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It sounds like a sneaky way to drum up support for the throne, but nothing here is straightforward or simple. Monsterland is backstabbing politics at its finest.
He goes on, “As for Alwar, perhaps Mato took him prisoner as a show of strength to the other kingdoms. It is no small feat to capture a king such as Alwar. But killing him, especially with the Proxy Vow voided, would only instigate a battle with the War People. I doubt Mato would want the distraction if his true goal was something much greater: build a massive army to take the throne and the wall. For good.”
I see Gabrio’s point. And he would know, since he’s the strategic thinker among the brothers. “I still feel like I should’ve seen this coming.”
“I admit, Mato has devised a cunning plan, but it still would have to been mad to go up against the Blood King. He and his army have never been defeated. They are very fierce, very experienced fighters, hundreds of years old.”
“I guess Benicio’s death presented Mato with a wonderful opportunity,” I say, stumbling on something. “But if the Blood Army’s never been defeated, then how did Mato take the palace so easily?” That’s what Rool just told us a few hours ago. Matowas slaughtering the Blood People and took the palace. Yet, we left thousands of vampire soldiers back there. The Blood Army wouldn’t just sit by and let the attack happen.
Alwar comes marching up. “The scout sees nothing on the horizon. We believe it is safe to take the lifts.”
“Are you sure, brother?” Tiago says, walking up behind us. “The stairs are safer.”
Those stairs go all the way up for what looks like a mile. I’m exaggerating, but it takes a giant all day to climb them. At the top is a steel door as big as Alwar, and on the other side is a courtyard. To get inside the wall from there, you have to go through one of the thick stone slab doors. The lifts, on the other hand, are much faster. They’re basically crude elevators made of wooden platforms with a hand-powered—or giant-powered—pully system.
“We will waste too much time, and we need to get everyone inside to prepare,” Alwar points out. “Let us go.”
We walk over to Rool and tell him the plan. He orders his men to get into formation.
We start walking toward the base of the wall, through fields growing with coffee beans and some sort of grain. Off in the distance, water pours from high up in the wall, creating a waterfall that pools into a small lagoon before running into a stream that feeds the rest of Monsterland. It’s actually nice here on the War People’s lands. They have water, they grow food, and they live in a giant castle. It’s what made me think of my original plan. If all the kingdoms had this, they’d be happy.
I was so, so wrong. And now that I think about it, it’s strange that so many leaders seemed on board with that original peace plan. Even Mato.
Idiot. Because they were lying. It was a trick.They were just going along, planning their coup.
We’re almost to the part of the wall where the pullies are in place, dangling off a structure too high in the sky to see from here.
Tiago grabs an arrow from one of the giants traveling with us and lights it. It must be some sort of signal to lower the lifts to us. He shoots it into the sky, but it flickers out.
“Damn you, Tiago. We do not have all day,” Alwar scolds.
I look over at Rool, who seems very agitated. Or anxious. I don’t know what it is, but I can’t stop looking at him. I notice all of his men now have their hair tied back.
Hair gets in the way.It’s why the War men shave off their beards and chop off their long hair before battle.
Something doesn’t feel right, and I’ve been feeling it all morning.
“General Rool,” I say loudly, “has there been any word from the rest of your army?”
“No. I am sorry to say they were likely caught off guard and slaughtered with the rest of our people.”
“So easily?” I question. “But I heard the Blood Army is ruthless and impossible to defeat. It’s how Benicio kept power for so long.” Alwar was the only king brave enough to challenge him.
“Fifteen kingdoms against one army.” Rool shrugs.
Gabrio glances over and does a double take, noticing I’m on edge. He comes to stand right beside me.
“Still,” I say to Rool, “seems a little strange that the most badass army in Monsterland was defeated in…what? A handful of hours?” We were gone for four or five hours from the palace when Rool came with the news. “Are you trying to tell me you’re such a pathetic general that your soldiers were crushed by…” I make a disgusted face, “Mountain People?” Everyone looks down on them.
Rool’s pasty, acerbic face contorts into a vision of rage—flared nostrils, clenched jaw, snarling lips. “It was an unfair fight.”
I’m not buying it, and from the look on Gabrio’s face, he’s not either.
Rool goes for the sword on his back, and I instinctively grab the knife from Gabrio’s waistband and lunge. I slice Rool right through his neck.
His hands fly to the gushing wound before he drops to the ground, making a gurgling sound.
Everyone around me stares, like deer in headlights.
