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beside him. “Malvel stole Taladon’s journals, filled with hard-won secret knowledge of the Beasts,” he explained. “He used that information to gain control over six of them. That is the only way in which your father helped Malvel.”
    Tom felt a surge of pride in his father’s achievements. “Then I have followed in his footsteps!” He looked hopefully at Aduro. “Do you know where he is now?”
    “I do not,” Aduro admitted. “He has traveled to faraway lands now, to places even I cannot see.”
    “One day I’ll find him,” Tom vowed. “We will meet, I know it. It’s my destiny.”
    Suddenly, there was a clattering noise outside the throne room, and voices raised in surprise.
    The king smiled. “Ah! Aduro has conjured some others who wish to greet you.”
    The doors to the throne room were thrown open — by Elenna!
    “Tom!” she yelled.
    Before Tom could say a word, Elenna threw herself into his arms, almost knocking him to the floor as she hugged him tight. “Oh, Tom, you did it!”
    “We
did it,” he told her. “I could never have done this without you, Storm, and Silver. Where are they?”
    “It seems they are inside my throne room!” King Hugo exclaimed. Tom laughed as Storm clopped over and pushedpast Aduro, neighing loudly. Silver dashed in and out of the stallion’s legs in excitement, then licked Tom all over his face.
    “I’m not sure I’ve ever entertained a horse and a wolf in my palace before,” laughed King Hugo. “But then, we’ve never had a hero like Tom before, either.” He beamed at Elenna and the animals. “Tonight there shall be a mighty feast — with you, Tom, and Elenna as the guests of honor!”
    Tom bowed. “We are grateful, Your Majesty,” he said.
    “I am the grateful one,” said King Hugo. “I shall speak to the people now.”
    As the king crossed to the royal balcony, Tom looked at Aduro. “Is it really all over? Is Malvel gone forever?”
    “Who can tell?” said Aduro. “Malvel was a great sorcerer with the power to travel great distances inthe blink of an eye. This Quest may be over, Tom, but others may lie ahead.”
    A shiver of excitement ran through Tom. “I’ll be ready.”
    “And we’ll face them together,” said Elenna.
    Storm whinnied and Silver barked, as a gigantic cheer shook the palace. King Hugo had walked out onto the balcony to greet the people of Avantia, and now he was beckoning to Tom and Elenna.
    Tom gulped. “We’d better go and face that crowd!”
    Tom and Elenna took their place at King Hugo’s side. The streets outside were jammed full of jostling people, all of them clapping and cheering. Tom spotted Owen and Raymond smiling in the crowd, and waved to them.
    “You’re the kingdom’s hero, Tom!” said Elenna excitedly. “Your story will be told throughout the land….”
    Tom hardly heard her. For a second he thought he glimpsed a dark, hooded figure…. He blinked — and when he looked again, there was nothing. Were his eyes playing tricks on him?
    If Malvel returns,
Tom thought gravely,
I shall be waiting.
    But right now, it was enough to know that he had completed his Beast Quest, and that Elenna, Storm, and Silver were close beside him.
    Tom smiled and held his sword aloft as the crowd cheered. He thought about the six Beasts, who were now free again to guard the kingdom. Just as they always had, since time began.

 
    B EAST Q UEST
    #1: F ERNO THE F IRE D RAGON
    #2: S EPRON THE S EA S ERPENT
    #3: C YPHER THE M OUNTAIN G IANT
    #4: T AGUS THE N IGHT H ORSE
    #5: T ARTOK THE I CE B EAST
    #6: E POS THE W INGED F LAME

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