Once Upon Another Time, page 5
“Your Majesty?” Creel said. “Is there a problem?”
King Denir stepped forward, pushing almost dismissively past Creel to stand just before Lena. Even shorter than other adult giants, the king still towered over Lena, especially standing on the raised platform before her.
“You,” he said, his eyes burning with anger. “You are not welcome here. Who invited you?”
Lena’s mouth dropped open, and she struggled to think of an answer. This was not part of the plan, not at all! “The, ah, Sparktender… we got an invitation,” she managed to say, her voice just barely loud enough for the king to hear. “My name… was on it?”
“She is of the age, Your Majesty,” Creel whispered. “And the law says that all giants will be welcome—”
The king sneered at Creel. “This one is no giant,” he hissed, then stabbed a finger into Creel’s chest. “And I shall deal with you later. You knew this… creature was not allowed to participate in such a sacred ceremony.”
Creel’s eyes flashed between Lena and the king, only for him to lower his head. “I apologize, Your Majesty. The mistake was entirely mine. The girl is innocent of any wrongdoing.”
Every muscle in Lena’s body was clenched, and part of her wanted to turn and run, just to get away from whatever was happening. The king didn’t want her here, and he was looking at her like she was some sort of disgusting bug.
But giants did not run from danger. Giants fight to show their might. And Lena was nothing if not a true giant.
“I deserve to be here, Your Majesty,” she said, her voice raspy in her bone-dry throat. She said it so quietly that she wasn’t sure the king could even hear and started to repeat herself, only for Denir to shake his head.
“You don’t even deserve to live in the clouds,” he said, his eyes narrowed in rage. “Look at you, hiding your shame. But I know the real you, creature. And if not for your parents, I’d have thrown you down to the earth where you belong, with the rest of the filthy monsters.”
Lena gasped, and she found it impossible to breathe.
“I’m… a giant, Your Majesty,” she whispered. “Just like you.”
The king leaned forward, and a wave of horrible breath crashed over her. “You are no giant,” he whispered back. “You are a mistake, and one that continues to live here with your betters because of my mercy. And now you pretend to be a regular giant, using some temporary magical ring? All that does is hide your true nature.” He sneered. “Now get out, and never come back to my castle, or I’ll throw you down to the world below myself. Do you understand me?”
“Your Majesty—” Creel started to say, but a glare from the king silenced him instantly.
Lena turned to the giant kids around her, barely able to understand what was happening. But each of the others just looked away. Her father was watching her with a confused expression, while in the back, her mother seemed like she might cry or punch someone, maybe both.
Lena turned back to the king, who didn’t look like he was going to wait much longer for a response.
Fight this! a part of her shouted in her mind. True giants fight! Prove to the king, to everyone, that you’re no different from them!
“Get… out,” the king hissed, and pushed her backward.
The crowd gasped as she slammed into the giant kid behind her, and Lena had to run the back of her hand over her face to cover her tears.
“I’m… I’m sorry,” she said, shaking her head.
“You’re sorry… what?” the king asked.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty,” she said, then bowed low, turned, and ran toward the exit.
“Lena!” her mother shouted as she passed, reaching out for her, but Lena couldn’t bring herself to stop, not with the eyes of all the other giants on her. She burst out of the castle’s front gate, tears freely falling now, then turned back for just a moment, hoping that maybe the king had changed his mind.
But instead, the ritual had continued without her, and the giant child who’d been standing behind her was now touching his hand to the Spark.
“Lena!” she heard her mother yell, following her out. But Lena couldn’t bear to see her, talk about any of this, not now.
Instead, she ran, the king’s words echoing in her head.
You knew this… creature was not allowed to participate in such a sacred ceremony.
I’d have thrown you down to the earth where you belong, with the rest of the filthy monsters.
You are no giant.
You are a mistake.
YOU ARE NO GIANT.
CHAPTER 10
Okay, I can do this,” Jin said, as the creepy Faceless knights began making their way out of the clearing in several directions. “I’m not going to let some ridiculous magic spell beat me.”
You’re made of ridiculous magic spells, the cosmic knowledge said in his head, and he snorted.
I’m made of amazing, clever magic spells.
And you wonder why we think you need some humility.
Okay, that was a bit fair. But also, the all-knowing cosmic awareness in his head could use a little humiliation too, which meant he had to figure this out.
Jin began pacing around in a circle as he thought, then hovering as he moved, when walking became too tiring.
The spell turned away anyone with ill intent, according to the Faceless. Maybe he could trick it by, say, pretending to be looking for the Last Knight to help the man?
He paused in his pacing and concentrated hard. “This is for the Last Knight’s own good,” he whispered, trying his best to believe it. “Really. I have nothing but goodwill toward everyone in the Cursed City. I wouldn’t even call it that, a cursed city, because that seems rude. I’m sure everyone in this blessed city is very nice and extremely uncursed!”
Satisfied, he set off on a path out of the clearing, completely positive that he’d shortly arrive at the city gates.
Instead, he arrived back in the now-empty clearing and began cursing in genie.
Perhaps you’d like some help? the cosmic voice said.
