The Gentle Giant

Book One ~ Chapter Fourteen

The skeletons held everyone down until Valdemar and Lucio disappeared over the hill. The skeletons crumbled into dust, finally letting them go. Muriel lurched forward, curling over Kahmgalai's body with shaking shoulders. Emir moved to kneel next to him, staring down numbly at her body. There was no light left in her eyes. What Lucio did to her, nothing could be done to fix it. She was gone. Tears streamed down Muriel's face, falling onto Kahmgalai's cheek. Rage slowly started filling Emir. His grip tightened on the grass, "We'll get Lucio for this," he growled, "We'll kill him."

"...That won't bring her back," mumbled Muriel.

Morga stabbed her spear into the ground, "No. But it'll stop him from doing this ever again."

Muriel turned on her, eyes full of fury, "Stop him?! You're the one that taught him to do this!"

"I was just-"

"Just what?! You're the reason this graveyard exists! What does it matter if he adds another body to it?!"

Morga stayed silent momentarily before sighing quietly, "She told you, then."

Emir nodded, "She told us. Your people... they are who destroyed the Kokhuri."

"Yes. And I lost my own tribe in the process." Morga looked off over the distant hill Lucio disappeared behind, "He's getting away, we need to-"

"No," Muriel interrupted, "Not until... not until you tell us why."

"What does it matter why? Will that change what happened? Will it bring any of them back?" asked Morga, "Will it change the future?"

"This was Kahmgalai's life... She deserves an answer," said Muriel.

Morga received a nod from Erik. She sighed before starting, "Our lands were barren. Our enemies were many. We were attacked on all sides by other tribes in the forest. Soon, famine took hold. We lost many to an ignoble death far from the battlefield. The Steppe had fertile land. Food."

"So, you just... attacked?" asked Emir, "Why didn't you ask for help?"

Morga snorted and shook her head vehemently, "Would we have been given it? More than likely, we would have tipped our hand and given the enemy an advantage. My people were dying. I did what I had to."

"Killed mine," Muriel growled.

"That's how this world works." Morga looked to Kahmgalai, pain in her eyes, "Someone had to die. I made a choice. So did she."

"Get out..."

"Muriel-"

"No. You don't get to use her death- her death to justify what you've done!" As he yelled, there was venom in his tone. But as he huffed, his words began to tremble, "You don't get to... get out of my sight."

"This is petty!" yelled Morga, "Montag is still out there, you foolish boy. Will you let him go because of your feelings?!"

Muriel turned away from her, closing his eyes, "Go."

"And you, Emir. You agree with this?"

He stayed silent momentarily before sighing and nodding, "You heard him." Morga looked a little sad, as did Erik, but they didn't argue. They simply nodded and turned away.

"Montag is headed to our homeland," said Morga, "Years ago, I failed him there. I let him live. I will not make that mistake twice. If you decide to stop this foolishness... If you decide to fight. Call for Jӕger. He will lead you there." With that, the two women left the graveyard without another word, their figures disappearing over the horizon.

Emir and Muriel sat in silence for a long while after they left. It felt like the whole world had stopped, but Emir's head was still spinning, "Just this morning, Kahmgalai was..."