“The human woman is valuable,” Rholker says. “She is the queen of the trolls.”
I freeze as a roar of male voices cascades through the hall, shouting, threatening, anguish, and pure rage. Rholker descends into the crowd, shouting at those who oppose him.
“Oh gods, he’s going to kill me, too,” a voice near me sobs. I look up to see Lord Fektir’s daughter pulling against the short leash attached to the throne. When her attempt to break free fails, her mouth starts moving in rapid succession. Praying, I realize.
What good are prayers to a god of war?
My eyes squeeze shut. The smell of blood is everywhere, and the shouting persists.
“He won’t kill you,” I grit out, feeling ridiculous having this conversation when the sound of wood being shoved across marble makes me open my eyes. Rholker has moved farther back into the hall, away from the throne. A small group of guards surrounds him as he shouts in giantese about his divine right as heir to the throne.
I turn to look at the woman with glossy red curls. Her entire face is clearly visible over the throne. The metal leash loosens on my neck as I lean toward the armrest, but she doesn’t look at me.
“If he kills you, your father will never accept him as king. Your father is important, yes?”
The woman stops praying and blinks, finally looking down at me. Her eyes are full of fear and sorrow, just like Nandi’s.
“Yes.”
I swallow, the same compassion stirring in my gut. It’s ridiculous to feel bad for a giant again, but… while the military seems to be loyal to Rholker, his social power is low. I don’t think he would kill another daughter of Lord Fektir. Perhaps she, too, needs a little hope. “Then you are too valuable to die.”
The woman finally looks down at me with glowing amber eyes. “Giant women have no power.”
“You do.”
“I thought that slaves were as stupid as rats.”
“What an interesting thing to say to someone trying to comfort you.”
She frowns. “Does the troll king possess you to come into our court and ensue chaos, human whore?”
Anger and embarrassment flush through my cheeks. I was a fool for thinking she could be anything other than what she is.
“Tell me why you bring the human here!” a giant calls.
“I’ll fucking show you,” Rholker responds. My eyes snaponto him and my heart races as he barrels toward me, face red and fists clenched.
He grabs my short chain and tugs me to my feet. I scramble and choke on the collar. Then he grabs a knife out of his belt and carefully uses it to cut away part of the silk in my bodice, revealing the Fuegorra. “You doubt me once again. She is married to the king!”
Each gaze is heavy, and many grow quiet while others continue to grumble angrily in the corners of the closed-off room.
Lord Fektir is the one who speaks. “You can use her to get to him?”
My skin burns.
“Why should we care about a king who leads a court that is practically a handful of vermin?” Someone else shouts.
“They killed my mother! It is in my right to seek vengeance,” Rholker shouts.
“You will not bring up your displeasure at the murder of your family when Nandi’s blood still soaks the stones at your feet.” Lord Fektir glares—studies Rholker.
When I look up, I see a bloody king standing before his throne, wielding his women in chains. It must be quite the sight for everyone else.
Rholker tilts his chin up and thrusts my chain forward, causing me to take another step. “If vengeance is not good enough for you, then know I also see this siege as preventative. She is proof of their ability to mate with humans. What if they breed an army to fight against us?” He continues, “If they are gone, they would leave behind a city full of riches.”
The silence that follows is full of churning thoughts, and it makes my insides twist.
“If you could finish off the cave rats, everylast one, then we could have free access to their mines in addition to our own,” Lord Fektir says.
