The Ogre's Pact

Tavis stepped from the shadows with his second arrow nocked and drawn. He did not fire, for Bria

The stone giant glared at Tavis thoughtfully, showing no surprise or shock at the firbolg's sudden appearance. "Even you ca

Despite his words, Gavorial drew himself up to his full height, so that his head would be concealed in the shadows above.

"That first arrow was just to let you know we're not making idle threats," Tavis said. He trained his second arrow on Bria

"I see," came the stone giant's voice.

Bria

"A profound strategy," Gavorial said, genuine admiration in his voice. "The spirit has no use for a dead queen."

The stone giant slowly backed to the exit, then paused beneath the looming arch and bowed to Bria

With that, Gavorial pushed through the huge doors and disappeared from sight. Tavis breathed a long sigh of relief and lowered Bear Driller. He fired the arrow into the floor, and it shattered into a hundred pieces.

"Long live the queen!" the scout yelled.

He repeated the words, and when the earls joined in, the cheer was as thunderous as the voice of any giant.

Epilogue

"So now what?" asked Avner. The youth stood on the ramparts of Castle Hartwick, looking across the Clearwhirl's eastern cha

Bria

The boy cast an apprehensive glance over at Basil. "What do you think?" he asked. "We did steal those books, you know."

The verbeeg scowled. "Stealing implies personal ownership, which, as you know, is a rather archaic concept-especially among my people," he said. "Besides, books are no good unless someone's using them. They shouldn't sit endlessly on some shelf."

"That's not a very good answer," Tavis said.

Basil scowled. "Very well, then," he said. "I suppose we shall have to return them to Earl Dobbin's family."

Avner looked up at the scout. "Is that okay with you?"

Tavis shook his head sternly. "Hardly," he said. "Returning what you have stolen is a good start, but I don't see how that alone will discourage you from trying it again."

Avner scowled. After all he had gone through, it hardly seemed fair to punish him for something he had done in what felt like the ancient past-but he resisted the urge to say so. He knew Tavis well enough to realize that complaining would only make matters worse.

"I've thought of just punishments," Bria

The verbeeg's eyes lit up. "With pleasure!" he said. "How many volumes do you have-approximately?"

"We have exactly two thousand three hundred and twelve," Bria

"They won't," the verbeeg promised. "Who needs to steal when he can borrow?"

"What about me?" Avner asked, hoping his punishment would be something just as fitting.

Bria

"A year!" he gasped.

"Is something wrong with that?" Tavis inquired.

Avner quickly swallowed his shock. "No, of course not," he said. "I was just thinking that a year will be a long time, away from you and Livia and the others back at the i

"I don't think you'll be missing them at all," said the new queen. She clasped Tavis's arm, then added, "I intend to keep all of you very close at hand."