Shield of Stars (book)

''Summary from Publisher: A former pickpocket, Weasel is the type of boy most people would avoid. Certainly, no one would ever trust him -- except for one man. Justice Holis took Weasel off the streets, gave him a home, a job as his clerk, and a key to his house. Weasel's new life may be a bit boring, but for the first time someone actually cares about him.

''Now Justice Holis is the one in trouble. Arrested for treason, he will surely hang unless someone saves him -- and that someone can only be Weasel. But what can one boy do? Not much without help.

''So with a mysterious girl named Arisa by his side, Weasel goes in search of the Falcon, the most dangerous bandit in Deorthas, but also the one person who would be able -- and possibly willing -- to stage a prison break.

''But Weasel's fate changes when he stumbles upon a shield. Could this be the one said to have been lost for centuries, the one that bestows power on whoever holds it? If so, Weasel, once a lowly pickpocket, could be the most powerful person in the land.

With extraordinary craftsmanship, Hilari Bell weaves a fantasy adventure story that will have readers captivated from the first word to the last.

Summary
Justice Holis is captured by men loyal to Regent Pettibone, the tyrant who rules Deorthas in the name of Prince Edoran. Weasel escapes and attempts to free Justice Holis. Unfortunately, Weasel is captured and put locked into a storage room with Arisa. They escape and make their way out of the city.

Over the course of a couple weeks, they visit various villages and a seaside town. Arisa is kidnapped by palace guards, but Weasel frees her. They travel to Arisa's mother, The Falcon, who leads a band of rebels.

Weasel and Arisa lead the Falcon and the rebels back to the palace to free Justice Holis. They succeed, and in the process discover the Shield of Stars, one of the three ancient artifacts of Deorthas. They confront Regent Pettibone, whom the Falcon kills. Justice Holis becomes the regent, and the Falcon becomes the lord commander of the army and navy.