The Path of Giants

by B. T. Narro

  “I’m just curious, my lord, but why not send him away?”

  “He is just one man, Jon,” Whitley lectured. “I have you and my daughter to keep all of us safe, as well as plenty of armed guards at my disposal. He is not a threat, but he is family. You might not understand, but the Yorns always keep our hearts open for family. I will listen to what he has to say, so long as an apology comes.” Then he muttered quietly, “I have my doubts.”

  There was a knock on the door. The manservant standing nearby looked over his shoulder. Whitley gave a nod, and the servant opened the door.

  Endell was standing near his horse, wearing a grimace. “You couldn’t have someone come to meet me for my animal, cousin? Here.” He handed the reins to the servant in front of him.

  The servant looked over his shoulder again.

  “Take Endell’s horse to the stables,” Whitley said. “I apologize for that,” he then told Endell. “Come in. We have supper prepared for you.”

  “That’s better.” Endell walked in, leaving footprints of mud behind him.

  Mora gasped as she noticed it.

  Endell looked down and appeared shocked, though I believed it to be an act. “Oh, sorry about that m’lady.” He sat on the cushioned bench and pulled off each boot with a grunt. The force of him taking them off flung them out of his hands. They thudded across the wooden floor. “I’m starving. What are we having?” He started walking past everyone in his white socks.

  “Now hold on.” Whitley stood in his path with his palm up. “You come without notice, bringing mud in with you, and you don’t even greet us properly. I have half a mind to ask you to leave if you don’t apologize.”

  Endell calmly looked into his cousin’s eyes. After a long while, he lowered his head, slightly. “My lord, I apologize. You know what traveling does to me. Besides, my reason for being here makes it difficult for me to behave like a proper gentleman.”

  “And what reason is that?” Whitley asked.

  Endell had a few breaths as if the words were difficult to get out. “To apologize and make amends.”

  Whitley stared at Endell for some time before his head jerked back. “Oh. You’re serious?”

  “Yes, I fostered a life I’m not proud of. I have come here to admit it, and to say that Nykal removing me as head guard was the best thing that’s ever happened to me. It has given me time to reflect. First and foremost, I must apologize to you, cousin. Only after I have your blessing can I start to make it right. I don’t expect to receive it in one night, but I have to start somewhere. I didn’t write to you because I knew I wouldn’t be accepted. You would have to see my face as you heard the words come from my mouth.” He paused. “I fucked up.”

  Mora gasped again.

  “My apologies, m’lady, but sometimes a man has to swear to get his point across. I will try to keep my words clean for the sake of you and your daughter. Kataleya, I have heard wonderful things about you. You’re a talented water mage now, providing water to almost all of Lycast.”

  “Well, that’s an exaggeration,” she corrected. “Jon and I only reached a small portion of the people in need.”

  “And humble as always, I see.” He lowered his head.

  She gave a small curtsy.

  “You must be 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 Whitley would mention me by name. There was just no reason for it. That left only one of the dark mages piecing it together and informing Endell.

  Endell asked, “Are you saying you made no accusation against me?”

  I was already too deep into this. I wasn’t going to try to get myself out yet. “I did not,” I lied. “Why did you think I did?”

  If he couldn’t tell me it was the king, Leon, or Barrett who had informed him, then it had to have been a dark mage. That would be more proof than I needed to confirm that he in fact had been working with them and probably still was. I knew that we’d defeated many of them, but many more got away. They had last been seen walking through Curdith Forest on the way to Rohaer, but it wasn’t as if Nykal could have his men follow them all the way there. These sorcerers were too dangerous to watch. Nykal’s scouts would be found and killed. That meant these dark mages could’ve turned around at any point and come back. They probably had. They clearly wished to weaken us before Rohaer could march on Lycast.

  Endell stared at me for a while. Normally, I wasn’t a good liar because I was always afraid I would be caught. But this situation was different. I didn’t care if Endell thought I was lying. Go ahead, I thought. Accusing me wasn’t going to get him anywhere.

  Eventually he started to laugh without humor. Then he shook his head. “All the lies. Aren’t all of you tired of it? I am. I think it’s time we be honest with each other.”

  Whitley raised his voice. “Yes, and I will start. It’s clear to me that you’ve never grown up, Endell. You’ve done nothing but complain since we were kids, and you do nothing but complain as an adult.” He slammed his fist into his other hand. “Now is the time to act. Dispel these rumors by signing a magical contract pledging your oath to fight with us against dteria. Only then will I and the other nobles accept your apology and know that you mean to help us rather than hinder us, as you clearly have been doing for many years.”

  Endell raised his voice to match Whitley’s level. “I would’ve gladly signed such a contract, but his majesty has not offered.”

  “You could’ve traveled to the castle and asked his majesty whenever you pleased!”

  “That is groveling! Would you grovel after you had been falsely accused of helping dark mages extort the good people of Newhaven? No, you wouldn’t. You would demand an apology, but I’m not demanding anything. Before I offer any help, I expect an apology and a formal request. Only then will I sign any contract he wishes.”

