The WARRIOR S ROAD. Ghoul of the Shadows

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1 The WARRIOR S ROAD KobA Ghoul of the Shadows

2 With special thanks to Allan Frewin Jones For Samuel Robin Beeson ORCHARD BOOKS 338 Euston Road, London NW1 3BH Orchard Books Australia Level 17/207 Kent St, Sydney, NSW 2000 A Paperback Original First published in Great Britain in 2013 Beast Quest is a registered trademark of Beast Quest Limited Series created by Beast Quest Limited, London Text Beast Quest Limited 2013 Inside illustrations by Pulsar Estudio (Beehive Illustration) Cover illustration by Steve Sims Orchard Books 2013 A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. ISBN Printed in Great Britain The paper and board used in this paperback are natural recyclable products made from wood grown in sustainable forests. The manufacturing processes conform to the environmental regulations of the country of origin. Orchard Books is a division of Hachette Children s Books, an Hachette UK company

3 KobA Ghoul of the Shadows BY ADAM BLADE

7 Greetings, whoever reads this. I am Tanner, Avantia s first Master of the Beasts. I fear I have little time left. My life slips away, and I write these few words as a testament for whoever may come across my remains. I have reached the end of my final journey. But a new warrior s journey is just beginning With the death of a Master, a new hero must take on the responsibility of guarding the kingdom of Avantia. Avantia needs a true warrior to wear the Golden Armour. He or she must walk the Warrior s Road a test of valour and strength. I have succeeded, but it has cost me my life. I only hope those who follow survive. May fortune be with you, Tanner

9 Prologue Sixty years ago... The gateway of the castle opened like a gaping mouth, and a wide path of glowing cobblestones ran from it like a glimmering red tongue. The young wizard in the green robe turned, his eyes following the track through the rugged landscape of rocks and ravines. Why should I, Jezrin, travel the long hard path of the Warrior s Road? 9

10 he said, with a sneer. Magic is so much quicker! A cry of pain sounded from the other side of the open gate. I m just in time, he thought, as he ran through the gate into a wide courtyard. On the cobbles, a man in golden armour lay groaning in agony. Jezrin crouched beside him, running his fingers over the gold. A suit of magical armour would be most useful to me, he said, prising open the visor on the helmet. He gazed pitilessly down at the man s face. The eyes were dim, but breath was still rasping between gritted teeth. Not quite dead yet, eh? said Jezrin. But very close, I think. He smiled. You won t need this finery any more. He began to tug the golden gauntlets off the man s hands. 10

11 A great roar filled the courtyard, shaking the ground and echoing loudly between the walls. Jezrin s stomach knotted with fear. He glanced up in time to see a mighty fist swinging through the air. Yelping with terror, Jezrin flung himself across the dying knight s chest. He felt the wind of the sweeping arm on his neck. A moment slower and my head would have been torn from my shoulders! He scrambled to his feet, staring up at a terrible form that towered over him. It was a great Beast. From beneath heavy curved brows, two eyes stared down at him. One eye glowed as green as poison, the other blazed orange like fire. Jezrin s chest tightened with dread. 11

12 Koba, Ghoul of the Shadows! he gasped. The Beast s mouth twisted into a grimace, the stench of his breath 12

13 almost knocking Jezrin from his feet. Koba s massive leathery head was crowned with spikes and one of his huge pointed ears was hung with golden rings. Muscular arms reached down, the snatching fingers tipped with double claws like the tails of scorpions. Jezrin grabbed the dying knight s hand, and tried to drag him away across the courtyard. I ve not come all this way to flee empty-handed, he thought. I will have the power of the Master of the Beasts, if it s the last thing I do! Koba s orange and green eyes pulsed with evil delight. Jezrin had only taken a few paces when a mindshredding pain flared behind his eyes. Arrgh! Releasing the knight s hand, Jezrin 13

14 dropped to his knees, clutching his head. A voice burned deep in his skull: You have not walked the Warrior s Road. You do not deserve to be here. Jezrin felt his body leave the ground. He opened his eyes and found that he was hanging upside down from his ankles, suspended from Koba s forked fingertips. He heard a distant cracking sound and saw the sky being torn open. Through the ragged hole, he glimpsed the palace of King Theo of Avantia. No! he cried. I m not ready to go back! With a flick of his powerful wrist, the Beast flung Jezrin towards the sky-portal. The Wizard managed to twist around in midair. 14

15 Beware, Koba! he shouted. You have not seen the last of me! I shall return and Avantia will be mine! 15

17 Chapter One The Deserted Castle The Hooded Man s words rang in Tom s mind as he stared across the ruins of the Last City. The Road is a trick. It never ends. Tom turned and saw his own doubt mirrored in Elenna s face. Silver lay with his muzzle between his paws, his sad eyes turned up towards them. Well? asked the Hooded Man. 17

