Free Secret of the Giants' Staircase by Amy Lynn Green

Talia let go…and shot into the pit. “I think I got it,” she said, leaning over to look.
    Jesse peered back into the tar pit. There, floating on the surface was what looked like a long, flat lizard, with strange webbed feet splayed in either direction.
    Owen reached in for it, lying down on the bank’s edge again.
    â€œGet your hand out of there,” Nero commanded.
    â€œIt’s dead, Captain,” Owen said sarcastically. “What’s it going to do, slime me to death?”
    He pulled the creature out of the pit, holding onto the arrow. “A tar-strider,” he said, displaying the stabbed creature like a trophy. “That’s what Barnaby called it, anyway. They’re kind of poisonous.”
    â€œKind of?” Jesse asked.
    Owen shrugged. “Well, one bit Nero a few weeks ago, but after Barnaby sucked the poison out, he only just swelled up for a few days. And got a rash. And had a fever.”
    â€œWell, if that’s all, why don’t we find one and keep it for a pet?” Jesse asked, rolling his eyes.
    Owen’s face lit up. “That’s what I said.” He turned to Nero. “See? You said I was the only one stupid enough to suggest something like that.” He looked down at the tar-strider. “Hey, do you think we could eat these?”
    But Talia, at least, wasn’t watching Owen and the tar-strider. She was staring right at Jesse, like he might bolt into the swamp or draw a sword and stab her.
    Jesse stood, his sticky clothes peeling apart slowly, and stared at his three rescuers, trying to match them to the pictures in the Forbidden Book.
    Talia wore a full-length dress, longer than the tunics that Rae often wore, and her blonde hair fell down her back in a thick braid. But her hawk-like eyes and stern glare refused to let Jesse think of her as a girl content to sit around and embroider pillows.
    Nero was even more intimidating, with close-cut brown hair, heavy eyebrows and broad shoulders. The oldest, probably. Certainly the strongest.
    It was strange, recognizing their faces when he had never seen them in person before. The court artists who had sketched them for the Book had done a remarkable job, recreating every feature to the smallest detail.
    But there were only three, and Jesse knew who was missing. “Where’s Barnaby?” he asked.
    Immediately, Nero’s eyes narrowed. “How did you know about Barnaby?” he demanded.
    â€œMaybe he’s a spy,” Talia said, “sent by the Rebellion to kill the kings’ Youth Guard.”
    Jesse started to protest, but Nero interrupted him. “This is no member of the Rebellion,” he said, sounding disgusted. “Look at him! He can barely walk.”
    â€œI need to talk to you,” Jesse insisted. “You’re in great danger.”
    â€œWe saved your life,” Nero said, turning away. “Now, leave us be, or it will be the worse for you.”
    He and Talia began to walk into the swamp.
    â€œWe’re leaving him?” Owen protested. He ran to catch up, waving the tar-strider in their direction. For a moment, Jesse was afraid it was going to go sailing off the arrow and hit Talia in the head. Thankfully for Owen, the arrow held.
    They don’t believe me , Jesse realized. They think I’m crazy. Or lying .
    He also knew he couldn’t give up. This was a matter of life or death.
    Jesse struggled to his feet and grabbed the tar-encrusted staff. “You don’t understand,” he shouted after them. This time, he was careful to watch for pits. “The king is trying to kill you!”
    At that, Talia hesitated, but Nero kept walking. “That’s impossible. Don’t listen to him. He’s trying to get us to abandon our mission.”
    â€œNo,” Jesse insisted. “I saw your names in a book. I saw the assassin’s camp in the ruins.”
    â€œI don’t see any book,” Nero said.