A Giant's Friend, page 9
“They’re not all bad. You know that. That man I love is a warrior with a good heart and he got that heart from his family. They accepted me and welcomed my mother and me into their home. They raised me until I joined the army. They have given me nothing but love.”
Jethryn looked away. Silence fell. Jeth tilted the mug of water sitting next to him and sipped. His stomach gurgled in hunger and his bladder tightened desperately. But he ignored it all, waiting for his grandmother. Wondering if she could understand his position. Yet her acceptance and invitation into the clan warmed his heart even as it stuck in his gut. What would it have been like to be raised here? Possibly by Jethryn herself? His mother might still be alive. Yet he wouldn’t know her, not really. She’d be alive and they’d be strangers. He didn’t know if that would have been better.
“What is his name?”
Jeth looked at Jethryn and didn’t need to ask her to clarify. “Kodie.”
She closed her eyes. “We love only once in our lives. Did you know that? We might have numerous mates and children, but only one mate will capture our heart and soul. Only one will tempt us to abandon all kin bonds, all that is familiar, and enter the unknown. We never know when it will come or why it comes. It is instant, that connection. It is both feared and revered, hated and yearned for.” She looked at him. “Does your Kodie fit that description?”
No hesitation. “Yes.”
She nodded.
He reached out and touched her hand. She looked down and turned her hand so she could curl her fingers around his.
“In such a short time you have given me so much,” Jeth said. Their eyes met. “I can never thank you enough, and no words will ever convey my gratitude. I will tell you that I know why Kodie is my one mate. My mother was killed when I was only thirteen winters, and I fell into the rage.”
Her eyes widened.
“I don’t remember much of it. I don’t want to. I killed and maimed the villagers that caused my mother’s death. Kodie followed me and he saved me. He broke the control the rage had on me. Then he followed me into the army and has never once left my side. He is my true home, and he can’t stay here. I can’t lose him.”
“I see,” she whispered. “Yes, I understand now. I rejoice for you both. What a special man he must be.”
“He is.” Jeth tightened his grip on her hand. “I know you don’t want to become involved in human affairs. Trust me, I completely understand. But neither Kodie nor I can ever leave this mountain until we are either dead or the war is over. These may be my mountains but I won’t die on them, and I won’t allow them to take Kodie.”
“You want us to ally with your king.”
“I want you to ally with your grandson. I want you to trust me.”
Jethryn tilted her head, a small smile playing on her lips. “I do trust you. I see in you the best of both humans and giants.”
“No, I’m not—”
Jethryn leaned down and kissed the top of his head. His words died.
“I will talk to the council on your behalf.” She stood.
“What are my chances?” Jeth asked, grabbing his kilt and cloak. “Is it even possible they will agree?”
“It is possible.” Jethryn smiled, and Jeth got the impression it held many secrets. “You are my blood and I claim you. We are not so much helping a human kingdom but one of our own. Our son is in danger and so is his chosen mate. We can’t allow such an insult to go unpunished.”
Jeth grinned, utterly appreciating her at that moment. He wasn’t surprised to realize he was a little in love with her already. And Jettina.
“You rest now,” Jethryn said. “I will call a council meeting.”
“How fast can you come to a decision?”
“You just worry about yourself for right now. Heal. Rest. I’ll take care of the council. Trust me.”
A wave of dizziness washed over him, and Jeth had to lie down and focus on his breathing. So close. He was so close to his goal he could taste it. He’d come this far, and it would seem the rest had to be pushed forward by a giantess he just met, his grandmother.
Hang on just a bit longer, Kodie, he thought. I’m still alive and coming home.
Chapter Ten
Two weeks.
No word from Jeth. No word from Master General Cord. No news of the success or failure of Dathia’s attempt at an alliance with the giants. The standstill gnawed at Kodie’s insides. All he could do was continue to train the soldiers, make sure supplies were sufficient, and not dwell on the horrifying thought that Jeth was dead.
