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So… You still wish to follow Tom on his Beast Quest.

Turn back now. A great evil lurks beneath Avantia’s earth, waiting to arise and conquer the kingdom with violence and rage. Six Beasts with the hearts of Ancient Warriors, at the mercy of the Evil Wizard, Malvel, who I fear has reached the height of his powers.

War awaits us all.

I beg you, again, close this book and turn away. Evil will rise. Darkness will fall.

Your friend,

Wizard Aduro

PROLOGUE

Daltec threw an apple into the air. “Watch this!” he said gleefully to King Hugo, who walked at his side. With a muttered spell, Daltec cast a hand over the apple and with a chirp it turned into a sparrow. The little bird fluttered away into the orchard.

“It was supposed to turn into an eagle!” Daltec grumbled.

“Never mind that,” King Hugo said. “Tell me about the battle against the Beast of the Icy North. Have you seen anything in Aduro’s crystal ball?”

Daltec, the youngest apprentice to the Wizard Aduro, ran a hand through his curly hair. “My King,” he said with a bow, “I have not looked in the ball yet this morning.”

“Too busy with your studies, hmm?” asked King Hugo.

Daltec’s face flushed. “I was—I was—”

“In the kitchen eating pastries,” said King Hugo. “Pay attention, Daltec. I have never known our kingdom of Avantia to be in such great peril. If the Evil Wizard Malvel returns here, all could be lost. All. Do you understand?”

They were in the royal gardens and the king’s gaze ran over the trees, which were covered in red, orange and yellow fruit. The domes and spires of the palace rose all around them. Beyond spread Avantia. The land was protected by six legendary Beasts, though few people knew of their existence. Usually, this was enough to keep the kingdom safe, but the Evil Wizard Malvel had raised six good knights from the dead and turned them into wicked, deadly Beasts.

King Hugo walked on. “I hope Taladon the Swift is safe. I’m counting on him to help Tom protect Avantia.”

“Perhaps Aduro will soon send word of victory,” Daltec suggested. “I’ll run and look into the crystal ball. Maybe the heroes are already returning after slaying Tecton the Armoured Giant!”

“Do not underestimate Malvel,” King Hugo warned. “He’s turned six good knights into Evil Beasts – who knows what more he’s capable of? Go now and find out about the battle in the Icy North.”

“I’ll go at once,” the apprentice said. He closed his eyes and spun around three times, mumbling. When he reopened his eyes, he was not in Aduro’s chamber as he had hoped. Instead, he was lodged in the branches of an apple tree less than ten strides away from where he had been standing.

“I need to practise that spell more,” he said sheepishly.

The king waved his hand. “Be off with you!”

Daltec scrambled down and loped away.

Hugo continued his walk through the orchard. Fear weighed him down. His shoulders slumped and his forehead creased. “Why has no word come from the north? All could be lost,” he muttered.

Movement caught the king’s eye. Was it a peacock? Or a deer? No, light glinted off something golden. Golden armour! King Hugo’s eyes lit up.

“Taladon!” King Hugo cried in welcome. “Do you have news of victory?”

The knight pushed back his visor with a gauntleted hand. King Hugo faltered. Had the battle in the north changed the face of his Master of the Beasts so much? Where was Taladon’s golden beard? This knight had a clean-shaven face. A cunning smile revealed a chipped tooth. It was not Taladon the Swift standing before the king.

King Hugo’s hand fell to where his sword belt was usually fastened, but today, he was not wearing it.

“Halt!” the king cried. “State your name!”

The Golden Knight stepped closer.

“Do not strike me, for I am unarmed,” King Hugo said. “I will fight you in fair combat. Honour demands that we both be armed before we duel.”

The knight made no reply. Light rippled on his golden armour. Was it moving? King Hugo’s eyes widened in panic. Something was wrong. The knight’s armour wavered and heaved. He was turning to golden stone! Flames flickered around his neck and became a blazing mane. King Hugo flung up a hand to ward off the heat. Now the knight’s eyes glowed like craters. A skeletal muzzle replaced the cunning face. From the bones sprouted curved, sabre-tooth fangs.

The Beast crouched to spring.

“Get back! I am King Hugo of Avan—”

The king’s words ended in a shout of pain and terror.