Oh, now it wanted to help? After watching him fail? No way, he hadn’t even begun to fail yet. No thanks, I’ve got this.
It’s just that there are loopholes that would allow you to find the way—
Jin shook his head. I know the way. That’s not the problem. It’s the spell!
Perhaps the spell might be negated if you were with someone who knew how to enter the city? Who bore no ill will themselves?
Jin narrowed his eyes, annoyed about all of this. “You know what?” he said out loud. “I just thought of something. What if I find someone who knows the way and doesn’t bear the city any ill will? They could probably take me in. So that means I’ve figured this out, all on my own!”
Who are you talking to?
“No one!” Jin shouted, his irritation growing. He closed his eyes and reached out with his senses, quickly trying to find… well, anyone who wasn’t a Faceless. He did sense some of the latter at first, which was odd, because it felt like there were many, many more of them than it’d looked like when he’d first arrived. Were there other platoons of Faceless in the surrounding woods? Probably. The Golden King wasn’t taking any chances.
But finally, finally, he sensed something new: a lone creature, human or close enough, all by itself in the woods not too far away. The Faceless hadn’t found it yet, but they would. So really, Jin would be doing this creature a favor by helping him get back to the Cursed City. Take that, ill will!
He immediately teleported close enough to the creature to reach it quickly, but not so close that it’d see him appear, then strode off in the right direction, quietly hoping that he wasn’t near enough to the city for its magic to turn him around before he found whoever it was.
Apparently the city’s protective spell didn’t reach this far, as a moment later, he found his target, high up in a tree, of all places.
Only it wasn’t human. And it didn’t look like any other creature Jin had ever seen.
“Hello?” Jin said, staring up into the branches at a small brown nest of twigs and leaves.
At first there was no response, and Jin started to wonder if he should just break his disguise and float up to look in the nest. But gradually he began to see a bright white oval appear over the top of the twigs, followed by two tiny eyes.
“There you are!” Jin said, waving, and the tiny eyes and white oval disappeared back into the nest, only to reappear a moment later with a sigh.
“Halt!” the egg shouted, its shell splitting in half to form a mouth as it spoke. It pushed itself to a standing position, little arms and legs emerging from cracks in the shell. “Go no farther, or I shall be forced to call the guards on you!”
Jin tilted his head. “Are they all your size? And eggs?” He smiled. “There must be dozens of you.”
The egg’s eyes narrowed. “Everyone thinks they’re the first person to ever think of that. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard it.”
“Sorry about that,” Jin said, bowing low to show his fake sincerity. “Really. I was just lost in these woods, and hoping to find some shelter for the night.”
“It’s just past noon,” the egg said.
“No one likes you much, do they?” Jin said, then quickly shook his head. “I mean, no one likes you as much as they should. Why did they stick you all the way out here?”
The egg puffed itself up, making tiny cracking noises as its shell threatened to split around it. “I am one of the Cursed City’s guards, if you must know. I’m keeping silent watch over the area as we’ve heard rumors of increased Faceless activity. People are getting worried that they’ve found a way in.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that!” Jin said. “I just saw a bunch of them wandering around lost. But I’m glad to tell your superiors in the city what I saw. We should go now, before the Faceless find us.”
The egg peered down at him suspiciously. “And how do I know you’re not on their side?”
Jin frowned, then pointed at his nose. “I have a face.”
“And it could be the face of someone on the Golden King’s side,” the egg pointed out, which was fair, considering he was right.
“The Golden King?” Jin said indignantly. “I’d never serve that horrible man. Have you seen all the gold he wears? It’s so tasteless.”
“He’s also trying to destroy us all because we harbor a bunch of rebels,” the egg pointed out.
“And that, too!” Jin said. “Just as bad. But I’m sure you’re no rebel, and just want to live your life in the city, which is where we should go now—”
“Oh, I’m a rebel all right,” the egg said, and Jin held himself back from face-palming. “Sworn to overthrow the fake chancellor. He only won due to all the other candidates getting attacked by dragons, including the former chancellor!”
Jin winced inwardly. “I think I’ve heard something about that. Listen, it’s not safe out here. Jump down, and I’ll carry you back. If you don’t trust me, just take me to whoever’s in charge, and let them decide.” He spread his arms wide “I’m unarmed, as you can see, so what’s the harm? I just want a safe place to sleep for the night, one without any Faceless, preferably.”
“Seriously, it’s just past noon,” the egg said. Jin resisted the urge to crack it in half as the egg pushed itself to the top of the nest, then stood there with his arms out. “But I’ll take you to the Last Knight, and he can decide. Catch me, will you?”
Jin put out his arms, and the egg leapt from the nest, falling faster than Jin had anticipated. He jumped forward, trying to catch the little creature, but missed, and the egg hit the ground, cracking into several pieces.
Jin’s mouth dropped open in horror, and suddenly he had no idea what to do. I think I just killed the egg! he thought at the cosmic knowledge.
