THE CUBS CREEPED CLOSER, SNIFFING THE AIR.

“What do we do about them?” asked Tom. He didn’t like to see Luna’s young abandoned, even though they had tried to attack him. One of the cubs broke away from the pack and came to sniff around Elenna’s feet, before looking up at her with friendly eyes.

Elenna laughed and reached down to stroke the cub’s head. He nipped playfully at her fingers, before darting back to join his siblings. They chased one another joyfully and ran back into the forest, barking encouragement to one another.

“They’ll be okay,” Elenna said. “Let them run wild. That’s what they’re born to do. They’re old enough to fend for themselves.”

“The amulet!” said Tom suddenly, as he realized the cubs’ nest was now left unguarded. He set off at a run into the Dark Wood. Elenna, Storm, and Silver followed.

Tom felt the change in the atmosphere as soon as he entered the forest.

“Look, Tom!” Elenna called. She put her hand to a tree trunk, but when she pulled it away, it was no longer smeared in blood. There were just a few green streaks of moss across her palm. Tom smiled, and carried on striding through the undergrowth. He could hear the noises of animals moving about in the undergrowth, but there was nothing sinister or threatening about the sound now. The woods were wild, but released from Luna’s spell, they were no longer evil.

Tom found the nest again easily — a dark hollow beneath the roots of a gnarled tree, where the shard of silver amulet glinted in the moonlight. A sliver of blue winked at him from the fragment’s edge. Carefully, he picked it up. It was heavy in his hand, and his fingertips felt the inscription on the back of the precious metal.

The three other pieces of amulet Tom had gathered hung on a leather thong around his neck. He raised the fourth to join them. There was a silver catch that clicked into place with a satisfying sound. Four pieces, he thought. Just two more to go. With each new fragment, he was bringing his father closer to life.

“It’s beautiful,” said Elenna, as she caught up with him.

“Yes,” said Tom softly.

Storm whinnied, as if in greeting. Tom looked up. His father, Taladon, was standing before them in a vision. Taladon still looked ghostly. Tom could see the outlines of the trees through his body. But his strong, bearded face shone with pride as he looked at his son.

“Well done, Tom,” he said in his deep voice. “I am proud to have a son who fights with such skill and courage.”

Tom modestly lowered his gaze to the ground. “Well, I had a lot of help,” he said.

“Yes.” Tom looked back up to see Taladon’s gaze pass to Elenna, and then to Storm and Silver. “My son is lucky to have such brave and loyal friends. Thanks to you all, I feel my powers returning.”

As he said this, it seemed to Tom that his father grew more solid than before. The trees behind him became less distinct. At the same time, he felt a change in his own body — as if energy was leaving him. By this stage in the Quest, he understood that another of the magic powers he’d gained from the golden armor had leaked away.

A fallen tree lay nearby in the forest. Tom went over to it. He bent down, placed both hands beneath it, and tried to lift.

Nothing happened.

He tried again, tugging with all his might. But the trunk was immovable. He straightened, breathing hard.

“I’ve lost my strength,” he said. “The magic strength the golden breastplate gave me. It’s gone!”

Taladon nodded gravely. “Every gain must bring some loss,” he said. “And magical powers alone do not make a hero! It is the spirit that truly counts.”

“Think of all the things you’ve done without magic powers,” said Elenna. “Like when you leaped over the pit so Luna would crash into it — that was a tremendous jump and you did it with no help. You’re just as much of a hero without the golden armor — more so, because you’re doing it all yourself!”

“Elenna is right,” said Taladon. “You have shown true heroism on this Quest, Tom. And you will need to be even more of a hero on the next Quest.”

Tom squared his shoulders. “I’ll be ready for it,” he said. “I’ll do anything to bring you back to the land of the living.”

“And you won’t be alone!” said Elenna. “We’ll be by your side!” Silver gave a low howl of agreement. Storm stamped and tossed his mane, eager to get going.

“Next you must face a very different Beast,” said Taladon. “Blaze — a dark and deadly dragon!”

“A dragon?” Tom repeated. He remembered his very first Quest, when he freed Ferno the Fire Dragon.

But his father was already growing indistinct. “I wish you well,” Taladon said. For a moment, his outline hung in the air. Then he was gone.

“I won’t be sorry to leave this place,” Elenna said. She shuddered and turned to start walking out of the Dark Wood. As they emerged from the trees, they could see the dry, dusty plain of the Forbidden Land, with the mountains rearing up in the distance.

Somewhere, far away, thought Tom, Blaze is waiting for us. Excitement coursed through him. He was ready to face the next Beast.