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"The humans have lived among the Thyres for many generations," I explained, surprised he didn't know that. But then I remembered that the humans stayed mainly inland, and the Vandalls liked to attack the coast, so it did make sense the two had never met, even though they had shared the same planet for hundreds of years now.
"How did you subdue them?" Uthar wanted to know.
"Subdue them? They came to Thyre a long time ago, asking for permission to live on our land. In exchange, they pay tribute to us every season," I explained, eyeing the kallini in the cage curiously.
Red hair framed a diamond-shaped face, a face much harder than the ones I had seen on the humans around Grymburg. She wore strange silvery-white clothing that was so skintight, it didn't leave much to the imagination and from what I saw, she was more than well-endowed and beautiful at that.
"She's a demon," Uthar declared. "Her and her kind spewed brimstone and lava at us. Their weapons killed hundreds with one shot. They leveled many villages; it was a miracle we escaped."
Uthar kicked the cage, and the kallini cussed him out with strange-sounding words in a language I had never heard before. Tiny fists balled around the wooden bars of her cage, as she glared at the king of the Vandalls with no fear.
"She is only lucky I needed her to bring to your khazar, otherwise, I would have thrown her overboard a long time ago," Uthar declared hatefully toward the beautiful creature.
I studied her some more. It was true she looked much like the humans on Thyre and yet there was something different about her. Her posture, even confined by the cage, cried warrior. Her demeanor was defiant, whereas every other sane person in her shoes would have cowered in fear at having been captured by the Vandalls.
"You haven't harmed her?" I asked.
"I was afraid once I started torturing her, I wouldn't be able to stop," Uthar admitted. "Besides, none of us can understand a word she says so there was no sense in interrogating her." He kicked the cage again, enraging the kallini even more.
"We have many humans inside Grymburg, maybe one will understand her language," I said, hoping with all my might it wasn't Alahna, whom I wanted to keep out of this mess as much as possible.
"Will you send messengers so I can speak to your khazar?" Uthar implored.
"Messengers are already on their way. It will take days, maybe weeks before my khazar will arrive here," I told him only because the messengers had left hours ago and the Vandalls, even if they had learned how to use horses, wouldn't be able to catch up. Besides, Uthar had to know that I would have sent a request for help as soon as his sails were spotted.
"In the meantime, come, be my guest," I invited, not thrilled about having Vandalls within the walls of my stronghold, not convinced this wasn't a trick yet. But if Uthar agreed, he would make a valuable hostage. "I assume your people will be comfortable on your ships?"
"If I could impose to have food sent, then kar, they will be." Uthar nodded, aware that I would not, could not, extend my hospitality to the majority of his people. It would have been an open invitation for his warriors to cut our throats while we slept. I didn't trust him and rightly so since the Vandalls weren't known for their honor in war nor their forthcoming nature. The only honor they knew was amongst themselves.
Never before in the history of our planet had our two races been at peace or attempted an alliance. That Uthar had come begging spoke of his desperation—or an evil plan of deception.
The sooner we could find somebody who understood the strange human kallini's language, the sooner I would find out if Uthar spoke the truth. At this point, I almost hoped he was trying to set a trap, because if he was being honest… I feared for the future of Thyre.
The Vandalls were one of the strongest warrior races. For them to have fled their homes… the threat of what or who they had encountered was unfathomable.
"I will have food sent to the beach and if you have any sick or injured, they're welcome to find shelter inside my stronghold, under guard of course."
"Of course. I realize our races don't have much of a history that would inspire trust, but that's what I'm asking you to give me now. Trust and assistance to fight this malice that is threatening both our people."
"I can't speak for my khazar, but if what you told me is true, I'm certain we will be allies," I offered, not happy about the prospect of fighting side by side with Vandalls—something unheard of.
Vespa stood pawing the frozen ground where I had left him, and my heart warmed for my trusty steed. I believe had I not returned, he would have stood there until he would have frozen to the ground waiting for me.
I gave him a treat and stroked his side. "Good boy."
I grinned at my words because they reminded me of Alahna. And the thought of seeing her soon warmed me even more.
I swung myself into the saddle. I would have offered Uthar one of my guard's horses, but the Vandalls' aversion to these animals was well-known and a demonic grin spread over my lips at the thought that they would have to learn to ride soon if what Uthar claimed was true. A battle fought without horses seemed unthinkable.
The Vandalls had no problems keeping up with us though, and when I threw a glance back, I noticed four of them carrying the cage, with the human kallini inside, up the path.
The kallini stood proudly, her tiny fists held tight around the bars to not lose her balance as her eyes took in her new surroundings and my stronghold on top of the cliff.
I didn't like the sneer around her lips, as if her assessment of Grymburg somehow found it lacking, nyck, not only lacking but thought it easy to conquer. That gave me pause. If she was that convinced that Grymburg would be easy to take and if what Uthar told me was true, we had a new enemy to deal with that might be more formidable than I could imagine just yet.
We soon reached Grymburg's courtyard where horse handlers rushed forward to take the animals back into the warmth of their stalls.
Before I had a chance to say or do anything, I heard an otherworldly cry and when I turned, a body slung itself against me, challenging my equilibrium. Small arms encircled me. "Brogan."
