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

was by talking with Pilla. It didn’t matter. Even if Remi was a nuisance to the other children, there was no excuse for the abuse she’d suffered from Gerald. Unfortunately, I needed Pilla on my side if I was going to uphold my promise to Remi. That meant I had to badmouth my friend a little.

“I’ll admit that I do know Veronica. I have heard foul things and seen some of the behavior you describe,” I lied. “I wish to investigate her past a little bit while I’m here. I expect you to keep this between us.”

She nodded dutifully. “I will. I promise.”

“Do you know if Gerald will be coming for healing?”

“I don’t know of any injuries he might have, but I can take you to his house whenever you wish. He works in the mine until the late afternoon, but his wife is there. She’s not well-liked, either. No one else would marry Gerald, but he seems happy with her.”

“Have you seen Gerald hurt his new wife?”

Pilla tilted her head curiously. “No, but I hardly see her at all. She stays in the house most of the time.”

“I see. All right,” I said conclusively to show I was ready for bed.

“Oh.” She seemed surprised by my abrupt end to the conversation. “What will you tell my father tomorrow?”

I raised an eyebrow.

“About me,” Pilla continued. “He’s always talking about how I should marry someone deserving. He will scold me if he thinks I did not try to persuade you.”

“I will tell him you are kind and beautiful, but I’m just not interested in marriage right now.”

“And you really mean that?”

“I do. Good night, Pilla.”

She started to leave, but stopped as if hearing something. Then she turned around and spoke loudly.

“Maybe you might return one day, or I could meet you at the castle if I’m given an invitation. I know how to ride a horse, and I cook as well. I’ve enjoyed our conversation. Have you?”

She was blushing as she spoke quickly and nervously.

I noticed the subtle creak of a wooden board, her father listening from the hall.

“I have very much, Pilla,” I said. “You are a gracious host and will make your husband very happy one day, whoever he might be. Unfortunately, that isn’t going to be me. I have too many obligations to be involved with anyone right now. I hope you don’t take it personally.”

She curtsied. “Good night.”

“Good night.”

She closed the door on her way out. I immediately heard her father murmuring something to her.

What I’d said wasn’t quite the truth. I did have many obligations, but I had my heart set on Kataleya just a little while ago. I had wanted a relationship with her. I had been certain we could both find time to make it work, but she had turned me down, and now I was lost. What I did know was that offering an empty invitation to Pilla was not going to help anyone in the long run.

I didn’t know what I would do when this war was over, and I didn’t care. If I was still alive, I would be happy no matter where I lived or what I was up to. Perhaps I would travel more and heal others, or perhaps I would stay in the capital and let those who needed healing come to me as I invested time working on spells with Charlie. It was through his help, and Leon’s guidance, that I believed we could figure out some complex spells that only I might be able to cast. Who knows, maybe Souriff would have more time to shed some light on dvinia when she wasn’t so busy chasing her brother Valinox around the two neighboring kingdoms.

Hell, I might even want to visit the krepps at Hammashar or venture deep into Curdith Forest with the powerful elf Eslenda, if she’d take me. There was so much of the world to explore. It was the reason I had set off from my hometown of Bhode what felt like a lifetime ago.

First things first. I’d better get some rest so I can heal everyone who needs help tomorrow.

*****

The next day, there were a great number of people, mostly men, who required my services. Some of them had gruesome injuries from years ago, like a twisted leg from a bad break or fingers missing. I couldn’t do anything about the fingers, unfortunately. And the only way I could heal the twisted leg was by breaking it again first and having my mana heal it correctly this time. There were no curses to undo, however. It seemed that Hadley had only used them as a threat to escape.

It was the evening now, and I still shuddered thinking about the mallet strike I’d performed on that man’s misshapen leg. He’d agreed to it after I’d proposed the gruesome method, but that didn’t make it any easier for either of us. I could still hear his screams and the gasps of the audience. However, he was so elated when I healed his leg after that he wept with joy. It was something I had seen before, tears of joy, and it always reminded me that this time away from training was worth it for more than just appeasing the people of Lycast before they were taxed.

There were fifteen people who had come from the farmlands around Granlo to be healed. One of them was the old man the sheriff had spoken about, his daughter a middle-aged woman. She was one of many people who wanted to pay me for my help, but I always replied to them with the same few lines.

“Save your extra coin for the tax collectors. Offering more than what is asked of you will go a long way toward winning this war. I have met the king personally. He is not a greedy man. All of your coin goes only toward supplying an army. Rohaer must be stopped. Their king is trying to create a world where those who are powerful