The Path of Giants by B.T. Narro (year 7 reading list .TXT) 📗

Jon, the healer I’ve heard about,” Endell said as he offered his hand. “I have very much looked forward to meeting you.”

Strangely, it sounded to be the most genuine thing he had mentioned thus far.

Endell had a beige cloak, the shoulders lined with fur. His tunic was a regal red.

He no doubt had been born with more money than I had made in all my life. Endell had dark hair and the face of someone who didn’t look like he shied away from confrontation, with a strong chin and the kind of bulge of a square forehead that seemed to only show up on people who let anger get the better of them.

I shook the man’s hand without knowing what to say. I still didn’t trust him.

“Bit of an attitude, this one,” Endell commented to Whitley.

“He’s from Bhode. Let him be.” He spoke as if the place I came from dictated everything there was to know about me. I was actually more insulted by Whitley’s comment than Endell’s.

“How was the trip here?” Whitley asked as all of us made our way to the dining room.

“Long. But worth it. We have much to discuss.”

Whitley didn’t give a reply.

We walked into the dining room and Whitley took his seat at the head of the table. Endell sat at the other side. I sat beside Kataleya on one of the long sides of the rectangular table, her mother on the other.

A number of servants wheeled in tables with covered plates. We remained quiet as they bustled about and set everyone’s food before them. I wasn’t exactly hungry after the feast of a lunch I’d had, but I did appreciate the efforts that the chefs must’ve put into this meal. There was braised boar meat, wild rice, golden potatoes, sliced beets, and a vegetable soup on the side. I was certain everyone would be unable to finish what was laid before them, especially given the tense atmosphere. I doubted appetites were in large supply tonight.

“You’re not saying much, cousin,” Endell said as he started cutting his meat aggressively.

“You’re the one who came here to speak to me.”

“I have apologized. I want you to accept my apology.”

“I can’t accept anything until I know specifically what you are sorry for.”

Endell chewed gluttonously while cutting up another piece. He glanced up at me and didn’t seem to appreciate my rapt attention. Not wanting to make the situation worse, I decided to focus on my plate for a while.

“Before I get into that,” Endell said, “I want to know something. By now, you must know that everyone in my town has heard of this great healer who sits at your table.”

“Yes, I assume that must be true.”

“Then why is it that there is no plan for him to visit my town?”

“I don’t know,” Whitley answered. “It was the king who set the route for Jon and my daughter.”

Kataleya spoke up. “Kamber was just too far,” she said. “I’m sure we would’ve made it there otherwise.”

“It’s too far? That’s it?” Endell asked. “And now my people will be deprived of water and healing?”

“Did you come here just to argue or to really apologize?” Whitley wasn’t touching his food. “I don’t think I’ve ever received an apology from you that really meant something. I was hoping that would change today, but I’m beginning to question your intentions behind coming here.”

Endell set down his utensils, swallowed hard, then dabbed his mouth with his napkin. I thought for a moment that he might say something nice.

“I’m sorry. If that is how it must be, then that is what I will tell my people. You’re right that most of my apologies to you while we were growing up were disingenuous, but I have come here to change things.”

He went back to cutting another bite of meat. Whitley gave a sigh and finally started on his own plate.

“Mm,” Endell said as he took another bite. “This boar is delicious. You eat very well here in Livea, don’t you cousin?”

“I’m sure you eat just as well in Kamber,” Whitley commented.

“I’m not so sure.” He leaned back and put his hands on his flat stomach. “No one would assume that by looking at me. Now that gut of yours, on the other hand—”

Mora threw her napkin on the table, clearly offended on her husband’s behalf.

“It’s all right,” Whitley told her quickly.

Slowly, she retrieved her napkin and put it on her lap, rancor never leaving her face. “He insults you,” she said quietly. “I think he came here only to do that.”

“It’s not much of an insult,” Whitley said. “He’s right.” He addressed his cousin, “I have lost some of my physical prowess, but my service to the king is not in combat. What do you intend to do for his majesty these days, Endell? You must know that he wants to see proof that you do not side with our enemies.”

“And yet he has not requested anything from me to prove this. In fact, not a single noble has spoken to me for quite some time, not even through a letter.”

“It was your responsibility to reach out to us first,” Whitley explained. He sounded to be holding back anger. “There were many accusations made against you.”

“Yes, but all of them were lies.”

Endell didn’t seem to be putting much effort into making his statement convincing.

He took a few more bites of food, audibly enjoying it like before.

“Say, Jon Oklar,” he addressed me casually. “Weren’t you the one who made the final accusation against me that cost me my job?”

I had mentally prepared for this upon hearing that he was coming here. I had come up with a little test.

“Now why would you think that?” I asked, feigning confusion.

The only people who knew about my accusation were the king, Leon, and Barrett. Perhaps Whitley had been told that it was me who brought his cousin’s possible corruption to light, but I doubted that Whitley had spoken with his cousin. And even if he had, it seemed very unlikely