Against the Giants

“We know about the barrier and the orcs beyond it,” Malowansaid. “What about the prisoners kept across the main passage?”

The dwarf pursed his lips. “Spent time there myself and wished I hadn’t.Nasty place, lots o’ little reeking chambers with bugbear guards. Hate ’em.”

“Y’ speak for me,” Khlened growled. “What about th’ otherdwarves, though? Leave ’em and th’ next giant as comes in…”

“Yes, they might think the dwarves helped kill these two. Wecannot leave them chained. Bleryn, tell me this. If we simply free them, what will they do?”

“Run,” the dwarf replied simply. “We all know of the passagebeyond the rockfall, and there is also one with a way out through water. It’sabove the main prison where the ‘masters’ come down from the main level or sendservants with orders.”

Malowan eyed Vlandar then Nemis, who nodded. “The passagejust north of the prison cells ends in a well, as I told you. It is a way out, if you fear water less than you fear this place. I say loose them. They can arm themselves here and be no worse off than we.”

“If they alert guards-” Vlandar began.

Nemis shook his head. “They stand as good a chance as we. Ihave read their hearts and doubt they would stand with us. They will be no worse off if they go down fighting the giants or their guards than if they stayed here.”

“They are not our responsibility,” Malowan said to Lhors’surprise. “Let them go, and let us go. Khlened, if you vouch for Bleryn, that isgood enough for me, but your oaths bind him as well. He follows orders same as everyone else.”

“Aye,” the barbarian said with a sudden grin. “And y’vetested ’im in yer own way, ’aven’t ye?”

“Pay no heed at yon Fist,” the dwarf said and held out bothhands to grasp Vlandar’s. “He told a little of what y’ plan to do here. Maybe Ican help some. Said y’ need a way from ’ere, and somethin’ ’bout treasure. Was achamber I could show you, if I can trace back th’ way from here. Small place,wit’ ten giants guardin’ me and a pair of orcs. We was stuck buildin’ a pit thatguards the way between a door and a small room wit’ but an odd chest or so init. Odd, they’d guard us so well if there was nothing of value in there.”

“Odd,” Khlened replied, grinning fiercely.

“It’s a plan,” Vlandar said. “Let’s get going on it and getout of here.” He eyed the still-chained dwarves. They looked back at him, mostlyexpressionless. “Let us free these fellows and then be gone. We have business tofinish here.”

14

Vlandar led the way back toward the main east-west passage,but as they neared it, Malowan drew him back.

“You were wounded back there.”

“And you healed that,” the warrior replied.

The paladin shook his head. “You and I both know you don’tget over the shock of such a blow right away, even healed. Be a sensible leader and delegate.”

Vlandar sighed faintly but nodded agreement.

“Nemis,” the paladin added, “if you have a spell of heavysleep that you can use from here, put it on those two.” He indicated the torturechamber with a nod of his head.

“Get me to the end of this passage, and I can,” the magereplied softly.

“Maera and I will look first,” Rowan said, “to be certainnothing is waiting for us.”

Malowan laid a hand on her shoulder before she could leave.

“Nothing is,” he said. “I searched.”

Agya came up to join him, but he sent her back with Lhors and Maera. When she was about to argue, a finger against his lips and a stern look silenced her.

“You are not here as a fighter,” Malowan said, the wordsbarely reaching Lhors.

“And a good ward don’t argue with ’er protector,” Agya mumbled under herbreath. “Yessir.”

The girl turned away, her lips twisted in frustration.

Malowan gestured for Bleryn to join him-probably learningwhere things were, Lhors thought. He couldn’t hear any of that, but the dwarfseemed to be glancing at him-or maybe Agya or Rowan who were also close by-as hetalked. The youth leaned against the rough stone wall, then settled on his heels to wait.

Vlandar came over to crouch next to Lhors. His hand was dark with dried blood, but as he caught the younger man’s troubled look, he pulled acloth and his water bottle out and scrubbed the mess away.

“It wasn’t half as bad as it looked,” the warrior assuredhim, “and it’s completely healed now. I’m fine.”

Yes, Lhors thought, this time. He had precious few people left in the world whom he could call friends, and he didn’t want to lose any ofthem.

“We’re just waiting for Nemis to deal with those giants yousaw sleeping earlier,” said Vlandar.

“But aren’t they already asleep?” Lhors asked.

“A sleep spell will keep them asleep until someone comes towaken them. With no doors on that chamber they may not wake for hours. With a little luck, we will be able to get to where Khlened’s friend the dwarf knowsthe way into another passage.”

“You think we’ll find a way out from there?” Lhors asked. Tohimself he said, maybe we will never find a way out. Maybe there is no way out except back up through a hoard of giants and others who are waiting to kill us all. Not a good thought, especially in this gloomy passage.

Vlandar shrugged and smiled. “Their chief must come down heresometimes. He wouldn’t do that if he couldn’t get out, would he? Even hillgiants aren’t stupid enough to build only one way out of a place.”

Lhors looked up as Nemis came back to join them. The mage closed his eyes briefly and made a pillow of his hands, his mouth sagging open, pantomiming sleep. Vlandar got to his feet and held out a hand to help the youth to his feet. Lhors felt a little less worried. They might not be strong as giants or as big, but they had a company with experience and skills.

Malowan beckoned everyone close. “The two giants in thatchamber won’t waken now unless someone shakes or kicks them. But remember thereare other guards about. We must go quickly and quietly, but Bleryn has just told me something.” He eyed the rangers.

“It’s the ears,” the dwarf rumbled. “When giants first tookme, they brung me down some stairs and into th’ cells ’cross the main roomyonder. They kept us separate, but I could see others when they was took out. Your ears reminded me there’s an elf down here.”

Maera shook her head. “An elf? Malowan, we can’t-”

“I know we cannot ignore such a prisoner,” the paladin brokein, “but there are barracks near the cells. We must be quick and quiet.”

“Fine,” Maera said evenly. “Get us there, and we will.”

Malowan merely nodded, gestured for Khlened to bring up the rear, and took the dwarf with him as he led the way into the east-west hall.

They eased into the long passage and waited against the south wall while Agya flitted across to listen at the end of the north passage. Vlandar and Lhors watched that way. Malowan and the others kept a close eye on the east passage. The girl shook her head and gestured, None close, then glanced into the torture chamber and quickly away. But as she looked down the hall the way they were about to go, she clapped both hands over her mouth and froze. Lhors heard Rowan draw a startled breath. The hair on his neck stood up, and it was an effort to turn and see what frightened them so.

A hideous hill giant and a long-armed hairy brute shambling on all fours came out of the north passage to the main chamber. The keeper and his ape.

The keeper was a crook-backed creature. When he turned to glare through the open barracks door, Lhors