Ellas Past

Kane

Sometime later, I awoke. Loud voices filled with banter and laughter surrounded me, as I slowly opened my eyes.

For an instant, I did not know where I was, and was at a loss as to what had happened over the last few days.

And yet, strangely, no panic took me, and despite all that he had instilled in me, I felt no wariness, no concern for my safety.

Somehow I knew that I was safe.

Gremok lay next to me curled up on the floor with a blanket laid over him, as indeed, I realised, did I.

Welcome back, Kane, a voice spoke in my mind.

‘Anna?’ I asked, yet knowing it could be no other.

I am not far now, she answered. You wait while the last of his hold on Gremok is overcome… do not worry for he cannot use it to find you. It is too weak for that now. Rest a while, for we will soon be together again to plan this war of ours. And with that she was gone.

Approaching footsteps brought me back from my thoughts of Anna. As I looked up, the giants, Isal and Garath, loomed over me.

‘So you awaken, finally,’ Isal said.

‘But not so my new brother,’ Garath added, his gravelly voice not at all like that of his companion’s melodious tones.

I stood. ‘Forgive me,’ I said. ‘I did not thank you for our rescue… yesterday?’

Isal chuckled with laughter as Garath said, ‘Yesterday indeed. You have both slept two days while we waited here for you to awaken.’

‘Two days?’ I questioned, but I knew that it must be true for I was myself again and fully rested.

Gremok groaned and then sat upright.

‘First sleep for what seems like months… no nightmares, no pain, just wonderful, dreamless sleep.’

He stretched his arms into the air and cracked a yawn. ‘And then you wake me!’ His voice was filled with mock incredulity, and a wide grin split his fang filled mouth. ‘By the gods, I feel good.’

Then, as if seeing Garath for the first time, he stood and formally bowed to the giant. ‘It is good to see you again, Brother. You are well I hope?’

Garath smiled, a hideous sight, and yet also a smile that could not help but touch my heart. Beauty truly is only skin deep, I reminded myself.

‘I am well, little brother. Not as well as you it seems, but today I am more a man than I was yesterday, and tomorrow will make me more so again. Soon the hatred will be gone, and I will be able to act as a true Roken once more.’

Again he smiled, and as if almost in miniature, Gremok returned the gesture.

Suddenly, Anna's voice again came to me. Gremok is free now. Tell him, it is a thing that he should know.

‘Cannot you tell him?’ I mumbled, attempting to speak without the others hearing.

‘What was that?’ Isal asked.

You need not speak for me to hear you, Kane. Merely think what you wish me to know, and, if I listen, I will hear you. Yes, I could speak with Gremok myself, but he may not take my intrusion well… given what he has been through.

Fine, Anna, I thought. But wait, do not leave. He will hear this from you.

‘Gremok, the Wise Mother wishes to give you news.’

‘Wise mother… where is she? How do you—’

‘She spoke with me now… she spoke in my mind. And she wishes to speak with you in that same manner now… to give you the news I spoke of. Will you permit her to do so?’

Isal smiled, but Garath took a step back. ‘He did this mind speaking. It was how he commanded us. She now does this thing?’ His voice was tinged with anger, and the last was said as though Garath was incredulous.

‘Calm, Garath,’ Isal said. ‘Of late she has spoken with the elders in this way many a time. It is not a dark thing. Her magic is pure.’

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

‘She is a Wise Mother,’ Gremok said, again with the certainty that his words answered all.

‘I will welcome her words in any manner. Fear not, Garath. All will be well.’

‘As you say, little brother. But I worry that this one who speaks in this way may not be my daughter. I will watch over you while you do this thing.’

And with that, the enormous changed giant stepped past me and sat cross-legged on of the floor in front of Gremok.

Gremok smiled. ‘I thank you, Brother.’

Daughter? Now I was completely confused. Yet another question for later, I thought, as I said, ‘Come, Isal. Show me this place you have created… and perhaps then you can answer my questions as to how you giants are able to make solid rock disappear on a whim.’

We walked away towards the centre of the huge domed amphitheatre that the giants had created. I could see now that archways, big enough for two giants to walk through abreast, lead off into other similarly domed structures.

Each, like ours, seem to be full of giants sitting, talking, sleeping, or cooking even; generally going about their day-to-day business, almost.

‘This place is amazing, Isal,’ I said.

‘This? This is but a temporary thing. It is a place for resting, no more.’

‘Then your home must truly be a place of wonder.’

