“We stay together,” Warren said.
“Then you die together,” Madam Ladonna said. “You were caught trespassing in my home. Ordinarily I would grind you all into seasoning.”
“But she’s just a child,” Tanu said.
“Which is why I might give her a chance to live if the rest of you step away from her,” Madam Ladonna explained with exasperation. “Now move.”
“Be brave,” Vanessa whispered, squeezing Kendra’s upper arm.
Vanessa, Warren, and Tanu shuffled to the other side of the bucket.
“We moved!” Warren called.
The bucket lifted, and a huge hand lowered beside Kendra. She looked up into the wrinkled face gazing down at her, then stepped onto the calloused hand. Ladonna lifted Kendra and replaced the bucket over her friends.
Madam Ladonna walked out of the kitchen, down a hall, and into a large study. Loaded bookshelves covered one wall, most of the leather-bound volumes much taller than Kendra. Mermen and dolphins swam in a long aquarium that spanned another wall. In the corner of the room loomed a Quiet Box that must have stood sixty feet tall.
Madam Ladonna set Kendra on a table covered by a purple cloth embroidered with gold thread. Nearby, a crystal ball rested on a three-legged stand, a set of balance scales hung beside a row of weights, and several corked bottles clustered together. The giant picked up a scroll from the table and rolled it up, setting it aside.
Kendra gazed up at Madam Ladonna. “Do you have to keep my friends under a bucket?”
The giant scowled down at Kendra. “If little folk wish to be treated like big folk, why enter our homes like vermin?”
“We’re allies of the giants,” Kendra said.
“We’ll see about that,” Madam Ladonna said, grasping Kendra and setting her upon one side of the scale. The tray where Kendra stood dropped and the other one rose. Madam Ladonna eyed Kendra shrewdly, then began selecting cylindrical weights to place on the opposite tray. As she added or subtracted weight, Kendra’s side of the scale wobbled up and down, forcing her to hold out her hands and crouch to stay on her feet. After a moment, the two sides of the scale leveled out.
“Why do you care how much I weigh?” Kendra asked.
“I don’t,” Madam Ladonna said. “I care if you are going to tell me the truth. What is your name?”
“Must I tell you?” Kendra asked.
“Your best chance to live is to answer my questions honestly,” Madam Ladonna said. “It also gives your friends their best chance.”
“I’m Kendra Sorenson.”
“I know,” Madam Ladonna said. “Now lie to me. What is your name?”
“Stan,” Kendra said.
The scales jerked, lurching enough that Kendra fell to her knees and one of the little weights on the other side toppled over. Madam Ladonna reached out and righted the overturned weight, making the scales sway.
“Very good,” Madam Ladonna said. “All appears to be in order. You were the caretaker of Wyrmroost?”
“Yes,” Kendra said, rising to her feet.
“Did you come to our sanctuary as a spy?” Madam Ladonna asked.
“No,” Kendra said.
“Why did you come?” Madam Ladonna asked.
“I came for refuge and to help defend against the dragon war,” Kendra said, leaving Seth out of it.
Madam stared at the scales and nodded. “Some in Dragonwatch do not appreciate the methods of the Giant Queen. Do you approve of how the dragons here are treated?”
Kendra hesitated. “Not entirely. But I like that Titan Valley seems secure.”
“Tell me why you came into my house,” Madam Ladonna instructed.
“We didn’t mean any harm,” Kendra said, and the scales lurched enough to make her sit down hard. She hadn’t expected the scales to move because she hadn’t felt like she was lying. Kendra stared up in fear of how the giant would react. Madam Ladonna frowned as she righted two weights on the other side.
“What harm did you intend?” Madam Ladonna asked, an angry edge to the question.
“We wanted to take the Waystar,” Kendra admitted.
Madam Ladonna gasped. “What did you intend to do with my precious jewel?”
“I’m not sure,” Kendra said. The scales heaved again, making Kendra glad she had stayed seated. Once again, she had not expected movement.
“Answer me,” Madam Ladonna insisted.
“We were getting it for a giant,” Kendra said.
“Which giant?” Madam Ladonna asked.
Kendra paused. “A good giant. One of your leaders. We want to help defend Titan Valley.”
Madam Ladonna considered the scales as if surprised they had not moved.
“I need a name,” Madam Ladonna said.
“I mustn’t betray him,” Kendra said.
“You believe him to be a good giant,” Madam Ladonna said. “That does not guarantee he is actually good. If you and your friends want a chance to live, I need a name.”
Kendra winced. “Dectus.”
“Ah,” Madam Ladonna said, looking away. “Tampering, as always.” She looked back at Kendra. “Why does he want the Waystar?”
“I don’t know,” Kendra said. The scales wobbled a little.
“You’re not telling me everything,” Madam Ladonna said.
“Getting the Waystar is the first part of a larger mission,” Kendra said. “I only know Dectus wants us to help him protect Titan Valley from the dragon war.”
Madam Ladonna scrutinized the scales. They stayed level.
“I see,” Madam Ladonna said. “At times I disagree with his methods, but Dectus is loyal to our queen and to the interests of the giants. Dectus sent you to take the Waystar from me?”
“Yes,” Kendra said.
“A test, no doubt,” Madam Ladonna said. “But a test you were not likely to pass. More likely he wanted this interview to happen. Kendra, do you have any motives to be here at Titan Valley besides helping the giants?”
“I want to find my brother,” Kendra said. “He lost his memories.”
“Do you mean any harm to Titan Valley or the giants who dwell here?” Madam Ladonna asked.
“No.”
“Did you deliberately help Wyrmroost fall?”
“No way!”
“Did you defend Wyrmroost as best you could?”
“Yes.”
“Are you aware of any peril to Titan Valley?”
“The Giant Queen is entertaining Ronodin, the dark unicorn. Destruction follows wherever he goes. Here he is called the giant killer. That might turn out to be more literal than anyone suspects.”
Eyes on the