  Whitley put up his hand as he took a breath. “Let us not succumb to anger. Do you mean what you say? You have never helped Cason or the dark mages?”

  “My lord, I have not.”

  Whitley seemed shocked.

  “I am choosing to be the honorable one,” Endell said. “I will kneel before you, the king, and anyone else his majesty tells me to kneel before if that’s what it takes to prove my loyalty. But I do want an apology from his majesty for acting on false accusations.”

  Lines formed across Whitley’s face as if he was pained by the statement. “The king is not an arrogant man. I’m sure he will request your help, but the apology you want might not come until you prove yourself again. You may not have been working with the dark mages, but let’s all be honest here. I’m sure not every accusation about your corruption was baseless. You have always sought power.”

  “No more than you.”

  Whitley folded his arms.

  Endell let out a sigh. “I apologize, my lord. It is difficult to change, but I am trying. I do hope that you see that.”

  “Yes, and I appreciate your efforts. Do we have a plan?”

  Endell lifted his glass. “To the future of Lycast, and the part I will play in it.”

  We all raised our glasses to join him. “To the future of Lycast,” we echoed.

  I supposed that meant we were going to have to trust Endell now. I wondered what the chances were that he really had never worked with dark mages. The king had admitted that there were only accusations of it, no proof. I supposed it was possible, but it seemed unlikely given the beneficial change to the capital that had occurred when Endell was replaced with Byron Lawson. If Endell had really been putting in an effort to hamper the dark mages, the city wouldn’t have been in such bad shape when Byron was appointed head guard.

  There was one possible explanation for that, however, but it didn’t seem to fit Endell’s character. If Endell was lazy or didn’t care about his job, then many dark mages could’ve made a home in Newhaven and taken advantage of the other people living there.

  No, I didn’t trust him, though I would have to start trying to if he signed a contract agreeing to fight with us against the dark mages. From what I knew, there was no way to go against the contract without destroying it through the use of a deninger, and Barrett would know when his contract was dissolved. Endell knew battle, I had heard Barrett tell the king. He was a commander and a powerful enemy if we were to make him one.

  But I had a feeling that it didn’t matter what we wanted to make out of him. He was who he was.

  “Now I think it’s time I apologize,” Endell said.

  “Please do,” Whitley replied.

  “I know I was difficult when we were children. I blame myself for us growing apart.”

  Whitley wouldn’t take his eyes off Endell, looking as if he was in disbelief. But Endell was waiting for Whitley to reply.

  He seemed speechless. “I never thought I would hear you say that.”

  “It’s the truth, but it’s not all of it. You guessed correctly that Oquin sent me down the path of corruption. I don’t blame him, though. I could’ve done something to stop it, yet I never did. I know I have to make amends for the actions I took, and I believe his majesty is the man who will guide me to redemption. I am an asset, my lord, and I’m sure his majesty knows that as well. There’s no one better than me at military strategy. If all I have to do is sign a contract to regain the trust of the king, that is a small price to pay.”

  “Very well. You will ride back with Jon in the morning.”

  I thought about voicing a complaint, but Whitley was already raising his glass.

  “This calls for another toast. To new beginnings.”

  “To new beginnings,” we all echoed.

  I seemed to be the only one who still felt the old tension as everyone else held a little smile.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  By the time we finished the meal, I felt like I was the only one who still didn’t trust Endell. I didn’t know if it was because Endell was family to them, or if I really didn’t know him as well as I thought I did, but I didn’t want to believe he had changed. I thought it was too dangerous to trust him.

  On the other hand, if we had Endell’s loyalty, he could be useful. As far as I knew, the king didn’t have a mil
itary strategist who knew the dark mages like Endell did. Time and time again, my peers and I had faced danger because we weren’t prepared enough. Leon was a fine sorcerer and a decent instructor, but I couldn’t tell how much he knew of battle and warfare. Upon meeting the king, I had figured Nykal was the most knowledgeable on those subjects, but over time I had begun to see that even he had trouble figuring out the right approach to stopping Cason and the dark mages.

  The Yorns didn’t want to believe Endell only because he was family. It would also be a relief to have him on our side. That, I understood.

  I didn’t like the idea that I would be riding with him, however. Not without someone else with us. I didn’t care who Whitley Yorn was. He couldn’t command me to take Endell to the castle alone, if that’s what he was thinking. I’m sure the king would understand.

  “How about a toke out in the garden?” Endell proposed to Whitley.

  “A splendid idea.”

  No, it isn’t. I tried to think of an excuse to join them. I wanted to be out there in case Endell tried something, but as it turned out, I didn’t have to say a word.

  “Jon, I invite you to join us as well,” Endell said. “We should get to know each other better before we ride to the castle.”

  I didn’t care how well I got to know him; I still wasn’t going to be doing that. “Thank you. I gladly accept the invitation.”

  Whitley didn’t seem too pleased about me coming with them, but I didn’t care.