Well, you can’t make an omelet without—
“Oh, nice catch!” the egg said as its mouth formed on one of the larger pieces, yolk sprayed out all around it on the ground. As Jin looked down in fascination and disgust, the egg slowly pushed itself to a sitting position, leaving behind pieces of itself in the dirt. “I’m going to need your help now, which I feel like you sort of owe me, considering. Would you mind taking me to Dr. Horse? He’s the only one who knows how to put me back together.”
Jin just stared at the broken egg. A horse doctor. Because who else would put an egg together? This whole dimension was so odd.
But he hoped that having the egg with him would at least be enough to get him by the spell. Otherwise, this wouldn’t be all it was cracked up to be.
CHAPTER 11
You are no giant.
Lena wanted to tear the words out of her head, but she couldn’t, and they wouldn’t stop echoing in her mind.
You are no giant.
And now you pretend to be a regular giant, using some temporary magical ring? All that does is hide your true nature.
You are no giant.
Her lungs began to burn, and she realized she hadn’t stopped running since the castle. She glanced around, barely sure where she was at this height, as everything looked different, off.
And all because she was just pretending to be a regular giant.
She let loose a combination of rage and humiliation in one scream, then drove her fists into the ground, setting off a mild earthquake through the village.
Everything she’d been waiting for was gone. All her dreams were now never going to happen, not with the king in charge.
You are no giant.
You are no giant.
The urge to run, to get away from the village, was almost too much to take. But where could she go? No other giant village would take a stranger in, especially not after they heard what the king had said about her.
There was the human city, of course. But how could she just abandon her family, her parents?
You are no giant.
And her parents hadn’t objected, hadn’t argued. No one had.
She slammed her fists down again, then wiped her arm over her face.
“Lena is okay?” she heard in her ear, and gasped, having almost forgotten about the one friend who was always on her side.
She carefully lifted Rufus down from where he sat behind her ear, then took off her Growth Ring, shrinking down to her regular size. As she did, she reached over and unbuckled his miniaturizing collar, and he quickly sprouted to his regular height as well.
“Lena is not okay,” she told him, then climbed onto his back. “Lena needs to go away, Rufus. Maybe we go down and see Treats Lady?”
“Treats Lady!” Rufus said, running in a quick circle, which almost threw Lena from his back. She grabbed ahold of his fur and hung on tight as he shifted his direction, then leapt using his magical boots. A moment later, they landed outside Lena’s own house, and Lena whispered for him to stop, just so she could take a look at it.
The sight of her cottage threatened to make her cry again, but she couldn’t leave without a goodbye. And not being able to face her parents, this was the best she could do.
Granted, going down to the human city below wasn’t much of a plan, but for now, Lena didn’t know what else to do. Mrs. Hubbard always seemed to have treats on hand for Rufus, even when her cupboards were otherwise pretty bare. And right now, Lena desperately wanted to see her human friends, since both Mrs. Hubbard and the Last Knight knew her secret and didn’t judge her for it.
In fact, the knight had once offered to permanently help her situation, with a magical cauldron that Mrs. Hubbard used to use in a former life as a witch. But Lena had hesitated, balked, and Rufus had instead jumped into it and grown to his current size.…
Wait. The cauldron. She’d been too scared to use it at the time, given that it turned anyone who drank from it into their true self. What if she hadn’t really been a true giant? But now, what other choice did she have?
And if… no, when the cauldron turned her permanently big, not just temporarily like with the Growth Ring, the king would have to acknowledge that she was as much a giant as any of the others. Wouldn’t he?
She directed Rufus into her room, where her dollhouse waited, then leapt from his back. “Give me a minute, okay?” she told her cat, digging her fingernails into her palm to keep the king’s words from repeating in her mind. Keep moving; don’t feel it yet; just get everything you need and go. This can be fixed. The Last Knight and Mrs. Hubbard will help. Keep trying, keep fighting, like a real giant.
She was already wearing her infinitely large pouch around her waist, so she concentrated on packing it full of clothing, food, and some items for trading. She couldn’t imagine Mrs. Hubbard would insist on payment for using her cauldron, but Lena wasn’t going to take any chances. And if she never came back…
No. She’d be coming back. But for now, all the various human-sized magical items her parents had gotten for her were fair game for trading. And there were a lot of them.
How dare King Denir call the humans thieves, when half of the giants had human-sized enchantments around? How dare—
“Lena is going?” Rufus asked, tilting his head in confusion.
“Lena is going, and so is Rufus,” Lena told him, patting his cheek as she decided she had enough things and left the dollhouse. Rufus trotted after her, still trying to get his brain to figure out this new wrinkle.
“You’re a better giant than any of those horrible people, you know,” Lena told her cat as they reached the next room, scratching behind his ears. “So yeah, we’re going. But hopefully we’ll be back soon, okay?” Saying it out loud brought a lump into her throat, and she forced herself not to think about her parents.
“Lena?” called a voice from outside, making Lena’s insides freeze. Her mother must have run all the way from the castle.
“Cedra, I still don’t understand what happened!” said her father, who apparently had as well.
“Lena, if you’re there, we just want to talk!” her mother shouted again, but Lena shook her head.
“I can’t stay here,” she whispered in their direction, then got on Rufus’s back. “Ready to go, little boy?”
