Vedra and Krimon the Twin Dragons by Adam Blade

T OM STROKED HIS BRAVE STALLION’S NECK.
    â€œGet well soon, Storm,” he murmured. Tom’s horse had been lamed on a rock, but was healing well in the palace stables. Tom’s friend Elenna’s pet wolf, Silver, lay in the straw at his side, refusing to leave Storm. “I have to go now,” Tom told the animals. “But I’ll come and see you again as soon as I can.”
    Tom left the stables, crunching through snow as he gazed up at the tall purple spires and the sea green domes of the Royal Palace. Frosty midwinter lay over the towns and villages, fields and forests of Avantia. But in the Great Hall of the palace, a party was taking place to celebrate King Hugo’s birthday.
    Tom took a seat beside Elenna, her black hair a short-cropped tangle, her bow and quiver of arrows at her side on the bench. The hall was full of people eating and dancing to the music.
    â€œA toast!” called one of the royal courtiers. “To King Hugo: Long may he reign!” There was a roar of approval and everyone raised their glasses.
    Tom felt a rush of pride that he was a friend to the noble king. Elenna smiled and tapped her goblet against his. Then she leaned over and whispered into Tom’s ear. “And to the Beasts of Avantia!”
    â€œShhh!” warned Tom. As far as most of the people of Avantia knew, the Beasts were just legend. It was the greatest secret in the realm that the old stories about the Beasts that protected the land were true ! Tom and Elenna had seen the Beasts! And more than that — they had freed them from the evil power of the wizard Malvel.
    But as Tom looked along the table, he thought it was strange that Aduro, the good wizard of Avantia, did not seem to be enjoying the party. The elderly man sat silently in his chair, wrapped in his faded red silk robes, his face solemn and his hand stroking his wispy gray beard.
    The wizard turned and his gray eyes stared straight into Tom’s.
    â€œYou are right,” Aduro said with a grim smile. “I am troubled.”
    Tom had forgotten for a moment that the wizard had the power to read minds. Aduro pushed his chair back, rose, and came over to them. He rested his hands on Tom’s and Elenna’s shoulders.
    â€œCome with me,” he said quietly. “I have some news to tell you.”
    They got up from the table. Aduro parted a tapestry curtain and they slipped quietly out of the hall through a doorway. They found themselves in a little room with tall windows that looked out over the snow-covered town. Night had fallen and the town was bright with twinkling lights and the red glow of watch fires.
    â€œHas something bad happened?” Elenna asked. “Are the Beasts in danger?”
    Aduro gave her a mysterious look. “The Beasts you saved from Malvel’s evil power are safe. But, elsewhere in our realm, something strange and wonderful has taken place. Something that happens only once in a thousand years.” He leaned close, his eyes sparkling. “The forces that rule our world have created two new Beasts.”
    Tom gasped. “I didn’t even know that was possible,” he said. “What kind of Beasts are they?”
    â€œTwin dragons, Vedra and Krimon,” Aduro said. “Hatched from a single egg that lay hidden for centuries in the Caves of Nidrem.”
    â€œBaby dragons!” Elenna breathed. “Will we ever get to see them?”
    The wizard’s face was solemn. “That is why I brought you here.” He drew himself up to his full height. “The birth of Vedra and Krimon could put the kingdom of Avantia in terrible danger once more.”
    He closed his hand around the jewel that hung from a thick chain around his neck. Tom saw a blue light shining out from between his fingers. The light hit the wall of the chamber. In the circle of light, Tom could see that the wizard had conjured a vision.
    It showed a dark cave of sharp black rocks. At the