“Heiress, we cannot remain out in the open like this, there are many after you and these parts are far from protected.”
“You know who I am? how am I to believe in your protection,” Klara replied axe in hand, and a rumble of laughter shook the trees around them. Leaves scattered like snow as the Giant cleared his throat. “A traitor’s presence in our land will garner much attention. I go out on a limb to help you and yet, you question us.”
“Then why come to my aid and risk your own people?”
“Because it is what the Fae Queen orders.”
“The Fae Queen holds no sway in Malum,” Klara stated. There is a grumble of disagreement amongst the giants.
“She means no disrespect to Queen Aemella,” Arthur interrupted, and Klara moved in front of him. She didn’t need to be shielded by the Warlock.
“The Fae Queen has more dignity in one of her fingernails than one hair on the High Queen’s head,” the Giant growled, and Klara couldn’t deny it.
“Abadan is destroying the Forest, while the Fae Queen helped us rebuild our numbers after the war with the Ogres,” another giant said defensively.
“There is no love lost between myself and the High Queen, but I do not answer to the Fae Queen,” Klara said for all the Giants to hear. “I will not take orders from any Queen.”
“Queen Aemella carries no orders for you Heiress, only that we are to offer you shelter if the time should come.” The Fae Queen knew I was coming this way? How is that possible, will she allow us to pass through the border? Klara couldn’t help but wonder what this help would cost her.
“The Fae Queen wishes for an audience?” Arthur asked and the Giant bit his thick purple lip.
“No, we only offer assistance. You aren’t to be granted passage to Kalos. Such a journey will provoke war, which no Creature would want or survive.”
“Gratide! We are exposed to the trees, they will be listening,” a Giant smaller and thicker than the others attempted to whisper. Gratide from his height and stance must be their leader as he addressed their group while the others stood guard. Gratide rose from bended knee, “we move on.”
The heavy bare footsteps shook the ground as the Giants led the way. Soon the destroyed homes of the Ogres disappeared, and they passed in to a beautiful garden full of overgrown flowers.
Klara wondered how she had not heard or felt their presence earlier. Her train of thought was interrupted as an enormous elm tree twisted with several other surrounding trees slowly unraveled itself, revealing a secret passage. Where they had eaten their fruit was only burial ground for the unfortunate Ogres. Klara wondered if the Fae Queen knew or just suspected she intended to pass through the border.
“The Warlock tells us that you intend to leave for the Human plane on the River,” Gratide said.
“The Forest isn’t exactly happy with my presence at the minute,” Klara said, and Gratide stepped through the passage in the tree. Klara hesitated as the other Giants stepped through a ripple, exposing the glamour that protected their homes from outsiders.
“We shouldn’t trust them. If the High Queen wants you, who’s to say the Fae Queen won’t take you hostage as leverage.” Wolfgang spoke as though he knew of the Queens’ tactics, maybe I’ve underestimated the Lycaon.
“Think of Lottie, she needs rest for the journey ahead. With your injury you can’t carry her the whole way.”
Klara played on his conscience when all she wanted was to find out what the Giants knew about Kalos, and its Queen.
Klara stepped through the glamour at the centre of the unraveled tree trunks, squinting as bright sparkles floated around her. The fireflies like the Giants’ were in the thousands. It took a moment for Klara’s eyes to adjust to the new surroundings.
“It was once the old mine,” Arthur said as Klara stood on the edge of the ledge and looked into the pit of light and loud voices. Klara noticed the homes embedded in the mud walls of the mine as the group descended deeper than Klara thought possible.
“Best not to stare,” Wolfgang said as he came through the glamour.
“Have you seen anything like this before?” Klara asked as she followed Arthur down the path wrapped around the mine. Klara thought they were inside the elm tree but when she looked up all she could see was the sky.
Klara’s mind drifted to the dungeons spiraling staircase in the Queens’ Castle, and her palms grew sweaty.
Unlike in the Castle, the path was wide enough to accommodate Giants. Straight down, Klara saw a reservoir with an enormous tree that rivalled the height of a Giant at its centre.
