The Lost Realm by J. D. Rinehart Read Free Book Online Page B

world!
    â€œWhich way?” he shouted to Melchior as Nasheen and Kitheen rose up on either side of them.
    â€œWest,” replied the wizard.
    â€œDown sun,” Theeta cawed, pumping her wings.
    â€œWhile we fly,” Melchior went on, “I will tell you more about why we fly.”
    â€œYou haven’t told me anything yet.”
    â€œNo. But your sister has.” Melchior was smiling.
    â€œHow did you know that she . . . ?”
    â€œAllow a wizard to keep at least a few of his secrets, Tarlan. Did Elodie also tell you I cannot regain my powers without your help?”
    Tarlan’s chest swelled. He’d assumed Melchior simply wanted a companion on the journey—perhaps someone to help out in a fight.
    â€œWhat do I have to do?”
    â€œAll in good time. Now, where is it? . . . Hah, there! Look up, Tarlan, to your left. Do you see that streak of light?”
    Tarlan scanned the starry sky. Almost at once his eyes fell upon a faint white line drawn across the heavens. It was slightly blurred, and swollen at one end.
    â€œIt is a comet,” explained Melchior. “It appeared three moons ago. Back then it was too faint for most mortals to see.”
    â€œBut I suppose you saw it.”
    â€œMy eyes are old, but they see far.”
    Something in the wizard’s tone made Tarlan’s flesh prickle.
    â€œWhen I saw the comet,” Melchior continued, “I knew my days of wandering were over at last. Beneath its growing light, I walked back into the world. Now the comet is bright enough for all to see. Over the coming nights, it will grow brighter still, until it outshines even the prophecy stars. Then it will swiftly fade.”
    â€œWhat happens then?”
    â€œI have but one chance to regain my powers, Tarlan. One chance, on one night, when the comet blazes with the forgotten fire of the distant deep. If I fail, my magic will be gone forever.”
    â€œAnd the prophecy?”
    The wizard didn’t answer.
    The thorrods flew on into the night, dark shapes in a darker world. Their flight, as always, was silent; the only sound that came to Tarlan’s ears was the occasional grunt or growl from Filos and Greythorn, who were almost invisible on Kitheen’s black back.
    Tarlan’s excitement slowly dwindled, leaving him feeling strangely dejected. His brother was lost, and here he was leaving his sister behind too. Ahead lay emptiness and the crushing threat of failure.
    â€œWhere are we going anyway?” he said at last.
    The wizard’s voice floated out of the blackness, unexpectedly jovial. “Why, Tarlan, we are headed west. Where else would we be going but to the sea!”
    Tarlan gasped. “The sea? I’ve never even seen it!”
    â€œI thought as much.”
    â€œIs it . . . is it as big as they say?”
    â€œBigger.”
    â€œAnd is it beautiful?”
    â€œTarlan, you have no idea.”
    The sea!
    Tarlan grinned. He was free and clear, buoyed up by possibility and driven by adventure. The troubles he’d left behind would just have to take care of themselves for a while.
    He was Tarlan, and he was flying.

CHAPTER 4
    A t last they had reached the postern gate.
    â€œSo where’s this place you’re taking us?” Slater asked Gulph, shouting to be heard over the battle. He jerked his thumb at the huge door. “It had better not be through there. We only just got out of the city in one piece.”
    Gulph turned to Ossilius, as curious as the others. Now that they were here, he had no idea where they were going next.
    â€œWe must push the Tauritus aside,” Ossilius explained. “Then all will be revealed.”
    Before Gulph could ask what a Tauritus was, Ossilius hurried over to the statue of the bull-headed man standing beside the gate. It was fully twice his height. Gulph joined him, the others following close behind.
    â€œI have a special task for you,