David Tallerman - Crown Thief

"Wait," I said. "Just wait."

"Back down the road. Go now."

There was a buzzing building in my head, a fragile note just beneath hearing. I couldn't put it into words or even thoughts, but it was there. Looking at the hulking figures crowded along the roadside, I said, "They're giants, damn it."

"Exactly. Difficult to hide. We need to move quickly."

"No, I mean… they're giants. We have giants on our side."

"Be quiet, Damasco."

"Just like Moaradrid did. Only, all Moaradrid wanted was big, dumb soldiers that didn't answer back. He never understood what he had. An army of giants."

"No fight," put in Saltlick plaintively. I hadn't even realised he was following the conversation.

"I know that," I said. "But what if there was no need to fight?"

"Damasco, whatever you're thinking, let it go. They're not an army. They're half starved, exhausted and…"

"Lupa doesn't know that."

"What?"

"Look at them, Alvantes. Look at them! They're terrifying. You and I know they won't squash us like insects just because they feel like it, but Lupa? They're giants, they're on our side, and you want to hide them? You know you can't trust Lupa and Mounteban. You know handing yourself over won't solve anything. We have one chance to fix this and it has to be now."

Alvantes ground the heel of his one hand against his temple, as though trying to bring his thoughts under control by sheer pressure. "I will not let you place Marina's life in danger."

"She's already in danger," I said. "Now that Mounteban has her safe and under control, do you think he'll just let her go? The woman he's obsessed with, who just happens to make a useful hostage to keep you and anyone like you from meddling in his business? We have to stop him. And that means stopping Lupa — now, while he's off his guard. But you can't do it alone, Alvantes. You can't talk her out of there. You can't even fight her out."

Alvantes kept the hand in place, gripping his forehead as if it might fly into pieces. "Hells! Damasco…"

"You know I'm right."

He clutched his brow one last time, and the hand dropped to his side. "Yes," he said.

"What?" I really thought I must have misheard.

"This time. You're right. But if you get her hurt…"

"I know, I know. You'll kill me. I'd expect nothing less. But if this has a chance, I'm going to need your help. So you'll have to kill yourself straight afterwards."

"Believe me," Alvantes said, "if our actions bring harm to that woman, my life will last exactly as long as it takes me to rid this world of Lupa and every last one of his vermin."

"I get it. That woman happens to be my friend, you know."

I turned to Saltlick. However many times I saw him, there was always a part of my brain that was staggered by just how big he was. Nothing could quite prepare you for seeing the giants together. Even days spent in their company didn't quite remove the instinct to fear them.

For that reason if no other, this might work.

My mind was already speculating on how I could persuade him. But as I gazed up at Saltlick's face, I realised there was no need. I was astonished to find that for once, I could read his expression perfectly — and even more astonished by what that expression was.

It was trust. Trust in me.

"All right," I said. "Here's what we're going to do…"

We gave it an hour.

Alvantes and I stationed ourselves near the bend that closed off the cliff road, and Huero insisted on joining us. "You told Lupa you were going to talk with peasants, didn't you?" he said. "Well, I'm a peasant. Always better not to be caught in a lie."

Meanwhile, Saltlick had taken his people further back towards the Hunch-proper, where they'd be well out of sight. If Lupa had spies out, as no one doubted he would, there would be no way for them to see the giants without passing us. I could only hope they'd give up when they saw us leave, not thinking to wait in case anyone should follow. The possibility that they would was the first great risk in a plan that seemed to consist of little else but risks.

Everything rested on the element of surprise. Without it, we were all dead.

The hour passed, Alvantes and I set out by starlight for the town gates, while Huero headed in the other direction, a final corroboration of our story for anyone who might be watching. At the entrance to town, the two thugs who'd escorted us were waiting, slouched against the arch of the already open portal. They didn't acknowledge our return, except to draw the gates shut after we'd ridden past. Then they led us once again up Dancer's Way, back towards Lupa's gaudy mayoral mansion.

Alvantes and I rode as slowly as we dared. In the unlit streets, it wasn't difficult to encourage a leisurely pace. Almost as much as surprise, we needed time on our side. Every moment of delay was a moment in our favour.

Still, our arrival at the mansion-barn seemed to come all too quickly. This time, there were nearly a dozen of Lupa's fake guards waiting outside. Security had obviously risen in Lupa's priorities since our last visit.

We dismounted, let ourselves be led inside.

Everything was practically as we'd left it. Lupa and Estrada still sat in their respective places on the platform. Here as outside, the only difference was in the increased number of armed men spaced around the walls. Whether or not Lupa was really expecting some move on Alvantes's part, he certainly wasn't worried about giving the impression of distrust.

Yet his tone was hearty as he called, "Guard-Captain, good to have you back. You've had ample time to consider, I trust?"

"I have," replied Alvantes.

"And you've concluded, no doubt, that what is right for Mayor Estrada here, what's right for Mounteban and the people of Altapasaeda, is right for you too. You can return to your post — and so long as you keep yourself within the bounds of the new regime, your life can more or less return to what it was before all this… unpleasantness."

Alvantes's face gave nothing away. "Yes. A nice idea — in theory. What I'd like to know is what I can expect in practise. Do you have leave to talk terms on Mounteban's behalf?"

Lupa looked uncomfortable. "Terms? Well… to a degree, of course."

"A degree? Lupa, can you negotiate or not?"

"Certainly, if a little negotiation is called for, then…"

"If it's called for? If you're offering me a job, surely I've a right to discuss details?"

Despite my fears, despite all my doubts, it was hard not to enjoy the show Alvantes was putting on. Even he seemed to be warming to his part. I'd told him to keep the conversation going for as long as possible, but I was beginning to suspect he had far more in mind than that.

Lupa flicked sweat from his brow with a rubbery palm. "Guard-Captain. The situation is one where compromise on your part is both expected and required. You must see that…"

"You must see that this arrangement of Mounteban's is one possibility amongst many. I have other options, Lupa."

"But would those options be so beneficial to all involved?" Lupa made no effort to hide the sudden edge of danger in his voice. "To the good folk of Altapasaeda, say, or to my lovely co-mayor?"

"I hope that wasn't a threat."

"A threat? Aren't we simply discussing possibilities and their repercussions, as civilised men will?"

"Because," continued Alvantes, "the only good threat is one you can back up."

As though on cue, a booming crash assailed the room. It came from the direction of the western walls, and resounded for a very long time. Even if I hadn't been expecting it, I'd have recognised the crunch of falling masonry.

Lupa almost jumped from his great seat. I watched his expression vacillate between horror and denial. "Perhaps," he said, "you haven't noticed how many of my men surround you?"