Against the Giants

and if we’re quiet…”

Nemis nodded. “I used a simple reveal spell on the fort, andit is a formidable structure. The walls are as thick as I am tall, the logs immense and very damp. An army couldn’t break into it, and fire cannot destroyit. I could sense many within-hill giants, possibly other giants, orcs, trollsand other slaves who serve the giants. I cannot tell you how many of each kind, only that there are many who are armed. Oh, and a cave bear, at least one.”

Agya licked her lips. “A bear?”

“Restrained,” Nemis assured her, “on a chain, perhaps. Isensed metal, anyway.”

“Bears ain’t safe, mage! There was a juggling bear for yearsin lower market, and old Yoryos kept it chained! Well, it got free during a show and ate ’im!” She shivered.

“I know, Agya.” Malowan laid a hand on her shoulder, “but Isensed the restraints, and I can detect it before it sees or smells us. So, as long as you do not go off on your own…?”

The little thief’s lips twisted. “Now I won’t.”

“I agree that this place is possibly as near a haven as wewill find,” Maera said as she sighted down an arrow to check it forstraightness. “It isn’t likely giants will come this way, but our father used tosay, ‘If I had a silver penny for every time the completely unexpected happened,I’d have retired to a palace and not a village hut.’” She glanced to Nemis.“This is, after all, an open cave, and it is not that far from the Steading.Think of coming so far only to die because some oversized brute saw light or heard voices.”

“The lady is right,” Nemis said. “I can build an illusionarywall, suitably matched to the local stone, of course.”

Lhors cleared his throat. “Um, but this is their land.If someone made a wall where I knew a cave was, even if I never used it, I would notice.”

Nemis smiled. “Just so. But I have my own version of thewall, and it includes a non-detection spell. Once set around a person or place, those who pass simply won’t notice it.”

Agya laughed. “Oooh, just gimme a spell like that…”She grinned as the paladin cleared his throat ominously. “For certain, I don’twant it now; but to have ’ad it when I was still a-lifting purses…”

Vlandar nudged the paladin. “Changing her are you, Mal?”

“I am,” the paladin replied grimly, “but I’m nomiracle-worker.”

Agya seemed to take offense at this and glared at Lhors when he chuckled.

The air inside the cave stayed constant all night-not quitewarm enough for comfort and a little stuffy as the hours passed. By contrast, the predawn air outside was damp and chill.

Malowan tugged the dark hood over his helm and wrapped wool around his arms, pulling the thick cloth around his hands.

Agya matched his actions, then looked up at him. “We on it orno?” she demanded quietly.

“Waiting for Nemis,” he reminded her. He sniffed cautiously,then held up a hand. “No wind-good. We’ll need to be quiet, but the fog shouldbe thick enough to hide us.”

“Fog,” Agya mumbled. “Who’d’a thunk I’d be glad of fog?”

“You won’t be in it for long,” Malowan said. He turned asNemis came out, two leather thongs clutched in his hand. Malowan took them, touched the smoothed, pale blue stones that had been threaded onto the soft leather, then gave one to Agya. “Put it on,” he said. “Nemis will know where weare by these.”

“And in what condition-” the mage began.

Malowan gestured sharply, silencing him, then sent his eyes flicking toward his ward. Agya was studying the charm and apparently hadn’theard him.

“Agya,” Malowan said, “please go tell Vlandar that we areready to depart.”

“But y’just tol’ ’im yourself!” she protested.

“Agya…” the paladin replied with a warning look.

“Oh, all right,” she hissed and disappeared inside the cave.

“I didn’t want her hearing this, Nemis, but you will know ifwe are taken or dead?”

The mage nodded.

“What if we are taken and they search us?”

“My beneath-notice spell is on the charms,” Nemis replied.“It may only affect the charm and not the wearer, but tell her of it if shestill worries about the bear.” He looked skyward. “We had better go now.”

Malowan repositioned the small pack under his cloak and finished just as Agya reemerged. They followed the mage away from the caves, out of the ravine, and up a low, brushy slope.

Near the top, Nemis eased onto his hands and knees. Malowan shoved his cloak aside and crawled after him. Agya, much shorter than either man, went into a low crouch and brought up the rear, keeping a wary eye all around them, though there was little to see and it was still too dark to see very far.

Once they reached the crest, Nemis went flat and tugged Malowan’s ear close. “Can you make it out?” he breathed.

Malowan gazed out and down, then finally nodded.

“Good. Straight down the slope you’ll find a boulder and somethorny scree. Don’t speak once you move from here-it’s near enough the towerthat the guards will hear us.”

The paladin nodded again, then drew his ward close. She tensed, then leaned against him briefly.

“Ready?” he asked softly. She gave him Rowan’s sign for Wego now. Malowan replied in like fashion, then eyed Nemis. “Lead, we’llfollow.”

Nemis moved out, low on hands and knees.

This side of the hill was steeper than the way they’d comeup. The mage reversed himself and eased down feet-first, turned sideways with one hand out to catch at the tough brush so he wouldn’t slide to the bottom.What grass there was here was slick with dew and slippery as ice underfoot. Fortunately, most of the slope was dirt and rock.

Nemis finally stopped and drew them down with him into a shallow depression between a fat boulder and thick brush. Malowan edged forward and gazed down for some moments, then eased silently back, gripped the mage’sshoulder and without further ado, moved to his right and began working his way down into the dell. Agya followed.

5

The air had been icy cold outside the fort, particularly forAgya who’d had to rub her hands together several times before they were warmenough to manage her metal lockpicks. Mal stood ready with his sword as his ward worked at the massive locks. After several minutes, there was an all-too-loud clack as she freed the innermost tumbler. The door swung open.

Inside, it was cold but not as damp, and the air was stuffy. Malowan smelled unwashed bodies and sweaty furs, but there was no one in sight. Agya stepped away from him, eyes moving nonstop while his were still adjusting to the gloom. It seemed to be a cloakroom, just as Vlandar’s information hadindicated. Huge outer garments hung from pegs. The wall to his right held doors, a double doorway flanked by a single door to each side. At least, Malowan thought, there was room for both of them to hide in here.

Chill air rolled down from above-the guard tower, clearly.Someone up there was snoring.

I forgot how huge everything would be, he thought. Agya must be terrified.

Surprisingly, his ward seemed only interested. She eyed him sidelong as he silently moved across the floor to listen at the entry to the tower passage. Malowan signed that there was only one guard and he was sleeping.

Agya turned to check out the rest of the entry-chamber, and he came over to help.

An overturned ale keg contributed to the sour smell, but damp furs and wet wool seemed to account for most of the stench. Agya eyed the various sacks flung down beneath the rack of pegs and shook her head. Nothing worth searching.