Valiant (30 page)

His breath smelled like a slaughterhouse. The bones strung around his neck weren’t even clean; clots of browning tissue clung to them. I cringed, bile rising in my throat.

Volar’s hand came down on Ynnix’s shoulder, the tendons in his forearm rigid as he squeezed. Ynnix ignored the mountain-breaker’s hold at first, then gasped as it tightened.

“You will let her go.” Volar’s voice was like an avalanche.

Ynnix staggered back.

Iden swung me away out of reach, and I patted his hand again to let him know I was safe.

“Sir!” piped a voice from below. “Sir!”

Will was on his crutches, thumping among the giants’ feet like a three-legged puppy.

My heart lurched when I saw him down there. “Be careful!”

Ynnix, face still burning, raised a boot over the boy.

I screamed and clawed, desperate to reach Will. The world tipped as Iden flinched. From the corner of my eye, I saw a blur as Volar swept his foot under Ynnix’s. Will tumbled aside a moment before Ynnix’s foot fell.

Ynnix snarled to see Will still alive, then lunged toward Volar. But one of the Deathless stopped him with a hand on his shoulder—the shoulder that Volar had gripped. Ynnix winced and shrugged away.

“Not yet,” said the Deathless, nodding toward Will. “It is the duke’s
kadyr
. Leave it in peace.”

Ynnix shoved Volar back. “I will not forget this, mountain-breaker.”

Will, still treacherously close to Ynnix, gathered his crutches.

“We will take the
lita
to the duke now.” barked Ynnix. “I am ashamed it has lived this long.”

Iden handed me to Volar, who caught me up gently.

“Please,” I whispered. “May I see the boy?”

Volar scooped Will up and held him close to me as we followed Ynnix. “You know the duke’s
kadyr
?”

“Kadyr?” I asked.

“Small animal. Pet.”

I nodded and pressed a hand to Will’s cheek, wanting to be sure of him myself. “Yes, I know him.” Then to Will, I said, “Are you well?”

He nodded, all business. “I like this bandage, Sir. It keeps my foot from hurting.”

“Have you seen Lord Verras?” I asked.

“He’s been with the duke all night. But they hurt the king. The duke wanted to show them that a human couldn’t squeeze a rock. What are you going to do?”

Couldn’t squeeze a rock? What did that mean?
But we didn’t have time. And Galen hadn’t found the heart.

I took Will’s face in both my hands. “Listen to me,” I whispered, so soft I hoped the Deathless would not hear me over the noise of the camp. “We know why the duke doesn’t die. He’s cut his heart out and hidden it.” Will didn’t even blink at the outrageous news. “We can’t stop him until we destroy it.”

“And you need me to find it,” said Will.

“You believe me, just like that?” I exclaimed.

“I saw the duke, that day on the wall. I’ll find it, Sir.”

I hesitated, then brushed the hair out of his eyes, the way his mother used to. “I love you, do you hear me?”

“Don’t say it like that!” Will scowled. “That’s how Papa said good-bye. I’ll see you again, Sir. I promise.” Then he tugged on Volar’s sleeve. “Put me down, please.”

Volar tilted his head to me, asking if he should.

“Yes,” I whispered.

In one swift movement, Volar set Will down. He glanced at the giant with the scythe. “Watch him, Ober.”

I leaned over Volar’s fingers to better see Will. He waved at me, then hobbled off.

“Did you hear what I told Will?” I asked.

He nodded. “It was a story that I told you and the king’s cousin, Hillock. A child’s tale.”

“It’s more than a child’s tale, Volar.”

He grunted and glanced down at me. “You should not have come, Hillock. I do not think this will end peaceably.”

Nor did I. Volar would hate me once I told him. I remembered how his voice had carried:
Two of our scouts were killed because of your city. Two good
uten
dead because of the lies of your champion
.

“I have to tell you something important, Volar.”

He cocked his head. “
That
is why you came?”

We were moving fast, the giant’s strides eating up the short distance to the crimson tent. There was so little time.

“Volar, do you remember the night you found me? How you could hear what I felt? And how you are the only one of the
uten
who can?”

He shook his head. “Hillock, I do not hear you so well as I thought. I learned that when last we spoke. I was too proud.”

“No, you weren’t. You heard the truth.”