At least he was well enough to join in on the training. Kodie took on three men with axe and sword. He shouted suggestions, proud of their teamwork and coordination. They got him on his knees and held a blade to his neck. He grinned as the crowd that inevitably formed around them, cheered.
The storm finally broke two days before and everyone took advantage of the freedom of movement outside their tents.
Kurza held out a hand and he took it, letting her pull him to his feet.
“Great job.” He sheathed his sword and hefted the axe over his shoulder. His breath came out in thick puffs of fog. “Take a break. All of you.”
He trudged back to his tent.
“Commander.” He turned to see Nadya hurrying toward him. She touched his arm when she reached him. “A scout just arrived, half frozen. He reports that three Dathian soldiers left the territory of the giant clan south of us. He claims they looked rather smug and had fresh supplies, looking no worse for the wear despite the storm.”
Kodie tightened his grip on the axe handle. “Weren’t there five to start?”
“Aye. They could have either died from exposure or remained with the giants. We can’t know.”
“Smug looks mean they got what they wanted.” His stomach pitched. “Is he certain? The scout?”
“Aye. Absolutely certain and scared out of his mind.”
Kodie looked north, in the direction Jeth left. Where are you?
Nadya squeezed his arm. “What do we do?”
“Don’t tell anyone else. Don’t let him talk to anyone else. We can’t start a panic. I’ll write to the master general. Go.”
She nodded and hurried away. Kodie entered his tent and dropped the axe before grabbing a piece of parchment from one of his bags. He quickly scrawled out a message and went in search of speedy messenger.
As soon as that was done, he stood next to Jeth’s tent, overlooking the hundreds of tents dotting the land around him. Each one held either four or five soldiers. So many lives under his command. So many lives to be slaughtered. Soldiers died, but it shouldn’t be accepted. It shouldn’t be shrugged away. They had families and lives on the flatlands, and many wouldn’t return.
Shivering, Kodie crossed his arms over his chest. A snowflake found its way inside his cloak and rolled down his neck. Kodie gritted his teeth and kicked snow with his foot. He tilted his head back and looked at the sky. Nothing to see there. The entire sky and all that surrounded them was white. An enormous white tent without heat.
Kodie thought of his family and his stomach tightened. It was hard to keep up the hope he would see them again. If the Dathians didn’t kill him, then either the weather or the giants would.
He sighed. Even as he started to turn, shouts from below on the training field caught his attention. Soldiers pointed to something behind him, and he whipped around, hand on his sword. He pulled it out halfway before his mind comprehended the familiarity of the figure standing not far from him.
A large hand pushed back a fur-lined hood, revealing a brutish and beloved face. Jeth grinned, onyx eyes dancing with amusement and love.
“Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes,” he said.
Awareness of their audience was the only thing that kept Kodie from leaping into Jeth’s arms and devouring him whole. Instead, he let go of the sword and walked forward. He reached out and pressed a hand to Jeth’s chest, letting his eyes show what he couldn’t otherwise.
“I’m glad you’re back.”
Jeth covered Kodie’s hand. “So am I. And with good news.”
“We could use some.”
“The Dathians got their alliance?”
“Aye, so it would seem.”
“We got ours.”
Kodie’s eyes widened and his jaw dropped. “What? How? That’s wonderful! But—”
“It’s a long story. I’ll tell you every bit of it after I get a message to the master general. The king will have to agree to the giants’ terms or not even the gods will save him.”
“What are the terms?”
“Not unreasonable.”
Kodie gave him an exasperated look even as his heart continued to pound in excitement and relief. “I just sent a message down the mountain for Cord about the Dathians and the giants. Yours should increase the urgency of a response.”
“I should say.” Jeth grabbed Kodie’s hand and tugged him into his tent. As soon as the flaps closed, Kodie found his mouth assaulted, and he pushed into it, yearning for more. For all. Jeth cupped his face and ravished his mouth while Kodie pushed his hands into Jeth’s tunic, relishing that warm, hairy skin.
