"Do we run or fight?" asked Avner.
"I can't do either-at least not well," Basil complained. "I'm too tired."
The company had been on the move for two solid days and had glimpsed the distant figure of a lone, one-armed ogre often enough to know Goboka was dogging their trail. Apparently, the rest of the ogres-if any had survived the battle at Noote's lodge-remained trapped in the hill giant valley, for the shaman had no warriors with him. To make certain, Tavis had even circled back twice and found signs of only their single pursuer.
"Maybe we should hide." Brianna said. "If we're too tired to run or fight, that's our only option."
Tavis shook his head. "The cover's not good enough."
They were standing beside a cold bog, surrounded by swamp spruce, white birch, and tamarack. The terrain was flat and level in all directions, with nothing to offer protection except fallen tree trunks and a single boulder.
"Besides, Goboka wouldn't make so much noise unless he's already seen us," the scout added.
"Maybe it's not Goboka," suggested Brianna, staring into the forest. "If he can see us, we should see him too."
"What are you implying?" asked Basil.
Brianna licked her finger and held it in the air. "That noise is coming from downwind," she said. "Whatever's coming, I'd say it smelled us."
"A bear?" Avner asked.
Two more thumps echoed through the woods. The unseen beast snorted in alarm, then seemed to regain its footing and continue crashing through the undergrowth. Tavis could now hear its footfalls well enough to realize the creature was galloping.
"It's a horse," the scout said.
"Blizzard?" Brianna gasped.
A loud whinny rang off the trees, then the horse's white-flecked head and chest came flying into view, her hooves barely clearing the jumble of logs over which she had leaped. She caught sight of Brianna and whinnied again, galloping toward the princess as fast as she could. The mare looked as haggard and tired as the four companions. Her coat was dull and rough, so smeared with dirt and mud that it was more brown than black. Her mane and tail were tangled with burrs, and she had lost so much weight that her ribs stuck out like sticks.
Brianna stepped away from the boulder and spread her arms. Blizzard did not slow down until she was almost upon the princess, and the impact as she galloped into her mistress's arms would have sent a smaller woman tumbling into the cold bog. As it was, Brianna stumbled and nearly fell, but the near mishap did not wipe the smile from her face.
Tavis found the sight of Brianna's gleaming teeth a welcome one. It was the first time he had seen her smile in longer than he cared to remember.
The princess finally released Blizzard's neck and began to stroke the mare's nose. "It looks like you've had a rough time of it, girl," she said. "You must be as ready to go home as I am."
"Home?" Avner gasped. "Back to the castle?"
The smile vanished from Brianna's lips. "That's right." She nodded. "I must face my father."
"Are you sure that's prudent?" asked Basil. "In all likelihood, he'll return you to the ogres."
"Not before I tell the earls the price he paid to win his kingdom." she replied.
"What good is that?" Avner objected. "Half of them would do the same thing! They won't defy their king to protect you."
"He doesn't deserve to be their king!" Brianna snapped. "When he made his bargain with Goboka, he didn't betray me alone. He betrayed his kingdom!"
"How so?" Basil asked.
"The king has sired no other children," Brianna explained. "If the ogres take me, there's no legitimate heir to the throne. Hartsvale will fall into anarchy when my father dies."
"And that's why we must go back," Tavis said. The scout chose not to comment on the other, more ghastly possibility: that the Twilight Spirit would help some giant get a child on her-a half-breed who would, in time, become heir to Hartsvale's throne. "We must make the earls understand the king's crime."
"Not we." Brianna took Tavis's hand between hers and looked into his eyes. "You've already done more for me than I deserve."
"Brianna, that's not possible." the scout protested.
"It is, especially given my poor behavior," the princess insisted. "I should never have doubted you, but I swear in Hiatea's name it will never happen again. Please forgive me."
Tavis felt the heat rising to his cheeks. "My lady, I already have," he replied. "All I ask in return is that you allow me to stand with you during the trying days to come."
Brianna's eyes grew watery, and she released Tavis's hand. "I only wish I could," she said. "But Avner is right about my chances with the earls. When we reach Castle Hartwick, I want you to wait in the woods. If I fail, take the boy and go find your tribe. You're a remarkable firbolg, and I'm sure there will be a place for you."
Tavis shook his head. "You know I can't do that," he said. "Now more than ever, you need a bodyguard-and I'm the only firbolg available for the job."
"But what of Avner?" Brianna demanded. "If we fail, n won't be safe for him in Hartsvale."
"It would be safer than sending him to live with firbolgs!" Basil protested. "The child wouldn't last two days in such a stern society."
"Besides, my place is at Tavis's side," Avner said.
"If Brianna and I fail, your place will be with Basil." the scout countered. "You aren't going into the castle."
Avner rolled his eyes and sighed. "If that's what you want."
"This won't be like the time you let Morten walk into the ogre ambush," Tavis warned. "I mean what I say."
"So do I," Avner replied. He met the firbolg's eyes squarely. "I won't disappoint you this time."
"I know you won't." Tavis ruffled the boy's hair, then looked back to Brianna. "See? We're all set."
"Almost," the princess said. "But there's one thing you must promise me."
"As long as it's in my power," the scout replied.
"It is," Brianna said. "You mustn't let my father return me to the ogres. Kill me first."
"I couldn't raise a hand against you!" he objected.
"What I ask is well within your power," Brianna insisted. "To deny me this promise is to break your word."
Tavis looked away, but the princess stepped around and forced him to look at her.
"I've told you what I want. Will you obey?"
A knot formed in the scout's throat, but he nodded. "My last arrow will be for you," he said. "But, if it comes to that, the first one will be for your father."
"Agreed," Brianna replied. "It will be better to end the Hartwick dynasty quickly, so that a powerful earl can seize the throne before the others start plotting and scheming."
"I'm glad you've developed a plan for what you're going to do inside the castle, but what about getting us there?" asked Basil. "As exhausted as we are, we can't outrun Goboka."
Tavis nodded. "You're right about that." he said. "Sooner or later, we'll have to rest-or pass out from fatigue. Either way, the shaman will catch us long before we reach Hartsvale."
"Then let's meet him here." Brianna studied the bog for a moment, then said, "Here's what we'll do."
When the princess finished explaining her plan, Tavis shook his head. "It puts you in too much risk," he said. "You'll suffocate if something goes wrong."
"We all share in the risk," Brianna countered. "And if something goes wrong, I want to suffocate. I'd rather die than fall into Goboka's hands again."