Klara caught up to Gratide, “How is it you managed to create such a place without the High Queens knowledge or permission?”
“It was already here. This was once an old Goblin mine. But once the gold dried up, the Goblins left for the deep mountains.” Klara’s nose wrinkled; Goblins were notorious side switchers. All you had to do was flash some coin under their long-pointed noses, and their loyalties shifted. Abadan had managed to charm them into submission, she let them have their mountains of gold, so long as they paid their taxes. How else was she to keep her vault so well stocked?
“Why choose the mine when you hold so much land?”
“So many questions, one would think you are a spy,” Gratide smiled through yellow teeth and wrinkles formed at his eyes.
“If you want my trust, then why not answer?”
“The mine provides protection, and it is almost impossible to raid without our watchers catching them before they can descend.”
“Makes strategic sense, but what if you get trapped inside?”
“The Goblins built escape passages in the waters below to send their gold and jewels to the mountains undetected, so we have means of escape.”
“Not that we would run from a fight,” one of the Giants behind Klara thumped their chest which garnered a rumble of laughter and cheers from the others.
“After the treaty was signed, Abadan thought we were diminished, but that’s what we wanted her to think, and when she resettled those Ogres, she learnt just how strong we were.”
“And that gave you the right to grind their bones to make your bread.”
“Not everything is how it seems.”
Once they reached the bottom of the mine, they crossed the bridge over the glistening water to the tallest and broadest tree Klara had ever seen.
A patch of green grass surrounded the tree as illuminous waters threatened the edges of grass. “Step inside,” Gratide’s purple complexion brightened, and Klara didn’t hesitate. The tree was just a glamour within a glamour. Inside, a great hall of dark wood housed hundreds of drinking and eating Giants. The long tables were crowded with dozens of loud and merry Giants. Gratide joined Klara through the glamour with the others before walking them through the laughter to a top table of four giants. Klara spotted the fifth empty seat.
“Eat and drink,” Gratide told them. “We have honoured guests this evening, make them feel welcome,” he addressed the room, and everyone went silent and stared at the group.
Klara grew nervous as the large eyes searched them.
Clusters of conversation broke out as Gratide took his seat at the head table. A few Giants moved from the table closest to Gratide to make way for Klara’s small group. The Giants kept to themselves none batting an eyelid in their direction. If they did, it was only to look in the opposite direction quickly. “Eat,” a Giant said at their table with a crooked smile.
Klara took a random assortment of vegetables from what was laid out in the middle of the table, some foods she didn’t recognize. “Think it’s safe to eat?” Wolfgang whispered and Klara watched as everyone ate from the collection of food.
“If it’s poisoned, they’d all be suffering,” Klara replied, and Wolfgang took a drumstick from some sort of bird. “How I wish I could taste again,” Arthur grumbled, staring at the enlarged fruits and meats, there was no reason for a dead Warlock to eat. Everything was so much bigger, even the cups took tw
o hands to hold. Wolfgang helped Lottie take a few sips from the small wooden cup as a Giant’s bowl was too much for her. Lottie hiccupped as she ate hungrily from the meat Wolfgang cut into small pieces.
Klara watched them, happy to see Lottie at ease. She looked for exits and checked if anyone seemed out of place. However, the Giants were enjoying themselves too much to care about the newcomers, and there were no other outsiders that she could see. Giants shoved the tables aside as some grabbed instruments. The music started up, and the dancing began. Least some folks in the Forest seem to have a good life, Klara smiled as young Giants danced hand in hand among their elders.
◆◆◆
The Giants danced and sang until the food and drink ran out. Gratide rose from the high table. He looked to Klara, and she knew they should follow him out.
“Arthur,” she said as he placed a cushion under a young Giant’s head who had fallen asleep on the bench beside them. Wolfgang immediately rose with Lottie.
“I figured the little one should get some sleep before dawn breaks,” Gratide said looking at Lottie yawning in Wolfgang’s arms.
“Thank you,” Wolfgang said, and Klara noticed his shoulders relax slightly.