“I missed you,” Kodie murmured against Jeth’s lips.
“Same,” Jeth said as he pulled back. They both panted and it was apparent Jeth struggled to step away. He grabbed parchment and quill and bent over the table to write. Kodie stepped up beside him and wrapped an arm around his thick waist. He leaned passed Jeth’s arm to read what he wrote, and his eyes widened, his heart pounding for another reason. He knew there had to be more to Jeth’s time with the giants but the most relevant to the war was what Jeth wrote down.
Jeth quickly rolled and tied the parchment before choosing a messenger. As soon as the messenger rode off, Kodie touched Jeth’s arm.
“We have time now. Tell me everything.”
Jeth laid his arm across Kodie’s shoulders and led him back into the tent. “Where do I even start?”
Jeth fell silent after he told Kodie everything he learned with the giants. He drank some mead, giving Kodie time to process it all. Gods, Jeth was still trying to process it all.
“I am so happy for you.”
Jeth met Kodie’s eyes. Kodie smiled, looking awestruck. “I really am, Jeth. That is so… amazing and, gods, I don’t have the words. You found your other family. And they welcomed you! They’re not at all what I imagined.”
“You’re telling me,” Jeth said with a slight laugh. “But they can be. I believed Jethryn when she said giants can be the vicious monsters when riled. I suspect we’ll see some of that when they join the war. The council didn’t like the idea that another giant clan were allying themselves with humans. Involving themselves in human affairs isn’t what giants do.”
“But… they allied with you.”
“I’m blood. They protect their own.”
Kodie smiled. “I’m grateful for their loyalty.”
“I told Jethryn about you.”
Kodie blinked. “Oh.”
“She wants to meet you.”
He paled. “Oh.”
Jeth snorted and tackled Kodie to the ground on top of the furs. “Enough talking for now. I need you.” He yanked at the ties of Kodie’s breeches while also pulling off his tunic. Kodie gasped and played along, tugging on Jeth’s clothes. They stripped each other with some fumblings and laughter before Jeth pinned Kodie underneath him.
Kodie moaned. “I missed your heat.”
Jeth shivered as Kodie gripped his back, fingers digging to his skin. Kodie’s strong, muscled legs tightened around his waist and their cocks rubbed together, sending spikes of pleasure up his spine. Jeth kissed him all over his face.
“I love you.”
Kodie captured his mouth for a long, hard kiss before nipping at his lower lip. “I love you, giant man.”
Jeth grinned.
They gave each other pleasure, with mouths and hands, bodies sliding, warm despite the frigid air of the mountains. Reconnecting, reforging the bond between them since childhood.
Jeth finally rolled off Kodie and onto his back, gasping for air. Sated and smug about it, Jeth smiled at the roof of the tent, thrilled to think he could have Kodie like this for the rest of their lives. Kodie grunted and rolled into Jeth’s side, draping an arm across his chest. Jeth tucked an arm under his own head and turned his gaze to Kodie, overwhelming tenderness washing over him. Now he understood where that came from. It was the giant part of him. He stroked Kodie’s hair as he felt him gradually fall asleep. Jeth returned his gaze to the roof of the tent and was impatient to end this damn war. It didn’t matter if the king and the master general agreed to the giants’ terms, this was going to happen. This was all going to end one way or another.
Chapter Eleven
Half of Jeth’s clan traveled to the giant clan south while the rest went to work. Kodie didn’t know the politics of giant society, and as long as they held up their end of the deal, he didn’t need to. They received a message from Master General Cord the day the giants arrived to force the Dathians to retreat and end their siege.
The king agreed to the terms of the alliance and named Jeth the official ambassador between the Senica kingdom and the giant clan. His giant clan. Kodie considered this discovery an act of the gods and made an extra sacrifice in their name. Jeth finally knew where he came from, whose blood flowed in his veins. Kodie was immensely thankful it had been a positive experience, a hopeful one.
Jeth couldn’t speak for a long moment after Kodie read the king’s declaration. Then he simply nodded and readied for battle.
