Against the Giants

shockingly adult. Lhors didn’t understand half what thelittle creature screeched, but now and again one of the guards winced. The kerchiefed woman began muttering about ill-spawned children and what she’dlike to do to this one in particular.

Vlandar finally seemed to gain control of the situation. He’dpulled another guard from the crowd-this one had a red officer’s stripe on hissleeve-and after a short discussion the guard thrust the child at Malowan. Thepaladin gripped one dirty ear and silently pulled the little one through the crowd, which parted around them. Several older boys snickered as the two passed. The urchin lashed out with a stream of shrill curses and a kick. Malowan looked exasperated. He mumbled something, scooped the child up over his shoulder, and strode back toward the inn.

Vlandar was laughing and shaking his head as he came back across the avenue. “That, my young friend, is Malowan’s ‘other business’. He’strying to reform a market thief. He has a ways to go, I’d say. Let’s go backinside. I could use a pot of ale.”

To Lhors’ surprise, Malowan seemed to be waiting for them,his skinny companion sulking on the bench next to him. “You hadn’t finished,Vlandar,” he said as the soldier gestured for service. “You were about to tellme why this expedition would be a useful part of Agya’s training.”

“To the nine hells with that and you!” Agya snappedshrilly.

“Language, child. We’re discussing your future.”

“You ought not to have come out there,” the child repliedsulkily.

“You would have spent a night in the cells had I not. Iwarned you. The guards know who you are and where you operate.”

“Only ’cause you told ’em, then!”

“I did not, and you know I do not lie. Agya, you’reangry because you were caught, nothing more.”

Silence. The thief glowered at him and said nothing else as the inn-girl came over to set cups on the table.

Vlandar waited until the girl was gone again. “You’reconsidering it, then?”

Malowan nodded. “I’m thinking it’s easier to reform yourselfif old temptations are out of reach.”

“’Ere!” Agya demanded. “Just what d’you think you’replotting? ’Cause, just maybe, I’m not for it!”

Malowan smiled vaguely and set his elbows on the table. Vlandar leaned toward him, and the two began talking in very low tones-and in alanguage that wasn’t Flan-it sounded half snarls and throat clearing to Lhors.Agya muttered something vile-sounding, then fixed angry brown eyes on Lhors. “You tell me, then-if y’know, that is!”

Lhors swallowed. “It’s my village. Giants killed everyone.Vlandar’s going to put together a force to go after the giants.”

“Wait,” Agya demanded. “That’s… it’s… Paladin, you’reflat mad!”

Malowan shrugged, but Agya wasn’t finished. “None o’ that forme. I’ll chance it rather agin th’ market guard and Dappney’s lads in th’ Sink!”

“You haven’t heard the offer yet,” Vlandar said.

“Giants.” Agya licked her lips. “D’you know what they do toyou? I’ve ’eard tales.”

“I saw,” Lhors broke in harshly. “I could tell you what’strue, but I won’t.”

“Well, then!” the urchin tugged at Malowans belt. “Want me togrow up honest-like? Not much chance of it, if we go where I’ll get killed andet, is there?”

“But someone with your talents-” Vlandar began.

“Which he says I gotta give up!”

“But there are ways for a thief to earn honor as a thief,”Vlandar countered. Malowan looked none too happy about that reasoning.

“If the thief lives long enough,” Agya spat back.

“Long enough to return home with wealth untold, treasurebeyond counting…?” Vlandar paused. Agya was speechless. “Any treasure youfind-if you help us-is yours… to share with your comrades, of course.But there won’t be more than ten of us.”

Vlandar waited. Malowan touched his friend’s arm and shookhis head. Agya was lost in rapt contemplation.

“Treasure,” the little thief breathed happily. “Agiants’ trove! Gems and gold, coins and jewels and amulets… a girl could setherself up proper with a store of that!”

Malowan and Vlandar exchanged amused glances. Lhors’ jawdropped and he stared. “A girl could… you’re a girl?”

Agya grinned at Malowan. “Fooled one, anyway,” she told thepaladin, who cast up his eyes. “Tell me ’bout this treasure.”

2

To Lhors’ surprise, Vlandar and Malowan sent word about thecity, not the lord or the king. The day after they were granted the king’sblessing, the two men planned to interview candidates in Vlandar’s barracks andthe nearby practice yard. Fortunately, Malowan was as willing as Vlandar to explain things to a village youth out of his element.

“The task has been passed on to Vlandar. Besides, some ofthose Vlandar would like to recruit are the kind who won’t want any part of an‘official’ company. On a journey like this, you want the toughest, and theyaren’t always law-abiding.”

Lhors had also assumed that by now he would be on his way back to High Haven, but when he had suggested as much, Vlandar waved it aside. “You have a right to be here to see us begin vengeance for your people.”

When the first two men-rough-looking fellows armed with netsand pikes and clad in hardened leathers-came looking for the warrior, Vlandarhad both Malowan and Lhors with him.

Vlandar talked to both men for some time-Sterich mercenaries,Malowan later confirmed. Lhors had seen such men once before but had never entertained the idea of working with them. After a short interview, Vlandar turned them down. Neither seemed particularly offended as they walked off.

Lhors shook his head. “They seemed very experienced to me.”

Vlandar laughed. “Yes, but not the kind of experience wewant. There’s a rumor those two men killed a companion a year ago so that theywouldn’t have to split a purse of gold with him.”

“It’s not rumor,” Malowan put in quietly. “I know theykilled him.”

Vlandar shrugged. “We don’t want swordsmen who can’t betrusted, but Olmic isn’t that good, anyway.” He dropped the subject as someoneelse came in and hesitated in the doorway, eyes searching the room.

“Nemis!” The paladin held out his hands, and the newcomertook them between his own dark-skinned, long fingers. “I thought you weren’tinterested!”

“I have changed my mind.” Dark brown eyes moved across theother two before fixing on Vlandar. One eyebrow went up.

Malowan smiled. “Vlandar’s in charge here. You know of him,don’t you? The young man is Lhors. The village was his. Lhors, Nemis is a mage.”

Lhors studied the newcomer with interest. The mage was tall and lean, and Lhors would have placed him in his mid to late thirties. His hair was long and curled, and his thin, sun-darkened face sported a narrow mustache and neat little beard. He wore dark green trousers tucked into soft brown boots and a long green tunic, held at the waist by a sword belt and a curious-looking woven sash. A brooch of leather at his breast was carved with a pattern of three diamonds. The sword belt held a plain rapier, and a matching poniard was stuck in the sash. The mage casually leaned against a walking stick that looked as if it might be a fighting staff.

“You’re a mage, so why carry those?” Vlandar’s eyes fixed onthe sword belt.

A corner of the dark man’s mouth quirked. His voice was lowand non-carrying. “I like blades, but only a fool