“Once dawn breaks, we will escort you out. The back passage will lead you to the other side of the territory.”
Gratide led them down a passage that a Giant could barely fit through and opened the door to a small room or a room as small as a Giants room can be.
A bunk bed sat in the corner with a desk, a wardrobe and a basin. “It isn’t much, but it will do for the night,” Gratide said, and it was more than Klara could have expected on this journey. “It’s more than enough.”
Gratide left them to settle, and Arthur sat at the desk, looking at Klara, “you should get some rest.”
Arthur raised a hand before she could argue, “I’ll keep watch just in case.”
“You should take the bottom bunk with Lottie,” Klara said. It would be easier to manage Lottie if they needed to escape quickly. “If you’re sure,” Wolfgang said, and she nodded as Lottie struggled to climb up onto the bottom bunk.
“This will cost us time,” Wolfgang whispered as Arthur helped Lottie onto the bed, keeping her shoes on. Getting too comfortable was a risk they couldn’t take.
“If the back passage leads us out, we should still be a day ahead. I understand the risk more than anyone,” Klara replied, and he looked unsure.
“I’m going to take a look around, make sure we are in the clear,” Arthur said as he walked through the wall. Klara placed her foot on the ladder to the top bunk. “I wanted to say…” Klara hesitated on the step as Wolfgang spoke, but all he did was pull at the back of his neck. Silence past between them as his eyes settled on hers.
“Get some rest, we will have to run before we know it,” Klara said, and he nodded. Wolfgang moved beside Lottie, the large bunk giving them both plenty of room to stretch out. Klara sighed in relief as the thick mattress cushioned her body. She had barely had time to think about all that had happened before sleep took her.
◆◆◆
“Wake up, we need to move.” Arthur shook Klara awake, and she jumped off the top bunk as Gratide stood at the door.
“Crimson Guards are searching the mine. I need to grant them access to the bridge in order for them to get through the glamour in the tree. I will buy you some time, but I have to let them in, or they will become suspicious.”
“How many?” Klara asked.
“Half a dozen, they are only patrolling, so it’s nothing to be alarmed about,” Gratide said.
Wolfgang got Lottie to her feet. “Do we have to run again?” Lottie asked as Wolfgang put her unicorn bag on her back. “Yes, but only for a short while.”
“Are they accompanied by Hounds?” Klara asked Gratide as they walked the passageway.
“I can’t be sure, but I thought it best you leave before we find out.”
The torches dimmed as Gratide pulled a torch from the wall.
“Arthur, scout ahead, make sure nothing is waiting for us,” Klara ordered. Arthur disappeared, and she glanced at Wolfgang, “stay behind me with Lottie just in case there are Guards waiting at the end of the tunnel.”
They ran to keep up with Gratide’s stride until they saw the light at the end of the tunnel and Arthur waiting for them. Gratide dropped his torch and scanned the trees his height giving them an advantage. “Head west about a hundred feet, and you’ll come to the path,” Gratide said.
“Thanks again. If I can return the favour in the future, I will,” Klara said and meant it. The Giant returned through the tunnel without a second glance. The Guard would want to question Gratide, and his prolonged absence would raise eyebrows.
◆◆◆
Klara crouched, touching the ground as small stones dug into her palm. “What are you doing?” Wolfgang asked as she delayed them.
“Checking,” Klara said, closing her eyes and she heard the scrape of crawls.
“Hounds, not far off but they’re coming,” Klara said seeing them in her mind’s eye. “The others won’t be far behind. Cutting through the Giants’ Territory slowed us down, but the tunnel bought us some time. They must have found the port patrol at Tapped and used the path to catch up.”
Klara had felt the last of Lilith’s potion wear off sometime during the night. Since it would no longer conceal the use of her powers. The sight she had used to check the path would only help her enemies find them. Klara cursed herself for not thinking. She almost felt Lilith’s whip against her back, your gifts can both save and kill you.
Rifling through the bag, she found the second vial wrapped in red velvet cloth.
