A Plague of Giants (Seven Kennings #1) - Kevin Hearne Page 0,166

to me. I could lie as well.

“I must make sure I understand,” I said. “I am still learning your language.”

The Eculan sneered, showing a mouthful of teeth in as poor condition as Saviič’s. Did they not adhere to basic rules of hygiene? “I can tell,” he said. “How did you learn?”

“One of the faithful. He was sick, and we found him. He taught me. He told me of Zanata Sedam.”

“Who?” the Eculan asked, intensely interested. I doubted I could lie about the name. As fanatical as they were, they probably had all the names of the faithful memorized. And this might be the opening I needed.

“Saviič,” I replied.

“Saviič lives?” He was thoroughly amazed and obviously recognized the name.

“Yes, yes, he does. He was injured on his journey. He is to the south and healing. Perhaps your army has already found him.”

“Where is Saviič?”

I held up a hand to urge him to be patient. “Have you seen a map of this country?”

“Yes. All have seen it.”

“May I see?”

“I do not have a map with me.”

“Stay there. I will show you.” Since we would not kill this man, we had to ensure that he reported nothing useful to his superiors later. He would not learn of Kauria from me if he did not already know of it. Searching the ground, I found a stick on the side of the road and stepped forward a few paces, sketching a rough facsimile of the Brynt and Raelech coast in the turf. I poked at places to indicate the locations of cities. I circled the one that represented Möllerud and then stepped back, motioning to Ponder that he should follow with me to keep a healthy distance between us.

“Look,” I said, pointing to the ground. “Without your weapon, please. I show you where Saviič is.”

The Bone Giant rose to his feet and left his sword on the ground. He seemed to be composed primarily of sinew yet rattled as he walked. Still, his easy movement and height made him intimidating. He peered down at my improvised map and said, “What is this?”

“The coast. The city in a circle is this one,” I said, pointing at the ground beneath our feet. “You see three cities to the south: Hillegöm, Bennelin, and Fandlin. Saviič is in Hillegöm.” By the time he discovered I was lying, I would be far away.

“My army is there now! I must tell my vojskovodja!”

Pasting on my best fake smile, the one I always wore to administration meetings at the college, I said, “I am happy I could help. I hope all the other faithful returned to Ecula.”

It was a statement that begged to be corrected, a favorite stratagem of mine to keep people talking. Say something a person knows to be wrong and very few will be able to contain the inner pedant who simply must teach you how very wrong you are. The Bone Giant was no different. “No,” he said, shaking his head. “Most did not. Seventy-seven and seven sailed west, but only seven returned to Ecula.” He raised his fist to the sky, suddenly overcome with zealotry. “It was a sign!”

He did not say what the sign might signify or who was responsible for the sign. But instead of asking him to explain, I simply nodded, the safest reply one could make to nonsense. It was not difficult to deduce that one or more of the faithful who returned must have supplied them with the regional map of Brynlön and Rael they used for their invasion.

“Perhaps more of the faithful remain here like Saviič,” I said. “Your other army to the south may discover them. Your armies to the north may discover more!”

“Why would the faithful remain here all this time?”

An excellent question. Why would these fanatics remain here? “The Seven-Year Ship,” I blurted.

“Yes?”

“They may have searched up rivers for them. They go deep into the interior, very wide. Ships can sail on them.”

“I had not thought of that. It is possible.” Well, it was plausible, anyway, to someone like him who didn’t know these lands. There was no mysterious ship crewed by white-skinned men hiding somewhere up the rivers of Brynlön.

“Can you tell me what the Seven-Year Ship looks like?” I asked him. “I have never seen it.”

He pointed to the bay, where the Eculan fleet was anchored. “Different from our boats. Hull curved to slice waves, very tall. Kraken on the main sail.”

“How does the Seven-Year Ship cross the ocean without being taken by krakens?”

The Bone Giant’s