3 The Stranger

CHAPTER 3

The Stranger The children and Ruskin zigzagged between pine trees as they raced through the forest. Soon they came to a trail that spread out in three different directions. They looked from one trail to the next, but they couldn't tell which one the stranger had taken. Lucas huffed and puffed. "It looks like our only clue just got away." Clara put her hands on her knees to catch her breath. "I have another idea," she said. "Why don't we do some research in the royal library?" Lucas thought for a moment. Well, at least the library will get my mind off losing the stranger, he said to himself.

"Okay," he agreed. Then, with Ruskin leading the way, they tramped toward home. When they got to the castle, they hurried to the royal library.

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The library had a whole section on trolls. Lucas and Clara each grabbed a book and sat on a bench topped with a purple velvet cushion. Ruskin curled up by their feet while they read. "Here's something about enderberries!" said Clara excitedly. Lucas looked up. "Oh, never mind," she said. "It just says how much trolls like them." She snapped the book shut and slid it back onto the shelf. Then she picked out another book and sat down. They both read quietly. Suddenly Lucas's eyes grew wide. Clara looked over. "Did you find something?" she asked. Lucas nodded. "I found a legend about a pegasus," he said. Clara leaned in closer. "You mean, like, a horse with wings?"

"Exactly," he said, pointing to a drawing on the page. "But what does a pegasus have to do with missing enderberries?"