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

to help. I couldn’t believe it. It was a good thing she made it outside the wall when she did. She took a feather from the ground—many had come off of Gourfist during his fight with Jon—and she cursed the massive beast. He went blind! There were clouds in front of his eyes. Jon flew up and drove a spear into Gourfist’s head, but he couldn’t seem to get it deep enough to kill the beast. Suddenly, everything seemed grim when Jon was out of spears, but Souriff landed in front of him. She said, ‘Looking for me, brother?’ Then she took off, and Gourfist chased her back over Curdith Forest until we couldn’t see either of them anymore. It was like the tales of legends.”

I was a little surprised no one had interrupted Charlie’s regaling, but it was even more shocking to see an expression on Leon’s face I wasn’t sure I had seen before. His green eyes were wide. His square jaw hung open. He seemed, not just surprised, but scared from what he’d just heard.

“Airinold’s taint, Jon. Even I wouldn’t pick a fight with Gourfist. You know that beast cannot die, right?”

I was glad I hadn’t heard that before going out to face him. “We had just watched him destroy homes and viciously kill a child,” I said. “I didn’t think I had much of a choice. I had to do something.”

“He would’ve killed you if it wasn’t for Souriff. It might’ve taken some time, but he would’ve done it eventually. I don’t want you thinking you can face him again if he comes back.” Then he asked Charlie, “Does the king have any idea why Gourfist was awakened?”

“None so far.”

“I think we all will soon enough, and I’d wager it has something to do with this army in the forest.”

I was still confused about something that had not been answered. “I know the king needs the support and taxes of the people here in Koluk, but is there another group of people he can use to get rid of the thieves? I feel like we should be doing something more important.”

“Like what, Jon?” Leon asked mockingly. “You want to run into the forest and throw your life away to the traitor, Endell Gesh? I’m sure that’s exactly what he wants.”

“I don’t know what, but something. It doesn’t seem like the time we spend here is amounting to anything.”

“It has, and it will,” Leon said as he waved the king’s open envelope. “Just trust me and find out what you can today. More than ever, we need to know where the thieves are hiding. Like you said, this has gone on long enough. It’s time to end it. If the blacksmith has no leads, just keep him happy by making sure no one steals from him for a little while longer. We need the support of many people here, especially him and the woodsmen. Koluk is the most vulnerable city in Lycast, being so close to Curdith Forest. We have to be able to defend it, or it will be taken and used to fortify our enemy’s army. Then there will be no hope of stopping them from taking the capital. The tax collectors are out getting coin from the people of Lycast, and an army is in training thanks to the Yorns and the Chespars. There is much you don’t know about what’s happening, but your job isn’t to know. It’s to do as you’re told. We could spend all night discussing this, or you could do something to actually help. Do you understand now?”

I nodded. I was glad to hear that there were many things happening to help protect Lycast that I hadn’t known about. I looked at Kataleya. At her mansion, she had mentioned how her family and the Chespars could maintain an army, but I didn’t know that they were actually training one.

She still looked at me as if she had something she very much wanted to tell me, her mouth opening without words coming out.

“It’s getting late,” Jennava said. “All of you go now. We need a location as soon as possible of someone important in the Thieves’ Guild.”

CHAPTER TWENTY

As Remi led me through the city, we both kept an eye out for anything suspicious. Koluk seemed to be even more crowded than the capital, the streets busy with people. There were more people who had visible dirt on their clothes than those without. I imagined that this was a place where people worked hard. So was the capital, but something about Koluk seemed very different. It took some time for me to figure out what it was.

There was a feeling of rivalry every time I walked through the capital streets. It was like there was a finite amount of coin and everyone knew this, and they were all in competition with each other to get it. Shopkeepers aggressively pursued customers with loud voices and offering “great deals.” In Koluk, there was less chatter, fewer interactions, and no one trying to sell anything to people walking down the street. Most people seemed like they wanted to be left alone, and the shopkeepers seemed to know this. I had no idea what these people had witnessed, with Cason and so many dark mages controlling the city, but it appeared to have left a mark on them.

“Jon?” Remi asked with a squeak of her voice.

“Yeah?”

“Um…did something happen with Kataleya while you two were away?”

I was wondering when she would ask that. “Just what you already know. Her father was murdered while we were both there.”

“You and Kataleya didn’t…kiss or anything?”

“No.” I was glad I didn’t have to lie. Now if she asked if Kataleya and I had done something long before our trip, then I would have to.

“Oh,” Remi said, sounding surprised. She was silent for a little while before she asked another question. “Can you tell me more about when her father was murdered? Is that when Eden attacked also?”

I looked