Free The Giant Among Us by Troy Denning Page A

to sleep on?”
    “How can a prisoner sleep?” Basil demanded. “While I languish here, life outside is passing me by.”
    Avner rolled his eyes. “I’ve spent weeks in pits slimier and darker than this. You haven’t been here one night” He took his picks from the lock, then pushed the door closed. “What kind of thief is afraid of jail?”
    “One should not be punished for acting in accordance with the principles of one’s race,” the runecaster replied. “And if you’re not here to free me, what do you want? At this hour of the morning, I doubt you’ve come to pass the time.”
    “We’ve got to do something about Arlien.” Avner went to sit on the table, dragging Basil’s huge satchel with him. “The prince is coming between Tavis and Brianna.”
    Basil sank to his haunches and sat facing the youth. “What do you mean?”
    “Isn’t it obvious?” Avner opened the satchel and removed half a dozen apples he had taken from the earl’s kitchen. He kept one for himself and tossed the rest to Basil. The good prince came to marry her.”
    “I realize that,” the runecaster replied. “But I fail to see what we can do about it”
    Basil slipped an apple into his mouth. He crushed it with a single chomp and swallowed it, stem, core, and all.
    “We’ll do whatever it takes to prevent a marriage.” Avner bit into his own apple.
    Basil raised his bushy eyebrows. “Assassinate the prince?”
    Avner sighed in exasperation. “I was hoping we could think of something less drastic. I’m not trying to start a war.”
    Basil popped another apple into his mouth and gnashed it slowly. “Runes of the heart are hardly my area of expertise,” he said. “But I do have a trick or two that might help our cause-perhaps a rune of stammering or foul odors.”
    “Good!” Avner said. “The prince can’t court Brianna if he smells bad-but i’ll have to be subtle. We don’t want the queen to realize what we’re doing.”
    “Of course not,” Basil agreed. He glanced forlornly around the room, studying the gloomy stone walls. “But the rune requires modification, and I can’t concentrate here.”
    “What are you saying?” Avner demanded. This chamber’s not much smaller than your study at Castle Hartwick, and you stay in there for days!”
    Basil’s eyes lit up. “Yes, but I have my books,” he said. “Perhaps, if I had something to occupy my attention, this dreary room would seem more like a proper office.”
    Avner shook his head. “Not on my life!” he said. “Filching your satchel and a few apples is one thing, but if Earl Cuthbert catches me with his folios, hell feed us both to the giants!”
    Basil’s gray eyes grew as hard as the stones of his cell. “Then I hope you enjoy weddings.”
    Avner tore a big piece from his apple. He gnawed on this for a time, then said, “Just one, and I take it back as soon as you’re done.”
    “Very well. Even I can read only one book at a time.” A treacherous gleam appeared in Basil’s eye, then he added, “Of course, the magic of my rune might last longer if I had no fear of growing bored.”
    “All right,” Avner growled. “How often do I have to bring you a new book?”
    “We’ll set up a signal.” Basil thought for a moment, then said, “It’ll be best if you can see it from a distance. Ill close my shutters whenever I’m ready.”
    “Fine.” Avner slipped off the table. “I hope I know what I’m getting myself into.”
    The youth stepped to the window and threw his apple core out into the gray glow of first light.
    *****
    The stomping had ended some time earlier, pattering into silence after an unexpected crescendo. That had been exactly a thousand breaths ago-Tavis had counted each one, lacking any other way to tell time-and now it was time to go. The scout checked to make sure his sword, quiver, and shoulder satchel were secure, then grabbed the counterweight chain and pulled.
    An ear-piercing squeal, almost deafening after the long