Chapter 23 – Isolde
ISOLDE
My fingers trailed through the white fur of my cloak as I studied the defile cutting between two towering mountains. Fates, it was so narrow.
As the sun sank in the west, Lord Balik had signaled for those of us who were airborne to descend so that we would not be spotted before our ground forces. Those same forces who would soon have to walk two-by-two through a craggy pathway that led straight into a valley full of hostile frost giants.
“There has to be a better way,” Thyra said to the crowd of royals, lords, and soldiers gathered together.
She too wore a white cloak, light armor, and fighting leathers. Though we’d had little time to prepare for the journey, Lady Balik had pulled us aside and made sure we knew how important it was to look the part of leaders in battle.
As I’d created garments for royal and noble vampires most of my life, I knew that fact all too well. Although the vampires were often engaged in a different type of battle, the concept was the same. With Lady Balik’s assistance, Thyra and I had quickly acquired new combat attire.
Thyra pointed to the defile I’d been assessing. “Trickling into a valley crawling with hostile frost giants is asking to be torn apart one by one.”
King Tholin’s letter claimed there were around fifty giants lying in wait.
According to others, that was about as large as their tribes got, save for larger gatherings during equinox celebrations.
These giants were also unique in that they had already killed several dwarves and were waiting to pick off more. To eat them, no less.
“The only other route would take the ground forces two more days to access,” Lord Balik replied. “This defile is narrow but very short. Horses can run through it in a matter of minutes.”
“We can’t make them wait.” Princess Bavirra’s hands landed on her wide hips. “I won’t hear of it.”
“No,” Prince Thordur echoed. “We have to risk trickling into the valley. We’ll just have to move quickly to get the layout of the valley before the light is completely gone. And of course we’re relying heavily on those in the air to prolong a distraction.”
“Humor someone who has never seen a frost giant.” I held up a hand. “Let alone fought one. What do we have to be on the alert for?”
Vale answered. “Their thick skin can repel magic for a long while—until something penetrates, then they’re more susceptible to subsequent attacks.
Sometimes attacks will even rebound off their skin.
And a very rare giant will have magic of their own, but we don’t have a way to tell who has powers and who doesn’t. ”
“That’s usually only older giants, and even then one in a thousand,” Luccan added. “But truth be told, it’s difficult to tell which are the oldest. A lot of them have white or gray hair and living in the elements makes them look weathered.”
Sian cleared his throat. “Weapons like arrows or blades can hurt them, but it takes a very deep cut. Or repeated injuries, which we’re unlikely to get unless we overrun them.”
“What about arrows to sensitive areas?” Thyra asked. “Noses and eyes? Or the face in general?”
“Anywhere on the face will hurt a lot,” Vale answered. “But unless you hit them very hard in a delicate spot or slice open a vital blood vessel, they’ll live.”
“And we want that?” Thantrel asked. “We’ll have a sizable head start during a retreat because they can’t possibly slip through that defile, but if they’re alive, they can leave the valley. Dead frost giants can’t chase us through the woods.”
Silence shrouded our group. We knew killing giants was a possibility, but the entire tribe?
I didn’t think it sat right with anyone.
After all, they were still fae, like us.
And while they’d committed the unspeakable act of cannibalism everyone suspected they’d only done so to survive a horrific stretch of winter.
“Kill only when necessary. Otherwise, knock them out. A powerful blow to their temples will do the trick. We’ll have to leave that to the fae with wings,” Vale said, and the other seasoned warriors in the circle murmured their agreement.
“As for the possibility of them chasing us, well, we might have to deal with that, but that seems unlikely. Giants don’t like to approach cities. ”
A few more questions were asked and answered, until finally, we were ready to move out.
Vale caught my hand before I made it a single step. “Fly safe.”
“And you watch out for yourself and our friends on the ground.” I stood on tiptoe to kiss him. He had been in more battles than he could remember, but only a handful were against frost giants.
Still, my mate did not appear scared or worried, and I took his confidence to heart as I mounted Arava. The mare twisted to look at me, and a wave of reassuring warmth filled my chest.
Not far away, the healers were setting up a working camp.
