Sorry for the delay I was at work with my dad. Enjoy!

Chapter 13

I had expected to wake up to drooling grins and happy squeals. But it just so happened that none of the giants (except for Papa, he's the leader) woke up very early. I woke up on my own and was a little freaked out to see the whole cabin full of cots with sleeping, snoring giants.

Most were drooling on their pillows, some were talking in their sleep, others were making smacking noises which sounded gross, considering their noses were plugged or running. The room didn't smell too good either and I quickly climbed out of the dirty bed and tip-toed over the sleeping giants to the door and fresh air.

I quickly stopped when I saw Perceval leaning against the tree, looking very worn out and tired. She saw me and straightened, trying to pull the hood down lower. I couldn't help but give a little smirk.

"Good morning, Perceval," I said.

"You know, don't you?" she asked her voice changed to a girl's instead of a teenage boy's.

I wasn't surprised she figured it out. "Yeah, I know. You had us fooled for a long time though. Why'd you do it?"

She slumped onto the ground, still leaning against the tree and said, "Sit down, won't you?"

I consented and sat down on a stump. "Is it a long story?"

"No, it's short and simple," she said. "For certain reasons my betrothed postponed our wedding. He took me to his sister, Robina, and she reluctantly welcomed me as a poor boy who her brother had dumped in her care. My fiance said he would come back, and I waited, but he never did. I've been in this disguise for three years. A little before you came I decided I didn't want to be Robina's little brother and therefore set you free."

"Have you lost faith in your betrothed?"

She hesitated then said rather dryly, "Actually I think he's lost faith in me."

I was surprised she didn't seem a little more... well passionate or emotional about it. I mean in the fairy tale books this would have been a tradegy to be abandoned like that by your love. But then again was Perceval's fiance really her love? I shrugged at myself. I didn't know anything about that stuff. Thankfully I had escaped the jaws of love. "Did you learn your archer skills from Robina?"

Perceval smirked and smiled that sly smile again. "No. I taught her her archer skills. She was just a water girl when I first came to her. With my teaching she grew to what she is now. I taught myself when I was twelve."

I wanted to ask more questions but the giants woke up just then and Conrad bounced in our conversation. Well, he started to bounce in until he saw the new Perceval. Then he turned into a fish and began stuttering, looking between me and Perceval with confused shocked eyes. I grinned and gave him the look, I told you so.

"Poor Boy!"

I was picked up by my giant and I was very pleased that my back didn't wince when he handled me a little rougher than before.

"Owie, ok?"

"It's doing great!" I said and gave him an especially big grin that made his eyes start to shine and his nose running faster. He set me down and he turned away as if to cry. Poor giant.

"We are going to continue on our journey," I said looking at the giant before me. "We appreciate everything you've done for us."

He stared blankly at me, then looked at his neighbor as if to say, "Translation please."

Conrad laughed and stepped up to me. "Lance, you can't talk court language to these gaints. Watch and learn from the expert."

He stepped up to the biggest one, Papa, and took his hand, or in this case his pinkie, and said, "Bu bye, Papa. Time for bu bye. We happy you help. But now bu bye. Bu bye, ok?"

Perceval and I looked at each other and I half smirked half smiled. Her eyes laughed.

Conrad went on babbling baby talk.

Papa's face brightened then fell. All the giants gave a mournful, Ooohh... Then thier eyes brightened and they began to wave. My giant waved especially hard and even made an attempt to wipe his nose.

I turned away and went to Ares who was calmed by these baby-like giants justas much as I was. We mounted and with many 'Buh Byes' following us, rode into the forest with our hearts softened and our wounds healed.

For a while we just rode without looking around to see where we were going or where we were. Finally Conrad broke the silence and said, "So, Perceval, I doubt you like being called a boy when we know you are a girl. What were you called before you...uh took on the mantle of being a teenage boy?"

"I prefer my current name," she said absently.

I laughed and said to Conrad, "She doesn't want to tell you because it's probably something really simple, like, Sally, or Beth." I said that only to get the name out of her, for fun.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw her eyes flash a little and she answered indignantly, "It most certainly is not. My name is Minerva."

I snuck a sly smile at her and was pleased see her cheeks flush more, knowing she had fallen into the trap.

"Then I'll call you Minerva," said Conrad decidedly.

"Minerva," I said. "The goddess of war and wisdom, also calledAthena, so far you have proved your name very well."

Ares suddenly jumped as Conrad pulled ahead of me with Shika. He smirked at me and asked, "What are you doing in the lead, Prince Lance? Aren't I the one who keeps us out of scrapes? If you lead we'd fall into them."

"You can't even use a sword!" I said indignantly, ready to take my position again.

"Didn't you see me with that dragon? I killed him sing.."

