Free Zepha the Monster Squid by Adam Blade Page A

their wings. He felt as if every last scrap of air was being pressed out of his lungs, and stared in disbelief as the golden armor rose slowly into the air, lifted by the evil swarm of bats. Only the wooden stand was left.
    Then darkness flooded over him.

C HAPTER O NE

G ONE !
    T OM STOOD NEXT TO A PILLAR IN THE G REAT Hall of King Hugo’s palace and watched the dancing. He was elated to see all the king’s subjects celebrating the end of his Quest. Their silk and satin robes shone as they whirled in the afternoon sun.
    King Hugo watched from the High Table with a contented smile. Tom knew he was happy that the six Beasts of Avantia had been released from the evil spell of the Dark Wizard, Malvel. Ferno the Fire Dragon, Sepron the Sea Serpent, Cypher the Mountain Giant, Tagus the Night Horse, Tartok the Ice Beast, and Epos the WingedFlame were now protecting the kingdom instead of destroying it. Avantia could begin to recover.
    But Tom couldn’t join in the celebration. Something had been nagging at him ever since that final meeting with Malvel on the mountainside in the far east of the kingdom. He told himself over and over again that Malvel had fallen into the volcano and perished in its raging fires.
    But he couldn’t forget what Malvel had screamed at him as he fell:
“This is not the end, Tom! We shall meet again!”
    Tom had a horrible feeling that he had not seen the last of his enemy. Then he remembered the hooded figure he had spotted in the cheering crowd when he returned from freeing Epos, the last of the cursed Beasts. If the Dark Wizard had indeed survived, how would he take revenge for his defeat?
    Tom shuddered. He wished his father, Taladon the Swift, were here. He had been a knight and had undertaken a Beast Quest of his own. Only hecould know how Tom felt. But no one had seen him for many years. It was as if he had disappeared into thin air, although Tom felt certain that they would meet again one day.
    Tom felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Elenna, the friend who had shared every step of the Quest with him. She was wearing a dress of blue silk, but her untidy, short dark hair stuck out, just as when they’d first met.
    “What’s the matter, Tom?” she asked. “Why are you looking so worried?”
    Tom shook his head uneasily. “I’m not sure … I just keep remembering the last thing that Malvel said on the mountain.”
    “Malvel is finished,” Elenna declared. “There’s nothing to worry about.” Taking Tom’s hand, she dragged him toward the dance floor. “I’ve just been to the stables. Storm is stuffing himself with the best apples, and look — Silver’s enjoying himself under the table there.”
    Tom smiled as he saw the wolf contentedly gnawing on a bone, and was glad to think of his black stallion enjoying a well-deserved rest in the comfortable palace stables.
    “Everyone’s happy,” Elenna went on. “Can’t you be happy, too? Let’s dance.”
    “I don’t know how to dance,” Tom said, laughing.
    To Tom’s relief, the music stopped before Elenna had the chance to persuade him.
    Then he spotted King Hugo’s wizard and adviser, Aduro, making his way toward them. They would never have completed the Quest if it hadn’t been for the good wizard, who had helped and encouraged them in their most difficult moments. Now he wore a magnificent embroidered robe and carried a polished wooden staff in one hand. Tom bowed, and Elenna dropped into a deep curtsy.
    “Are you enjoying yourselves?” Aduro asked.
    “Yes, it’s wonderful!” Elenna’s eyes sparkled.
    The wizard smiled. “If you don’t mind missing some of the dancing, I’ve got something to show you. Something in the palace cellars.”
    “Not more danger?” Tom was instantly alert.
    Aduro shook his head, smiling, and Tom realized that even the king’s adviser thought Malvel had been defeated for good. “No,” the wizard replied. “It’s a reward for a successful Quest. Avantia owes you a great