“Ho!” the prince’s warrior calls out, and one of the monsters steps forward. All kinds of instruments hang off his armor, though his hammers are the most notable. Images of crushed skulls intrude on my thoughts. “What a kind welcome, troll.”
“We call ourselves Enduares now, prince. And you are early," he calls back. “By three days. You know our timelines are precise, and we do not take kindly to intruders."
The air is thick with tension when the First Prince steps forward. "Will you turn our supplies away? We've brought more medicinal herbs.” The threat posed as a question rings in the air.
Some of the Enduares shift their weapons. The one who had stepped forward keeps his expression even. My eyes widen when an armored tail with a sharp, pointed tip darts out from behind him. “We will proceed, but you will instruct your people not to leave their rooms." He bares his teeth at the giants, and I can see the points all the way from here. “Wanderers will be punished."
The prince’s voice booms through the open air. "Lead the way!"
One of the warriors steps forward and scans my cart. He looks at Arlet, Mikal, Sergi, and then his gaze lands on me. My breath is caught in my throat. They need someone to take the herbs. Knowing I tried to escape, I’ve basically painted a target on myself.
He grimaces at my disgusting appearance, points at Sergi and says, “You. Bring the sample box.”
My relief is potent, like someone taking the knife from my throat. I don’t look at Sergi as he stiffens, then turns to the cart and pulls out a box filled with phials of extracts and small bags of dried products.
We are not allowed inside yet, so we stand, trapped in a period of awful waiting. The best way to occupy my time is to help Miki with his back. I watch the warrior unhook Sergi to pull him into the mountain’s mouth and almost miss how Arlet discreetly passes Mikal a few more chewing leaves to relieve his fresh wave of pain. I almost fall over when he shifts so that I can see the red, crusted mess all over the back of his body.
That kind of mutilation is hard to comprehend. It makes me physically ill. “Do you have any extra cloth?” I ask Arlet, swallowing the bile. “I used most of mine last night.”
Before Arlet can answer, the same giant who took Sergi reemerges. He looks furious, and his eyes land on me, hands covered in blood. I lean down, grab a handful of snow, and scrub as much of the red off as possible.
“You.” That is all the explanation I get before the warrior draws near and reaches for my leash.
Oh gods. What happened to Sergi?
Arlet’s frozen fingers take my hand. “Do as you're told. The next day will pass quickly, and we will be heading back in no time," she whispers in my ear.
“Te quiero, Este,”11Mikal says quietly.
“I will see you after the viewing," I say, even though I don't know what will happen during the negotiations. All I do know is that I have failed.
The giant finishes unhooking me and yanks me forward. I find it hard to move my feet as fear grips me. I look back at Mikal and Arlet one last time before we enter the mountain. My fingertips are numb, and the tunnel is scorching my skin as we move deeper. There is a loud pumping sound with lights floating above me and golden designs lining the wall.
It doesn’t take long for us to catch up to the rest of the group. The prince is there, sneering at the troll who looks angrily at the ground. That’s when I see it.
A blood stain next to the sample box.
1 The cloud passage.
2 One, two, three, four…
3 Damn it.
4 Please
5 Twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-three…
6 Shit.
7 My poor little brother.
8 One, two, three, four, five, six…
9 Sixteen, seventeen, eighteen…
10 By the gods.
11 I love you, Este. (Short for Estela)