At that point our protector Sir Conrad was caught up from his saddle with a yelp and swung up into the air. I watched as he bounced around a while before only swinging back and forth. A rope was tied around his ankle and was attached to a tall tree albove us. Our protector had fallen into a simple deertrap.

I couldn't surpress the laugh that burst from my mouth, though I didn't try either. I doubled over with laughter and nearly toppled over Ares who was freaked out by Conrad's sudden fly up. Even Perceval smiled broadly at Conrad's predicament.

Conrad's face was red with the blood that had rushed his head, with confusion, and anger.

"Why are you standing around!" he shrieked. "Get me out of this thing!"

"I thought you were supposed tokeep us out of scrapes!" I said. "You stole my job!"

"I don't care! Get me out!"

I nodded to Perceval. "She's supposed to get us out of scrapes, remember? Ask her."

Conrad's face turned even redder as he glared at me.

Perceval cut off his plea and said, "He's right, Lance. If we don't get him down the trappers will be by to pick up thier catch, pretty soon, too. I think this was meant formorethan just deer."

I laughed. "All right, all right. But how do you want me to do it? You're up so high I might as well try and fly up there."

Perceval gestured to her bow but I shook my head. "If we let him fall so suddenly he'll likely break his neck. There is nothing to cushion him with a fall like that."

Conrad's red face paled slightly when he heard this. He was strung up pretty high and the tree was to tall to climb. I didn't know how he was put up there, but I was impressed with the trapper's job. If I stood on Ares's back and strechedarms I might've been able tograb onto his waist, but I didn't know what good that would do. Maybe I could yank him down. Nah, he'd probably break a neck.

Perceval seemed to read my mind. "You could probably reach him, Lance, " she said. "Then untie the rope, you are tall."

I shrugged and moved Ares directly under Conrad whohad stopped thrashing. After calming Ares down I stood up carefully and was able to just barely touch the knot with my finger tips. I doubted I could untie the rope and I let my hands drop to my sides.

"What if I could untie it?" I said to Perceval. "He'd just fall."

She was looking the rope with a strange expression. I turned back to Conrad his face had a look of uncertainty and fear. I looked back at Perceval. Something was going on without my knowledge.

"Uh oh," said Conrad. "I think..."

"What in the world is g..."

"Watch out!" yelled Perceval. "The rope, it's..."

I heared a snap and Conrad suddenly slammed against me and my knees buckled as we both went down. Ares jolted and took off, leaving us to collide heavily with the ground.

"Going to break," finshed Perceval lamely.I could sense the amused smile in her voice.

My bruised arm was hurting horribly and my breath had been knocked out since Conrad was lying directly across me, groaning. As if he had something to groan about. He was cushioned!

"Ugh!" I growled. "Get off of me, you filthy no good..."

Conrad quickly scrambled off and brushed himself off saying, "Sorry, your Majesty."

"You guys hurry and mount!" said Perceval, sounding a little panicky. "The hunters, they're coming."

I was not in a hurry as I sat up and checked to see if I had broken anything. "Who are the hunters?" I asked standing up and looking around for Ares. He was standing a little far off cocking his ears and looking around anxiously. When I went to him he turned sharply at my approach and nickered as if say, 'Somethin's up, Lance, it's time to move on.'

"I'm not sure," said Perceval looking around. "I only know they will be here soon, so hurry."

Like I said, I was not in a hurry, and I was not encouraged by this display of what seemed to be bossiness. I fought the urge to glare at her and then yawn lesiurely when a ear peircing shriek was heard and the trapper jumped out, right in front of me. I yelped and jumped away as his spear nearly jabbed my insides.

It was a man dressed in furs and a wild hairdo all over his face and head. He hardly glanced at me and instead rushed at Conrad. The forest suddenly became alive with this wild men who were all streaming past Perceval and I and going directly to Conrad, who was looking very freaked out.

"Hey!" he squawked as they roughly pulled him from Shika and began to take out some rope.

At this point I stepped in. Pushing my way through the crowd of men I reached Conrad and shoved the ropes away.

"What do you think you're doing?" I demanded glaring at thier leader. Well, I guess he was thier leader, he hada funky looking hat on with a few feathers sticking out of it.

"We are taking our prisoner," he said in accented brisktone. "He is our prisoner because he fell into the sacred trap. We must take him to the lands of our fathers. You and the boy can go on your way, you are not important."

"Sacred trap?" I repeated.

He pointed emphatically at the rope hanging from the tree. "That is our sacred trap. He fell into it."

Well, I knew that, but, sacred?

"We must take him to the land of our fathers," the man repeated in a firm voice and laid a hand on Conrad's arm.

Conrad brushed off frantically and said loudly, "I'm not going anywhere!"

"What are you going to do with him?" asked Perceval.

The man's eyes did not leave Conrad's face. "We take the prisoner of the Sacred Trap to the alter of our gods when the moon is at it's fullest in two months and there offer him as a sacrifice to the gods to help us in our endevour."