Fable: Jack of Blades — Peter David

Fable Heroes, available May 2, 2012, on Xbox Live Arcade, gathers a range of heroes and villains from across the epic videogame saga -- and the Fable companion eBook series delves even deeper into their greatest triumphs, darkest secrets, and never-before-seen origins. In the second eBook short story, evil will be unmasked -- but nothing is ever what it seems when Jack of Blades has the upper hand.

Finally, the people of Albion are safe. Jack of Blades, the supernatural terror, has been slayed . . . or at least, that's what they've been told. But the residents of Oddwood know that Jack is alive and well. Leading a small force of mercenaries, Jack has enslaved the townsfolk and is enjoying a life of luxury -- until an unassuming young man arrives on the scene, inadvertently thwarting Jack at every step. Living up to his merciless reputation, Jack of Blades decides upon a suitable punishment: throwing the newcomer into a cage with a flesh-eating Balverine. Little does Jack realize that he's dealing with a wild card -- and a shocking twist to the Fable saga.