Against the Giants

violently and whimpered but did not wake.

Whispering an almost silent prayer, Malowan laid his hands over the wound. Blood seeped between his callused fingers, and still the ranger did not wake. After a moment the paladin removed his grip and sat back with a sigh. Maera’s wound was completely gone.

“A moment’s rest, Vlandar,” the paladin said tiredly, “and Iwill see to you.”

Vlandar nodded. With a painful wince, he got to his feet and waved at the cautiously approaching guards. “It’s Vlandar of the outer guard!”he shouted. “Send someone to let the lord know we’ve returned and get men outhere to help us!”

Lhors felt light-headed, all at once. He watched, bemused, as men came running to clap Vlandar on the back. Everyone was suddenly talking at once, but the youth couldn’t understand a word of it. There was a strangethrobbing pulse in his ears, and a sudden exhaustion threatened to overwhelm him. He moved obediently when a healed Vlandar wrapped an arm around his shoulders and drew him into the city. He followed dreamlike through the streets and through the arched gate leading into the ruling lord’s courtyard. All thewhile, their party was surrounded by astonished soldiers and gawking townspeople.

Later, he could remember very little of those following hours. After a very quick washing and change of clothes, Vlandar addressed the lord and his council. The entire party accompanied him, but no one else except Nemis and Malowan spoke. Somewhere in all that, Lhors must have fallen asleep, because when he opened his eyes, he’d been rolled into a blanket. It took him amoment to recognize the rough wood wall as Vlandar’s barracks and the pricklymattress as the one he’d slept on before.

The room was quiet and dark except for a low-burning candle that had been shuttered next to his bedside. Malowan and Vlandar sat at the small table talking in hushed tones, but as the youth rolled over and edged onto his elbow, Vlandar looked at him and smiled. “It’s all right, lad. We’re allhere, and you’re safe.”

“I know,” Lhors said, and lay back down.

EPILOGUE

Late the next afternoon, Vlandar held a brief meeting in thebarracks courtyard. Excepting the slain Khlened and Bleryn, everyone from their party was there. Lhors thought Maera looked pale, and her face seemed even thinner than usual, but otherwise she was none the worse after her near-fatal wound.

“The Lord Mebree is readying a delegation to go to the king,”Vlandar told them. “There have been more raids in Keoland since our departure,and the king will need our information. The chief magician here has a spell that will transport as many as fifteen to the palace in Niole Dra. The lord asks that I go, and Nemis and Malowan. The rest of you need not if you would rather remain here or go your own way, but I think you all have the right.”

“I agree,” Malowan said. “Each of you performed deeds worthyof a king’s praise.”

“Or a king’s ransom,” Gerikh put in. He smiled, but his eyeswere dark. “Khlened would have said as much, or Bleryn, and I think I may speakfor them.”

“No.” A faint voice broke in. Florimund got to his feet, andwhen Maera-a subdued, almost docile Maera-would have protested, he put hisfingers on her lips to silence her, then turned to look Nemis in the eye. “I didnothing to deserve praise or thanks.”

“Nothing,” Nemis agreed, “but it was the right sort ofnothing.”

Agya scowled questioningly at Malowan, who merely shrugged in response.

Florimund sighed faintly. “Yes, Nemis. I knew all along thatyou mistrusted me.”

“I was aware you were not merely a prisoner taken, tortured,and left to rot in a cell,” Nemis replied. “I suspected there was more to you,but who could have known that the drow and their giant allies tried to turn you into a spy against your own kind? I admit, it seemed likely they would attempt this, but if they had succeeded with you, you would not have still been in that cell where we found you.”

“You did not do what they wanted,” Maera offered.

Rowans mouth twisted with distaste.

“He didn’t, Rowan!”

“I know,” Rowan replied softly. “Just as I know he never meant to make a wall between us, sister.”

Florimund shook his head. “Not that, ever. Still, when youmade your way into the Rift, I was so afraid that I began to think that… Ithought if I could somehow-”

“Y’meant t’make noise all along th’ way t’get us caught,”Agya snarled.

Malowan murmured something in her ear and she subsided, but the half-elf nodded.

“I tried to warn the frost giants, hoping they would… Idon’t know what I hoped. No more pain, of course. You didn’t know how bad firegiants’ hold was, and when I heard your plans to go there, and the drow… I…” He swallowed and turned away. “I could not face that.”

“No one who had been to either place could blame you,” Nemissaid quietly. “I know. I have been there.”

Florimund eyed the mage warily.

Nemis managed a faint, wry smile. “I say you have as muchright as I to come with us.”

Florimund bowed his head in grateful acquiescence. “Then howdare I say no? I have long wished to see the king’s city.”

“And I,” Gerikh said. “There may be jobs about for anengineer like me.”

“I am reminded, speaking of jobs,” Vlandar said. He wassmiling broadly. “We have coin and gems to divide among us. Even a small shareof that will keep you in comfort for some time to come, Gerikh.”

“Little as I did to help you,” the man said.

“You helped,” the warrior replied. “You held your own anddidn’t shrink back when the time came to fight.”

Vlandar went into the barracks and came back with a cloth-wrapped packet that seemed heavy for its size. “The chest you carried outof the drow’s quarters. Lord Mebree’s wizards kept the scroll and the box, butthe lord gave me back what else was in there. Look.” He whipped the cover asideto reveal three bars of black metal. “That’s adamantine, or so they tell me.Each of them is worth about three thousand gold pieces each, and they’re ours.”

“Not so bad,” the engineer allowed with a grin, though hiseyes were wide. The smile faded. “Too bad Khlened and Bleryn aren’t here toshare. I took to them, you know. I’d like to see the look on that red- beardedmadman’s face when he saw those.” A momentary silence followed, which he broke.“I’ll come with you, Vlandar. There may be a few things I can tell your kingabout what the giants were up to when I was taken.”

“I will go,” Maera said steadily. “I-”she glanced up at hersister-“I want to be certain they know what the drow are capable of.”

“If Mal’s in, then so’m I,” Agya added.

“You most certainly are,” the paladin told her. “This is noplace for a young woman alone, especially when her only acquaintances are thieves and the like.”

“No more thievin’ for me, I told y’so!” the girl protested.“B’lieve I’ll take my share of th’ bounty and use it t’be a fine lady in apalace.”

“You,” Malowan said evenly, “will give at least a few coinsto the thieves’ god Rudd for answering your prayer back in that lava tube! Butif you choose to stay with me, there will certainly be no palace in your future!”

Agya grumbled under her breath, sighed heavily, but finally grinned up at him. “Knew it,” she said cheerfully. “Knew y’needed me! Well, Is’pose th’ world needs someone like you t’keep things safe. My luck.”

“Your luck and my fate,” replied the paladin and tugged ather hair.

It was an odd relationship, Lhors thought. In Upper Haven, that kind of teasing between boy and girl or woman and man meant there’d be amarriage soon. But Malowan wouldn’t make such a vow, and certainly not with agirl less than half his age. Agya would likely be horrified if someone suggested she wanted Mal that way.