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

The cold wind picked up, and I suddenly noticed the holes Eden had caused in my shirt. Not wanting to feel the cold breeze the rest of the way, I told Hadley to hold on.

I got off my horse to search through my bag for another shirt. I wasn’t sure if Hadley was watching as I removed the torn one. I figured it wouldn’t hurt to check, especially given the pride I had in the shape of my torso. I caught her looking, but she glanced away when our gazes met.

I put my new shirt on, then got back on my mount.

“I didn’t like the feeling of the wind through the holes.”

“Mmhmm,” she said as if she didn’t believe me.

“So you have heard of Gourfist.” I wanted to get the conversation back on track.

“He’s not just a legend in Rohaer. His existence is a fact because there have been many sightings.”

“Does that mean he’s awake now?”

“I’m not sure. Perhaps he just awoke for a moment and went back to sleep. Time will tell.”

There was a silence as we looked at the distant expanse of trees. Curdith Forest was huge, many miles across. Gourfist was rumored to be sleeping at the center, where dteria changed the creatures of the forest most severely. I had faced one of them, a large cat called a cantar, and that wasn’t too far from the border of the forest. I couldn’t imagine what kind of beasts roamed near the center.

“So that was Eden?” Hadley asked.

“It was.”

“Why has she chosen Valinox’s side in this?”

“I don’t know.” It wasn’t as if any of us had a chance to speak to her after she nearly killed Remi.

I was more curious about something else. Had Eden missed my vital areas on purpose? I wouldn’t forget her apologetic look anytime soon. It was the only reason I couldn’t kill her when I had the chance. It didn’t seem like Hadley had seen that. She must’ve been too focused on jumping on Valinox’s back during that time.

I realized that I could keep what I’d seen to myself, and no one would know of Eden’s reluctance. That begged the question, however, of what I should tell people when they asked what happened here. Should people know that Eden seemed unwilling to kill me? That might hurt us in the long run. It all depended on Eden’s intentions going forward.

Attempting to have her rejoin us seemed like it would cause more problems than it could ever help us. Besides, she had done this to herself.

But then why did it feel like it would be difficult to keep her reluctance to myself? I supposed because it was like lying, and that lie could very well cause Eden to lose her life.

But wasn’t that what she deserved?

Ugh, I was so confused.

I decided not to worry about it for now. “You did well,” I told Hadley. “You’re not such a coward after all.”

She laughed. “I guess not.”

We spent the rest of the short trip speaking about Eden, the other sorcerers, and eventually Gourfist and the legends surrounding him. I didn’t divulge anything that might make Eden possibly appear innocent, still unsure what was right.

By the end of the conversation, Hadley knew a lot more about the sorcerers she would soon meet, and I had found out that the people of Rohaer had heard the same legends as we had, in regard to Gourfist and the demigods.

Before we reached the castle, we had to get past the wall surrounding the capital. There were always two guards watching, questioning anyone suspicious who might enter. I was certain they had been given Hadley’s description. That was probably why they stared at her as we approached on our horses. Fortunately, they knew me. They trusted that I had the witch under control and let me go through without issue.

“How long have all of you been sorcerers for the king?” Hadley asked me as we rode slowly through the busy capital streets.

“Less than a year,” I said. It had actually been much shorter than a year, but I didn’t want that detail to undermine the clout I had earned and how much all of us had improved.

She didn’t seem too amazed by the castle as we came up to its outer wall. I had figured she’d seen it plenty of times over the last two years while she had worked in the capital as a grocer. The drawbridge was already down, a couple of guards outside. Just like the ones at the city wall, they recognized me and let me through without issue.

Hadley didn’t seem nervous as we dismounted and gave our horses to the stablemaster. I found a look of purpose in her eyes, instead, as she gazed ahead and waited for the portcullis to rise. It reminded me of the first time I had come here. Although more impressed by the castle than she was, I never lost sight of my cause. I had come to learn about sorcery, knowing there was more I could do with my life if I had some power. I never doubted that I was making the right choice.

The king didn’t employ the same number of guards as he had during the height of Cason’s power. Now that the warlock was dead, the castle seemed to be secure without as many armed men around, especially if my friends had returned.

I noticed the usual bustle of castle workers moving about the courtyard. I didn’t know if the king told them not to stare, or if they were just perpetually busy, but they always seemed focused on whatever task took them from place to place.

I recognized the princess as she emerged from the keep and walked briskly toward me with a grin on her face. I bowed, and she stopped to curtsy for the briefest moment before she hurried toward me again.

As soon as she was close, she threw her arms around me in a hug. “It’s good