The Path of Giants by B.T. Narro (best novels to read .txt) 📕

yank herself back onto the wooden floor built around the tree trunk, but she began the spell too late and soon started to fall.

A gust of wind scooped her up and flung her back into the small room, past the man with a concentrated look on his face as his hands guided her in the right direction. He wasn’t gentle as he threw her across the floor. She rolled until she struck the legs of the bed.

He approached her again, though there was no aggression in his eyes and his dagger was holstered. “I had to see what you are capable of, dark mage.” He grabbed her by her arms and pulled her up. Then he pushed her onto the mattress, letting go once she plopped down in a sitting position on the bed.

“Have gratitude,” he said. “Do you know exactly what would’ve happened if I hadn’t saved you from the goldenbacks?”

She shook her head nervously.

“They would’ve fed on you for a week, taking off your limbs one by one. You would’ve woken up many times throughout the process, but the poison would’ve kept you from moving. It is one of the worst deaths imaginable.”

Eden shuddered. “Thank you,” she said.

“You are indebted to me.”

Eyeing his dagger, she nodded.

He took it out of its holster and handed it to her, pommel first. “Take it if you are worried.”

Eden shrugged, then took his weapon and set it down next to her. She suddenly thought to check her pockets for the Induct stone. It was gone, but she could still feel the small one in her sock.

“The Induct stone will be destroyed,” the man said as he displayed it for Eden. “We don’t tolerate things like this in Fyrren. They are against the rules, and it is the rules that keep everything in order.”

“Is it Nijja who made the rules?” Eden asked.

His brow furrowed. “It seems like you have some sense. So why would you open the portal between the realms?”

She swallowed as she tried to figure out how to answer.

“I have trusted you with my weapon,” he continued through her silence. “And I saved you from certain death. Could it be possible you do not believe you are indebted to me?” he asked incredulously.

It wasn’t just possible, it was true. She hadn’t really felt that she was indebted to him. But hearing him say this, as if she had hurt him, made her change her mind. She didn’t want to be the selfish liar that she had come to expect of herself.

And she especially didn’t want to be doing anything for Valinox anymore. He surely knew how dangerous Fyrren was. He had probably figured she would be killed after she came in here, and he could finally get rid of her. She didn’t owe him anything.

“You’re right,” she said with a bowed head. “I am indebted to you. I will answer you honestly. I opened the portal because Valinox demanded it. I had no idea of the repercussions. I still don’t.”

“Valinox?” The man sounded surprised. “How could he demand anything of you when you are more powerful than him?”

“More powerful?” Now Eden was the one who sounded to be in disbelief. “Oh,” she realized. “When was the last time you heard news from Dorrinthal?”

“Why?” he asked. “What has changed in the last century?”

“Probably not much in the last ninety-eight years…but everything has changed in the final two.”

The man let out his breath. “I better send for Nijja.”

*****

Eden learned much about the man as they waited for Nijja to be reached by messenger. First of all, his name was spelled L i j, which Eden learned was pronounced like liege. Secondly, he could accurately be called a man, but he was not a human man. He was fae, as Eden had figured. He was a sorcerer of erto, mostly wind, and the things he could do with it would’ve made Michael jealous. Without sorcery, there was no way down from this little room high up in the trees. He had gotten Eden up here with wind alone.

He had only spoken briefly about himself. The rest of the time was taken up by Eden explaining everything that had happened between Rohaer and Lycast, and more importantly, how Valinox had come to be the most powerful being in Dorrinthal.

At stating that, Eden wondered if he might have the capability of killing Gourfist. The beast was humongous, but he didn’t seem to have powers of sorcery. It was mostly because of Gourfist that Valinox had held back, but even if a Valinox could kill him, there was another reason the demigod of mtalia had refrained from using his full power. Valinox feared retribution from his father, Basael.

Eden wondered how the fight would go down if Valinox battled against Gourfist with all his power. His dteria was probably strong enough to knock the beast on his back and send a dozen javelins into his belly before Gourfist could get back up. She could only hope there was something else about Gourfist that made all the demigods scared of him. Perhaps he had the same regenerative powers as the rest of the demigods, but even stronger.

Nijja arrived before Eden had told Lij everything. She hadn’t gotten to the most important part, her involvement with Valinox and her wish to free herself from it.

Nijja needed no introduction. Eden could feel her presence far below. It was her power Eden felt, like an offense to her mana.

“I will carry you down now,” Lij said. “You will use my back.”

Eden nodded, then got into position as Lij crouched down. It seemed easy for him to stand with her holding onto him. As if worried any delay would upset Nijja, he rushed out and jumped off. Eden gasped in his ear.

They fell quickly, the brightly colored forest becoming a blur. A powerful gust of wind blew upward, taking Eden’s breath away. The wind whipped around them as they slowly came down the rest of the way.

About a dozen fae stood behind Nijja,