“NO!” ELENNA YELLED.

Before the Beast’s claws could scratch down Tom’s arm, he saw his friend pull another arrow from her quiver. “Don’t get too close!” he gasped.

Elenna loosed the arrow. It struck Stealth on the back of the neck and stuck there, quivering. The Ghost Beast snarled and twisted his head, his jaws snapping as he tried to grasp the arrow and pull it out.

Elenna ran forward and grabbed Tom by the arm, hauling him to his feet and back out of range.

“Thanks!” Tom panted.

Shivers ran through Tom’s body as he realized what would have happened if his friend hadn’t been so quick. He would have been turned to evil…. Avantia’s last hope would have been gone.

“We need a different plan,” he said to Elenna. “I can’t risk getting near those claws.”

Elenna nodded, but didn’t reply. She was still watching the furious Beast, her bow raised and another arrow notched on the string.

Tom remembered how he had swung himself through the air to escape from the store back in Stonewin. That’s it! he told himself. I need a rope! If he could lasso Stealth and climb onto his back, the Ghost Beast wouldn’t be able to reach him with his claws. And then I can rescue the piece of the amulet from his collar, Tom thought.

Glancing around, he saw a pile of barrels stacked up beside the wall of the inn, bound together by a piece of rope. Tom sheathed his sword and darted over to them, tugging desperately at the knotted coils.

Behind him, Tom heard a delighted snarl, and glanced over his shoulder to see that Stealth had finally wrenched the arrow out of his flesh. His gleaming teeth splintered the shaft and he tossed the scraps away.

I’ve got to get this rope loose now! Tom thought.

Stealth crouched again, snarling as he prepared to leap at Tom. At the same instant, the knot gave way and Tom pulled the rope free from the barrels.

Tom quickly twisted the rope to form a noose. As Stealth pounced, Tom ducked, and the huge panther leaped over him, whipping around as he landed to face Tom again.

Tom tossed the noose into the air and began to circle the panther. The Ghost Beast lashed out at him, but he was too big to maneuver himself properly in the narrow alley.

“Move back,” Tom instructed Elenna. “We need more space. If we have to fight, we’ll fight fair.”

With his gaze fixed on the panther, he heard Elenna leading Storm away and the patter of Silver’s paws on the cobbles. Tom followed them, walking backward, circling the lasso over his head. Stealth stalked along the alley after him, his tails raking along the walls on either side.

As he emerged from the end of the alley, Tom realized that in their search for Stealth, he and Elenna had traced a circle through the city. They had arrived back in the main square, not far from the palace gates. Glancing up at the palace, Tom spotted the one lighted window, with King Hugo, Wizard Aduro, and his father, Taladon, all watching silently. They’ve never seen anything like this, Tom thought. I only hope I come out the winner.

Stealth had emerged from the alley, too, and was patiently prowling across the square toward Tom. Circling the lasso, Tom tried to judge the best moment to strike.

“Tom, be careful!” Elenna’s voice had a warning note.

He realized that Stealth understood what he was trying to do. The Beast was circling one of his tails above his head, making a lasso of his own.

If he catches me, I’m done for, Tom told himself. It’s now or never! He had to lasso the Beast before the Beast lassoed him first. And he could see that Stealth’s body was gradually beginning to fade into its ghostly form.

I’ve got to catch him before he changes!

Tom sent the rope arcing through the air toward the panther. At the same time, Elenna fired a volley of arrows at the Beast’s back legs. Stealth’s head snapped around and he bared his teeth at her. The Beast had turned half-ghostly, but Tom could just make out enough of him to aim.

“Yes!” Tom’s triumphant shout echoed across the square as the noose fell perfectly over the Ghost Beast’s head.

Tom pulled the rope tight around Stealth’s neck and ran to his side. Distracted by the struggle, it was clear that Stealth could no longer concentrate on becoming a ghost, and he returned to his full form. Gripping the panther’s collar in one hand, Tom vaulted onto the Beast’s back. Stealth struggled to wrench the rope out of Tom’s hands, but Tom held it fast.

Stealth swung his head around, his fangs snapping at Tom, but every time he turned to get closer, Tom was carried out of reach on the Beast’s own body. The rope burned his hands as he clung to it, trying to stay on the ghost panther’s twisting back.

Sitting astride the Beast, Tom drew his sword again, gripping the rope with his other hand. He managed to scramble to his feet, but almost lost his balance as Stealth reared up on his hind legs, in an effort to shake Tom off. The panther’s coal-black fur was as slippery as ice under Tom’s feet. But he somehow clung to the rope and climbed up Stealth’s spine until he was in reach of the collar.

With a single stroke, Tom sliced the collar through. It clattered to the ground, the piece of amulet ringing on the cobblestones of the square.

Stealth let out a final roar of pain and anger.

At the same instant, a fierce gust of wind blew through the square. A whirling reddish-purple cloud began to form in front of Tom, and a scream of rage echoed through the air. “Nooooooo!”

Tom recognized the voice. That’s Malvel!