Free Chasing Evil by Adam Blade Page B

around them, shattering to pieces when they hit the ground. At the edge of the cave entrance, a small rock slide tumbled down, breaking free of the mountain. The rock slide came to a halt, and the air filled with dust from the debris.
    â€œThat’s it!” Tanner cried. “Castor, can Nera cause the caves to collapse? Could she bury the entire armory?”
    Castor nodded. “I think so.” He climbed onto Nera’s back and leaned close to her face. “Nera, go to the top of the mountain,” he said. “Can you give us time to save the boys?” He waited, anxious, as Nera glanced at the other Beasts, then at Tanner and Gwen. “Please, Nera,” Castor said. “At the top of the mountain, your roar can break the stone. You can bring it all down.” Nera retracted her claws, a fierce intelligence burning in her eyes. “For me,” Castor said, climbing back to the ground. She lowered her head so that he could run his hand behind her ears. “Be careful,” he said, and Nera pounced onto the rock, her fur rippling gold as she climbed faster.
    Nera clambered up the mountainside, her claws hooking and scraping the stone. The Beast cast a long shadow as she arched overhead. Tanner watched her race above them, getting smaller as she ran toward the summit of the black mountain. Firepos sat straight, watching the mountain peak, while Gulkien sniffed and clicked his fangs, growling low.
    â€œDo you think Nera can really cause the caves to crumble?” Gwen asked.
    â€œYou saw what she did,” Castor said proudly. “And she wasn’t even trying. If she goes to the top and doesn’t hold back …” He grinned. “She’ll bring down the mountain.”
    â€œBurying the armory,” Tanner added. “I think it’s our best chance. Come on.”
    Hoping they were doing the right thing, he led the way back underground.
    We watch the Chosen Riders disappear into the open jag of darkness in the side of the mountain. My heart goes with them; we can do nothing to protect them now. But I am certain that Fate has brought us here, and I know that Nera will do all she can to help. There is no turning back. I glance up at my fellow Beast and, even from this distance, see her fur rippling with anticipation. Low clouds are rolling in, shutting out the daylight.
    The emptiness of death draws near. Gulkien snorts at the air, as if he can smell it. Something terrible is coming — a fight to the death. I can only wait and watch the darkness grow around me. In the dimming light, the world becomes smaller, suffocating. Time passes. Let Fate spare the Chosen Riders; let them know what to do.

T anner and his companions followed the orange lanterns along the cave passage, their shadows flickering and dancing on the dark walls. The clang and clatter of the armory grew louder, the air more sour with smoke, and Tanner signaled to Castor and Gwen to stop when they reached the broad opening of the cavern. He saw the anger on both of their faces as they heard the boys screaming and men shouting.
    â€œWe need to keep low to the ground,” Tanner hissed. They dropped to their stomachs and crawled to the first boulder. When they were close enough to see the armory, Gwen gasped.
    â€œThey’re so thin,” she murmured.
    Castor’s fists were clenched, his jaw set.
    Below, the boys were still working, the guards pacing among them with clubs. One led a prowling varkule on a chain. It snapped its jaws left and right, bringing panicked wails from the workers. Captain Brutus cracked his whip past the head of a dark-haired boy who was pouring molten metal into a mold. The boy flinched as the whip just missed his face.
    â€œFaster!” Brutus shouted. “Finish that ax head before I come back or I’ll cut off one of your ears. Do you hear me?”
    â€œY-yes,” the boy said.
    Captain Brutus stalked away and pointed at a boy working the