CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

CORALEN

Coralen saw Corban look in surprise at the giant’s corpse, even as she was leaping on the second one’s back and cutting his throat. Blood sprayed and he collapsed to his knees, toppling forwards onto his face.

“Cora?” She heard Corban’s voice, looked back at him. He had a purpling bruise on his temple, an angry-looking cut on his opposite cheek, deep hollows about his eyes, and in general looked as if he’d been to the Otherworld and back, but the smile spreading across his face became her world, just for a heartbeat or two.

“How?” he said.

“No time for that,” Coralen said, grabbing his wrist and pulling him back towards the buildings behind them, into their shadow.

“What—”

“No time for that, either. Come on, got to get out of here before Gar’s show is over.”

“Leave? Not without Gar.”

Still stubborn and difficult, then.

“It’s his plan,” Coralen grunted. “We’re just doing what we’re told. Come on!”

She cupped her hands to give him a boost up to the forge roof; the plan was to go from there to the wall and then over to the meadows beyond. After that running like hell was the general idea.

“Corban,” a voice called out.

A blond-haired giant was striding towards them. He saw the two dead giants, paused, eyes narrowing, then came straight at them. Coralen moved without thinking, leaping forwards with her sword rising, rolling under his arm as he tried to grab her, sliding on the dirt, one leg hooking behind his ankles, the other kicking his shins. He teetered for a moment, Coralen rolling and slamming her shoulder into his legs to make sure he went down.

He did, with a thud and a cloud of dust exploding, then she was kneeling on his chest, sword-tip stabbing at the giant’s throat.

Suddenly she was yanked off him.

“Not him,” Corban said. He looked from Coralen to the giant, then offered his hand to the giant.

“You are not what I expected at all,” the giant rumbled.

He makes friends in the strangest of places.

Corban looked at Coralen.

“Damn, but it’s good to see you,” he said, and grinned.

This is not the time or place for grinning. I think he must have had a blow to the head.

“The feeling’s mutual,” she grunted. “Maybe better if we talk as we run, though.”

“I can’t leave Gar here,” Corban said.

“I’ve just told you; this is Gar’s plan. We’ve come a long way to get you, so don’t go spoiling the plan. You’ll upset Gar.”

“You should go,” Varan said.

“Is nobody listening to me,” Corban said, “I’m not leaving without Gar.”

“If he defeats Ildaer, Eld will allow him to walk away. It is his right,” Varan said. “If Ildaer wins, well, you won’t be leaving with him then, anyway, because he’ll be dead. You should go, now.”

“You’d let me?” Corban asked.

“You just saved my life,” the giant said. “I owe you. And you, little woman, are very fast. And stronger than you look.”

This is the strangest rescue I’ve ever been involved in.

“Can we?” Coralen said, pointing at the wall.

The giant grabbed them both by the waist and lifted them up to the forge roof, Coralen and Corban pulling themselves up. Coralen had just leaped and grabbed the top of the wall when a huge roar from the crowd behind them rang out.