Chapter 57

Baited Tala ran farther forward than any of the others in the squad, much farther then she should have. Soon she found herself at the back corner of an officer’s tent. She poured out half the oil in her flask before she reached into a pouch she carried at her hip for her flint and tinder. Before she could light the fire, there were heavy footsteps behind her.

As she turned, she felt a breeze brush against her face. Before she even saw it, she felt the large knuckles of a massive hand crack against her cheek. The force knocked her helmet off and spun her body around twice. She landed on her back, her legs spread toward her attacker. Dazed, through bleary, tear-filled eyes, she could see the silhouette of a giant man.

“Is that the best you can do, you big idiot?” she managed to say before she spat blood.

Tala had never seen a giant before and was shocked. He stood twice the size of a normal man and his beard hung halfway to his chest and was tied with a frayed twine in a crude knot.

He must weigh as much as three horses, Tala thought when she saw how deep his feet had sunk into the wet, soft ground. And smells as bad as three dead ones…

As the giant cracked the knuckles of his huge right hand, Tala’s eyes centered on his black-toothed grin.

“Let me show you my best, you miserable—”

The giant never finished his words. Tala watched as the gleaming point of a sword emerged from his gut. The tip of the blade withdrew suddenly, and Tala’s gaze jumped to the giant’s bewildered face. It seemed he was just as shocked as she was. The pain hasn’t even registered on his face.

Before the giant could face his attacker, Tala caught a glimpse of another flash of light and then saw the man whose weapon produced it.

“Karn…” she wanted to cry when she saw him.

Karn jumped from behind the giant and, with one swing of his sword, lopped off the big man’s head.

“Are you hurt?” Karn inquired as he sidestepped the giant’s falling body.

He offered her his hand as he glanced around for any onlookers. When she moved her hand from her mouth, she revealed the seriousness of the wound. I’m hurt worse than I feel—she could see it in his eyes. Her bottom lip was split open, swollen and bloodied. It felt like she had been kicked by a horse.

“You cut that giant’s head off,” Tala mumbled through the pain. “He was going to—”

“I did what I had to.” Karn’s voice was harsh, yet his actions were kind. “I never should’ve brought you.” He leaned in to examine Tala’s lip.

Tala tried to smile past her injury. “It’s amazing what a woman can convince a man to do for her after a night filled with passionate lovemaking.”

Karn looked from side to side, then lit the fire where Tala had spilled out her oil. “We need to do what we came here for, and then get the hell out of here.”

He retrieved the helmet she had worn earlier and showed it to her; it was dented and cracked down the side. How did I survive that? It looks like a mace struck it.

Karn shook his head in disbelief. “I’m shocked that the giant didn’t knock your head clean off your body. You’re a lucky girl,” he said as he tucked her hair into the ruined helmet.

“I am,” she said as she touched his face. “We best go.”

“Yes, we best.”

Tala nodded before she sprinted off.

He’s ready. I can see it in his eyes now—in his soul.