Isal paused and looked at me. ‘Our home was a place of magic. It was nature at its most beautiful. But with his coming we gave up our mountain homes, our cities under the sky, and like worms of the earth, we burrowed deep to hide ourselves from him.

Yes our new cities underground are grand, but they are not our home. And until he is destroyed forever, we can never return… and I fear that that will not be in my lifetime… and we giants are long-lived creatures.’

‘I am sorry, Isal. I did not understand what it was you had sacrificed to hide from him.’

‘Pah! That is something that one day will be reclaimed. The true sacrifice was given by Garath and those that chose to go with him.’

I stared up at Isal a long moment until understanding finally dawned upon me.

‘His compulsion… giants can resist it, can't they? They went to him willingly, didn’t they?’ I said, incredulously.

‘To gain time for us to hide ourselves from him,’ Isal said. ‘Garath was our leader then. With him went a thousand of our strongest, as a token of those who would willingly follow to serve in his greatness, so they told the evil one.

'And it worked. For a time he demanded no more, so strong was his belief that we would all come to him. As you said, we alone could resist his compulsion, and he could not read us… our minds are closed to him. But he could change us, and Garath and his followers did not deny him that, for then he would know of our deceit.

'But it was more than time Garath wanted… he knew that Dar’cen would change them. He knew that he would make of them creatures of war. And that was the true sacrifice. They went to him to be changed, so that we might better resist him.

'They endured the horrors that he did to them to help defend against him. Many died at his hands, his changes were too extreme, too ambitious, he himself so said. Others took their own lives when they could endure no more. Of the thousand, little more than half have returned. I fear, now that our deception is clear to him, that no more will now escape him.’

Isal's so human face ran with tears as he spoke. ‘Garath and his changed ones are the best of us. They gave far more than their lives for us. I pray that it will be enough.’

We walked on in silence for a while after that, both with our thoughts of what Garath and his companions had willingly undertaken. What was done to me was horrific; a nightmare seemingly without end. But I had no choice, it was forced upon me. I did not choose. And I would have willingly taken my own life to escape had I the chance.

They had a choice, and yet still they endured. Did that make me a coward? I didn't think so.

But it did make these giants, the changed ones, the greatest of men – the bravest of the brave and it would be an honour to fight beside them.

Less than an hour later, almost in unison, all the giants, including the changed, rose up and began to collect whatever items they possessed. It was almost as if some silent command had been issued.

‘It seems that we move on,’ Gremok, who squatted next to me, said.

But to where? I wondered.

You come to me, Anna's voice said in my mind.

I started at her unexpected reply, and Gremok, seeing me flinch, laughed.

‘She spoke to me also,’ he said, in explanation of his mockery.

‘You spoke to both of us, together, Anna?’ I asked aloud, forgetting yet again that I need not vocalise to speak with her.

She seemingly ignored my question, because she said, They bring you to me. I dare not use the rod now for he bends all his strength to watch for signs of its use. But do not worry, Gremok, soon we will be able to return you to your people so that we might complete our bargain.

‘That will be good… Anna,’ Gremok said, aloud with tentativeness in his tone, almost as if he asked permission to use her given name.

Ah, that is good, Gremok. Names are good. The title that you and your people extend to me is not one I deserve… besides your use of my name implies that I may now consider you friend. And I would far better like you as a friend than simply one who is beholden to me because of a bargain.

‘The bargain is already agreed… Anna. But yes, I, too, wish for us to be friends… there is, however, a boon I would ask of you. I do not even know if it is possible, but—’

Ask, Gremok. Tell me what it is that I can do for you.

'It is not for me, Wise Mother… Anna. What I ask is for my brother, Garath, and those that follow him.’ Gremok paused as if weighing his next words.

Go on, Anna prompted.

‘They chose to go to him,’ Gremok said, ‘that he might make them fearsome creatures of war… but he has made them hideous. And that one thing troubles my brother, troubles them all more than that which they endured at his hands. Can you… can you do something… something to make them more as they were, and take away that which offends their brethren so, that which shames them?’

Anna did not answer, and a long silence fell between us. I could see tears forming in Gremok's glowing red eyes.

Moments past, before Anna's voice came again. I will do what I can, Gremok. It will not be easy, and I may not succeed. But I will try. Come to me now, and bring all those that suffered at his hands. And then we shall see.

Gremok sprang to his feet. ‘We will make haste, Anna. I thank you in this, and am once more beholden to you.’

I will do as you ask because you have seen what is right, Gremok. And because you are my friend… as is your brother, Garath… he, too, is my friend. It is he who sheltered me from the demon long ago.