Zepha the Monster Squid
Read Zepha the Monster Squid Online
Authors: Adam Blade
B
EAST
Q
UEST
B
OOK
S
EVEN
Z
EPHA
T
HE
M
ONSTER
S
QUID
A
dam
B
lade
ILLUSTRATED BY
E
ZRA
T
UCKER
With special thanks to Cherith Baldry
To Rachel Leyshon
ROLOGUE
K
ING
H
UGO’S MASTER OF ARMS PAUSED AT
the foot of the stairs. The faint noise of music and laughter could be heard from the Great Hall above.
Thank goodness Avantia is safe again,
he thought, smiling.
The master walked down the stone passage and stopped outside a heavy padded door, studded with brass nails. He pulled a slender golden key from his pocket and held it up. It shone in a ray of light that reached down from an air vent and pierced the gloom of the palace cellars.
The key turned smoothly in the lock. He pushed the door open and stepped into the arms room, closing the door behind him and locking it. As he
did so, a ferret poked its head out of his pocket and peered up at him with bright, curious eyes.
“There we are,” the master of arms murmured, stroking the ferret’s cream-colored fur. “Now no one can get in or out.”
The room was so narrow that if the man stretched out his arms, his fingers brushed the walls on either side. Torches blazed in iron holders, casting dancing shadows on the rough stone walls and a few stars shone faintly through the small windows at the top of the back wall.
In the center of the room stood a suit of golden armor. The helmet was dramatically molded into the shape of an eagle’s head. The tunic of golden chain mail was covered with a decorated breastplate that shone in the torchlight. Glittering leg armor, gauntlets, and sabatons — armored boots — completed the suit.
The master walked slowly around it, examining each piece with a small grunt of satisfaction. He
pulled out a handkerchief to rub a speck of dust from the gleaming breastplate.
“I’ve looked after this armor for twenty years,” he said. “When I first set eyes on it, it took my breath away. And do you know what?” He tickled the ferret’s ear. “It still does.”
The ferret let out a squeak.
“It’s the most precious relic in all of Avantia. We’ve got to keep every bit of it shining as brightly as the day it was made,” he went on. “Its rightful owner could return at any moment.” He passed the handkerchief over the smooth curve of the helmet. “We must be ready.” He bent down to polish the golden feet of the armor.
Suddenly, the ferret let out a squeal of alarm. Wriggling out of its master’s pocket, it dove for a crack in the wall and disappeared.
“Hey!” the man exclaimed. “What’s the matter with you?” He straightened up and tried to peer into the crack, but the dancing shadows cast by the
torches made it difficult to see. “Come back, you silly creature! There’s nothing to be afraid of.”
But as he spoke, the shadows began to move, slowly at first, and then with increasing speed. Soon, they were whirling across the walls and floor. He glanced at the torches, but the bright flames burned steadily.
Then something brushed the man’s cheek. He spun around at the velvety touch and stared wildly around the room. “These aren’t shadows,” he said out loud. “They’re bats!”
Suddenly, the air was full of black wings. Tiny claws scratched at his face and hands and tangled in his hair.
“No!” He let out a choking cry and beat desperately at the air, trying to drive the creatures back. But the swarming bats still kept coming. He stared in horror at their fierce faces, their eyes glittering with cruel delight.
The master of arms backed toward the door as
more bats squeezed themselves out of cracks in the wall and launched themselves toward him. He felt as if he couldn’t breathe.
Soon, the suit of golden armor was covered with bats, hanging from each piece by their hooked claws. With a gasp of horror, the master of arms started forward, but the pain was too much and he collapsed to the floor. Still he kept on struggling, trying with all his might to drag himself toward the precious armor.
“Stop!” he gasped. “Help! Somebody, help!”
But it was too late. Bats covered the man’s head and back, clinging to his hair and suffocating him with 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.
HAPTER
O
NE
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 Winged
Flame 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 he
could 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 deal.”
Tom and Elenna followed him to a small door at the far end of the hall and down a long flight of stairs. Elenna was bouncing with excitement.
At the foot of the steps was a narrow passage. Aduro led them on, then stopped outside a padded door. A single shaft of light shone down from a high air vent and gleamed on the door’s brass nails and lock.
“This is strange,” the wizard said. “I was expecting to meet the king’s master of arms here. He’s not
the sort of man to be late. I wonder what has happened to him?”
“Maybe he’s inside,” Elenna suggested.
Aduro turned the door handle, but the door remained shut. “Locked,” he muttered. “Maybe —”
He broke off at the sound of a loud groan coming from inside the room. Tom and Elenna exchanged a glance.
“It sounds as if someone’s hurt,” said Tom.
Wizard Aduro laid the end of his staff against the lock and commanded, “Open!”
The lock clicked and the door swung open. Inside the room, an elderly man lay sprawled on the floor. A ferret was nosing at him anxiously. The old man tried to get up, but his strength gave way and he slumped down again.
Tom and Elenna ran to his side. He was barely conscious. His face was pale, his black tunic was
torn, and his face and hands were covered with tiny bites and scratches.
Tom helped the old man to sit up.
“Aduro, can you magic a jug of water for him?” Elenna asked. “Quickly!”
But the wizard simply stared at the space in the middle of the room, empty except for a wooden armor stand. He didn’t seem to have heard Elenna’s anxious plea. He looked stunned.
Tom jumped to his feet. “What’s the matter?” he asked.
Aduro turned to him, blinking as if he were just waking up. “Something terrible has happened.” His voice was hoarse. “The golden armor. It’s gone!”