He didn’t respond. More Deathless joined Ynnix, flanking us. Volar pulled his great pick from the sling on his back and held it in his other hand. He was worried.

Tell him. Just say it
.

The giants stopped in front of the duke’s tent. The outer layer was brocade, not the usual weatherproof canvas. It was already darkened with spots of mold and rot.

Ynnix knelt before it.
No time left …

I clutched the top of Volar’s finger. “I’m the champ—”

Ynnix’s voice rolled over my small one. “High King! I bring you a tribute. The
lita
claims to be the champion of Reggen.”

I felt the shock travel through Volar. He trembled and I did not have the courage to look up and see if it was in surprise or rage.

“
W
hat is this
, Hillock?” murmured Volar. “I do not believe it.”

I did not have time to answer. The flaps of the crimson tent opened and the duke stepped out. From my vantage point in the air, he looked so small, so human, one footfall away from death. Yet this entire army revered him. And no wonder. He stood as if he were a giant, gazing up at the
uten
surrounding him.

“She’s come, has she?” called the duke calmly. Too calmly. “Put her down.”

How did he know about me? It must have been King Eldin. I’d been mistaken to think he could remain strong.

I dropped through the air as Volar knelt to place me down. For the first time since Iden had taken hold of me outside camp, my feet touched earth. They tingled and burned, but I hardly noticed. All I knew was that Volar kept his hand wrapped around me. It was warmth against the morning chill. It was armor.

“Release her,” commanded the duke.

Volar remained kneeling, his left hand around me.

The duke glared up at him. After a moment, he turned his attention to me. “Why have you come?”

“I did not come to see
you
, Your Grace.”

“I’m sure you didn’t. But here you are, Reggen’s champion, just minutes before I claim the city. You are mistaken if you think I will let you drift away.”

A human arm pushed aside the tent flap … and Lord Leymonn walked out, holding a crossbow and—

“Galen!”

I stumbled back against Volar’s palm. I didn’t know where to look: at the duke who made me feel hunted, even with Volar’s hand around me; at Leymonn, who was supposed to be dead; or at Galen, his hands chained together.

“What are you
doing
here, Saville?”

“I realized something. Other stories might be true, too. I—”

“Are you
mad
?” Galen whispered through clenched teeth. He was furious.

Leymonn yanked Galen back savagely. “Lord Verras was so cooperative when he visited the duke last night. Too cooperative. Even you—” He smiled slowly as he corrected himself. “No.
Especially
you know that he is always thinking, always turning a situation to his advantage. The duke did not want to chain Lord Verras, but I thought it wise.”

Galen met my gaze and almost imperceptibly shook his head. He hadn’t been able to find the duke’s heart.

Leymonn laughed. “You look crestfallen, Miss Saville—”

The duke pushed Leymonn back. “And you talk too
much, Lord Leymonn. I have little time before I take Reggen. Remember who let you live.”

Leymonn’s face darkened, but the duke didn’t notice. He stepped toward me, eyes narrowed. “I know you!” he exclaimed. “You were the maid to my future wife. You asked about Oma.…” I felt Volar’s hand spasm. “And you didn’t think much of the champion. Yet, here you are, maid and champion! Oh yes, you
will
talk to me.”

The duke stepped closer. Once again, I saw madness glowing behind his green and blue eyes. When had he first looked at his reflection and decided he would reclaim all that the old emperor had lost? His eyes roved over me as the Tailor’s had, seeking weakness, imperfection.

I’d learned long ago how to weather such a gaze. I folded my arms and stared back at him, silent.

“I have no time to play with you. Today, I claim what is due me. You will tell me why you are here or …” His gaze flicked to Galen and he smiled. “… or I will make you watch the regent’s execution.”

“You won’t kill him if I tell you?” I asked.

“Oh, Champion!” The duke laughed. “How did you manage to outwit my scouts? I will still execute the regent. I just won’t make you watch.”

I looked at Galen, then up to Volar, who still kept his hand around me. “Volar, I—”

“Talk to me, Champion! To me!” barked the duke. He smiled when I turned back to face him. “You have until the sun rises.”

I looked toward the east. Half an hour to convince Volar that he was high king. To save Galen. I rested my hands on Volar’s fingers and looked at the giants gathered around us—the Deathless scowling down at me, Volar’s friends with their cautious, curious gazes. It was like standing in the clearing of a moving, breathing forest.