We’d lost a few horses in the direwolf attack and needed every mount for the soldiers.
As a result, Rynni would be the only healer to join the fighters, but in her dragon form.
As she had only one or two good fire blasts a day, and she wasn’t a trained fighter, Rynni would attack when she could do so without risk.
Her primary objective was to search for the injured and transport them back over the mountain separating us from the healers.
Halladora approached, her expression wary as she took in Arava. “Are you sure you want me to come with you?”
She had never looked so hesitant before, and I understood why. Bonded pegasi were particular about who they allowed on their backs. Even more so than gryphons, which Halladora had ridden here. But now, Luccan would fly on that gryphon, and Dora with me.
“I’ll need an archer.” Unlike my sister, I was not so skilled in archery, and I’d rather not use my sword against the giants. Arrows made for a far better distraction and flew at enemies from a distance.
I patted Arava’s neck. “She understands that this needs to be done for our friends’ survival,” I repeated the words not only to calm my Valkyrja, but to remind Arava of our talk. She wasn’t able to speak back, but through our ever-strengthening bond, I sensed when she understood things.
Halladora respectfully came to stand at Arava’s side. The mare snorted.
I patted her ebony neck again. “She’s going to watch our backs, Arava. We want to be safe and go back to Myrr.”
The tension in the mare’s neck loosened. Like most of us, she had been enjoying the comforts of Myrr, particularly all the treats that came with being a princess’s pegasus.
“Good girl.” I twisted to wave at Halladora. “Get on.”
She joined me and made sure her arrows were ready.
“You have enough room to maneuver?” I asked.
“Just.” The Valkyrja scooted back a touch on the elongated saddle that allowed us to ride double. “If you leaned forward over her neck as you fly, it would help.”
“Got it.”
“Everyone is ready?” Thyra called out.
Forty fliers affirmed they were, and a wave of nods traveled down the line of soldiers preparing to ambush the valley.
“To the skies!” my twin shouted, and the gryphons and pegasi flew for the top of the mountains blocking our army from the giants’ sight.
I leaned over my mare’s mane as Arava surged higher, giving Halladora as much space as possible to shoot. Flanking me, Thyra had her bow tucked beneath her arm, one hand on the reins.
“There they are,” Halladora said. “Stars, they’re huge.”
The giants, most of which were gathered around massive bonfires, had to be as tall as Vale stacked six times over.
The smallest among them were so large and strong looking that going up against the creature struck me as lunacy.
I had to hope that the bonfires meant they’d begun settling in as night crept closer. Perhaps they would be lethargic.
“I count fifty-five,” Halladora said.
I scanned the mountainside the giants huddled closest to, searching for a crack in the rock.
It took a bit of searching, but I found the opening, not large at all, but big enough for dwarves to walk through in singles or pairs.
A rock I estimated to be only slightly larger than the hole in the mountain was on the ground nearby.
That had likely been covering the opening, but once the dwarves moved it, they’d exposed themselves.
“Break and descend,” Lord Balik commanded.
We scattered. Luccan, Thantrel, my sister, and our Valkyrja flew with me and Dora.
The other aerial company that would remain closest to us, watching our back as we watched theirs, comprised Lord Balik, Filip, Sian, Caelo, and Aleksander.
Others paired off too, all of them Balik forces.
With each steady beat of her wings, Arava brought us closer to the ground, confidence in her bunched-up muscles.
Knowing we’d have only seconds before we would have to focus wholly on the giants, I cast a glance behind. A long exhale gusted out of me.
Vale and Qildor had cleared the short defile and were already barreling down the valley. I spied Vidar and Sayyida close behind. Unlike in the city and surrounding flatlands, there was still snow at this elevation but nothing the horses weren’t used to.
The rest would follow. We only needed to buy them the time.
A roar cut through the quiet, and our advantage vanished as two male giants rose from where they’d been sitting around their fire and charged. Most followed, but I was relieved to see that ten hung back. Smaller giants—possibly two younglings among them.
Fates! They were fast. Much faster than their enormous size would suggest.
Arrows flew, and though I’d been warned it would happen, I could not help the disappointment that coursed through me as most of them bounced off the giants’ skin.