“The giant lords don’t like the new king,” he says.
My ears perk up. This was one of the things Teo wanted us to uncover.
“Why not?” I ask.
El Lobo shrugs. “We don’t align ourselves with any giants, but Tomás has connections. Rholker’s own advisor, Fektir, is planning to jam a spear up his ass and put him on display.”
Gods.
“When?”
“Soon. Next week. The king hasn’t fled yet, but he might. That’s why it would be the perfect time to strike back, when he’s worried about dissent from within,” Tomás interjects.
I nod, listening as they explain how it will be the fastest way for everyone to escape from the dens, but they pause when I shake my head.
"If you put them in front of the gates, it will be too predictable. It won't take long for the giants to catch on and send reinforcements. It will be a massacre."
Rodrigo frowns. "I'll remind you that we've been working on this for some time. Our plan has been carefully considered."
I shake my head, placing my finger back on the soot-stained cloth. "What if... you put all the barrels in one location. Somewhere important. Make such a big fire so that everyone will go there. When all of the giants are there, they will leave the gates open. You won't get all the slaves out—only a few hundred to a thousand or more. You're going to need a plan with more longevity."
The men around me are silent, but El Lobo laughs. "You have a good head."
"I think you should put the barrels in the soldiers’ barracks. Do it at midnight, cause a huge stir."
"And then what?"
Everyone watches as I point to the map, as I gesture around. It's not dissimilar to the map that Melisa drew for me when I first came to Zlosa. I look at it with fascination.
"Get as many humans out as possible. Spread the word," I continue.
It sneaks up on me. I'm not a man prone to feeling a certain type of way about those who have passed on, but I know, deep in my bones, as sure as the moon shines on my face, that my brother would be proud of this choice. He would rejoice in how he’s seen me work with humans, helping them, ushering them forward into a new era.
"What about those left behind?" they ask.
I look at them. "You're right. What if... before we start to light things on fire, we weaken them? Poison their food supply to make them ill, not dead.”
Several pairs of eyes go wide.
"We harvest and butcher most of their food,” Tomás says.
"Then it wouldn't be too hard,” I reply. “Start in a few days.”
"And for those who are still left behind after the fire?" Rodrigo chimes in.
"We’ll run before they can catch us.”
The men look at me with a ferocious hope shining.
“So?” I start. “In a few turns of the sun, you start to poison."
"And next week? We burn!" El Lobo dares to raise his voice.
A chill coats my skin as I consider their words. Eneko is meant to return around that time. If we do this, he’ll never touch Melisa again.
The rest join in with a silent salute, lifting their fists.
As I study the plan before me, I think of the men I've come to know. I cannot wait to tell Melisa of everything—that we may also plan out the next few weeks. If all goes well, we'll be back in Enduvida soon.