Sepron the Sea Serpent by Adam Blade Read Free Book Online Page A

had doubts, too. He was still just a young blacksmith’s apprentice, after all. And there was so much he had to do — so many Beasts to conquer!
    He’d been waiting his entire life for this adventure, and even though he didn’t know where his father was, Tom was determined to make him proud.
    “Let’s have another look at the map,” he said.
    He pulled out the magic scroll that Aduro had given him before he left the King’s palace. One path on it glowed green, winding through hills and woodlands until it reached the sea in the West.
    As Tom looked at the map, a serpent’s head reared out of the waves drawn on the paper. A jagged tailslapped down, sending spray high into the air. Tom started as a drop splashed onto his hand.
    “There’s Sepron,” said Elenna, her voice filled with awe. Aduro had told them all about their next Beast.
    “I still can’t believe it!” said Tom. “A sea serpent!”
    “He looks angry.” Elenna’s eyes were wide as she realized the huge task in front of them. “What do you think he might do?”
    “Whatever it is, we’re going to stop him,” Tom said boldly. “That’s the next part of our quest.”
    Silver let out another loud yelp. He grabbed the corner of Elenna’s cloak in his teeth and tugged gently. At the foot of the slope, Storm scraped one hoof impatiently on the stones.
    Tom laughed. “All right, I know. It’s time to move on.”
    He checked the map one last time and stowed it away in his pocket. Before he scrambled back ontoStorm, he made sure that the shield Aduro had given him was safely stowed in his saddlebag. The dragon scale shone in its slot on the shield’s rough surface.
Was it true,
Tom wondered,
that the shield would now protect them from fire?
    He swung himself onto the saddle. Elenna sprang up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. Tom patted Storm’s glossy, black neck.
    “Forward!” he cried. “On to the West!”
    At first, the path zigzagged up the slope, then through a strand of trees. By the time the sun went down, they had reached a pass winding through a range of low hills.
    Tom halted beside a stream and slid to the ground. “This would be a good place to make camp,” he decided.
    Elenna helped him take off Storm’s bridle so the horse could drink from the stream. Silver stood beside him, lapping thirstily. Tom was hungry and thirsty himself and scooped a handful of cool waterinto his mouth. Then he started to collect sticks for a fire.
    “I’m starving!” said Elenna. “I’ll see if there are any nuts or berries on these bushes.”
    While she was searching, Storm feasted on the grass beside the path.
    “What about Silver?” asked Tom.
    “He can find something for himself,” Elenna replied. “Go on, boy, but come back soon.”
    Silver disappeared among the rocks, his bushy tail wagging. He returned before Tom and Elenna had finished eating, and they all settled down for the night. Tom looked up at the stars, thinking about Sepron. He hoped they could reach the coast soon, before the sea monster could do any more damage.
    When they set off again the next morning, they soon reached the edge of the hills. A long, smooth slope led down to the valley before them. In thedistance, Tom could make out the glimmer of the sea.

    “We’re almost there!” Elenna exclaimed. A flash of light on the water caught Tom’s eye. He let out a gasp.
    “What’s the matter?” Elenna asked. “I’m not sure … I think I saw Sepron.” He felt Elenna’s grip on him tighten. “Where?” “Over there, near that tall rock.” Tom pointed. “But he’s gone now.”
    He swung himself onto Storm’s back and urged him on. They rode down the hill and into the valley. The path led them through farmland. Everything seemed deserted. Great patches of ground were covered in burned stubble.
    “Look!” Elenna cried, pointing to the blackened timbers of what had been a farmhouse. “The dragon was here.”
    A chill ran down Tom’s spine,