124 Broken City (2/2)

\”Yup… thought it was just me,\” he responded almost immediately. \”It's kind of like how I imagine Dracula's castle to look.\”

\”You know…\” I elbowed my brother's arm. \”I didn't need that image…\”

The keep even had a moat, and upon inspecting said mote after we 'd crossed its wooden bridge, I saw that the water below was filled with scaly creatures whose names I did not know. But they definitely seemed like they were at least relatives to alligators, the oversized kind.

We crossed into the keep's courtyard, an expansive space that was roughly the size of a basketball court. Training implements littered the yard, from straw dolls to racks and racks of weapons. Past the courtyard, massive steps led up to two thick wooden double doors.

The doors were ajar, filtering out the light from the entry hall beyond. However, there was no need for us to go to them as my quarry was sitting on a wooden seat twenty yards away while observing his soldiers as they performed training drills with a sword.

The man, for he looked more like a man than any fairy I'd ever encountered, was massive. Muscular arms bulged underneath a sweaty shirt. A thick neck supported a square-jawed face that wouldn't have looked out of place in a Superhero movie. His golden hair, the same color as Aura's, was parted neatly to the side. He was no Edo, but he was definitely in his category when it came to the imposing-stature-vibe.

Yes, he looked very human. In fact, the only part of him that distinguished him as a fairy were the long, pointed ears on the side of his head.

\”Azuma,\” I whispered. \”Time for a show of force.\”

At my command, Azuma yelled, \”Form ranks.\”

His soldiers, all of whom were former visere elites of the Magesong clan, diligently followed their squad leader's command, spreading out behind us in two neat rows of ten, their bronze armors impeccably shiny underneath Idunn's light.

\”Forgive the interruption, master,\” the satyr commander said in what was unmistakably a quaking voice. \”But this five—\”

I stepped forward and saluted Garm. \”Five-Hundred Man Commander, Dean Dapper, here to greet Great General Garm of the Trickster Pavillion's Four Generals.\”

Garm's ears pricked when he heard my name. He turned to face me, his deep blue eyes searching my face.

He raised a massive hand, and immediately afterward, his soldiers dropped their training stances and formed ranks behind him as if in mimicry of my own troops. Only, there were many more of them on his side.

Garm rose to his feet, his tree-trunk legs bulging underneath thin trousers, and made his way to me. In his right hand, he hefted a great sword that would have made Luca's weapon seem tiny in comparison.

When he was within striking distance of me, Garm lifted his sword and planted its pointy end deep into the ground. Then he placed both hands on the pommel of his sword and showed off a rather relaxed stance that reminded me of Azuma when he was baiting me.

Garm's eyes trailed the length of my party. He frowned at seeing Luca, grunted when he saw my shieldmaiden companion, smiled when he saw Edo, and then narrowed his eyes at the sight of Azuma.

\”Such an interesting party the Patriarch has sent me,\” he said in a voice that was all gruff with no warmth. \”Has he finally decided to come for my head, Edo?\”

Garm's address of Edo was a proverbial slap in my face. It meant he hadn't recognized me as worthy of speaking to.

\”No, Great General,\” Edo said, shaking his head. He pointed a hand at me, deferring to me as he should have. \”We have traveled a great distance so that my Commander could speak with you.\”

Garm spared me another look of contempt. The guy already didn't like me and I hadn't even opened my mouth yet. Still, I wasn't about to be intimidated by this muscle head. Not with Ty's life hanging in the balance.

\”I'm here to ask you if the Foolhardies could—\”

\”—Denied,\” Garm cut me off quickly.

\”But, you haven't even—\”

\”—I don't need to hear it. I refuse to help Aurana's pet,\” he said, grinning mischievously back at me. \”Go back to your tiny tower, boy… You're not strong enough to play in this arena.\”