"Jesper!" came a yell from the Heron. "Hal said that if you don't hurry up we're leaving without you!"

"Hold your oars, Stig!" Jesper yelled back, then turned to Halt.

"Halt," he said sweetly. "As thanks for taking care of me this week, I have a little gift for you."

Halt waved the little paper-wrapped package away. "You don't have to give me anything."

"Trust me," Jesper insisted. "You'll want this."

He pressed the paper-wrapped object into Halt's hand, then ran off toward the Heron.

"Halt!" Gilan ran up, panting. "I need to-"

He came up short. "Where's your oakleaf?"

Halt's fingers flew to his throat. The familiar patch of metal was gone.

"That little thief!" Halt breathed. Will shuffled forward.

"It's my fault," he mumbled. "I dared Jesper to do it. I'm sorry."

But Halt was too busy unwrapping the little parcel Jesper had pressed on him. As he tore the last bit of paper off, a ray of sunlight flashed off of a shiny silver pendant on a leather thong.

Will's mouth dropped open. Halt unfolded a scrap of paper underneath the necklace.

.

Halt,

Looks like I won after all. Give my regards to Will, and tell him that he doesn't need to give me his stamp. I liberated it already.

Your little thief,

Jesper