18 What is your decision? Biting his lip, Tom looked into the man s blue eyes. They re just like my eyes... Tom was still reeling. The Hooded Man had followed them down the Road, but he d only just revealed his true identity. The Hooded Man was Tom s future self, beaten and weighed down by many years of walking the Warrior s Road. It can t be real, Tom thought. Is this how I ll look one day? But despite the ancient scars and the broken nose, Tom had to admit this man looked so much like him. There was a sudden cracking sound and Tom turned sharply. A dark hole, outlined with silver light, had appeared under the pillars of a collapsed arch. The next portal, Tom thought. On each 18

19 stage of this Quest, Tom had had to step through a magical doorway. You ll press on, despite my warning? sneered the Hooded Man. Then you truly are the greatest fool ever to walk this Road! Maybe I am, Tom said. But I never turn away from a Quest. And if I don t prove myself worthy of being the Master of the Beasts, the Judge will conquer Avantia. He caught Elenna by the hand. Follow me, he whispered. Then he seized the Hooded Man s wrist. What new stupidity is this? cried the old warrior. The dark portal loomed over them. You re coming with us, said Tom. Two Toms are better than one! Then he gave a hard yank, pulling the two of them with him. 19

20 No! The older man tried to drag himself back, but Tom plunged through the archway. He shut his eyes against a sudden blinding light. When he opened them again, he found himself squinting up at a high wall of smooth black marble. It was a castle, with great towers and battlements and turrets. Glowing red cobbles led to a massive gatehouse. The Warrior s Road. Tom released his grip on Elenna, and on the Hooded Man. He marched in through the gate, keeping a grip on the hilt of his sword. Elenna and Silver were at his side. He glanced over his shoulder to make sure that his future self was still following. This is like nothing I ve ever encountered before! he thought. Inside was a courtyard, with more 20

21 black walls rising on every side. At the far side of the courtyard, a trestle table was laid with steaming pies and fresh loaves of bread. There were platters of fried fish, and overflowing bowls of fresh vegetables. It s as though everyone just 21

22 vanished in the middle of a normal day, said Elenna. She pointed. There s even a filled dog bowl on the ground. Hello? Tom shouted. His voice echoed around the courtyard, but no one came in response to his call. Silence fell, as though the castle were holding its breath. Waiting to pounce... Silver bounded over to the bowl and ate hungrily. Silver, careful, called Elenna. It might be bad. He would know tainted food by its smell, said Tom, sniffing the aromas that drifted from the table. I think this is all good to eat. The Hooded Man shoved past Tom and strode to the table. He picked up a 22

23 large pie in both hands and took a bite. Apple pie! he mumbled through a mouthful. It s good! Just like Aunt Maria used to bake! Elenna gave Tom a puzzled glance. He knew exactly what she was thinking, because he was thinking the same thing: Aunt Maria s speciality is cherry pie. Frowning, Elenna walked up to the older Tom, looking him up and down. What are you goggling at? he sneered, before taking another bite. A greedy man, said Elenna. She looked towards Tom, nodding at the Hooded Man s sword. Tom understood in a moment. His sword is on his right hip I wear mine on my left. He began to look more carefully at the man. Where his collar hung open, 23

24 Tom saw a long, deep scar that ran from his throat to his shoulder. How did you get that scar? asked Tom. It was in a battle with a Beast, the Hooded Man muttered, not meeting Tom s eyes. A Beast called...erm, Arctune. A fearsome monster that dwelled in the land of of Gwiltia to the far south of Avantia. I ve never heard of Gwiltia, said Tom. How could you? It hasn t happened to you yet, said the man impatiently. But I ve seen maps of Avantia and all the realms that surround it and there is no land called Gwiltia. He s right! said Elenna, taking her bow off her shoulder and setting an arrow to the string. Besides how could you have visited a land to the far 24

25 south of Avantia if you never left the Warrior s Road? The Hooded Man stared at her in silence. Tom drew his sword. Tell us the truth, he demanded. The man s cloak started to twitch and writhe. Deep in the shadows of the hood, his eyes glowed and grew, changing colour. Tom gave a gasp as he saw one green eye and one orange eye glaring at him. Silver growled and bared his teeth. Stay back! Tom shouted. He s transforming! A moment later the dark cloak exploded into a seething mass of snakes. Hissing and spitting, the snakes slithered away while the Hooded Man s form began to bulge, ripping through his clothing to reveal the 25

26 leathery skin beneath. His head swelled too, his ears growing pointed, and hung with golden rings. His legs seemed to vanish, wreathed in swirling smoke. The mouth stretched into a hideous expression that was half fury and half mocking smile. Tom stumbled back 26

27 from a blast of reeking breath. The Beast s arms unfolded and the fingers flexed to reveal long forked claws. A fearsome voice burst into Tom s head. My name is Koba, and you have proved yourself a worthy opponent! 27

FalrA. The Snow Phoenix

FalrA. The Snow Phoenix FalrA The Snow Phoenix With special thanks to Michael Ford To Lucas Allan www.beastquest.co.uk ORCHARD BOOKS 338 Euston Road, London NW1 3BH Orchard Books Australia Level 17/207 Kent St, Sydney, NSW 2000