Trillion, the Three-Headed Lion Read online

  Book Twelve

  Trillion

  The Three-Headed Lion

  ADAM BLADE

  ILLUSTRATED BY EZRA TUCKER

  With special thanks to Allan Frewin

  For Harvey

  Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Dedication

  Dear Reader

  PROLOGUE

  CHAPTER ONE: THE WOUNDED BEAST

  CHAPTER TWO: WILD ATTACK!

  CHAPTER THREE: COURAGE AND STRENGTH

  CHAPTER FOUR: THE FEATHER OF EPOS

  CHAPTER FIVE: HUNTER AND PREY

  CHAPTER SIX: DESPERATE DANGER!

  CHAPTER SEVEN: THE LION’S BREATH

  CHAPTER EIGHT: THE GOOD BEAST

  CHAPTER NINE: NO VICTORY!

  CHAPTER TEN: THE LION GATE

  Copyright

  Did you think it was over?

  Did you think I would accept defeat and disappear?

  No! That can never be. I am Malvel the Dark Wizard, who strikes fear into the hearts of the people of Avantia. I still have much more to show this wretched kingdom, and one boy in particular — Tom.

  The young hero liberated the six Beasts of Avantia from my curse. But his fight is far from over. Let us see how he fares with a new Quest, one that will surely crush him and his companion, Elenna.

  Avantia’s Beasts had good hearts that I corrupted for my own wicked purpose. Now, thanks to Tom, they are free to protect the kingdom once more. But I have created new supreme Beasts whose hearts are evil and so cannot be set free. Each one guards a piece of the most precious relic of Avantia, a relic I have stolen: the suit of golden armor that gives magical strength to its rightful owner. I will stop at nothing to prevent Tom from collecting the complete suit and defeating me again. This time he will not win!

  Malvel

  PROLOGUE

  THE SUN WAS SETTING OVER THE CENTRAL plains of Avantia. Tagus the Night Horse, good Beast and protector of the land, nodded contentedly. All was peaceful, as it had been ever since Tom had freed him from the evil curse of Malvel the Dark Wizard.

  It was time to rest. The half-man, half-horse stamped a heavy hoof and turned to look at the cattle in the distance. A strange shape had appeared on an outcrop of rock on the far horizon, the sun behind it. Some kind of large animal was watching the herd. A predator!

  Tagus trotted forward warily, keeping to the cover of rocks and trees as he approached the creature. At last he was close enough to see clearly.

  It was a huge three-headed lion, the last sunlight glinting on his thick golden fur and the shaggy manes that hung from his three heads. Six eyes burned with a wicked emerald light as he gazed down at the cattle, and his lips were drawn back to reveal fearsome, slavering teeth.

  Tagus knew immediately that this was an evil Beast, sent by Malvel to cause mayhem. Instinct told him that he must confront the lion and do all in his power to destroy it. He eyed the huge paws, each one the size of his own head and studded with long, razor-sharp claws. Then, with a fierce cry, he galloped out of cover, puffing his chest as he pounded toward the lion.

  The three heads turned and the three mouths bellowed with anger and hatred. The lion pounced from his position on the rock, filling the whole sky as he came crashing down on Tagus.

  Tagus fought hard, kicking with his hooves and gripping one of the lion’s three throats. But the two other heads came snapping at him and he could smell the Beast’s foul breath as the three sets of teeth sought to tear his flesh from his bones.

  A powerful double blow from Tagus’s back legs sent the lion sprawling. Panting, the centaur got to his feet, but the evil Beast attacked again, jaws snapping, and his terrible weight bore him to the ground. Tagus had never known such strength and savagery. He could feel deep wounds on his flanks and neck, and sensed his death was near. The lion pinned him to the ground, his back arching as the three heads lifted and let out deafening, triumphant roars.

  Tagus struggled valiantly, but he was already too weak to break free. The heads bent down now, hungry eyes glowing, jaws snapping and ready to sink into Tagus’s flesh….

  Suddenly, an arrow came shooting out of nowhere, the sharp point sinking deep into one of the lion’s paws.

