Read Online Kendra Kandlestar and the Box of Whispers by Lee Edward Födi - Free Book Online

ADVENTURERS traveled so late into the day that by the time they stopped to make camp, they were all quite tuckered out. Professor Bumblebean, who was not accustomed to exercise of any sort, seemed particularly exhausted. Kendra herself felt as if she had been in gym class all day without even stopping for recess.
    Jinx would allow no fire, knowing that Ungers or Goojuns might see it in the night, so they had no warm meal. Instead, they nibbled on dried vegetables and fruit. Afterward, Jinx found some wild berries, so at least they were able to have what Oki called a “tolerable” dessert.
    When the meal was finished, Professor Bumblebean promptly pulled out one of his books and began squinting at it through the moonlight.
    “I do believe we are in the Hills of Horm,” he remarked a short time later.
    “Humph,” Uncle Griffinskitch grunted. “Then we must be extra careful.”
    “Why?” Kendra asked. “What’s in the Hills of Horm?”
    “Oh, all varieties of monsters live here,” Professor Bumblebean replied, too cheerfully for Kendra’s liking. “More than I could enumerate. But this book states that, in particular, this is Unger territory.”
    “Oh, great,” Oki fretted, looking about with worried eyes.
    “You sure don’t seem to be afraid, Professor,” Kendra remarked.
    “Oh, me?” Professor Bumblebean asked. “Well, fear is usually all just in our heads, I suppose. I choose to believe in facts over fiction. If only my fellow Eens would read more about these monsters, then I’m sure they’d be less afraid of them.”
    “Yeah, that’ll work, Bumblesnore ,” Jinx said, sneering at the professor. “I’m sure that kind of knowledge would be really helpful while you’re being gobbled down by some Krake.”
    “I do say,” Professor Bumblebean said. “I’m afraid you must be quite addled, always forgetting my name. It’s Bumblebean, you know. Perhaps if you had descended from a long line of scholars like myself, you’d have a better memory—or at least you might have cultivated a fondness for books.”
    “Why do I need books when I have you?” Jinx asked. “You’re better than an encyclopedia, aren’t you, Bumblebook ? Has that pile of paper told you anything useful yet?”
    “My word, Captain,” the professor uttered. “It’s BUMBLEBEAN! And have you not heard a single word I just said?”
    “Sure I did,” Jinx replied. “You said we’re surrounded by Ungers and all sorts of other monsters. Like we didn’t know that already. We are beyond the magic curtain, after all.”
    “Well,” Professor Bumblebean declared, “I’ll have you know that this book also contains all sorts of information pertaining to the castle of Krodos, which, if you’ll recall, is precisely where we’re going.”
    “Who lives in the castle?” Kendra asked, crossing over to look at the professor’s book.
    “Giants, according to the records contained within this text,” he replied happily.
    “Does that mean it was a giant who stole the box?” Kendra asked.
    “That can’t be,” Jinx said. “We’d have seen him.”
    “Not necessarily,” Professor Bumblebean pointed out. “Whatever the species of this creature, it’s certainly in possession of considerable magical ability. Remember, it was able to cross the curtain. So it certainly could have been a giant.”
    “Giants,” Oki murmured, putting one paw to his forehead. “Why did it have to be giants? Why couldn’t it have been something less . . . something less . . . well, something less giant?”
    “Fear not,” Jinx said. “I reckon I’ll just stroll up to one of those fellows and poke his eyes out!” With that, she withdrew her sword and began fencing with her long shadow in the cast of the moonlight.
    “Heroic of you,” Professor Bumblebean said. “If not somewhat reckless.”
    “Now listen here, you long-winded, dull-brained—,” Jinx began.
    “Silence!” Uncle Griffinskitch interrupted, putting a hand to his ear.
    “What