Page 49 of Crowned A Traitor
“The Giants could have sacrificed this small piece of land for peace,” Arthur said calmly, and Klara was surprised to hear Arthur defend the Ogres.
“This was Giants Territory and not only were they massacred in order for the Ogres to claim the gifted land, but when the Giants fell, the Ogres made homes out of their bones.”
“That’s war,” Arthur said sadly. “The Giants, in turn, ate those who resettled in their land.”
The thought of being ground up by a Giant sent a deep chill through Klara’s bones. Klara slashed through the giant leaves revealing a collection of Ogre skulls embedded in the tree trunk. Wolfgang covered Lottie’s eyes, but it was too late she had already seen them. Their pronounced foreheads and sunken jaws hung open in warning to others who dared enter Giant lands. The argument was clearly over.
“We move closer to the path. We don’t need any trouble,” Klara ordered. Arthur opened his mouth to argue, but no sound came out.
Giants are exceptionally territorial, and their lands run dangerously close to the River. They had been victim to one too many Fae invasions.The Ogres should have known better than to accept such lands.But as Klara saw the small cracked skulls covered in moss, the skulls of children she mourned for the loss of innocents. In Malum, no one was safe because no one was considered innocent. Not even children.
???
“Don’t move,” Wolfgang said, and Klara frowned as she saw the nails grow from his skin. Klara felt nothing, sensed no threat.
“Don’t,” Arthur said, emerging from behind a tree. Klara spun to the ground as she reached for her axe. “Lower your weapons,” the order came from above, and Klara saw the group of Giants surrounding them. Their bulbous heads in the heights of the trees staring down at their small crushable bodies. Klara considered running, but with one step, the Giant would catch or worse, crush her.
“They are here to help,’ Arthur assured her.
“He led us to them,” Wolfgang told Klara as he shook his head in disbelief. “They serve their own. You can’t trust them.”
Klara could see they were surrounded and outnumbered. There was nothing to do but trust or at least negotiate for their freedom. “Went for food old man and came back with Giants. Father said you were unpredictable.”
“Heiress we are here to aid you,” one of the Giants with deep brown skin and long braided hair boomed.
“We need shelter, and the Hounds can’t enter their lands. Even Creatures can’t pass through without express permission from the Elder,” Arthur said, moving to Klara’s ear.
“That will be all Hentor,” the tallest Giant grunted, dropping to one knee so that Klara could get a better view of whom she was talking to. A giant set of green eyes and freckles appeared before here.
“Heiress, we cannot remain out in the open like this, there are many after you and these parts are far from protected.”
“You know who I am? how am I to believe in your protection,” Klara replied axe in hand, and a rumble of laughter shook the trees around them. Leaves scattered like snow as the Giant cleared his throat. “A traitor’s presence in our land will garner much attention. I go out on a limb to help you and yet, you question us.”
“Then why come to my aid and risk your own people?”
“Because it is what the Fae Queen orders.”
“The Fae Queen holds no sway in Malum,” Klara stated. There is a grumble of disagreement amongst the giants.
“She means no disrespect to Queen Aemella,” Arthur interrupted, and Klara moved in front of him. She didn’t need to be shielded by the Warlock.
“The Fae Queen has more dignity in one of her fingernails than one hair on the High Queen’s head,” the Giant growled, and Klara couldn’t deny it.
“Abadan is destroying the Forest, while the Fae Queen helped us rebuild our numbers after the war with the Ogres,” another giant said defensively.
“There is no love lost between myself and the High Queen, but I do not answer to the Fae Queen,” Klara said for all the Giants to hear. “I will not take orders from any Queen.”
“Queen Aemella carries no orders for you Heiress, only that we are to offer you shelter if the time should come.”The Fae Queen knew I was coming this way? How is that possible, will she allow us to pass through the border?Klara couldn’t help but wonder what this help would cost her.
“The Fae Queen wishes for an audience?” Arthur asked and the Giant bit his thick purple lip.
“No, we only offer assistance. You aren’t to be granted passage to Kalos. Such a journey will provoke war, which no Creature would want or survive.”
“Gratide! We are exposed to the trees, they will be listening,” a Giant smaller and thicker than the others attempted to whisper. Gratide from his height and stance must be their leader as he addressed their group while the others stood guard. Gratide rose from bended knee, “we move on.”
The heavy bare footsteps shook the ground as the Giants led the way. Soon the destroyed homes of the Ogres disappeared, and they passed in to a beautiful garden full of overgrown flowers.
Klara wondered how she had not heard or felt their presence earlier. Her train of thought was interrupted as an enormous elm tree twisted with several other surrounding trees slowly unraveled itself, revealing a secret passage. Where they had eaten their fruit was only burial ground for the unfortunate Ogres. Klara wondered if the Fae Queen knew or just suspected she intended to pass through the border.