  The monster let out a roar of anger and leaped back, his great body trembling with rage. Tagus tried to get up, but he was too badly wounded.

  While one lion head tore at the arrow, the other two were turning, their blazing eyes searching for the archer. A second arrow hissed, narrowly missing one of the heads. With an earsplitting roar, the lion took off, bounding away toward the darkening plains.

  Gasping with relief, Tagus looked up.

  Two familiar shapes stood on the high horizon: a boy whose golden armor shone in the light of the setting sun, and a girl with another arrow already fitted to her bow. A horse and a wolf stood poised on the rocky outcrop behind them.

  CHAPTER ONE

  THE WOUNDED BEAST

  “TAGUS IS HURT!” TOM CRIED, SCRAMBLING onto his horse. “Quickly, Storm!”

  Elenna leaped up behind Tom. The black stallion neighed and reared, his hooves striking the air, before he set off at a gallop. Tom and Elenna clung grimly to his back, with Elenna’s loyal wolf, Silver, close behind.

  They came down off the stony crag and sped across the plains to where the injured Beast lay. Tagus was still struggling to get to his feet, but his battle with the monstrous three-headed lion had left him weak and helpless.

  Tom peered into the distance, but the evil Beast had fled, leaving no trace. There would be time enough to deal with Malvel’s monster later. Right now they had to help Tagus.

  “That lion would have killed Tagus if it wasn’t for your arrows,” Tom shouted to Elenna as they galloped along.

  “It has to be one of Malvel’s evil Beasts,” Elenna replied, concern in her voice. “Do you think it’s the guardian of the golden boots?”

  “It must be,” Tom said. “This is Malvel’s final challenge — and when we win, I will have every piece of the missing golden armor.”

  The magical armor, the most precious relic in the kingdom, had been scattered throughout Avantia by the Dark Wizard, each piece watched over by a fearsome Beast under Malvel’s thrall. So far, Tom had defeated five Beasts and collected the helmet, chain mail, breastplate, gauntlets, and leg armor. Each piece had given him new powers. Now only the boots were missing.

  But Malvel had held back his most deadly Beast until last! The huge, savage creature had defeated Tagus — how could he and Elenna stand up to such a monster, even with the help of his magical shield and his golden armor?

  Tom gritted his teeth. Whatever the outcome, he would defeat that Beast. The survival of the kingdom depended on it.

  They came to where Tagus was lying. The foul, musky scent of the three-headed lion hung thickly in the air. The two friends leaped down from Storm’s back and ran to Tagus. His wounds were deep and bloody, showing the dreadful marks of claws and of razor-sharp fangs.

  “Careful!” Tom said as Tagus fought to get to his feet. “We’ll help you. Slowly now!” The Beast could not understand human speech, but Tagus would know that they meant to help.

  Tom and Elenna did their best to support

  Tagus as he struggled to stand. Storm came close, whinnying gently and bowing his head so that Tagus could pull himself up.

  At last the wounded Beast was upright, his arm across Storm’s neck, the stallion pressing close so that Tagus would not fall. Silver prowled around them, his sharp eyes alert for danger.

  “He needs to rest and recover,” Elenna said, “but he won’t be able to travel far.” She looked at Tom. “What should we do?”

 
Tom pointed back toward the outcrop. The rock face curved inward, forming a natural place of shelter.

  “If we can get him there, he should be hidden from danger while we deal with the lion,” Tom said. He turned to Tagus. “Come with us,” he said, pointing to the outcrop. “You’ll be safe there.”

  The Beast nodded, his face twisted with pain. Very slowly, and with Storm at his side, he began to limp forward.

  Tom and Elenna walked at Tagus’s other side, ready to help if the Night Horse faltered.

  “He’s badly hurt,” Elenna said in a low voice. “He won’t be able to help us against the lion.”

  Tom nodded grimly. In their Quest for the golden armor, they had been aided by the good Beasts of Avantia, but it seemed that this final test would have to be completed alone.

  Then the sound of cruel laughter echoed across the plains.

  “Malvel!” Tom gasped, his fingers closing on the hilt of his sword.

