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

“You as well,” I said.

“Who is this?” she asked a little snidely as she looked at Hadley.

I let the witch introduce herself. “Hadley Eshell.” She gave a practiced curtsy. She probably recognized the princess by her extravagant green dress.

“Is your father around?” I asked Callie.

“Yes, in the keep. He needs to speak with you immediately.”

I started in that direction, but Callie put up her hand to stop Hadley. “I’m not sure you’re allowed.”

“It’s fine,” I said. “The king needs to meet her as well.”

“Why? Who is she?” The princess’ childish tone reminded me that she was four years younger than me, though she did have a birthday coming up. I wondered if she expected me to get anything for her. I’d have to worry about that a little later, when things calmed down.

“I’m here to help,” Hadley said.

Callie’s eyes widened. “Wait, is she Remi’s witch?”

“I don’t belong to Remi,” Hadley said. “But yes, I am that witch.”

Callie appeared nervous as she put me in between her and Hadley. “You brought her here without chains or anything?”

“She has come voluntarily, princess. She even found me before I found her.”

“Then she could mean to do harm.”

“Callie,” I said as I looked into her eyes until I held her gaze. “I’ve gotten to know her well. She’s on our side.”

Callie didn’t seem to believe me, looking past me at Hadley suspiciously.

“Callie!” the king called from the high window of the keep. “Don’t delay Jon any longer.”

The princess lowered her head as if embarrassed and stepped out of our way.

I hastily made my way into the keep and up the stairs, with Hadley close behind. I gave a few looks over my shoulder as we made our way up. She didn’t seem interested in the inner workings of the keep, not even flashing a glance at the masterful paintings and extravagant banners adorning the walls.

“Is the castle of Rohaer like this one?” I asked.

“It’s much bigger,” she said.

That was probably why.

The king’s councilman, Barrett, met us in the hall of the third floor. “Kataleya told us the two of you were coming,” he said. “Hadley, follow me to speak with his majesty.”

I took the rear as I followed behind them. Hadley didn’t appear the least bit nervous as Barrett led her into the room designated as the throne room, though the only furniture there was a long table. There were six people in the seats, most of whom I didn’t recognize except for Kataleya.

She and the king were hovered over a map at the end of the table, but the king stopped whatever he was saying as we entered. He motioned for Hadley to come to him.

Kataleya approached me at the same time. She gestured for me to leave with her.

I looked over my shoulder at Hadley before I was out the door. She was curtsying in front of the king. “Your majesty.”

“So you’re the witch…”

I couldn’t hear anything more as Kataleya took me out into the hall.

“Follow me, Jon.” There was urgency in her tone.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing dire, you can relax. We just need you to heal a few sorcerers who Leon could not.”

“Everyone else is still in Koluk?”

“They are.”

“Catch me up?”

She nodded as we hurried down the stairs of the keep. “The king sent out tax collectors. His scouts never found Cason’s men who escaped with Valinox and his coin, so he has taken measures to ensure the taxes collected from the people are returned safely. I’m talking about guards, but their absence has left Koluk and the castle somewhat vulnerable. Leon could use more support, but the king just doesn’t have it.”

“The Thieves’ Guild is putting up that much of a fight?”

“I wouldn’t say a fight. They are resorting to threats and traps in hopes of scaring Leon and the other sorcerers away. But Jennava knows them, and she knows the city. They will have to give up eventually as more of them are caught.”

It sounded frustrating for my peers. It also sounded like it was where I should be as soon as I was done healing whoever needed my help.

“What happened with the krepps?” I asked.

“Everything went very well.”

I had missed the most recent visit from the krepps. The first time Grufaeragar had brought the other krepps—when they had finished off Cason as a help to me—most of the trade goods they had brought with them were not anything the king was interested in. All of us were disappointed, to say the least. In one whole barrel was nothing but rocks. Another contained dirt. The krepps had claimed that dirt and rocks from Hammashar were honorable, because they were kreppen.

It had been difficult for the king to deny the request for trade without dishonoring them. But the krepps had brought one barrel full of silver. It was quite a shock to see them open it after the other two contained dirt and rocks.

In exchange for the silver, the king had offered an assortment of silk and pillows, something the krepps seemed incapable of creating on their own. But there were a whole mess of other things the krepps were interested in that the king wouldn’t give up for rocks and dirt.

They hadn’t stayed for long. There wasn’t much room for all of them in the castle. They said they would be coming back, but their return trip happened while I was away.

“The krepps brought a material Souriff had mentioned to the king,” Kataleya explained. “It’s called Valaer steel. The krepps aren’t able to melt it, so it isn’t valuable to them.”

“Valaer steel?”

“Yes, I’ve heard legends of it. There’s no metal sturdier, but that makes it problematic. Even the king is unable to find a blacksmith who can melt it now that we have it in our possession. The king was hoping Charlie might be able to melt it with his mtalia, but even he is incapable of changing its state from solid to liquid. There is one last hope. There is one blacksmith who is known to