Half Upon a Time: Chapters 10–18

by James Riley
This first book of the trilogy introduces a descendant of men who fought and robbed giants: fourteen-year-old Jack the thirteenth, who is unwillingly training to be a hero, until a girl falls out of the sky.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–9, Chapters 10–18, Chapters 19–27, Chapters 28–36, Chapters 37–46
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. plaintive
    expressing sorrow
    As he spoke, they could hear loud scraping sounds on the door, followed by little plaintive cries, as if the witch’s children were babies crying for milk.
  2. assorted
    consisting of a haphazard variety of different kinds
    May tossed a few other assorted instruments out of the closet, then turned around.
  3. straddle
    sit or stand astride of
    “So how does it work?” May said, taking the broom from him. She straddled the handle and began hopping around the room with it under her. “Giddyup!” she shouted.
  4. buck
    move in a jerky or violent manner
    It bucked wildly, then tore off around the cottage, madly flying in every direction like a trapped insect looking for a window.
  5. tentatively
    in a hesitant manner
    “How’d you know it would do that?” May asked, tentatively approaching the broom, which seemed to be calming down a bit.
  6. bile
    a digestive juice secreted by the liver
    He swallowed hard, pushing down the bile. That’d teach him to eat candy from strange houses.
  7. turret
    a small tower extending above a building
    Giving up on landmarks, Jack started looking for the nearest farm or town, anything with people who could give them directions. He couldn’t find one of those, but he did see the turrets of a castle peeking out above the trees up ahead.
  8. slug
    a land-dwelling mollusk with no external shell
    And just like that, they were off...if by off, one meant moving along at about a slug’s pace. And not the pace of one of those magic slugs that were larger than a horse, with super-slick oil that they skated on top of, either.
  9. musing
    a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
    “I’m going to give it some gas!” May yelled, interrupting Jack’s slug-oil musings.
  10. suspended
    supported or kept from sinking or falling by buoyancy
    Jack locked his fingers around May’s arm with a death-grip as he hung suspended over miles of empty air.
  11. proportion
    relation with respect to comparative quantity or magnitude
    As the giant lifted him higher, Jack could start to make out the creature’s proportions. What he’d thought were stones was actually a rumpled gray shirt, its buttons larger than Jack’s head.
  12. jut
    extend out or project in space
    Hair jutted out from holes in the shirt, looking exactly like leafless trees.
  13. cavernous
    being or suggesting a large dark enclosed space
    Jack gagged his way past the breath, only to find himself staring up into a virtual jungle of hair jutting out from twin cavernous nostrils beneath the giant’s enormous hooked nose.
  14. sheer
    complete and without restriction
    Jack almost laughed at the sheer insanity of that statement.
  15. fare
    proceed, get along, or succeed
    “No, I’m in no danger. But you won’t last very long where you are. You would most likely fare better over here.”
  16. concede
    admit or acknowledge, often reluctantly
    “You may fall,” the voice conceded, “or you may reach safety.”
  17. casually
    in an unconcerned manner
    A man leaned casually against the wall of the giant’s mouth, dressed in black armor from head to foot, a midnight-blue cloak covering the armor and the man’s head.
  18. proximity
    the property of being close together
    “Oh, fantastic,” Jack said, backing away from the Eye despite his close proximity to the throat.
  19. wry
    humorously sarcastic or mocking
    From underneath the hood, Jack could just make out the man’s wry grin.
  20. ample
    more than enough in size or scope or capacity
    “Now do you truly think I wish you harm? I had ample opportunity to strike you down in the dark.”
  21. cryptic
    having a secret or hidden meaning
    “It wouldn’t be the first time.”
    Jack just stared at the knight. “No one likes cryptic people,” he said finally.
  22. scant
    less than the correct or legal or full amount
    Hopefully, the man had ended up digested in the giant’s stomach, but even if not, he was still trapped. Scant comfort, sure, but hurtling to his death, Jack would take what he could get.
  23. semblance
    the outward or apparent appearance or form of something
    “What—,” Jack started to say, then lost all semblance of coherence as May tackled him, squeezing the air out of his lungs.
  24. coherence
    logical, orderly, and consistent relation of parts
    “What—,” Jack started to say, then lost all semblance of coherence as May tackled him, squeezing the air out of his lungs.
  25. circlet
    decorated metal band worn around the head
    A deep purple cape fell from his shoulders, and every piece of clothing was trimmed in gold, much like the boy’s head, where a gold circlet hid between long, dark locks of brown hair.
  26. reluctantly
    with a certain degree of unwillingness
    Jack reluctantly moved close enough to hear what she was saying.
  27. fatigue
    exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain
    “Four or five days?!” May said.
    Phillip shook his head. “Killing giants is not for the easily fatigued, my friends.”
  28. solemn
    dignified and somber in manner or character
    Phillip’s face grew solemn. “That is my quest. I hunt down the few remaining giants in our lands, ever since my father was killed by one.”
  29. hazard
    put forward, of a guess, in spite of possible refutation
    While I was slaying the giant, a bag that I would hazard a guess to be yours fell from the sky and landed right at my feet, if you can believe such a thing.
  30. fumble
    handle clumsily
    “Of course,” the prince said, tossing the bag over to Jack. The bag landed perfectly in Jack’s hands, then dropped to the ground when Jack fumbled it.
  31. poseur
    a person who habitually pretends to be something he is not
    No, I just told him that I’ve got some royalty in the family. And quit judging me, I know I’m a poseur!
  32. snarky
    rudely sarcastic and mocking in tone or manner
    May started to say something snarky in reply, then stopped and looked at Jack closely.
  33. emanate
    proceed or issue forth, as from a source
    “So how did you two find yourselves here?” the prince asked, apparently oblivious to the hostility emanating from Jack.
  34. converse
    carry on a discussion
    “I had a chance to converse with this giant over the last five days. He was not the one for whom I search.”
  35. noble
    having high or elevated character
    “Yet you killed him anyway,” Jack said. “How noble of you.”
  36. devastate
    cause extensive destruction or ruin utterly
    “All giants deserve death,” Phillip said matter-of-factly. “The more I slay, the less there are to devastate the world. My quest only benefits mankind.”
  37. provisions
    a stock or supply of foods
    “We haven’t eaten for a while.”
    “Oh, my friend,” the prince said, shaking his head. “How could you take this beautiful young woman out into the wilds without proper provisions?”
  38. hostile
    characterized by enmity or ill will
    May took a step toward him, her look not quite as hostile as it had been.
  39. arbitrary
    based on or subject to individual discretion or preference
    This was no gradual change, either: It was as if an arbitrary line had been picked, and from that point on, there were only shivers and chills.
  40. scabbard
    a sheath for a sword or dagger or bayonet
    Without a thought, Jack yanked his sword out of its scabbard and took off at a dead run right into the heart of the Black Forest, the sword’s glow lighting his way.
Created on Fri Apr 26 10:19:31 EDT 2024 (updated Sat Apr 27 11:14:58 EDT 2024)

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