Kendra said, as she held up her left hand to display the deadly two-bladed knife in that hand, as she drew her other arm back to throw. “Don’t do it. Your knife will never leave your hand.”
The knife slipped from his fingers as if it had sat in the sun and became too hot to hold. Only the giant still held a weapon—his club. My experience with large men, especially large fighting men, was that they seldom had to use their power and size. Their opponents assumed the giant would win and quickly surrendered. Therefore, they seldom actually fight.
However, the smaller men who have to work for respect or to stand an equal chance in battle, even mock fights on the practice fields, is far better trained and more dangerous. Even though he’d dropped his massive knife, I watched him.
The giant held his club as if trying to decide what to do. Finally, he let it slip from his fingers to fall at his feet. The smaller man rushed at Kendra in a move so fast it caught us by surprise, even as a very small knife appeared in his other hand. He intended to grab Kendra and use her as his hostage, probably with his knife held at her throat.
He was too close to throw her knives, so she held up both of her knives in front to defend herself. He leaped at her; his knife held high. However, Kendra was better trained in close combat than most soldiers. She instantly dropped to her knee while raising the knife in her right hand. The attacker flew over her, Kendra’s knife drew a streak of blood as he did.
Her cut was not deep, and he landed on a shoulder and rolled to his feet, spun and charged her again. Then, as I almost reached him, a hollow sound, like that of a dull drum sounded once. I saw the rock bounce off his head and fall to the sand at his feet. The attacker crumpled as if struck by a blow from the giant’s club.
The giant looked from us to the little girls. Emma held another rock, ready to let it fly. The giant figured out what had happened to his three companions and raised his hands to protect his head while shouting, “No.”
Flier strode to the giant after picking up the knife from the small man near Kendra. He used it to cut the lower portion of tunic the giant wore, then tore it into strips. Before the giant could object, his hands tied behind him. Flier moved back to the smaller man and tied him with the last of the strips, and far fewer.
He went to the other two and cut more strips and tied them, also, then came to my side and said, “Take the big one and women and get out of the sun. I’ll bring the others.”
His voice sounded like an officer for the first time since we’d met, and I wondered if he would become an officer in his king’s army again when we reached Vin. But the crack of authority was unmistakable.
“To that big tree,” I pointed. Then to Emma and Anna, “You too.”
The giant walked ahead. Kendra said, “Take us to your camp.”
I had my sword prepared to prod him, but there was no need. We had a lot to talk about. A look over my shoulder found the girls rushing to catch up, and Flier kneeling at the side of one of our attackers. Overall, I was glad to have the giant with us. He seemed the most reasonable, and there was a lot we needed to know. If he was reluctant to speak, the appearance of the dragon at dusk might loosen his tongue.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Princess Elizabeth
My position as the Princess of Dire had prepared me for many eventualities, and my father had used me many times to resolve issues in Crestfallen Palace. Some were important. Others were for my education. He often had me investigate minor corruption where he suspected it, from the armorer who sold us inferior weapons to the supplier of tainted meat for our kitchens. He also gave me the tasks of arranging the details of royal balls, as well as attending with him as my escort. In short, I performed the duties of a queen since my mother was long gone.
However, those obligations were also overseen by experienced and trusted servants, and whenever things didn’t go as planned, I had help for the asking—and sometimes before. A bevy of well-trained and qualified servants always leaped to contribute, even though I was fifth in succession and hopefully would never be crowned queen.
In contrast to that sometimes-excessive support I was used to, I now traveled almost alone on a ship to a foreign land. A land the ship couldn’t reach because of an endless mage-storm, so we were returning for the third time to the safety of the Bay of Trager. Once there, I had a vague set of plans, all of which included reaching Dagger in some way and completing the assignments given to me by my father.
One of my staff knocked on my partially open cabin door. It was Lady Grace, my too-polite and soft-spoken servant. Her intellect was above both Soren and Timor, but her presentation was as weak as mine. She asked timidly, “May I come in, Princess?”
I nodded curtly, careful to hold my face stoic. It was an opportunity to follow Will’s instructions. I would not be satisfied with whatever Lady Grace brought before me. It didn’t seem fair to treat such a sweet person like that but becoming a princess bitch was not an easy task for me, and I required practice.
“We have done as you asked, Princess. Two new suggested treaties are drafted, one for a king and one for a Council of Nine. Of course, without knowing their needs and wishes, they are vague.”
“I asked for specifics.” My tone was intentionally even, the statement left open for her to respond.
“You have to understand. We can’t do any better until we know what Kondor wants and perhaps what they will give up.”
Her answer guaranteed that if I entered a bargaining table with what she had written on the papers in her hand, I would fail. Will was right. I not only needed to be tougher at the table, but I also needed to begin acting like a royal representative now. Again, I kept my voice even, but insistent, “Go get Soren and Timor. Bring them here.”
I reached for the papers she’d tried to hand me earlier. When she closed the door behind her, I started to read. My anger swelled as fast as the waves when we turned south. I was on page three when another knock sounded. This time, I didn’t bother keeping my tone civil, “Enter.”
All three of my staff eased inside the room, all looking contrite and ready to defend their work. Obviously, Lady Grace had briefed the others. I held up the papers in my hand and shook them for emphasis. “This treaty you want me to fight for is being bought and paid for by Dire agreeing up front to limit our taxes on imported goods from Kondor? For this, we will receive a promise they do not invade our kingdom? These are the two points you wish me to fight for? I ask you as a group, would you agree to this if you were Kondor? It admits we are weak and willing to pay if we’re left alone. Is that what you believe?”
They had the humbleness to blush and avoid making eye contact, all of them.
“Not good enough. No, this is far too generous to agree to, let alone beginning with. Go back, outline a single treaty intended for no matter who I sit across from, and I will adjust it to fit my needs. It will favor Dire. Understand?”
They stood in stunned silence at the fury in my voice. Soren edged a small step ahead of the other two, but he’d always been outspoken, and in truth, I didn’t like him. “Princess, if I may explain. We are not in a position to request anything of value or demand Kondor give us much. Our purpose is to elicit a promise to keep them from invading Dire, and if the cost is a tariff on goods, that is a small price to pay.”
Timor, the youngest, almost relaxed as his mentor spoke. Lady Grace was more reserved, but she’d already seen a small portion of the anger inside me and remained uneasy.