Against the Giants

likely he’ll put out an alarm or search the entry.”

“You reassure me,” Maera replied sarcastically and went backup to keep an eye on the passage that led to the kitchens.

Vlandar looked at Malowan. “What do you think? Do we waithere and try the other hall again shortly, or do we wait for the servants to leave the kitchen and go back through the feast hall? You have walked here before, whereas I have only looked at the map.”

“I am of your mind,” Malowan said. “We want that map, and wemust search for other scrolls. Judging from Nemis’ translation of the firstscrolls, I would assume that there are other sets of orders somewhere. Other scrolls could give us locations of the Steading’s allies-other giants perhaps orenclaves of dark elves.”

Nemis shuddered. “Pray there are no drow here. We are too fewto resist them.” He turned aside to look north, and his lips moved. “It is alittle quieter up there, I think. The ranger may be right. The cooks have set their stews to simmer and are leaving the dirty crockery for the slaves to scour later.”

Vlandar nodded. “Nemis, if you have a spell to use on theeast passage, use it. If it’s clear, we go that way into the council chamber.Otherwise, we wait here.” He glanced at Lhors then and laid a hand on the youthsarm. “You’ve done well, so far,” he murmured as the mage moved off. “You haven’tgiven in to fear any more than you’ve ignored danger. I knew I was right tobring you.”

Lhors nodded in thanks, then quietly asked, “The kitchens. Wego that way.”

“We may, yes,” Vlandar replied. “You heard what Maera andNemis said about the kitchens. Remember that the servants and slaves are busy making certain their masters have food when they waken. They won’t be lookingaround.”

The rangers came back. “No sound from the entry exceptsomeone tromping up into that tower,” Maera said quietly. “Whatever itwas-likely another young giant-it went to its place and stayed there.”

“The passage between kitchen and feast hall is still busy,”Rowan added, “but not as busy as it was. Mostly I saw hairy ogres and brutishorcs shambling back and forth and carrying piles of filthy dishes into the kitchen. Whoever was bellowing orders in the kitchen no longer is.” She eyedVlandar steadily. “She may still be there, of course,” the ranger added. “I sawat least two armed guards moving along the north passage beyond the kitchens.”

“Were there any wolves?” Lhors asked.

“No,” Rowan replied. “Why do you ask?”

“Well, Malowan said that he’d sensed wolves somewhere in theSteading. If they actually patrol with the creatures, they’re sure to scent theblood from the giants we’ve slain.”

“Good man,” Vlandar said, nodding approvingly. “All right,people, we’ll test both ways. I still prefer to go straight into the councilroom and down through there, but we do what we must. Stay alert. We’ll move outas soon as we dare.”

8

Shortly after, Nemis indicated the north way was mostlyclear, but three handlers and at least a dozen dire wolves now occupied the east hallway. Fortunately, they hadn’t gone into the entry.

“A wolf’s keen nose would immediately find that guard’sbody,” Nemis said. “They seem more interested in the wrestlers, however-thehandlers do, at least.”

Vlandar merely nodded and moved out ahead, gesturing for his company to stay close and alert. He stopped halfway up the west wall of the hall near its end. It was fairly dark here, though light from the kitchens flooded the opposite wall. Two creatures scurried past, unaware of the company lurking in the lower hall. They were half Lhors’ height and looked more like dogs orlizards than people. Empty platters dangled from the creatures’ hands, and theyseemed utterly cowed.

“Kobolds,” Rowan breathed against his ear. “Cowardly, unlessthey can attack in great numbers. We are safe from them.”

Lhors gave her a brief, abashed smile of thanks. He jumped as someone in the kitchen screeched. He couldn’t understand the words, but the hateand fury behind them was all too evident.

Lhors started as someone brushed his arm. Malowan wrapped an arm around the youth’s shoulders. “Be easy,” he said quietly. “Vlandar wouldnever put you into battle unprepared. Remember the bargain you and he made. You serve as eyes to guard our backs, and in return, we protect you.” He gripped theboy’s shoulder and moved past him, Agya right on his heels. She glanced atLhors, fighting knives clutched in both hands and her face expressionless. She didn’t look afraid.

Remember what she is, Lhors told himself. She stole and fought simply to stay alive. She knows how to be brave. Your father taught you to hunt animals, not kill men or monsters. He remembered how Rowan had guarded in that other hall and turned sideways to set his back against the wall so that he could keep up with the others while keeping an eye on the way they’d come.

Vlandar’s hand shot up in warning as he and Rowan backed awayfrom the opening. Lhors could suddenly hear drunken laughter ahead and to his right, as if a door had opened. A weeping young giantess ran past, scrubbing bits of meat and steaming juices from her face.

I thought the giants were done feasting, Lhors thought. The door banged closed, and the sound lessened. Malowan looked at Vlandar, who shrugged and led them back the other way.

“This won’t do, Vlandar,” the paladin whispered, once Nemishad muttered a spell he claimed would build a wall of silence around them. “There are still giants in the feast hall, and the kitchen is full of all kindsof creatures. The longer we wait here…” He paused significantly.

Vlandar sighed and nodded. “I know. I had hoped to get in,grab that map, and get out unnoticed, but if it isn’t possible…”

“I’m ready for a fight,” Khlened said, “and I’ve battled direwolves before. They’re not immortal.”

“If your concern is for Lhors and Agya-” the paladin began.

“No,” Vlandar cut him off. “I would not have brought them ifthey were a hindrance, Mal. But we know these giants take orders from elsewhere. You and I assumed that before we got here. If we attack and are all killed, we’ve accomplished nothing.” Vlandar was still for a moment, his gaze distant.“All right. We’ll take the other passage, kill whatever gets in our way, getinto that room, and get the map. Then we leave as quickly as we can.”

Nemis dissolved the spell as Vlandar got to his feet and waved Lhors to join him. Maera was already listening by the door. As Vlandar caught up to her, she indicated the chamber beyond with her eyes and shook her head. Lhors hoped she meant that no one was in there.

It was still quiet in the entry, though they could hear someone bellowing beyond the double doors. As Malowan and Khlened hauled the west door closed behind them, the east one opened. Three whining wolves on chains lunged into the chamber, half-dragging a gray-haired giant clad only in filthy breeches and boots. He hauled the beasts back on their haunches and snarled, “Gezhk!”

But the wolves had seen them, and now the giant did too. He hefted a spiked club. His mouth twisted into an evil grin, and he let go the chains.

Vlandar thrust Lhors behind him. “Guard Nemis while he spellsfor us!” He and Malowan set themselves shoulder to shoulder, swords raised.

Stepping to the side, Rowan shot three arrows into the lead wolf. The creature snarled in pain and fury but stopped its advance to nip at the arrows biting into its side.

Maera took down the second with a spear through the throat. The third, its fur hackled, ran around Vlandar and the paladin and leaped straight for Lhors. The youth went to one knee and gripped his spear with two hands, thrusting sharply up and out as the brute slammed into him. The spearpoint plunged deep, but the sheer force of the impact ripped the shaft from the youth’s hands. The wounded creature’s massive paws pinned his shoulders asLhors fought to get his arms across his throat. The beast lunged, jaws wide, but in that instant Rowan knocked the wolf off him, and Maera jammed a spear into its eye. Lhors rolled away as the wolf scratched and beat the floor