Chapter 77: Enemy

Kothar was settled comfortably in the curve of a small branch of one of the large trees nearer to the giant's village.

While he couldn't see completely into the village due to the palisade, the giants' left the gates of the palisade open, clearly not expecting any threats.

But then, why the palisade? Kothar mused as he watched the giants go about their daily routines, not so different from a tribe of primitive humans.

They varied in size and shape, with smaller giants who lacked the covering of moss and foliage that the older ones had, and frolicked and ran all about the camp.

They varied also in the type of rock that they appeared to be made of, with some even having striking veins of ore that were striped across their bodies.

However, unlike primitive humans, the giants didn't seem to hunt for food, rather they all gathered wild growing roots and fruits and brought them back to their encampment, to share with the children and elderly of the camp.

[They haven't got it so bad, huh?] Kothar observed, remembering how the giants had celebrated upon seeing the tentacles that the giant he had followed returned with.

[Would you rather have been reincarnated as a giant in an idyllic little encampment?] Silane asked, the mocking tone she usually had nowadays absent from her voice. Kothar was silent for some time.

[No, but I can't help but imagine what it would've been like. If I hadn't been reborn on Eclat, perhaps I'd have given up completely on the idea of returning to the Alliance, with no knowledge of planes or magic. Likely, I'd be running about this plane with you being as snarky as ever trying to figure out what planet we were on.] Kothar sighed as he watched one of the smaller giants being swung through the air by one of the adults, eliciting fond memories of Ophil.

[Did you notice that!] Kothar said suddenly. He had felt something cross into the weak electric field he had been keeping up since leaving his base. And it was moving closer and closer to him, with the unmistakably slow and patient pattern of a stalking predator.

[Yes, but don't move before you've got a spell ready. We want to catch him by surprise.] Silane replied, showing Kothar a projection of where their unknown adversary likely was.

Simon stood nervously outside Tam's study, in the many years the pair had known each other, Tam had never sent for him in an official capacity. Yet nevertheless, a letter signed 'Grand Marshal Tam of Balin' had been delivered to him at his rooms in the Institute.

A churning sensation deep in his stomach had accompanied Simon on the walk to Tam's home, which was now guarded by the same staunch soldiers who had guarded the doors when Kultas had rebelled.

'Come on in." Tam's low voice called out from within the study.

Simon entered and was immediately taken aback by how different the room was. Gone were the ledgers and accounts that Tam had filled the room with while engaged in his merchant business in the years of peace before Kultas' rebellion.

Now the surface of the desk was invisible, and was covered in a multitude of maps, with a large stack of ciphered letters in front of him.

"So, why the summons, Grand Marshal?" Simon ignored the fact that he felt quite ready to vomit, but tried to keep up the usual light-hearted and bantering tone he usually took with Tam.

"Take a seat, Simon." Tam ignored Simon's question, and gestured to the padded chair across the desk.

Simon leant back comfortably in the chair, he had stayed silent under the most severe torture, he had kept secrets that would ruin entire kingdoms, but he was ashamed at how difficult it seemed for him to remain calm in the face of the possible displeasure of one of his oldest friends.

Tam finally looked up from the coded message he had been reading, and gave Simon a long hard stare that almost made the Thief flinch.

"I won't waste either of our time, I know it's impossible for me to get anything out of you that you don't want me to hear. So I'll ask you outright. I heard you think I'm overstepping in what I've been doing to the Ursten military and the taxes I've implored Rotan to raise." Tam said slowly, crossing his arms loosely across his chest. He was still dressed in his fine ceremonial armor, a hawk inlaid in silver wings outstretched across his breastplate.

Internally, Simon let out a massive sigh of relief. If only Tam had known how close he had been to cracking under the pressure, he'd have never been taken seriously as a spy again.

"Well, that's putting what I said lightly. I won't ask how you found out, but I must say I'm surprised you did." Simon paused and wondered if Boson had given him up to Tam, but then quickly dismissed the thought. Boson lacked the duplicity to betray Simon's trust so, or he was the greatest spy that had ever lived and had been deceiving Simon for all the years they had known each other, in which case, he deserved the information he had gotten.

"I didn't think that my sister's death would drive you so mad with grief that you'd up haul the kingdom entirely. Setting wild packs of naive young nobles to ravage our neighbors, and then so rapidly invading Phintus. And then the alliance with Newport! I know the Duke is one of the free who can match you, but as far as I know the man's a drunkard and madman!" Simon's words cascaded out incessantly, as he let out everything he had been dying to say to Tam for the past few months.

"Anything else?' Tam said tersely, his brow furrowed as his piercing blue eyes looked sharply at Simon out from under his dark brows. Tam's hand fell to the sword at his belt, and he began to caress the hilt.