  A dark swirl, like a small whirlwind, had appeared in the sky. When it cleared, the Dark Wizard was standing in front of them, his eyes flashing.

  Tom drew his blade.

  “Don’t try to strike me,” Malvel sneered. “You know you cannot harm me!” He laughed again and stretched out a hand toward them, the long thin fingers like claws. “You are doomed. Your Quest is at an end! Tagus will die and you will fall to the power of Trillion — the most savage and deadly Beast you have ever encountered!”

  “We’re not scared of you or your Beasts!” Elenna shouted. “You’re the one who should be scared!”

  Malvel laughed. “Scared of you? No, child, I feel no fear. But fear is coming for you — can you not hear it? Padding this way on four mighty paws? Listen carefully now….”

  “You’re a coward!” Tom shouted.

  Malvel’s face twisted with rage. “I will make you one oath, boy,” he spat. “I promise you pain and destruction if you dare to fight Trillion. He is more dangerous than you could ever imagine!” His eyes glowed. “And when you lie dying, I will be there — and my face will be the last thing you will ever see!”

  Then the dark whirlwind rose again, while the sky shook to the awful noise of the wizard’s laughter.

  Malvel was gone.

  Tom turned to Elenna. “Aduro wasn’t with him this time,” he said.

  Previously, Malvel had shown them horrible visions of their friend and adviser, the good wizard Aduro, bound and helpless above a pit of boiling tar. Tom knew that the only way to save Aduro was by collecting each piece of the golden armor and finishing the Quest.

  “What do you think that means?” Elenna asked. “Has Malvel done something terrible to him?”

  “I don’t know,” Tom replied, a new fierce determination in his voice. “But when this Quest is over, I will make Malvel pay for all his wickedness.”

  He gazed at the plains. Somewhere out there, Trillion was guarding the golden boots. Tom raised his sword to the sky.

  “Whatever it takes,” he called out, “I will find you, Trillion! I will complete my Quest!”

  CHAPTER TWO

  WILD ATTACK!

  TAGUS LET OUT A GROAN. HE LAY ON THE ground underneath the outcrop, his great chest heaving and a trail of blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

  “I really think he’s dying,” Elenna whispered. “Tom — what can we do?”

  “I have an idea!” Tom said. He pulled his shield off his back. Embedded in the wood were six magical tokens from his early Quests. “A phoenix can heal all wounds,” he explained to Elenna as he pulled the feather of Epos the Winged Flame from its place in the shield. “Perhaps his token can help, too.”

  He knelt at Tagus’s side and touched the feather against one of the Beast’s deep cuts. A sudden surge of energy filled his hand and shot up his arm, making his skin tingle, and the feather began to glow red.

  “It’s working!” Elenna gasped.

  “I think it is,” Tom agreed with a smile. He lifted the token away. The wound had closed, hardly leaving a scar. “But there are so many injuries,” he murmured. “I wonder if it will have enough power to heal them all.”

  He put the feather to another wound. Again he felt the tingling sensation and again the red light surged. Hope ignited in him — soon Tagus would be well again!

  But when he tried to heal the third wound, the tingling was faint and the light barely gleamed. Tom lifted the feather away. The wound had closed, but it hadn’t completely healed.

  Tom touched a fourth wound. The light flickered for a moment, then it was gone.

  “Why isn’t it working?” Elenna asked.

  “I think it needs time to fill with power again,” Tom said. He looked anxiously at her. “At least, I hope that’s all it is.” He frowned. “But it might take hours or days, for all we know. And we don’t have that kind of time!” He stood up, gripping the feather. “We have to act against Trillion now,” he said. “The evil Beast can’t be allowed to ravage the countryside.” He pointed to the top of the rock that was sheltering them. “That’s a good vantage point,” he said. “I should be able to see Trillion if he’s anywhere nearby.”

  “I’ll come with you,” Elenna said. “Storm and Silver can stay with Tagus.”

  Tom nodded. He and Elenna said a quick farewell to their two companions, then began the steep climb to the summit of the outcrop. The sun had set by the time they stood on the high rock. Tom lowered the visor of his golden helmet, which gave him brilliant vision.

