Vipero the Snake Man Read Free Page A

Elenna was wearing a long piece of fabric as a scarf, which she wound around her own head, covering her mouth and nose until all Tom could see was the slits of her eyes.
    Before they set foot in the desert, Tom pulled out the compass that his father, Taladon, had left for him with his uncle and aunt in Errinel many years ago, before he disappeared. Once more Tom read the words inscribed on the back of it:
For My Son
. He had the chain mail for strength of heart, but when he looked at the compass he felt close to his father, as if Taladon were beside him, giving him courage.
    As he peered down at the compass the needleswung wildly between Destiny and Danger. Clearly, it was too soon in this Quest to use it. Tucking it away in his pocket, Tom set his teeth with determination. There was no choice; he and Elenna had to go on. He checked his sword and hooked his shield over his arm; it bore the magical tokens from the good Beasts of Avantia he had freed in his first Quest: Ferno the Fire Dragon, Sepron the Sea Serpent, Cypher the Mountain Giant, Tagus the Night Horse, Tartok the Ice Beast, and Epos the Winged Flame. He knew they would come to his aid if he needed them.
    Slowly they headed farther into the desert. Both animals had become very quiet. Storm plodded on determinedly, while Tom and Elenna walked beside him. Tom reached up to pat his neck. “You’re doing fine, boy,” he murmured. “Let’s hope we’ll be out of here soon.”
    Elenna looked down to where Silver padded along in Storm’s shadow. “When this is over,” shepromised, “I’m going to give you the biggest bowl of water in all of Avantia.”
    Silver let out an approving howl.
    As they trudged deeper into the sand dunes, they lost sight of the town behind them. All they had to guide them was the glowing red line on Wizard Aduro’s enchanted map.
    The sun started to go down, but it glared as fiercely as ever and an eerie whistling noise filled their ears.
    “What’s that?” Tom asked, sharing a startled glance with Elenna.
    Slowly they both turned to look behind them. At first Tom could see nothing but the rolling sand dunes.
    Then Elenna pointed upward. “Look!” she cried.
    Tom saw that the sun was growing hazier, as if a thin curtain had been drawn across it, and the sky was turning a dirty yellow color.
    “That’s sand!” he exclaimed. “It’s a sandstorm!”
    Above them, sand was swirling in the sky, churning like a celestial whirlpool. As Tom stared upward, it took on a horribly familiar shape.
    Malvel!

C HAPTER F IVE

S ANDSTORM!
    T HE DARK WIZARD’S CRUEL LAUGHTER echoed across the sand dunes. “The hero of Avantia!” he taunted. “Not finding the desert so easy, are you?”
    The swirling sand expanded until it covered half the sky, and, suddenly, Tom and Elenna could see Wizard Aduro, his hands tied behind him. He was bound to a chair, which dangled on ropes from a pole. Beneath him a pit of boiling tar bubbled and spattered. Tom stared in horror.
    “No!” Elenna gasped, clapping her hands over her mouth.
     

    “What have you done?” Tom yelled, drawing his sword.
    A sneering smile crossed Malvel’s face. “What I’ve done doesn’t matter. It’s what you’re
going
to do. Every time you doubt yourself on your Quest, I’ll lower your friend’s chair farther into the pit. Whether Aduro survives will depend on
you,
Tom the Hero.”
    Even as he spoke, Tom felt a flicker of doubt. How could he be responsible for Wizard Aduro’s life? It was hard enough trekking through the fiery desert, with an unknown evil Beast waiting for him.
    Instantly, Aduro’s chair jerked downward, while Malvel’s mocking laughter resounded in Tom’s ears. “You see? Better stay confident, Tom, or Aduro will die.”
    “No!” Tom’s anger helped him thrust away his brief doubts and the chain mail gave him extra strength of heart. He would defeat the evil wizard!“While there’s blood in my veins,” he vowed, “I’ll save