Free Vipero the Snake Man by Adam Blade Page A

was his destiny to defeat the evil Beasts and collect every piece of the magical golden armor, which Malvel had stolen and scattered across the kingdom. He already had three pieces: the helmet, which gave him extra-keen sight; the chain mail, which bestowed strength of heart; and the breastplate, which made him physically strong. They were tucked safely in one of Storm’s saddlebags, ready for when he next needed them.
     

    It’s a good thing they’re magical,
he thought now.
They hardly weigh anything at all!
    Fear churned in his stomach as he remembered how, after the defeat of Soltra the Stone Charmer, Malvel had appeared in a vision, warning him there would be a heavy price to pay if he completed this next stage of the Quest. Even so, he was determined to carry on. Malvel had kidnapped their friend and protector, Wizard Aduro, and only by seeing the Quest through to the end couldhe and Elenna hope to set him free. Aduro himself had told them so.
    “Tom.” Elenna shook his shoulder gently. “We have to go. Another evil Beast is waiting for us.”
    “I know.” Energy flooded through Tom as he pledged himself once more to his Quest. He leaned forward to pat Storm on the neck. “Let’s go, boy.”
    Standing beside the stallion, his ears pricked and his plumy tail waving, Silver the wolf let out an approving howl.
    As Storm began to trot along the road, Tom could smell the pungent scent of herbs Aunt Maria had given him as a parting gift, which were stowed away in his pocket. “I wonder what the herbs are for,” he said to Elenna now.
    “Your aunt told us they cure all sorts of illnesses,” Elenna reminded him. “Let’s hope we don’t need them.”
    “I’m sure they’ll come in useful somehow,” Tom said cheerfully.
    The road led into the hills. Trees covered the slopes and a narrow stream followed the winding of the road. The sun told them they had been traveling for about an hour when they came to a crossroads.
    “Which way?” Tom asked.
    Elenna reached forward to take Wizard Aduro’s enchanted map out of Storm’s saddlebag. Unfolding it, she studied it for a moment. “It’s telling us to go south,” she said. “That road will take us to the desert.”
    Tom urged Storm on, while Silver bounded eagerly ahead. “Traveling in the desert will be tough,” he said. “Worse than the jungle, even. The heat might finish us off before we get near the Beast.”
    “That’s true,” Elenna agreed. “Silver!” she called out to the wolf. “Come back here.”
    Silver raced back to her, his tongue lolling.
    “You’re tiring yourself out,” Elenna scolded him. “Just slow down. You need to save your strength if you’re going to cope with the desert.”
    Silver waved his tail as if he understood and loped alongside Storm as they continued south.
    “Does the map show which part of the armor we’re looking for this time?” Tom asked Elenna.
    Elenna held out the map so that Tom could see. Twisting around in the saddle, he saw the glowing red path leading down to the vast expanse of desert in the southernmost part of the kingdom. In the middle of it, two pieces of golden leg armor lay glittering on top of a sand dune.
    There was no sign of Malvel’s Beast, but Tom couldn’t suppress a shiver, thinking of it lurking behind a dune, ready to strike. What hideous shape would this new Beast take?
    “It’s a long way,” Elenna said.
    “The horseshoe fragment from Tagus will help.” Tom glanced down at his shield to see the magical token he had won when he released Tagus the Night Horse from Malvel’s evil spell. It gave them extra speed. With its help, they traveled quickly, and it wasn’t yet midday when the road led down through the hills and out onto a plain. There were no streams or pools here, and the grass was parched and brown.
    Tom felt the heat of the sun beating on his shoulders. His mouth was dry. Storm’s head was drooping and Silver’s tail trailed on the dusty ground.
    “We