The Path of Giants, B.T. Narro [the speed reading book .TXT] 📗

as he took a large bite from his plate. “I don’t know why you care. It serves them right.”

I could feel Callie staring at me from the royal table where she ate with her mother. I knew I shouldn’t avoid her gaze, but it felt even more awkward to look back across the room. I didn’t want to insult her, though, so I did. She smiled brightly. I returned the gesture with a polite smile and a nod.

Michael noticed, smirking. “So she hasn’t given up yet?”

“I think she’s just being friendly,” I said, not wanting to entertain the alternative, especially if Kataleya was right. Maybe the king had mentioned the idea to his daughter already.

I doubted that. I was pretty sure she would’ve at least hinted at it by now if that was the case.

“Yes, it must be that,” Michael agreed sarcastically. Then he waved at the princess with a smile.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“An experiment.”

Callie looked a little nervous as she smiled crookedly and waved back without much enthusiasm.

“Yup,” Michael said as he returned to his meal. “She sure is friendly to all of us.”

“To be fair,” I countered, “I did develop an actual friendship with her that I don’t believe you did.” My heart sank as I realized something. “By the way, how are birthdays handled here?”

“Do you mean celebrated?” Michael asked with a laugh. “Handled,” he said, making fun of me. “Somebody isn’t very excited about someone’s birthday. Oh!” He pointed at the princess. “You’re talking about her birthday.” Then he laughed harder.

“I’m just worried about possibly offending the princess by not adhering to customs,” I explained as casually as I could, hoping to drain Michael’s enthusiasm for teasing me at least a little bit.

“Well, the rich give each other gifts for every birthday,” he said. “They also often host birthday celebrations. The rest of us give a gift to each other when we can, but it’s not expected and certainly not required.”

“You don’t think she expected me to get her something, do you?” I was not even here when her birthday passed.

“Probably. Princesses expect a lot of things that the rest of us don’t.”

Leon approached our table. “The king wants to speak with you, Jon.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

I met the king in the keep. It was good to see that he was well-protected, sitting in a windowless room with a retinue of guards outside. I imagined Souriff had made him aware of just how threatening Valinox was until we found a way of dealing with his invisibility. I hoped the same protections would be offered to us, at least in some capacity.

The king looked like he was ready for an immediate battle, chainmail beneath his shirt, thick gloves on his hands as if to better handle a weapon. He always appeared well-groomed. His brown hair and beard were straight, with a shine to them in this lamp-lit room. There was even a sword in a sheath on his belt. I wondered how well he knew how to use it.

His gray eyes held concern. “Jon, you have my thanks for everything you’ve done so far,” he said, no hint of a smile, not a glimmer of emotion across his face. This was all business. “Leon explained that Endell had set up a defense that was nearly impenetrable with dark mages guarding a squad of archers. If it wasn’t for you, we would’ve lost a lot more of our new allies than we did, and possibly some of my sorcerers.”

“It wasn’t just me, sire,” I said. “I couldn’t have done much without Hadley’s curses and the rest of the sorcerers distracting them.”

“Yes, I understand that is the case. I’m grateful for everyone’s courage. If Leon had been forced to withdraw from Koluk and leave my sorcerers as prisoners, it might have been the first step toward certain defeat. I heard that Souriff dropped you off from the sky before anyone else arrived. Can you confirm that Eden and Eslenda saved Charlie’s life? Did you see it happen?”

“I didn’t see it, exactly, but I think I would’ve been too late to do so myself. By the time I made it to where Charlie had been held, Eden and Eslenda were long gone with him. So I’m almost certain that, yes, they saved him.”

“I figured, but I thought I would ask just to make sure. That, however, is not the primary reason of your visit. We have a few other matters to discuss.”

The king was sitting at the end of the table, a couple guards on either side. I took the chair nearest to him. My pulse increased as he unfastened the sheath from his belt and set it on the table.

“This is the first sword known to us made of Valaer steel,” the king said. “I want you to have it. Now I don’t want to hear any modesty—”

“Thank you, sire!” I interrupted excitedly, figuring if there was any time to interrupt the king it was now.

He chuckled as I hurried to gather up the sword and sheath, standing and pulling out the weapon for another look. It felt like it belonged in my hands.

“I’m also having armor fitted for you.” The king gestured at one of the servants standing ready.

The man approached me, gave a bow that surprised me, then unveiled a measuring string. He had me stand still, lifting my arms at times to measure me as the king continued.

“I have sent a messenger for the krepps to return with more Valaer steel. I can’t say exactly when they will arrive, but I would like you present when they do. You will need to study up on your Kreppen before then.”

“Excuse me, sire, but don’t you have someone studying as a translator already?” I hadn’t heard any news about this, but I figured it had to be the case.

“Two translators are currently in training, but the krepps like you, especially Grufaeragar, who seems to be their ambassador. Knowing some of their language will go a long