The Princess Who Went to War

Chapter 21 - To Capture a Giant

[Calysta]

The dining halls seem so empty as compared to how packed it usually is by lunch time. Some people are still tending to their tasks after the attack. 

Ser Remnand had asked me to place a sigil on the raven that will be delivering the news of the attack to the Palace to ensure its safe and fast travel. 

A letter will also be sent to Atticus, hoping that it gets to him first before any word of the attack travels to the nearby villages and duchies and he overhears them during his travel. 

"While the glowing figure spoke, I tried to use my magic vision to find the source. Using figures to communicate takes much magic to be performed." Kalah tells us as we eat. 

"Did you find anything?" Gwen asks. 

Kalah shakes her head, "The tracks stopped at the very spot it stopped on when I tried to track the magic down before." She says. 

"Is there any other way we can track him?" Randall asks as he takes a bite of his food. 

"Wouldn't he be by somewhere with the most monster activity?" Ulysses asks.

"That's right. But we can't just go attacking areas with monster activity. Killing a monster would bring back the magic to its source. If we so much as kill a single monster, he'll find out we're close." Gabriel replies.

"Well, isn't that a good thing?" Randall asks. 

"Not for now. We have no idea of the magic he possesses. It will be dangerous to attack blindly." I reply. 

"Wouldn't it be helpful to have more Sorceresses here?" Ulysses says as he reaches for his cup of water and drinks from it. 

"The Prince has been sending letters and visiting Sorceresses all over the Kingdom. Most sorceresses left here are old, and do not have a good relationship with the Royal Family." Kalah replies. 

"How did he convince you?" Gabriel asks her. She smiles as she leans back. 

"Well, I like a little challenge every now and then." She replies. 

"But with the threat of a surviving Sorcerer, they ought to come and help." Gwen says. 

Gwen scoffs at this, "There is no such thing as obligating a Sorceress. It is our nature to do whatever the hell we want." 

"The existence of a Sorcerer is something that will pique their interest, of course. But it will still entirely depend on them to be here or not." I add. 

"Well, if he's controlling the monsters, why don't we ask the monsters?" Ulysses suggests. We all turn to him, confused.

"They can't even talk, Uly." Randall tells him.

"Giants can." Ulysses replies. We all look at each other, considering the idea for a moment. Randall scoffs.

"What makes you think a giant would give out Abdon's location?" He asks Uly, who's sitting right beside him. 

"Torture." Gwen says, making everyone turn to her. 

Kalah smiles widely as she leans forward, interested, "Now, we're talking." She says as she looks at Gwen, starry-eyed. 

"Torture? A giant?" Randall asks, like he could not believe what he is hearing. 

Gwen shrugs, "Giants are known to have almost the same level of intelligence as humans." She says.

"Okay, but how do we even torture a giant? In the forest? That's too much of a risk." Uly says.

"We capture one." Gabriel says, speaking for the first time since the idea had come up, causing everyone to turn and look at him. 

"Capture one?" Randall repeats. It's as if, from everyone here right now, he's the only one not totally sold out on the idea. 

"Shouldn't be hard. Just like capturing a human. Just bigger." Kalah says. 

"Yeah, nothing I haven't done before." Gwen adds. Everyone turns to look at her. 

"Nothing you haven't done before?" Randall asks, shocked. Gwen laughs. 

"The Royal Guards do all sorts of things." She confesses as she smiles at him. 

"All that talk makes me want to be a part of it." Kalah comments as she smiles widely at Gwen. 

I laugh at her remark, "With your temper, you're bound to burn the Commander down." I tell her. Gwen laughs as well. 

"Well,  then the Royal Guards shall have their first Sorceress as a Commander." She replies as she smiles and stands from her seat. 

"We shall pitch the idea to Remnand later." Kalah says. Randall and Uly almost coughs at hearing her address Ser Remnand without his title.

Kalah rolls her eyes, "I'd rather burn in my own flames than address a man by 'ser'." She says as she walks away and out of the dining halls. 

"She didn't even clean up." Ulysses says, looking at her tray of food she left behind. I only smile as I continue eating, amused at how straightforward this Sorceress of Fire is. 

We all go back to eating our food and finishing up our lunch. It has been quiet with the occasional questions with one another, when Gabriel, seated across of me, suddenly looks at me and speaks. 

"How's your foot?" He asks. 

"Fine now. Ayu says another tonic by dinner should help it heal faster." I reply. He only nods and goes back to his food, making the atmosphere feel weird and a touch awkward. 

So, I speak up, "And your injuries?" I ask. 

"Fine. The healer recommends I come back tonight and tomorrow." He replies. I nod back, making the atmosphere feel weird again. 

Gwen clears her throat from beside me. I look to her to see that she has finished eating her meal. I take my last bite and stand. 

"We'll take our leave." I say, in a rush, as I pick up my tray and Kalah's tray and quickly make my way to the corner where empty trays are left for the kitchen staff to collect. 

"What was that?" Gwen whispers as we both put our trays down. 

"I have no idea." I reply. She chuckles. 

"Your brother would be livid." She says. 

"Why would he?" I ask, turning to her after completely setting everything down. She smiles at me, clearly stifling a laugh. 

I roll my eyes at her as I walk away and out of the dining halls. Gwen is quick to follow me. 

"Atticus has always mentioned introducing you to the Prince of Lertonal." She says as she catches up to me. 

"Shut up, will you, Gwen?" I tell her. She bursts in laughter so loudly, some of the squires turn to look at her. 

