“Either way,” Kendra said.
He crossed to her, and Kendra climbed onto a hand large enough to cradle her entire body. Dectus carefully shuttled her to the desk and set her down. He reached down to the floor and picked up a human-sized chair, setting it beside her. “Have a seat, if you please.”
Kendra accepted the seat, and Dectus sat as well. “How much do you know about the Council?” he asked.
“Not much,” Kendra admitted.
“You came here on short notice, the result of emergency circumstances,” Dectus acknowledged. “Nine of us advise the queen: four senior councilors, five junior. Her decisions override even our unanimous opinion, but she delegates many of the practical details of governance to us.”
“So you have an important job,” Kendra said.
“My role is important only to those who want the kingdom to function,” Dectus said. “You might be amazed how small that group seems at times.”
“Did you hear when I spoke to the queen?” Kendra asked.
“All nine councilors were present,” Dectus said. “I took particular notice of your concerns about the dragon war.”
“I felt like the queen ignored them,” Kendra said.
Dectus smiled. “I have experienced the same feeling.”
“I only meant to help,” Kendra said.
“I believe you,” Dectus said. “Save a few clever rogues who have learned to stay out of our way, the dragons have long been subjugated at Titan Valley. I fear the queen has concluded that just because the dragons at this sanctuary are under control, any dragons who intrude will fall to her as well.”
“Celebrant is powerful, and his army is growing,” Kendra said.
“And Celebrant hates the conditions at Titan Valley more than the situation at any other sanctuary,” Dectus said.
“You see the danger,” Kendra said.
“I do, but the majority of my fellow sky giants side with the queen,” Dectus said. “They prefer to assume we are above such lowly concerns. I believe we giants need to take this war more seriously. If we continue to pretend all is well outside this sanctuary simply because we have firmly established authority within our borders, we run the risk of an attack finding us unprepared.”
“Titan Valley has to hold,” Kendra said. “Too many other preserves have fallen or are teetering.”
“And if Titan Valley should fall, we need to be in a position to fight and win a war,” Dectus said. “If dragons overrun this world, neither humans nor giants will have a place in it.”
Kendra felt comforted to be grouped with such enormous allies. “Can giants really kill dragons with their bare hands?”
“We can kill dragons in many ways,” Dectus said. “Especially those of our kind with hides resistant to their breath weapons, or who are armored to withstand them. But some giants forget that dragons can slay us as well.”
“I’ve heard talk of a giant killer,” Kendra said.
Dectus shook his head and covered a smile. “There is plenty of gossip about him.”
“Who is he?” Kendra pressed.
“To understand the giant killer, one must know the queen,” Dectus said. “Imani has never married. Sizeism has always been an issue among the giants.”
“Sizeism?”
Dectus scowled and beat his chest. “Bigger is better. Smaller is worse. This thinking extends beyond humans and goblins to our own kind. A major reason Imani is our monarch is because she is easily the largest of us. She regards herself as superior to any suitor brave enough to apply.”
“Do other giants want to marry her?” Kendra asked.
“Nearly every giant I know would do anything to wed her,” Dectus said. “But she mocks romantic attention. Pats her suitors on the head and suggests they get on a stool if they want a kiss. There is only so much humiliation a giant can take.”
“She won’t take any giants seriously,” Kendra said.
“Our queen is more than head and shoulders taller than the largest of us,” Dectus said. “She may not look it, but she is the strongest of our number as well. She is the only daughter of the titan for which this sanctuary is named. We giants gave up trying to woo her ages ago. Then along comes the giant killer.”
“Was he a spurned lover?” Kendra asked. “Did he try to slay her?”
“The title is a jest,” Dectus said. “The giant killer is your size. Prince Doranio from Selona. He is romancing her. And having a surprising measure of success.”
“A prince my size!” Kendra exclaimed.
“He is shockingly bold,” Dectus said. “Her jibes and insults have no effect on him. He is a brilliant conversationalist. He began as a novelty to her, a toy, but I believe she has grown to sincerely enjoy his attentions.”
“What about sizeism?” Kendra asked.
“In a way, his tiny stature works to his advantage,” Dectus said. “Responding to his interest has given the queen a new method to insult the rest of us. It’s yet another way to emphasize that none of us are big enough for her. Her flirtations imply that our value is less than his pathetic size. More than a few giants would squash the miniscule suitor given the chance. But of course, none would risk the wrath of the queen.”
“Could she be serious about him?” Kendra asked.
Dectus laughed. “No, Kendra, she isn’t serious. But she does enjoy his company. The toy will eventually lose its shine, but he has held her interest much longer than any of us expected.”
“Is he around now?” Kendra asked.
“He comes and goes,” Dectus said. “He understands the game he is playing. His limited availability prolongs her interest.”
“What does he want?”
“I often consider that question,” Dectus said. “Could he sincerely be after her hand? I suspect not. The logistics are ludicrous, and he plays it too much like a game. I would be interested to hear your
