"What happened?" Arlet demands, eyeing the emerald green dress stained with blood.
I look at her and shake my head. The slices on my lower back will heal while running. “I’m all right. Just more whipping."
I put some space between Mikal and I, staring at the bandages wrapped around his bare torso. Not quite whole, but close enough. I touch his shoulders and run my hands down his arms to make sure he is real.
"We need to leave, Miki," I whisper. Then I am ripping open one of the giant's trunks, grabbing the first furs I see. I toss one to my brother. “You too, Arlet.” This cave will be a cruel death. Blood, gore, and burning lava. When we leave this time, no one will catch us.
I tug both of them toward the door. "Now," I plead.
"What about them?" she asks.
I open my mouth and falter. This is taking too much time. We need to get outside. My mind is already scanning through all of the landmarks I took note of before, mentally guiding my way through the tunnels to the outside.
The savage death of the giant invades my thoughts. I close my eyes and draw in a fortifying breath. If they want to brave the cold mountain as well, they should have a chance. “The Enduares have killed two of the giant warriors. I don't know if the First Prince still lives. I suggest all of you run," I call over my shoulder as I grab onto the handle.
“Leave?” one of the slaves says. “Why should we trust your words? Aren't you the prince's tart? Did you suck off the prince so you could escape?”
Mikal freezes, his angry rage brimming to the surface. After yanking himself out of my grip, I cry his name as he walks over to punch the man squarely over the jaw.
The slave recoils when Mikal hits him again. I race over and grab my brother. “Enough, Miki.” I have to take charge of the situation—especially when my brother still lacks the maturity not to make things worse.
“Half-giant bastard!” the slave yells, but I'm pulling him toward the door once more, while Arlet yanks it open.
We all file into the hallway. There is shouting from the next room, and I see the writhing shadows of Enduares and giants fighting. I grab my brother's hand, and we start running. A sharp sound abruptly draws my attention behind us just as a large hand wraps around Arlet's middle section and picks her up.
I turn around to see the remaining giant warrior holding her, a cruel grin on his face. Mikal snarls and charges at the giant, but I grab at my brother’s clothes, knowing full well that he is not a match for the brute while his back is still torn. My heart pounding, I try to think of something, anything, that could save Arlet.
"Let her go!" I shout, my voice echoing down the hallway. I can sense the tension in Mikal's body as he stands protectively in front of me and shoves me back into the shadowy wall. He's too noble. He'll get himself killed.
Four Enduares emerge, charging toward us. "Hurt the humans, and we will not hesitate to kill you."
My brows furrow, not believing what I was hearing. More threats of death from the terrifying creatures. They are... defending us? Nothing about these trolls make sense. It stuns me long enough that I don't notice that the wall is actually an alcove until a large pair of hands slip around my middle section and mouth and drag me into darkness. Away from the fighting.
I am shocked into immobility. The smell of the giant palace, earthy and floral, is what knocks my senses back.Maldita sea2, the First Prince.I shove hard and try to ram my head backward into his face. He blocks my blow before he leans down, beard scratching my neck.
"Tiny flea, you think you can escape so quickly?" Keksej whispers in my ear.
His skin is rough against my own. I’ve never felt it before, and it grates against exposed flesh and gropes at my breast before continuing to my throat. Squeezing. Taunting me with the end of my life.
“So soft. Is this what Rholker felt when he tried to take you to his bed?”
I snap at his wrist and miss. He chuckles and rubs his hand along the column of my throat while I try to shout. The sounds of fighting from the hallway drown out my raw sound. My throat hurts. All of it hurts so damn much. It’s impossible to staunch the memories of Rholker showing up at my den, demanding me as a comfort woman and carrying me away.
A human can never win against a giant. I could not beat Rholker, and certainly not his older, drunker brother.
Keksej’s strength has been manifested in other ways, but now, at the mercy of his scarred arms, he finally breaks his father’s command. He will snap my neck before I say goodbye to Miki.
Sixteen years of torture. All to keep taking care of Mikal.
What did it mean?
I stare back into the hallway, my vision of the action limited from the end of this alcove, and glimpse the giant fight against the Enduares. Arlet is nowhere in sight, but half of Mikal’s body dances into view. Then he falls back, and I see it all. He swings an ax, and it collides with shiny golden armor. Mikal enters the scene, ducking out of the way before an ax catches his flesh. I see him wince in pain from the movement.
“Mi—” my voice is cut off when Keksej clutches my throat again. He pins me in place and forces me to watch.
When an Enduar swirls his hands in front of his body, pebbles and large stones emerge from the walls and start spinning. Every second, the speed increases as they knock against each other, turning into razor-sharp shards. Slim enough to cut.
My eyes go wide. Prince Keksej must also be enthralled because he stops hurting me. I’d seen the troll controlling a ball of lava, but this is… somehow more terrifying. It’s a refined weapon. Not brute force.