was too quick. Before the Beast had a chance to recognize what was happening, Tom had wound the rope around his legs. Tagus wouldn’t be able to take a step without falling.
    Realizing this, the Beast stood still, but continued to bellow with rage.
    This was his chance. Tom launched himself at Tagus. As he flew through the air, he let out a whoop of exhilaration. His heart thudded with a mixture of fear and excitement as he landed on the Beast’s back. Tagus’s strong muscles rippled beneath him.
    But all Tom’s strength wasn’t enough to rein in the wild Beast. Another howl of fury escaped Tagus. His horse’s body twisted and thrashed as he tried to escape the rope and throw Tom off. It was all Tom could do to stay on his back. The Beast swung his arms wildly. Tom ducked and slipped sideways; only his desperate grip on the rope stopped him from falling.
    At last, with a fierce snort, Tagus braced himself and grabbed at the lasso around his neck. He tore at the rope, flexing his powerful arms. Tom’s hands jerked backward as the tension in the rope gave way — it had snapped. Suddenly he had nothing to hold on to but the enchanted collar.
    Tagus’s human half twisted until he could look back at Tom. Tom caught a glimpse of his dark eyes blazing in the tangle of his hair. Then the Beast raised one arm and struck Tom a crushing blow on the side of the head.

C HAPTER N INE

F REE !
    T OM STRUGGLED TO KEEP HIS GRIP ON THE collar. He blinked and shook his head, trying to drive away the dizzy feeling.
    Tagus was stamping on the ground in a rage. Tom spotted something on the horizon. It was Storm! Elenna was riding him, and Silver ran alongside. They were coming to help.
    As they approached, Tagus became even more agitated.
    Tom called out to Elenna, “Spread out. We need to confuse him until I can get the collar off!”
    They split up. Elenna rode Storm in front of the Beast, while Silver darted off to the side.
    It was working! Tagus was confused. He paced from side to side, snorting and heaving. He didn’t know who to go after first. This bought Tom enough time to pull out the key the good wizard, Aduro, had given him.
    With one hand gripping the collar and one hand firmly holding the key, Tom grappled with the collar. But before Tom could get the key in the lock, Tagus gave one last stamp on the ground and stormed off, charging toward the hills. The threat of three foes had been enough to send him retreating.
    With all his strength, Tom gripped the enchanted collar. He had to free Tagus!
    Tom looked over his shoulder to see Elenna chasing after him on Storm. The Beast was moving too quickly for Tom to unlock the collar. It took all his strength just to hold on during the bumpy ride. He had to get Tagus to