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“Then, exactly, what do you recommend, my queen?” Rool asks.
“We run like hell to the wall,” I say. “We have to get there before they realize we won’t be coming to defend the palace.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Our only option is to take the soldiers we have and haul ass to the wall. It’s too late for the Blood People, the ones living in or outside the palace. But if we’re lucky, we’ll get to sanctuary before Mato’s massive army of creatures descends on the wall.
This is a mess.How did he mobilize everyone so quickly? Benicio’s been gone less than a week. I’m told that even the Fliers are behind Mato. The only kingdoms that haven’t sided with him are the Scholar People and the Dusts, because they don’t fight. Nobody is sure where the No Ones stand. They’re apparently MIA all of a sudden.
I want to believe Bard will side with us, but what if it’s not as simple as that? Rool said something about the No One army only being my weapon as long has Bard leads. And fuck me, but there was a heap of innuendo in my and Mato’s last conversation. He was testing the waters to see if I would side with him.
And I blew it, I realize. I wasn’t thinking like a monster. If I had, I would’ve told Mato I was on board. I would have smiled and kissed him, knowing there are only two rules that count in these lands. Kill or be eaten.Trust no one.
So, at this point, I have to take him seriously. He would know that Bard is my biggest weapon. He’d have a plan to remove him from the throne. And without the No Ones, we’re left with the vampires who came on this trip and the War People.
With no time to waste, Rool orders the soldiers to be carried. By their worst enemy.
I can see the looks on their pale faces under the waning moonlight. They’d rather die fighting at the palace than be carried by a giant.
“You do not have a choice,” I say. “Because it is either outrunning whichever creatures are already on the way to the wall, or it’s death.”
I don’t see the soldiers moving. This is typical in these lands. It’s a sort of peacocking they do to save face. The one with the power gives an order, and the subordinate pushes back. The subordinate eventually caves, but the dance is intended to maintain respect. No one wants to look like a pussy in front of their boss.
See. Some things aren’t different between worlds.
“Then go. Face your death,” I say. “Or better yet, join Mato. Live out Benicio’s dream of conquering the wall. But let me remind you tools of two things: Benicio is dead. Too weak to fend off his sister, Uhrn. And two, the other kingdoms and creatures here will never let you join their team. You’ve ruled them with an oppressive hand for over a hundred years. The only thing they’ll want from you is payback. But please, be my guests. Go running to them, press your lips to the Mountain People’s asses, and suck. Because that is exactly what you will have to do to get anywhere near them before they stab you in the back.”
The vampires do not argue.
“Very good speech, wife,” whispers Alwar.
“You heard the queen. Move!” yells Rool. He orders them to put on their “robes,” which are a sort of cloth poncho to block the rays of the sun, which will be making an appearance in about one hour. I’m given one, too.
Alwar tells the vampires to find a War person and stand beside them. No more than two per giant.
“Now what?” I ask.
“Now we run.” Alwar gives the command and scoops me up in his hands.
Tiago takes Gabrio after a short verbal sparring match.
I take a mental snapshot of the faintest rays of sunlight coming up in the red sky and a horde of giants carrying pale, angry, bloodthirsty vampires.
If these two species can rally—small and large, bloodsuckers and giants, day versus night—anything is possible. Even maybe winning this attack.
“Move out!” Alwar starts running, and unlike the other times we’ve traveled together, there’s a desperation in each stride. It’s like he’s running for his life. Sadly, it’s the opposite.
If he thwarts the attack, it’s his death. Monsterland won’t be born and neither will he. I almost hope I’m wrong about everything, but either way, the course of action stays the same. We have to fight and defend the wall. This invasion can’t happen.
About halfway there, Alwar calls for a break. It’s a few more hours to the wall, but the giants need to catch their breath.
Everyone’s on edge, including me. I can feel something bad coming. It’s in the air. It’s vibrating in the ground. I can practically taste the doom on the tip of my tongue.
Alwar sends the youngest giant on ahead to scout for Mato’s troops, and I know we’re all crossing our fingers. We have to get to the wall first.
“I can’t believe this is happening.” I sit next to Alwar, who’s breathing hard and drinking some sort of nasty-looking green crap from a bota. I won’t ask what it is. Probably ground-up Snail People or something.
“How are you feeling?” he asks.
