right. You should go. Talk with these new friends about what we've discussed.' Something dangerous rose in the morass of Lupa's voice then, like a snake darting through swamp water. 'In the meantime… we'll be sure to take good care of Mayor Estrada.'
Alvantes and I were out of Muena Palaiya, with our escorts left behind closed gates, before either of us opened our mouths again. Even then, it was only for Alvantes to make a long low sound of pure anger, an incoherent growl that made me wonder if I hadn't been safer with Lupa.
'We'll help her,' I said.
'Shut up. Damn you, shut up, Damasco.'
I shut up.
'We left her there alone.'
Unsure if this was an invitation to stop shutting up, I decided not to risk it.
'Damn it all,' Alvantes snarled — and there ended our brief, one-sided conversation.
Minutes later, we passed the outcrop shielding the northern cliff road from Muena Palaiya. The giants waited in columns to either side of the highway, like sentinel statues guarding the way. It was clear now why the road had been so quiet; who would want to go near Muena Palaiya with Lupa and his thugs in control? In that one small way, his presence had done us a favour, for many a traveller would have died of alarm to see this monstrous assembly lurking in the gloom.
Huero's cart was pulled up to the verge, while Dura and the children distributed food. Saltlick and Huero were waiting at the head of the column, obviously anticipating our return. They looked anxious when they saw us, no doubt reading the tone of our experience in Muena Palaiya from our expressions.
While Alvantes stood nearby on the edge of the roadside decline, glaring down into the valley below, I briefly explained the situation. It was dismaying to see the strain and worry, so recently removed, flood back into Saltlick's eyes. 'Help Marina.'
'We will,' I said. 'I don't know how, but we will.'
'You won't.' Alvantes turned abruptly. 'You can't.'
'You don't know that.'
'Of course I do! I'll go back. I'll do what he asks, make whatever deal Mounteban wants. There's no other way.'
'That's it? Just forget about saving Altapasaeda? Do you really think that's what she'd want?'
A dozen rapid steps carried Alvantes to a point where his face was hardly a finger's length from mine. 'I don't care what she wants. I care about what keeps her safe.' He spun to round on Saltlick, who actually cowered back. 'Lupa will have scouts out by now, looking to see who these supposed friends of ours are. If he sees a crowd of giants camped on his doorstep he'll panic. If he panics, he might harm her. Get them out of here.'
'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.