The giants led the charge down the mountain, Dathian soldiers scattered like leaves in the wind. There wasn’t much for the Senician soldiers to do except cut down a few stragglers. Hundreds of giants roared into the Dathian base camp and routed the general and his soldiers, and they didn’t stop there. Fendra soldiers fired arrows that merely glanced off the giants’ thick hides.
Kodie directed the soldiers as Jeth raced after General Hadic, the king’s most trusted and ruthless counselor. Kodie had no doubt Jeth would catch up to him.
Green-feathered arrows flew through the air toward the soldiers.
“Shields!”
Dropping to their knees, the soldiers held up the shields. Most arrows glanced off, though a few found entry points. Kodie unsheathed his sword, about to lead his soldiers into the fendra ranks where they crouched upon a rocky ledge. Before he could give the command, a large giantess stomped over and, with a club the size of her head, bashed the fendras off their ledge to the ground. Then she proceeded to smash them to bits.
Kodie gaped.
She tossed her hair behind her back, blonde and braided, and briefly met his gaze with her steely blue one. She smiled and winked before turning and holding the club in front of her, ready for more. The Dathian soldiers wanted no part in a battle with giants, especially if they didn’t have any of their own. They fled before her and her brethren.
Thunder shied under Kodie when he tried to get closer to her. He was forced to dismount and approach on foot. She glanced down at him again. Kodie had to crane his neck back to see her face. By the gods!
Heart trembling with primal fear, Kodie lifted his hand in a gesture of peace. “Th-thank you.”
She cocked her head at him before crouching. She was still much taller than him, but he didn’t have to crane his neck as much.
“You are the mate of my Jeth.”
Kodie blinked. “Oh. Um. You’re Jethryn?”
She nodded.
“N-nice to meet you.”
She snorted and he felt the air brush over his face. “If you weren’t so pale, I would believe you. Though I do not blame you for your fear. You should fear us.”
“I would rather respect you than fear you.”
She cocked her head to the other side, regarding him with a steady gaze. “It can be both.”
“Aye. I suppose.”
She scanned the battlefield. Kodie turned to do the same. He hoped it would be a long while before the Dathian king managed to rebuild his resources for another attack. Or, better yet, that he would die and a new king take his place. Something had to change.
“Where is Jeth?” she asked.
“He chased after General Hadic. Without him the king is powerless. Hadic is his right hand and carries out his commands swiftly without question. I personally hope there will be a coup and new leadership will take charge. That should keep the Dathians busy for a while.”
Jethryn nodded.
Kodie squinted into the distance and could only make out the shapes of giants. Worry began to bloom in his stomach.
Where was Jeth?
Jeth caught up with Hadic even as the general urged his horse faster. Jeth pumped his legs, judged the distance, then leapt. He caught Hadic and knocked him off the horse, which promptly sped away. Rolling over the unforgiving ground jarred them both, and Jeth had to let go of Hadic or risk breaking something. He rolled to his feet the instant Hadic charged, sword in hand. Jeth dodged and unsheathed his own blade. Steel clashed as they fought fiercely over the dry, lifeless land, picked clean of all vegetation and nutrients.
Hadic was a big man and managed to hold his own against Jeth. At first. Jeth wore him down, his stamina and strength long returned after his frozen battle with the Lash Mountains. Hadic was the last piece. The last card the king had to play. Eliminate him, cripple the king. Stop the war.
Kodie and he could then live a life off the mountains. Away from bloodshed and loss. Kodie could be warm, he could see the grass and trees and pastures of his youth. After this one last mission, Jeth could finally give Kodie the life he deserved.
Jeth knocked Hadic’s sword from his hand before kicking out and slamming his foot into his legs. Hadic howled as bones snapped and he fell to the ground. Jeth panted as he held his blade against Hadic’s throat.
“It ends now.”
Hadic snarled at him with murderous eyes. “Aye, it does, giant spawn.”
