The Hero's Guide to Being an Outlaw by Christopher Healy, Todd Harris Page A

Gems,” said Lila. “How do we know there aren’t even more?”
    “We don’t,” said Liam. “The future of all the Thirteen Kingdoms is at stake. Which is why the League of Princes needs to stop running. We need to take the fight to the Darians.”
    “How?” Frederic asked. “We can’t even show our faces in public without greedy mobs chasing us.”
    “That’s why our first priority is still clearing our names,” Liam said.
    “Which we do by finding Briar,” Lila chimed in.
    “Exactly,” Liam said.
    “She got loaded onto a ship called the Dreadwind ,” Lila said.
    “Funny,” Duncan chuckled. “Dreadwind is Frank’s nickname for my flute.”
    “We’ll have to be super careful going back into Yondale Harbor, though,” Lila continued. “The place is crawling with Darians.”
    “Thanks for the heads-up,” Liam said. “But you’re not coming with us.”
    “Seriously?” Lila huffed, balling her hands into fists.
    “Calm down, Sis. You can’t come because I need you to warn everybody about the Darians. At least two monarchs have already fallen to their scheme. You need to warn the rulers of the other eleven kingdoms.”
    She eyed her brother skeptically. “That’s an awful lot of traveling you expect me to do.”
    “Actually, you only need to go to Harmonia,” Frederic said. “Find Smimf. With his Seven-League Boots, he can probably hit eleven kingdoms in one afternoon.”
    “Will you do this for us?” Liam asked, looking his sister in the eye.
    “Yeah,” she said grudgingly.
    “Thank you,” Liam said. “Gustav will go with you.”
    “He will?” said Gustav. “I mean, yeah, I will. I’ve got your back, kid.”
    “Thanks, but no,” Lila said, holding up her hand. “I can handle the messenger bit on my own. You guys stick together and find Briar.”
    “Fine,” Gustav said knowingly. “You go alone. I’ll stay right here with the other guys.” He gave Liam a not-so-subtle wink.
    “Gustav,” Lila said with a sigh, “don’t waste your time trying to follow me. You know I’ll lose you in three seconds.”
    The big prince’s shoulders slumped. “Yeah, I know,” he grumbled.
    “All right, Sis,” Liam said. “You can do this. But please take care of yourself.”
    “I will,” she replied, hugging her brother. She wondered briefly if she and the princes should swap jobs, but she knew they’d never go for it. “Just make sure you find Briar.”
    “I promise,” Liam said.
    Duncan began strutting around, modeling his new tricornered cap. “Well, this hat was an even luckier find than I’d thought,” he said. “I’m all ready for some seafaring!”
    “Seafaring?” Frederic asked, turning a bit green at the thought.
    “Were you even listening?” Lila asked. “The Dreadwind is a ship. If you guys are going to find it, you need to head out to sea yourselves.”
    Liam nodded. “And I know just the pirate to ask for a ride.”

13
A N O UTLAW N EVER G OES H UNGRY
    N ot all of Flargstagg smelled like an old sock stuffed with rancid pumpkin rinds. On their way through the sunny side of town, the princes passed a few cottages that carried the distinctly pleasant scent of lemon zest and one where they took in a glorious whiff of nutmeg. But as soon as they crossed into the less-desirable half of the village, they were stopped in their tracks by the odor of the Stumpy Boarhound.
    “We’re here,” Duncan announced. “That is a stink you don’t forget.”
    At the sewage-spattered dead end of a bleak and damp cobblestone street stood the battered old tavern at which the four princes had first officially formed their team. From behind the Stumpy Boarhound’s blade-scarred doors came the raucous sounds of what was either a party or a fight.
    “Are you sure this is the best idea?” Frederic asked as Liam placed his hand on the bent dagger that served as a door handle. “The clientele here are not exactly model citizens. Need I remind you that the last time we recruited