“No!” Cyrusshrieked.
The generalpunched Tier in the ribs. She wilted, but would not cry out.
“They are goingto kill her if you do not tell the truth,” Moro pleaded.
“Tell themnothing,” Tier demanded, raising her head to look at Cyrus.
Blood ran fromher mouth. The general punched and clubbed the yeti. She teetered on the edgeof unconsciousness.
“Stop!” Cyruscried, pulling against his chains.
“Last time,” Agulha said. “Is the other in your party a froskman?”
Again, Cyrushesitated. Could he betray Fibian? Would it matter ifhe did? If the froskman did not want to be found, noone could find him. Would Cyrus watch Tier die?
Agulha grasped Tier’s shaggy head and raised the knife to her neck. He snarledand thrust the blade forward.
“Stop!” Cyrusdemanded, “Don’t hurt her. I’ll tell you the truth. You seem to know everythinganyway.”
“We suspect,” Agulha said, “We must know.”
“Don’t do it,”Tier demanded.
“Do you wantyour friend to die?” Moro asked, “They have done it before.”
Cyrus lookedto Tier. She was broken and sick. She would not last the night without aid.
“Will you helpTier if I tell you the truth?” Cyrus asked.
“Of course,” Agulha replied, a smile crossing his wrinkled face.
The expressionseemed new and awkward to the old klops.
“You can’ttrust them,” Tier wheezed, “They will kill us both.”
Cyrus took adeep breath.
“His name is Fibian. He’s a froskman loyal to me.We came to find the yeti elder named Gammal. We hopedhe could guide us to the second hune. My home is crumbling.The hune is my people’s only hope for survival.”
“Thatweakling!” Moro spat.
Instinct droveCyrus away from the one-eyed froskman. Her voice wasdifferent. He had heard it before. Moro began to unlock her collar.
“What are youdoing?” Cyrus asked.
“You know ofthe alveling prophecy?” Moro said, accusingly, “Haveyou drunk the dragon’s blood?”
Cyrus saidnothing, shocked and confused.
“Are yousupposed to be the great savior of legend?”
Cyrus staredat the enraged Moro, terrified.
“It does notmatter,” Moro sneered, “You are not leaving this room alive. Unlock the gate!”
General Morte produced a key and opened the cell door. Then asecond batalha entered the room with a cream-coloredspider silk robe. Moro glided from the cell, head high, past General Morte, Tier and Councilor Agulha,and let the batalha wrap her in the flowing gown.
“The Queen,”Cyrus said, fear and understanding overwhelming him.
“General Morte, I want this mine locked down immediately,” the queendemanded, “Destroy all the yeti!”
“But myQueen,” General Morte protested.
“I want everylast klops on the hunt for the trespasser,” the queencontinued, “Scour the yeti camp. Search the cliffs. Do not underestimate him.If you do, you will die. He is cunning, ruthless and could be anywhere. Even inthis very room. Make no mistakes. Find him and bring him to me.”
“But myQueen,” Councilor Agulha said, “Any delay to ourplans could be catastrophic.”
“We havenearly three hundred cannons, and the battle armor is mostly completed,” thequeen replied, “It will have to do, for if we do not find my brotherimmediately, he will delay us indefinitely.”
She turned andascended the stairs.
“My Queen,”General Morte said, “The prisoners?”
“Leave the alveling,” she said, looking over her shoulder, “We mayneed a hostage.”
“And theother?”
“Did I not saydestroy all yeti?”
“No,” Cyrusshouted, “You promised.”
The doorslammed shut behind the queen. General Morte’s smilewas more of a sneer. He grasped Tier by the scalp and raised her head so thatCyrus could see her face.
“Are youwatching, boy?” Agulha asked. “This is what happensto slaves that cross the Queen.”
The old klops stabbed the poisoned blade into Tier’s ribs. Tierwinced in pain, spittle coming from her lips. She looked to Cyrus.
“Kill them,kill them all,” she said, her voice growing weak, “Promise me you will killthem all…”
“I promise,”Cyrus whispered, his voice cracking.
Tears filledhis eyes. He felt so heartbroken, so helpless. His whole body began to shakeand sob. He watched the spark go out in Tier’s eyes.
“Your littlequest has been in vain, foolish child,” Councilor Agulhasaid, “The yeti Gammal is dead, murdered by my own hand.Any hope of his aid died months ago in this very room.
“Did youreally think you would find this hune creature here?Do you have any idea how big the North Sea is? How would yeti know of such abeast? And even if they did, how would they know where to find it? It could beanywhere, a hundred days sailing from the nearest harbor. How would the yetitrack it? Why would they track it? Who concocted such a desperate plan? Howcould you be so stupid?”
“No…” Cyrus whispered.
He felt his soulsnatched from his body. Gammal dead? No hune? He always knew their plan had been a long shot butnot until this very moment did he see how unlikely their odds had really been.
Cyrus’ legsgrew numb. He slumped to the floor.
“Look at ‘em cry,” the general taunted, “So weak. So easily broken.”
Cyrus thought abouthis futile journey. He had failed himself, failed his people. He looked toTier. He had failed her as well. He thought of Edward. Was his best friendstill alive? And now the Queen was on the hunt for Fibianas well?
“Would youlike I let you out of here?” Agulha asked,” Make youmy little pet? You could join us if you like? I’ll take very good care of you.Feed you the finest scraps from my plate.”
Cyrusremembered his promise to Tier. Promise me you will kill them all. Hissorrow turned to rage. It became like sunlight through a magnifying glass, focusedand brilliant. He looked up at Agulha, the one he couldhave killed at the foot of the queen’s throne. The one he had spared. If Cyrushad not shown mercy, Tier might be alive.
Agulha’s eyes met his. Cyrus visualized ripping the councilor’sthroat out with his bare hands. The fantasy only made the hate grow stronger.The old klops stumbled back as if pulling away from asnapping beast.
“Answer theCouncilor when he’s talking to you,” General Morte demanded.
“Never mindthat,” Agulha said, visibly shaken, “Just get thisdead yeto out of here.”
Agulha stormed out of the room. Cyrus watched the old klops’every step.
“You may befeeling brave now,” the general said, loosening the chains and unlocking Tier’sbody, “But