And then I knew what to do. It was like remembering the next verse in a song that I hadn’t sung in a while, when I couldn’t find the words ahead of time. Yet when I opened my mouth to sing them, they’d be there—and not a second before.

I nodded to the duke. “Your Grace, I came to speak to a friend.”

The duke glanced at Galen. “Did you now? What did you want to tell him?”

I pressed my palms against Volar’s hand. I needed him to listen. “I wanted to tell him that he was right. He heard anger and sadness in my voice. And he caught me in a lie—”

Volar’s fingers tightened around me.

The duke threw back his head and laughed. Then he held his arms wide as he shouted up to the giants, “Did I not tell you? They lie! You heard it from her own mouth! That is why I command you to kill them before they can speak, before they cause death with their words!”

He turned again to face me as if it were part of some savage dance. “I am not afraid of you, Champion, and so these giants are safe. Speak on!”

I paused, knowing I stood on the edge of a cliff. “As I said,
Your Grace, I lied. I wanted him to know it. He was not wrong to suspect me.”

I patted Volar’s hand.
You were right. You heard the truth
.

“Stop it, Saville,” muttered Galen. “That’s enough!”

The duke chuckled. “You’re not bringing him much comfort before he dies, Champion.”

I swallowed back the fear. “I didn’t want him to doubt himself.”

Leymonn scowled. “Your Grace, something is—”

Volar interrupted him. “You
are
the champion?”

He didn’t call me Hillock. My heart dropped away. One last time, I claimed the title I had never wanted.

“Yes,” I said, looking at the duke, but speaking to Volar. “I am the champion of Reggen.”

Volar’s hand around me loosened. A rumble of disgust swept the giants. Several of the Deathless drew their swords, the ragged tips flicking near me.

“Shut up, Saville!” Galen shouted. “She’s confused, Volar! She isn’t the champion.”

Leymonn yanked him back. When Galen stumbled, Leymonn kicked him in the back of his knee and he toppled. Before he could rise again, Leymonn lowered his crossbow to Galen’s chest. “You’ll stay there, Verras.”

Galen glared up at Leymonn, and I saw his anger gather itself. But it melted away when he looked at me, his eyes worried, so worried. He shook his head:
Don’t do this
.

I smiled so he wouldn’t see how scared I was.
I have to
.

“Don’t let the regent’s outburst stop you, Champion. Continue.”

I gripped Volar’s hand. I needed the strength he provided, even if he despised me. “I was dressed as a lad, Your Grace, when I met the scouts.…” My voice faltered and I prayed Volar believed the grief he heard in my voice. “I expected monsters, witless beasts. They weren’t. But they had a boy.…” Suddenly, I knew how to tell Galen that Will was searching for the duke’s heart. “A street brat with the unfortunate skill of discovering hidden secrets.”

Galen’s eyes widened and I saw the question in them:
Will knows?

I nodded, a quick tuck of my chin, and looked at the duke. “Still, I didn’t want the boy to die, so I challenged the giants to a game of strength. I tricked them into believing that I could squeeze water from a rock and throw a stone so high it would never fall back to earth.”

Volar murmured something, a mix of bewilderment and, finally, belief. He released me, and the morning air touched my wet gown. I wrapped my arms around myself, but I knew I wasn’t trembling from the cold.

“Two good
uten
dead,” he rumbled. “My sister-son dead. Because the champion lied. Because
you
lied. What does it matter if you tell the truth now?”

His anger had won. I was defenseless.

It was easier to speak after that, in the emptiness on the other side of heartbreak. The worst was over. Volar believed
me, believed me and hated me. All I had to do was make him believe the rest.

“I didn’t know,” I said. It wouldn’t make a difference now, but I needed to say it all the same. “I didn’t know they’d be killed. I’m so sorry.…”

The duke raised an eyebrow. “You’re boring me, Champion. And you have not yet told me why you came to my camp.”

I wiped my cheeks and stood straighter. “I came to beg the high king, bearer of Halvor’s spirit, to stop this war.”

The duke clapped his hands. “There’s a request I didn’t expect! I thought you’d ask for the king’s life. Or the regent’s. As bearer of Halvor’s spirit, I say … 
No
.” He whirled toward me with a flourish, as if it were my turn to dance. “Now what do
you
say?”