  Now Tom could see the three-headed lion as clearly as if the Beast had been a sword’s length away.

  Trillion was causing havoc in a herd of wild goats, leaping upon the terrified, fleeing creatures. The poor animals were snapped up in the lion’s jaws, then flung away.

  “He’s toying with them!” Tom said angrily, his heart burning. “We’ll put a stop to his game!”

  But Elenna snatched at his arm. “Look!”

  Tom followed the line of her eyes. A wide ring of small dark shapes was moving purposefully in their direction.

  “Hyenas!” he gasped. There were twenty or thirty of them, slinking toward Tagus, Storm, and Silver, their eyes shining with a hungry light.

  “They must have smelled Tagus’s blood,” Tom said.

  “Will Storm and Silver be able to fight them off?” Elenna asked anxiously.

  “I don’t think so,” Tom said. “There are too many of them. We have to get back down there.”

  A drawn-out howl sounded from one of the hyenas, and then the entire pack came forward at a run, screeching and yowling as they closed in on the helpless Beast and his two animal protectors….

  CHAPTER THREE

  COURAGE AND STRENGTH

  “WE’RE COMING!” TOM SHOUTED AS HE AND Elenna scrambled back down the rock face. They were soon nearly at the bottom.

  But the hyenas were closing in fast, their howling echoing across the plains.

  “I left my bow and arrows down there,” Elenna cried.

  Tom held out his shield. “Use this to defend yourself while you get them,” he said.

  “But you’ll need it!” Elenna gasped.

  “I have other protection,” Tom replied, his hand pressing against his chain mail and shining breastplate. The moment his hand touched the golden armor, he felt the magic working. The chain mail filled his heart with blazing courage. At the same time, he felt strength flowing from the breastplate to all his muscles.

  He felt no fear now. A thousand hyenas could attack — he would defeat them! He pressed the shield into Elenna’s hands and leaped from the rock with a shout, his sword flashing in his hand.

  He landed among the hyenas, his blade slicing the air, his other arm raised to fend off the gnashing teeth and scrabbling claws. A few hyenas fell and the others drew back, surrounding him, glaring at him, but keeping out of sword’s reach.

  He saw Elenna leap down off the rock, the shield held out in front of her. A hyena pounced, but she struck it with the shield and sent it tumbling.

/>   “You won’t defeat me!” Elenna cried out to the vicious animals. Another hyena came at her, but she sidestepped and kicked out as it plunged past her.

  Storm and Silver were also fighting hard, battling to keep the hyenas away from Tagus. Storm was rearing, beating the hyenas back with his kicking hooves, the power of his legs sending the wild animals spinning through the air. Tagus was trying to get to his feet, but Tom could see he was weak from loss of blood and could do nothing to help.

  Silver was on the ground, wrestling wildly with two of the hyenas. For a dreadful moment, one of the hyenas managed to clamp its jaws to the wolf’s neck, but Silver quickly struggled to his feet, shaking off his attacker.

  Swinging his sword, Tom ran forward. “Storm! To me!” he shouted.

  The noble stallion neighed loudly at the sound of his voice and came plunging toward him through the mass of hyenas, hooves stamping.

  Tom swung up into the saddle, grasping the reins and urging Storm toward the wolf and the night horse. His blade flashed and spun, the golden gauntlets bestowing special sword skills. The cowardly hyenas backed away, snarling and slavering, as Tom reached Silver. A moment later and Elenna was at his side, her bowstring thrumming as she shot arrow after arrow into the pack.

  “Get away!” Tom shouted at the remaining hyenas.

  A long, whining howl of defeat sounded. The pack slunk back, then turned and fled. Filled with joy, Tom dug his heels into Storm’s flanks, urging the horse to gallop after them. He wasn’t going to let them regroup and attack again — he would give them such a chase that they would never come back!

  Elenna shouted, “Tom, be careful!”

  But he had no fear.

  Suddenly, a howl sounded from the rocks on one side. He turned his head and saw a huge hyena standing above him. Then there was another howl — from the other side. He turned his head again and saw the shapes of more hyenas.

  Two new packs had arrived!