Mal rolled her eyes, annoyance grinding through her. As if she couldn’t read what he was saying. Again with the manly-men-saving-the-damsel-in-distress crap. She eyed Law’s shins. Kicking him had felt supremely satisfying. Maybe he’d get the message if she did it again.
He read her mind and stepped back.
“Don’t tell me you wouldn’t put a little extra effort into looking after me or So’la if we were in your shoes,” he said. “So suck it up. Sometimes you’re the doctor; sometimes you’re the patient.”
“Just as long as you avoid becoming the corpse, all will be fine,” So’la added. “Though you seem to lag in that department.”
“Haven’t become one yet.”
“Not for lack of trying.”
Not having a snappy reply, she made a face at him, then turned to Law. “What now?”
“Let’s go find out what’s happening.”
“Think they’ll let us?”
His grin was lethal. “With any luck, they won’t.” He glanced at So’la. “Want to hang back in the air? We’ll call when we need you. You can be a killer surprise.”
“As long as you don’t try to hog all the action. I haven’t killed anyone in…”
He trailed off, looking at Mal, who lifted a brow at him. He smiled, one of those shit-eating grins that pissed her off so much.
“Hours.” He shot up into the air, vanishing into glamour as soon as he left the ground.
“He’s a dick.”
“No arguments from me,” Law agreed. “Let’s go.”
He put his hand out flat before him, fingers splayed. Green and purple fire flickered close around his fingers and sent shimmers up and around, following the contours of the invisible spell. They coruscated over it then rippled back. Law hit it with a burst of energy, and the waves went wild, rolling outward and back as if blown by a violent storm. The speed and depth of the trenches between the waves increased, and the spell ripped apart, flecks of brilliant power spraying in every direction.
Nothing obvious about that.
Law shielded himself and Mal as they proceeded between the massed giants. The ground beneath them rose, lifting them so they strode along at head level. Murmurs rose around them and spread across the crowd, but nobody tried to touch them or otherwise interfere with their progress.
Mal didn’t know whether to find that comforting or not. Did the conspirators consider her and Law such a minimal threat that they could just walk in undisturbed? Or perhaps it was a matter of civility. Allow the enemy the chance to meet face-to-face?
But after the attack on the guests at the pavilion and courtyard, Mal was betting that the conspiring giants didn’t think they had much to worry about.
A ghost slid down beside her, invisible. The barely tangible presence floated next to her, matching her pace. She recognized Glenda. Whispered words tickled her ear.
“The little giant man and the pixie are married. The ceremony to make her virdana begins.”
With that, Glenda flitted away.
Mal sped her steps, gripping Law’s belt beneath his tux jacket. She stood on tiptoe, repeating the news in a low voice.
He nodded and increased his pace. Mal did as well, stopping a moment to remove her heels. She could run a marathon in them on pavement, but the soft grass and dirt handicapped her. With her shoes in one hand and the skirt of her dress in the other, she jogged after Law.
In just moments, they arrived at the center of the event. Mal scanned the scene, taking in the details quickly. A rough circle had been cut into the soil and filled with something pale. A pinkish glow emanated from it. Inside the circle was another one, about half the size of the first, made of candles. Four black, four red, four white, four blue, four green. Their flames burned preternaturally straight, despite the breeze.
Coorsel and Nayena stood in the center of the candles. A veil of gauzy magic rolled around Coorsel, who stood rigid a little to the side of his bride. He was dressed in what looked to Mal like a really great pirate costume, with thigh-high forest-green boots embroidered in gold, yellow leather pants, a long laced-up green vest with gold embroidery, a blousy shirt, and a cap made of a glittering green material.
Nayena wore pale green harem-style pants that cuffed tightly around her calves above soft boots. Her shirt was snug fitting, laced down her arms and around her wings. A woven belt circled her waist. Her hair had been twisted with silver wire and flowers. Her wings were brilliant, the edges painted and decorated with sparkling jewels.
She held her head high as she stared at the big giant in front of her. She was the same virdana who’d challenged Law and escaped his floor trap by half turning into a dragon. She stood just outside of the candle circle but within the rough outer one.
“Good of you to join us,” she said to Law and Mal. “I had not expected you so soon.”
