Sepron the Sea Serpent Page 4

  “The fishermen will be fine now,” Elenna said with satisfaction.

  Tom nodded. With Sepron freed, the fish would return, and the villagers would soon repair the damage of the flood.

  He felt a sudden pang of loneliness for his uncle and aunt, and even the father he’d never known. But he knew it was his fate to carry on with his quest.

  Tom and Elenna rowed back to the beach. Silver was dashing up and down at the water’s edge, yelping excitedly. When Elenna reached him, he flung himself at her. He rested his paws on her shoulders and licked her face.

  Elenna put her arms around him, plunging her hands into his thick fur. “Oh, Silver, I’m glad to be back!” she cried.

  Calum appeared, leading Storm, as Tom pulled the boat up onto the beach. Tom leaned against the horse and stroked his silky forelock.

  Storm nuzzled his shoulder and blew out a warm breath as if he was welcoming Tom back. Tom’s loneliness suddenly vanished. He wouldn’t see his uncle and aunt for a long time, but he had a new family now: Elenna and Silver and Storm. With the three of them by his side, he knew that he would have the strength to face Cypher the Giant.

  “I could see the serpent from the ridge,” Calum said, pointing uphill. “I was worried you wouldn’t make it back.” He reached out and gripped Tom’s hand.

  “If it wasn’t for your knife, we wouldn’t have,” Tom said, pulling the knife from his belt. He held it out to Calum. But Calum refused to take it.

  “Keep it,” Calum said with a nod. “You may need it again.”

  “Thank you, my friend,” Tom said gratefully. “Your kindness will not be forgotten.”

  “Nor will your courage,” said Calum.

  Tom turned his gaze to the North. Somewhere in the distance, he knew, Cypher the Giant was hurling rocks down a mountainside. It was Tom’s task to free him from the evil spell. That was his next quest. And whatever the danger, he would face it with his friends beside him.

  Copyright

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  Text copyright © 2007 by Beast Quest Ltd.

  Illustrations copyright © 2007 by Scholastic Inc.

  Cover art by David Merrell

  Cover design by Tim Hall

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  First printing, March 2007

  Beast Quest series created by Beast Quest Ltd., London. BEAST QUEST is a trademark of Beast Quest Ltd.

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  e-ISBN: 978-0-545-29292-4