“We should move before they catch on,” Wolfgang said impatiently, and Klara hesitated, holding the vial to her lips. Suddenly she realized that all three of them would be tracked with her and the Hounds would find her scent mixed with theirs. Klara cursed herself for not going alone.
“Take some, it will cloak us from the Guards and Hounds,” Klara said, sipping before passing it on to Wolfgang.
“How do you know they are looking for all of us?” He asked.
“I don’t. I don’t even know if it will work on a Lycaon, but do you want to risk it?”
Wolfgang grimaced as he tasted the sickly thick potion. He forced it onto Lottie’s lips as she scrunched her nose at the putrid sweet smell. With a few drops left; Wolfgang went to give Arthur some.
“Don’t need it, can’t hunt the dead,” Arthur winked. His body had no smell to track and no heat to detect. Only the Vampire beetles could find him.
The ground became thick with mud, and the leaves brightened telling Klara they were getting closer to the River. Hopefully, what potion they had consumed would be enough to get them to Kharon.
“Lottie, you need to finish it,” Wolfgang ordered, and she recoiled from the smell. “I don’t want anymore, it smells like Grandma’s cooking,” Lottie whined, walking behind Klara.
“Do you want to go to the good place?” Klara asked. “Yes.”
“Well if you want to come with us, then you have to drink the yucky stuff,” Klara said, and Lottie shook her head. “You won’t leave me, if I don’t,” Lottie said, and Klara admired her stubborn streak.
Klara crouched in the mud until she was face to face with the wide-eyed child, “no we won’t leave you, but the Hounds will catch you and do you know what they do to little Lycaons?” Lottie backed away from Klara.
“That’s enough,” Wolfgang said.
“No! I’ll drink it, I don’t like the Hounds,” Lottie said as Klara sensed the disappointment coming from Arthur. Wolfgang moved between Klara and Lottie and thrust the vial under her nose.
“Now Lottie,” Wolfgang commanded, and Lottie took the vial between her lips and squeezed her eye shut as she swallowed the glowing potion. With the majority of the potion in her small frame, Lottie would have some extra time to get away if they were caught.
“Thank you.” Wolfgang handed Klar
a the empty vial, and she rewrapped it not wanting to leave any trace of them behind. Klara hesitated as she saw Wolfgang’s bloodshot eyes, his injury is weakening him.
“We need to run,” Klara told him, and he knew what she meant. “Arthur, can you hold Lottie?”
Arthur was the only one who wouldn’t be stalled by her weight. The dead don’t feel the weight of the living. He might look ancient, but the dead never tire. Wolfgang looked nervous, and Arthur placed a hand on his shoulder.
“I got her, just worry about your own strength,” Arthur said, and Wolfgang followed behind while Klara hung at the back. She removed her sweater and threw it into the bushes on the other side of the path. The smell of her sweat would be enough to send the Hounds in the wrong direction.
◆◆◆
Klara’s senses relaxed as they put a reasonable distance between themselves and the Hounds, but she could see Wolfgang growing paler by the minute. The trees began to thin, and the day became clearer without the shade of the giant leaves and branches. Klara heard the River waters rushing, as she noticed Wolfgang’s pace began to slow.
“Don’t make me carry you, if you give up on this last stretch your sister will never forgive you,” Klara said, and Wolfgang picked up the pace.
“It’s not going to be that easy to get rid of me, Witch!” Wolfgang replied.
Mossy rocks slowly replaced the tree stumps as they left the tree line for the riverbank.
Arthur looked over his shoulder at them as he went further ahead, “You know you are being out run by a dead Warlock and a child?” Arthur teased as Klara saw the rushing waters ahead.
“Just giving you a head start, old man,” Klara called when she heard the groan of Wolfgang hitting the ground. Lottie let out a cry and tried to get down from Arthur’s shoulders.
“Stay with Lottie,” Klara ordered, and Arthur remained where he was on the rocks.
Klara leapt over the boulder that was separating her from Wolfgang and lifted the edge of his shirt. The red veins had spread further with one vein running dangerously close to his heart.
Crowned A Traitor: A Hellish Fairytale Page 16
