“There is something you must see,” he says.
I look back at Melisa who is smiling up at Keio. I don’t hear what they say, but Vann is already leaving, so continue across the walkways, up the tunnels, and out of the large golden doorleading out of Enduvida. Ra’Salore joins me at my side, and I notice he’s retrieved a sword.
Whatever I was expecting, it isn’t the stain of red spread around the mostly mangled body of a human man. His arms are stretched wide and there is a message carved into his chest.
THlS lSN’T OVER
My blood runs cold.
I look around, trying to see any sign of the giant scum that would’ve brought this to our door to deal with. There is none.
“Trouble in paradise?” Melisa asks from behind us.
I startle and turn around.
“You followed us,” Ra’Salore spits out.
I think of how Estela did the same thing when we first met, and step forward. “Shouldn’t you be preparing for thedual'moraanceremony?”
“I was when I spotted you hurrying out of the cave. Your wife told me I was welcome anywhere,” she says, batting her lashes.
I grit my teeth. “You must tell no one that this has happened.”
She drops her sweet mask and narrows her eyes.
“You wish me to lie?” Her tone is haughty, but there’s a look in her eyes of almost disappointment.
She doesn’t like that I’m keeping secrets.
I don’t either— it makes my insides squirm.
“No. I am asking you to help maintain the peace. We are still at war with the giants. I can promise we will protect everyone inside, but right now, our actions need to be calculated. A story like this would cause unnecessary panic.”
She bites her lip. “And what if I tell your wife?”
“I will tell her myself,” I say firmly. Though, I don’tknow if it will be necessary. Estela has been through so much—protecting her is just as important.
Melisa accepts my answer, then turns back to the body. “This is from the giants, yes?”
I nod.
“If they wish to fight you, why don’t they bring an army right away?”
I take a deep breath, but it’s Vann that speaks.
“Estela reported a nasty skirmish on the night of the coronation. That has likely strained lots of relationships. Rholker has been cut a lot of slack. It’s hard to tell how much more they will spare.”
Melisa nods. “I used to be the whore of Foreman Eneko. He’s one of the few giant supervisors in the slave fields and he has lots of information on Rholker.”
I grit my teeth.
“I… am so sorry.”
She looks up at me. “Don’t be. I do what needs to be done. Which begs the question, how do you solve a problem like this?”
I drag a hand over my face. “Information and allies, so that we might make a solid plan. We have already made great strides toward resolving issues with the information Estela brought back.”
She looks dubious. “What information?”
