Stealth the Ghost Panther by Adam Blade Page B

him!”
    Beside the picture of the city, a small black shape came into view: a panther with a coat the color of night. He snarled and slid out gleaming claws.
    At the same moment, a chilly wind blew past Tom, bringing the foul stench of something rotten. The voice of the evil Wizard Malvel whispered in Tom’s ear. “Stealth …”
    â€œStealth!” Elenna exclaimed. Clearly she had heard the whisper, too. She exchanged a startled glance with Tom. “Is that the name of the Ghost Beast?”
    â€œIt must be,” Tom declared. “And we were right. The Beast is in the city.”
    â€œAnd that means it’s not just our own safety we have to worry about,” Elenna said. “The King and everyone else are in danger, too.”
    Tom’s stomach churned with a mixture of fear and excitement. “We’d better get moving,” he said. “This Beast could destroy all of Avantia.”
    Digging into his pocket, Tom drew out the silver compass that his father had given to him. There were two points on it: Destiny and Danger . He held it out toward the city and watched as the needle swung around to Destiny .
    â€œThat proves it. There’s no time to waste,” he said, closing up the compass and stowing it away again. “What’s the quickest way of getting to the city?”
    â€œThe piece of Tagus’s horseshoe will give us extra speed,” Elenna said, pointing to the Night Horse’s gift, which was fixed onto Tom’s shield.
    â€œYes, but we need to choose the quickest route.”
    Tom studied the map again, but it showed onlythe main road that wound through the hills and fields of Avantia, taking in many towns and villages on its way. He banished the map with a flick of his fingers, and looked around thoughtfully. Then his gaze fell on the mouth of one of the tunnels at the base of the volcano.
    â€œLook!” he cried excitedly, gesturing toward it. “Remember how we rescued the people of Stonewin from the fires of Epos, back on our first Quest?”
    â€œWe led them through the tunnels,” Elenna replied, her eyes shining as she understood Tom’s plan. “They go all the way to the city.”
    â€œYes.” A wide grin split Tom’s face. “And we can use those tunnels again!”

T OM SET OFF AT A RUN, SPEEDING ALONG THE path that wound down the side of the volcano. I don’t need the golden leg armor anymore , he thought. Running downhill, I can go as fast as I dare!
    Storm cantered ahead, his hooves throwing up spurts of black volcanic dust, while Elenna and Silver raced alongside each other, hard on Tom’s heels. Tom loved the feeling of the wind as it whipped his hair back from his face. This would be fun , he said to himself, if we weren’t on such a serious Quest.
    Tom slowed his pace to a jog as they reached the foot of the volcano and headed through the woods.Now he took the lead, weaving his way through the trees toward the tunnels.
    At last Tom and his friends halted, panting, by the mouth of the biggest tunnel. Inside, Tom could see a passageway leading into blackness.
    â€œIt’s dark,” Tom began. “How are we going to —”
    He was interrupted by a shout coming from the direction of the village. “Greetings!”
    Tom turned to see a group of villagers hurrying toward them. In the lead was Raymond, who had helped guide his people to safety when the volcano was about to erupt. Just behind him was the young boy, Owen, and his mother, Nesta. Owen was still fair-haired and skinny, but much taller than when Tom and Elenna saw him last.
    â€œIt’s Tom and Elenna!” Raymond exclaimed, throwing his arms around Tom. “What are you doing in these parts?”
    â€œI hope there’s no more trouble with Epos,” Nesta said as she embraced Elenna.

    â€œNo, Epos protects the kingdom now,” Tom replied quietly, remembering how the magnificent flame