“I am a wizard’s apprentice,” she went on. “Zendric was my master. He … he disappeared, many years ago, on some quest he refused to talk about. I come here all the time, hoping to find him, but he’s never here. So while I wait for Zendric’s return, I read his books and I teach myself what I need to know.” Looking between Evin and the scowling Jorick, her eyes seemed friendly and concerned. “I’m not the monster expert Zendric is, but … maybe I can help you save your families.”

Betilivatis swept past Jorick and headed down the corridor between two rows of bookshelves. Her white robes rustled behind her as she traced her fingers along the bindings of the many tomes set on the shelves, her eyes scanning the unusual words. Finally she stopped, her thin lips briefly curling into a smile. She slipped her wand inside the folds of her robe, then pulled a book from the shelf.

Armed with a book bound in green leather, Betilivatis rushed back down the aisle to where the boys were. She held it up for both to look at, and Evin read the title to himself: A Practical Guide to Monsters. Embedded in its cover was a painting of a strange creature with three monstrous heads and a pair of red, batlike wings.

“If you’re going to head out to hunt monsters and save your village,” Betilivatis went on, “you’re going to need this. Before Zendric disappeared, he left this behind for his apprentices. It contains his writings on monsters you may encounter and how to fight—or flee—from them.”

Betilivatis sat in a chair opposite Jorick and rested the book in her lap. “I have a theory about these gnolls and the villagers. I don’t think the gnolls have eaten anyone.”

Jorick sat up. “You don’t? You think we can save them?” In his voice lay the faintest sound of hope.

Betilivatis nodded. “Like I said before, gnolls have an insatiable hunger. Typically they attack their victims as a pack, eat them, and leave. They certainly don’t take whole villages captive, especially without even leaving one dead body behind.” She leaned forward and placed her elbows on her knees. “I would venture to theorize that the gnolls are working for someone—or something—who wanted those people taken alive.”

Evin kneeled beside Jorick’s chair and gripped his friend’s shoulder reassuringly. “That’s great!” he said to Betilivatis. “Then we can track down the gnolls and free everyone.”

Betilivatis smiled. “Gnolls often make alliances with other creatures.” She lifted up the book in her lap. “And I’m willing to bet that one of the monsters Zendric wrote about has become their leader.”

“Wonderful!” Evin stood and put his hand on the book. “Well, then give us the book and we’ll be on our way. We can’t wait for—”