The Unwilling Apprentice (Book 2) by Heidi Willard

voice quipped. All three of their heads swiveled around to the doorway, and Ned stood there with a smile on his face.
    Fred and Pat looked at each other, then back at their gargoyle friend. Her face showed the pain of their tug-of-war with her arms. They dropped her stretched arms, plastered wide, fake smiles on their faces and stepped together so their shoulders pressed against each other. That didn't quite hide the gargoyle girl behind them.
    Ned chuckled and leaned on his staff as he looked the three over. "I suspected you two had something to do with tonight's chaos, but the gargoyle is a nice touch to the surprise."
    "Um, you didn't hear anything about this from us," Fred told him.
    Ned smiled. "In this case seeing is believing," he replied. He stepped over to the young gargoyle and bowed his head. "Good evening, young miss. You look very much like a fellow I used to know. I believe his name was Sampson."
    The girl's eyes lit up. "You know my father?"
    Ned chuckled. "Well, well, indeed I do, and I'm glad to hear he's still alive, but where is he and how did you come to be here?"
    "We reside in a cavern deep beneath the castle," she told him. She blushed and looked at the ground. "And I am the one who caused the trouble this night. If I hadn't been curious to see the fireworks than none of this would have happened."
    Ned kindly smiled and walked between the two youngsters who guarded her. He put a gentle hand on the gargoyle girl's shoulder, and she gaze into his wise old eyes. "Don't trouble yourself too much, young miss. I have yet to hear that anyone was seriously harmed, though there are reports of several being slightly mauled by a cantankas." Fred cringed. That was partly his doing though he had little control over the beast.
    Pat glared at Fred. "Did you let that beast out to attack the citizens?" she scolded him.
    Fred scowled back at her. "I didn't let him do anything, he crashed through the wall and saved Canto and me from the mob."
    "I'm sorry." The small voice interrupted them, and the pair turned to the gargoyle girl. Tears pooled in her eyes and her shoulders shook. "I'm so sorry. I didn't want any of this to happen, and it's all my fault that you two are fighting and the city is in such ruins."
    Ned clucked his tongue and shook his head. "Now look at what you're arguing has done. You've frightened her." He led the girl over to the bed, sat them both down, and took one of her hands in both of his. "Where are my manners? I haven't yet introduced myself. My name is Ned." The two youngsters looked at each other and blushed; through all that trouble they hadn't even gotten her name.
    "My name is Ruth," she replied with a sniffle.
    Ned smiled. "That's a very pretty name. Is this your first adventure outside the caves?" She nodded. "Do you want to go back to your father?" She surprised all of them when she shook her head. Ned raised an eyebrow. "Why is that?"
    Ruth glanced over to Fred and Pat. "I owe them my life. If they hadn't come to rescue me I don't know what would have happened. A life-debt must be paid with servitude, or I save their lives."
    Fred blinked, but Pat vehemently shook her head and stepped toward the girl with her hands up and waving. "It was nothing, really. You need to go back to your father and the others. It's much safer-"
    Ruth stood stiffly and stared Pat straight in the eyes. "A life-debt can't be forgiven, and I can't return to my people until I have fulfilled my debt."
    Ned chuckled. "Not even to inform your father of your debt?" he pointed out.
    Ruth cringed and blushed. "Perhaps it would be wise to do that."
    "I imagine that isn't easy, or my two bold companions here would have sent you back already," Ned commented.
    "The secret entrance is beneath the kitchen," Fred informed him.
    "We planned to take her down there later tonight," Pat chimed in.
    Ned pulled at his beard and shook his head. "Sounds risky, especially as I heard the guests for your birthday party have insisted on