Chapter 60

CHAPTER SIXTY

Ryker

The giant tossed his staff back and forth between his hands. "Everyone knows who you are, General Ryker Locke, Scourge of the Ghouls and son of the last duke in the land."

A low murmur ran through those around him. It seemed not everyone knew who I was… until he revealed it.

"What I don't know is what you're doing in the Revenant Woods," the giant continued.

"And you won't."

The man's gaze flicked to Ellery, and while this conversation had been somewhat entertaining, my amusement vanished. I stepped in front of her to shield her from his view.

"No need to hide her, Scourge. I know who she is," the giant said.

I hadn't intended to kill him, but I may not have a choice. No one could see Ellery and me together; if word got back to my father, things would progress far faster than I'd anticipated, and she'd be at risk.

Ellery rested her hand on my arm and stepped out from behind me. "How do you know me?"

The giant's smile had faded as he studied me, but it returned when his eyes met hers. "You offered your hand in place of that boy's. I was there when it happened, and it's not something you forget." He lifted a finger the size of a sausage to tap his temple. "But I don't forget much."

"How wonderful for you," I growled.

"Easy, General, I don't mean any harm to the lady. I've seen what you can do to ghouls, and we don't want any of that here."

The giant seemed to sense any threat to Ellery would cause me to unleash hell on whoever put her at risk. While he'd said no to using my ability for whatever contest he expected to have here, he couldn't stop me from destroying them if necessary.

His words about seeing what I could do to ghouls piqued my curiosity. "You know me from the war, but I don't recall seeing you there. Did you fight in the Ghoul War?"

"I did, but I was late to the party. I was traveling through the realms when it started; I returned home once I learned what was happening. By then, it was nearly over. I only shared a battlefield with you once, on the day they captured King Leonidas. I never saw you again after that, as you went to rescue him."

And I'd failed, which I could never forgive myself for.

"So, no lightning here; that will make this competition unfair," the giant continued.

"And what is so fair about me trying to get through you ? You have at least a hundred pounds and a good foot on me."

"I can't help it if I was blessed with a size as impressive as my looks."

When Ellery chuckled behind me, I shot her a look. I was glad this tree of an immortal amused her. I was not as entertained.

She grinned back at me. "What? He is good-looking."

The giant laughed as my irritation grew.

"Your lady is a very smart woman."

"I'm not his anything ," Ellery retorted.

The giant's eyebrows rose as my scowl deepened. When the man looked between Ellery and me, the behemoth giggled .

I'd had enough of this shit, and Ellery's words had irritated me more than this man ever could. They were true; she wasn't my anything… anymore, but I didn't like hearing her say it with such conviction. The giant was a lot bigger than me, but I was ready to beat the shit out of something.

"So, Scourge, you have your training, strength, and agility. What makes you think you won't be a match for me?" the giant taunted.

Common sense , but I kept that to myself.

I could defeat this man… if I stayed out of his grasp. Once this beast got his hands on me, it would be over.

"Are you coming to me, or am I going to you?" I inquired.

"We can go back," Ellery muttered.

"No, we can't."

"Let's meet in the middle." When the giant turned to the kids and said something, someone tossed him another staff. He held it out toward me. "Loser takes a bath."

"And what happens after that?"

"That depends on how well you take losing."

I would enjoy seeing this man sopping wet and floating down the river.

"Good luck," Ellery whispered as I stepped onto the tree.

I bounced a little on the log to ensure it would hold my weight before striding toward the middle. When the giant stepped onto the tree, it sagged a little but didn't snap as he approached me.

He stopped a few feet away and tossed the other staff to me. I caught the smooth, thick wood.

I turned it back and forth as I examined it, ensuring they hadn't given me something that would break the first time I used it against him. I had some training with staffs but not as much as other weapons that I preferred to use.

The wood was solid and ready for battle as I clasped it in both hands and focused on the giant. I would have to avoid his swings; one blow from him would probably snap my back.