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Alek looks like a trapped animal trying to find a way out of a hopeless situation. There’s no love lost between Alek and me, but if I don’t try to help him, I’ll never be able to forgive myself.
“Is thereanyother way to appease this Snake?” I ask the man, seeing very few options left open to us. We have no weapons. We don’t even have a clear path of escape. We’re trapped and at the mercy of these giants. “There has to be something we can do to save our friend’s life. Please.”
I’m not too proud to beg if it means saving someone’s life. Even if that someone happens to be Alek. Unfortunately, my suggestion seems to have given the giant ideas. His gaze drifts to Nahla.
“Leave us the woman,” he says. “She will make good babies, if she survives the birth.”
“Oh, hell no,” Nahla says with a definitive shake of her head. “There’s no way I’m doing that. No way!”
“Then the man dies.” The giant makes an aggravated gesture with his hand, instructing those with him to grab Alek.
“Wait,” Alek says desperately. “Let’s talk about this.”
“I think they’re through talking,” Oliver says as we all form a protective circle with our backs together, watching their advance.
“We’re not going to just let you take our friend.” My words of defiance make the giant laugh.
“Then all die,” he replies ominously as he and his tribe continue to advance on us.
Unexpectedly, Alek breaks from our ranks and takes two steps forward.
“Take me and leave the rest of them alone,” he tells the giant. “I’m the one who stole your relic and caused the fire rain. I should be the one who suffers the consequences, not my friends. Please, leave them and take me.”
“Alek . . .” Nahla holds her hand out to him, urging him to come back to us, but he simply shakes his head.
“There’s no way we can win a fight against them,” he says, “and I refuse to have your blood on my hands because I chose to be a coward. This is the way things have to be. Tell my father that I’m sorry and that I love him.”
Alek turns to the giant, prepared to face his fate.
Just as the giant reaches a beefy hand out to grab Alek, a high-pitched squeal interrupts the moment, causing us all to look to the south.
The horses we brought with us to the Barrens, and who scattered after the earthquake, charge through the scene wildly. Their eyes are filled with fear, but it’s not the giants that have frightened them. Something is chasing them. Within a few seconds, we see what it is.
The click-clacks of the spider I helped fills the air as it scurries after the horses, possibly looking for a tasty snack. The giants yell and throw their spears at the spider, but my unlikely ally easily knocks their flimsy weapons away with its large front legs. Fearing the spider will turn on them, the giants scatter, disappearing into the woods and the bog.
“Run!” I yell to the others, taking advantage of our luck and continuing to make our way toward the mountain Ivy and the rest of our companions should be at.
After about thirty minutes of running, I bring everyone to a halt so we can catch our breath.
“I can’t believe we survived that.” Nahla holds her hands to her sides as she draws some needed air into her lungs. “Who knew making friends with a giant spider would save our lives twice in one day?”
“I’m just sorry I ever took that diamond.” Alek appears sincere in his regret, but I’ve learned the hard way that you can’t always trust a pirate.
“Sorry you got caught, you mean,” I say.
“No, not just because of that.” He stands tall and rubs his forehead. “I’m sorry I took it because it apparently caused the destruction of that place. If I had known taking it would start a fire, I would have left it where it was.”
“Seems out of character that you care,” I say, finding his reasoning unselfish. It’s not a common trait for someone in his profession.
Alek shrugs. “Call me a romantic, but I would have liked to live there. It had everything you could possibly need except freedom to come and go. If it had that, it truly would have been a paradise.”
“It was kind of nice,” Nahla agrees. “Except for the giants and monstrous spiders.”
Nahla and Alek share a quick exchange of glances before laughing.
“Let’s get going.” I start walking away from the sun and hopefully toward Ivy. “I would like to reach the mountain before nightfall, if possible. The last thing we need is more giant bats grabbing hold of us and taking us even farther away from everyone.”
As we continue on our journey, I begin to wonder what trials Ivy has had to face. Hopefully, everything has gone smoothly for her and the others, but if the Barrens has taught me anything, your fortunes can change with the turn of a corner.
