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Unfortunately, her firbolg companions seemed reluctant to test the hospitality of hill giants. Neither one of them was making a move to climb the cliff, or to help Earl Dobbin and Avner up.
"We don't have time to debate this," Bria
Tavis's only reply was to point up the mountainside.
Bria
"I can't scale that!" burst Earl Dobbin. "Not with an injured leg."
"And probably not with two good legs," the scout replied. "But Avner's an excellent climber. He'll lower his rope for you." The scout pointed at the coil of rope the youth carried over his shoulder.
"I understand being nervous about asking hill giants for help, but you can't be serious!" Bria
"Morten and I'll hold the ogres off," Tavis said. "By the time they get past us, you'll be out of range."
"Leave you behind?" Avner gasped. "I won't do it!"
"You won't have to," Bria
"Because it is."
Bria
"Tavis, if there's some reason the hill giants give you a special fright, tell me now," Bria
Tavis looked at his feet. "I can't. I promised not to bring it up again."
"Then don't!" Bria
"Wait!" Tavis cast a sideways glance at Morten, then said, "If I can't convince you, maybe Morten can."
"Me?" the bodyguard gasped.
"All I ask is that you tell her what happened at the Earls Bridge."
"If that's what you want and Bria
"Make it quick," the princess said.
Morten shrugged. "Tavis shot an arrow at your father," he said. Then, in a helpful voice, he added. "But I don't think he meant to hit him, or surely the king would be dead."
"You did what?" Bria
Tavis did not return her gaze. "Tell her why, Morten." he said. "And what the king did about it."
Morten's eyes lit with understanding. "They were arguing about how to rescue you." he explained. "Tavis wanted to lead a company after you right away, but your father wanted to wait for more troops. Then Tavis said he'd track you alone and the king forbade it, so he shot an arrow past your father's head and left anyway."
"And then His Majesty sent us to bring this recreant to justice," Earl Dobbin added. "As well he should have."
Bria
Tavis shook his head and looked away. "Can't you see that for yourself?"
"I can," said Avner. "The point is that your father didn't send anyone to rescue you. And the only reason he sent the earls was to stop Tavis from freeing you."
The cold lump in Bria
The princess turned her angry glare upon the scout.
"In fact, its quite possible that the king's plan would have worked better-had it been given a chance." She pointed to the ogre packs scrambling up toward them. "It's clear enough that your plan has not been entirely successful-so I suggest you and Morten do something to hold off the ogres until I can arrange for our safe passage to Noote's palace."
With that, the princess turned away. She had taken barely three steps before a series of crashes echoed up from the mountainside. Bria
Bria
The princess reached the end of the moor and stopped. The gorge between her and the hill giant was no more than fifty paces wide. "Hello!" she called, yelling into the wind. "Over here!"
Without raising his eyes, the giant held a finger to his plump lips. "Quiet!" His order boomed across the gorge many times louder than the princess's call. "Hunting."
Reluctant to argue with a giant, Bria
A wolf's howl echoed somewhere down the rocky gorge. It was answered by another, much closer. Bria
"What are you hunting?" Bria
The giant scowled. "No, stupid," he growled. He twisted his mouth into a gluttonous grin and licked his lips with a fat gray tongue. "Horse."
The wolves howled again. Bria
"Blizzard, no!" Bria
The mare stopped and, with a joyful whi