"I'm sure the King would agree to the marriage if you asked. Gabriel, after all, is a remarkable knight." She says rather loudly, I was afraid someone might overhear. 

"Why are you talking about marriage? Gods, Gwen." I tell her. She laughs. 

"It's the first time you've ever liked someone!" She replies. 

"I don't like him." I reply as I keep on walking, unsure of where I am headed, and she walks right with me. 

"You do!" She insists.

I stop in my tracks as I face her, "What makes you such an expert?" I ask. 

No words come out of her mouth, even as she opens it as she avoids my gaze. I squint my eyes at her. 

"I'll stop teasing you. Message received." She only replies as she fidgets with her fingers. I smile at her, and she smiles at me. We both chuckle. 

"Let us go help out at the infirmary. I'm sure Ayu and the healers are still rather busy." I tell her. She nods in agreement as we start walking towards the infirmary to help out. 

Right before dinner, Gwen and I head to the Command Room to meet with Ser Remnand. Inside, we find Gabriel and his team already waiting. 

"Kalah's not here yet?" I ask, noticing her absence. 

"Here!" We all turn to the door when it bursts open, revealing Kalah. She then quickly closes the door to join us around the table. 

"We've thought of a way. It is, however, unheard of." Gabriel starts. Ser Remnand's eyebrows furrow at this as turns towards Gabriel to listen. 

"We capture a giant!" Kalah excitedly exclaims, beating Gabriel to it, stealing everyone's attention. 

"Capture a giant?" Ser Remnand repeats this, as if he may have heard it wrong. We nod. 

"How do you propose we go about that?" He asks, confused. 

"As you would with a human. Ropes." Gwen says. 

"Plenty of ropes. The bigger, the better." Randall adds. 

"We'll need more people. To help with the transport, as well with guarding should any other monster in the area ambush us." Gabriel says. 

"I reckon Ayu can create a tonic that would put the giant to sleep during the transport. To prevent a struggle." I suggest.

"How would you make a giant drink a tonic?" Ser Remnand asks. 

I don't reply, realizing the problem. The people in the room look at each other, unsure of what to answer. 

"Wind." Kalah responds, as if it's the obvious answer and we are not thinking hard enough. 

"Calysta's winds should be able to force the giant's mouth open, shouldn't it?" She says. 

Everyone looks at me, as if asking for confirmation. I think about this, forming a conclusion that I just might be able to. 

"I can try." I reply. Kalah smiles widely, looking very much excited for this mission. 

"I'll arrange a few teams for this mission." Ser Remnand says, agreeing. 

"We'll need a wagon that can fit a giant." Gabriel says. 

"I'll have the squires build one for you. It should be ready by tomorrow." Ser Remnand replies. 

"We'll have another meeting tomorrow, with the people I've chosen to be of help. For now, please rest, take your healing tonics, and get yourselves conditioned." Ser Remnand adds as he dimisses us. 

The meeting was fairly quick, and we all leave the Command Room together. Once out, I excuse myself from the rest of them. 

"I'll need to come by the infirmary to take the tonic. I'll join you at the dining halls after." I tell them. 

"Gabriel needs to take his too." Randall says, pointing at Gabriel. 

"You should go together. We'll have a seat ready for you when you return." Gwen says, smiling at me. I roll my eyes at her. 

Gabriel goes first, leading the way, and I follow. It is awfully quiet on our walk towards the infirmary, until he speaks.

"Is there anything wrong?" He asks, breaking the silence. 

I look up to him, and see that he is keeping his gaze forward. 

"Wrong? There is nothing wrong." I reply. 

"You've been awfully... awkward? Quiet?" He says, looking for the right word.

"Ah..." I only mutter, not knowing what to say. 

He was about to say something, when our attention is stolen by a healer standing by the infirmary's door. 

"Your Highness! Ser Elwood!" She cheerfully calls to us, even after such a tiring day for the infirmary. I breathe out a sigh of relief, thankful that she had put an end to such an awkward conversation.

We approach her as she smiles at us, "Are you here for your evening tonic? Ayu has just finished making them." She tells us as she gestures at the open door. 

Inside, we find dozens of soldiers and some squires still being treated, but the infirmary is much peaceful and quiet than it was this morning. 

"Ah, Gabriel and Caly. You are just in time." Ayu says as she hands us two tonics. We quickly drink them. 

Once we've finished, we hand the empty bottles back to Ayu. 

"So I've heard of your request for a sleeping tonic." She says. Ser Remnand must have informed her. 

"We're sorry to put a burden on you on such short notice." Gabriel apologizes. 

"A giant would need ten times the dose needed for a human. Not to worry though. I have a few already crafted. Creating a few more and just mixing shouldn't take too long." She replies. 

"We shouldn't take any more of your time, Ayu. Thank you for the tonic." I thank her, as we prepare to leave.

"Don't forget to return tomorrow, Gabriel." Ayu tells him, smiling before we finally turn to leave. 

Once out of the infirmary, another awkward silence ensues. I close my hands into fists, reeling in my head at how I wish we hadn't gone together. 

"Have I done something wrong?" Gabriel asks and I halt to a stop at this question, and he does too. 

"Certainly not!" I reply in a panic, afraid that he would get the idea that he had offended me in any way. 

"Well, what is it?" He asks. 

I struggle to find the right words, afraid that he'll misunderstand. I open and close my mouth, and open and close it again, and not a single word comes out. 

"Today was just rough." I say, making up an excuse. Somehow though, I feel as if he senses that I am lying. He does not say anything. He does not contest what I said. 

He simply nods, and walks away. And I am left there, standing, unsure and exhausted of the day we just had.