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

but I had a more important question to ask. “Are you saying that Valinox is stronger than Gourfist?”

“In regard to resisting dteria, yes.”

“Jon Oklar!” a woman yelled from somewhere outside the tavern. Her powerful voice was familiar.

I gasped as I realized who it was.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

I rushed outside. Souriff was zipping across the sky as she called out.

“Jon Oklar!”

“I’m here,” I shouted.

She made a quick rotation in the air, her control of dvinia incredible. She flew down and landed before me. Souriff was a tall woman, with luminous blonde hair and sky-blue eyes. There wasn’t a blemish on her face. She was built with muscle, though still lithe and shapely. Most of the times I saw her, she opted for robes that weren’t loose or hanging. Now, she had on a sleeveless tunic, close-fitting and open at her collarbone.

“What’s happening here? I felt my brother.”

“He took four of our sorcerers into the forest,” I explained. “He’s threatening their lives if we don’t let him have Koluk.”

“How could you let him take them?”

I scoffed accidentally, too surprised by her accusation to keep it in. “What do you mean let him?” I blurted.

Leon answered from behind me as the rest of my peers arrived. “What the hell are we supposed to do against an invisible demigod?” he asked bitterly.

A vertical line formed between Souriff’s eyebrows. “You’re saying Valinox was invisible?”

“The entire time!” Leon answered.

Souriff looked away as she seemed to be in thought. Her mouth fell open. “He must’ve taken Nijja’s stone! I thought I felt the rift open to Fyrren. Now I’m sure if it.”

“What is this stone?” Leon asked.

“It will maintain any spell of ordia that the holder casts.”

“Such a thing exists?” Leon sounded more angry than curious. “How could Nijja be so stupid?”

“That stone is one of my sister’s vices. It’s not important right now. What is your plan to retrieve your sorcerers? I will join you and attempt to take Nijja’s stone from my brother.”

“Well, about that.” The confidence was gone from Leon’s voice. “We need some assistance.”

“I already told you I would help.”

“Not just from you. There’s a whole mess of soldiers, sorcerers, and probably a bunch of traps. Not all of us can fly, you know. We need to get word to…” He waved his hand down at Souriff. “It will require too much explanation. Just leave it to us.”

“Leon,” Remi said as she pointed at a group of five people who were briskly walking toward us.

Besides this group, there were many citizens of Koluk standing back to watch, most sharing words of amazement as they pointed nervously at Souriff. But there was obvious fear in many of their gazes.

The small group approaching us was different. There was purpose behind their movement as they came toward us at a quick pace, a woman at the front. She looked capable, a bow on her back and a quiver attached to her belt. There were four men behind her, none of them with a threatening look. They were thin, not particularly tall, but they moved with the same graceful confidence as if they thought themselves to be important.

Jennava muttered, “My word, I think that’s Syrah Fielder.”

“Who?” Leon asked.

“Her husband was the head of the Thieves’ Guild before Cason killed him. I heard she had taken control, but that was years ago. We were friends before that. I thought she’d left the city because I hadn’t heard anything about her for a long time.”

“Is she in charge now?” Leon asked.

Souriff complained, “These are thieves you are wasting time with?”

“It’s difficult to explain,” Jennava said as she broke out from my group. “I’m not sure if you remember me, Syrah—”

“Jennava,” Syrah interrupted. “Of course I do. You’re one of the reasons we haven’t resorted to dirtier tactics. You must think you have a very good reason to get rid of us if you’re putting up with this dolt.” She gestured at Leon.

“Who are you to call me a dolt?” Leon challenged.

“Don’t you recognize these men behind me?” Syrah said. “You spoke to two of them personally.”

Leon’s neck craned as he leaned forward. “Airinold’s taint.” He stomped toward them as he pointed. “You liars. The thieves have been hiding out in your pubs this whole time?”

“Some,” Syrah answered for them.

“Wait,” Remi interjected. “When were you visiting pubs, Leon?”

“All the time,” Syrah said.

Remi showed her anger in a glare.

“I needed some way to get out my frustration,” Leon insisted. “You didn’t want me yelling at you, did you?”

“You yell all the time!” Remi retorted.

“And I would’ve yelled even more without a few ales in me!”

“I don’t care anymore. I’m done.”

A quick silence passed.

“What do you mean you’re done?” Leon asked.

“I’m done listening to you,” Remi elaborated. “Jennava, what’s the plan?”

Leon’s mouth fell open. “Remi…” But he didn’t go on.

Jennava showed him an apologetic look before turning to Syrah. “I need to know something before we continue. Why did you end up coming here now, Syrah?”

“We’ve known you’ve been staying at the Groovewater for some time now. We weren’t planning on meeting face to face, but our opinion changed this morning when we witnessed your sorcerers flying off into the forest, screaming. Needless to say, we were a bit confused. After some investigating, we found troops gathered in the woods. They’re from Rohaer, I presume?”

“Yes,” Leon said.

“Excuse me,” Syrah scolded. “I’d rather speak with Jennava.”

“Leon and I are in agreement,” Jennava explained as Leon smirked and folded his arms.

Syrah Fielder looked to be in her forties, if I had to take a guess. It didn’t seem as if the years were kind to her, deep wrinkles branching out from the corners of her eyes. She had gray hair, thin and short. It was her eyes that spoke of her capability, dark and brimming with determination.

“I don’t believe you, Jenna,” Syrah said. “You wouldn’t order the death of Three Tooth. Only he would.” She gestured at Leon.

“I didn’t order the death of anyone,” Leon argued. “I mean, yeah, I killed him, but he