Zepha the Monster Squid Read Online Free

wants to know?”
    “I do. I need to go out to sea. Will you take me?”
    “I might, if the price is right,” Lindon replied. “Where do you want to go?”
    “Over there.” Tom pointed out toward the rocky islet.
    Lindon raised his eyebrows. “There are whirlpools out there. That will cost extra.”
    Tom exchanged a glance with Elenna. “I can’t afford to pay you,” he began, “but —”
    “That’s all right.” Tom realized that Lindon was staring past him at Silver. “I’d accept a trade. I’ll take that mutt off your hands.”
    Elenna stepped in front of the wolf. She looked furious at the suggestion that she would hand over her faithful friend. The hair on Silver’s spine rose up and he let out a soft growl.
    “We can’t do that,” Tom said firmly. “Isn’t there something else you want? Or anything we could do for you?”
    Lindon narrowed his eyes. “Why do you want to go out there, anyway?” he asked.
    Tom knew he couldn’t tell anyone about his Quest. The first time had been bad enough, with the good Beasts of Avantia under terrible curses. But now that Malvel had unleashed his own evil Beasts on the kingdom, it was even more urgent to keep the Quest a secret. The people of Avantia would panic if they knew what the Dark Wizard was up to. “I have something important to do,” he said.
    Lindon let out a bark of rough laughter.“‘Something important?’ You’ll have to let on more than that if you want my help.”
    Tom saw that Elenna was red with anger on his behalf. He had to act quickly before she said something they would both regret.
    The people of the village did say that Lindon liked to take risks. Maybe he would help if he thought that Tom was equally reckless.
    “I want to see if I can survive diving into a whirlpool,” Tom said, thinking quickly. “And I’ve also heard the fish are dying. Maybe I can discover what’s causing it.”
    Lindon looked at him with astonishment for a moment. Then he shook his head and laughed. “Well, you’re a mad one, make no mistake,” he said, then paused, a sly look passing over his face. “If you don’t come back, I’ll have your fine-looking horse.” He nodded to Storm, who pawed the ground anxiously. “If you do make it, I’lljust shake you by the hand and wish you well.” He sighed. “Who knows? Maybe you can find out what is killing the fish. We’ll all starve if it continues.”
    Tom stroked Storm’s neck. “Don’t worry, boy, I’ll be back,” he said reassuringly, but he couldn’t ignore the swelling fear in his stomach.
    Tom had faced danger in this ocean before. But now he
had
to defeat Zepha and find the golden helmet. If he didn’t, he would lose his horse as well as his life. Not to mention leaving the golden armor in Malvel’s evil grasp.

C HAPTER S IX

O UT TO S EA
    I ‘M COMING WITH YOU ,” E LENNA SAID, AS Lindon got the boat ready.
    “No,” Tom told her. “Not this time. I couldn’t have freed Sepron without you. But defeating Zepha and finding the helmet is something I have to do on my own.”
    Elenna bit her lip, then nodded, understanding. Tom unfastened his scabbard and handed it to her.
    “You might need this,” he said. “And my shield is tied to Storm’s saddle. The people here are desperate; they might be dangerous. And you never know what Malvel might do.”
    Elenna hesitated. “But won’t you need your sword and shield?” she asked.
    Tom knew he would be vulnerable without them — but there was no way he was leaving Elenna with just her bow and quiver of arrows. He’d have to rely on his wits. He took Elenna’s hand and wrapped her fingers around the hilt of his sword. “I’ll be fine,” he told her.
    “I’ll stay with Calum and his father,” she said. “I’ve nothing to fear from them. But, Tom, be careful. Remember what Malvel said about Zepha.”
    Cold fear gripped Tom again. He didn’t even know what Zepha
was.
How could he prepare to fight an evil Beast when he had no