The three of them turned around in the darkness and heard the sound of their own breathing very clearly. And above that, there was an unholy rasping in the air. Relma shuddered, wondering what lay behind them as she turned around.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"I might ask you the same question." said whatever it was in a deep, dark voice. "It is fortunate for you that I've gotten out of the habit of eating humans and halflings. Or I might have devoured at least one of you before asking you for your business.

"It had best be interesting. Or I may devour you just to be sure."

"Um, we're no one special," said Relma before realizing that no one special would end up chomped. "Just hiding from Pandora the Sorceress." There, a hook. He could ask for more information.

"Pandora, the Sorceress?" asked the voice. "You intrigue me. What did you do to anger her?"

"We went looking for Lightning Trail against her explicit orders," said Relma.

"Did you now?" asked whatever it was. "Well, then, you must be someone relatively important to her. I wonder if I might be able to make use of you as a hostage..."

"It wouldn't be worth the effort," said Relma. "I'm just a servant to her; she keeps me around to do her scullery work. But she's obsessed with controlling other people. I'm trying to escape from her.

"But if she were to find out I was dead, well, she doesn't take kindly to people damaging her property."

"An attitude I can respect." laughed the voice. "Now, I wonder if I should devour you last of all. You seem more interesting than the other two."

"You don't want to devour us," squeaked Ronald.

"Why not?" asked the voice.

"Because there will be a pack of man-wolves under Telix coming this way soon," said Estela. "They'll track us to this cave. Then, they'll want to take us prisoner when they get here. And if we're dead, they'll take it out on killers."

"And how will they get past the cave door I've shut?" asked the voice.

"You must know how powerful Telix really is," said Relma. "They'll get it open."

"A servant, and yet you claim you are being followed by the servants of Telix," mused the voice. "Why would you warrant such treatment?"

He probably knew she was lying. But every moment he was asking her questions was a moment he wasn't eating it. "Not me. Estela. She had a run-in with Ajax, Telix's son, and he came off the worse for it."

"Well, this story is becoming very elaborate, isn't it?" asked the voice. "What were you doing fighting with Ajax anyway?"

"She was trying to rescue me as a favor to Pandora," said Relma. "More about making a name for herself than saving me, though."

"Really?" asked the voice. "And how did you escape?"

Relma shifted. "You might have noticed a fire in the woods."

"So now you've started a forest fire and angered Pandora." said the voice. "My, you are good at piecing all these things together, aren't you. Of course, I'm unsure if I should believe a word of it."

"Well, if Ajax and company find this cave, it will prove my story, won't it?" asked Relma.

"I suppose it would," admitted the voice. "I wasn't in the mood for devouring things on two legs anyway. I am Ergath, the Giant. I keep sheep in these hills."

Suddenly, five lights like small, dull suns flared to life at five points on the ceiling. Rays of light shot between them, so they took the form of a star. And their captor was revealed.

He was gigantic. He had long, thick fingers and rough blue skin. His arms and legs were like tree trunks and long for his body. He was sitting at the far end of a cave, wearing a blue turban, a woolen vest, and pants. There was a blue flame on his brow. Over his knees was a long scimitar. "I'd like to offer you what hospitality I can. If indeed these 'man wolves' track you down, I'll be certain to let you go on your way with what help I can give. If they don't, I'll devour all three of you whole."

Relma came forward and bowed. "I am Relma, the dark-haired girl is Estela, and the halfling is my best friend, Ronald. You're very kind."

"Well, one ought to be kind to guests," said Ergath. "Even uninvited ones. Come in; I have water and cheese if you want it."

There was a command in that voice. And nobody dared question it.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

As it turned out, the water came from an underground spring within one of the side passages. There were a great many fluffy white sheep. While they ate, Ergath entertained himself by watching them.

As he did, he would pick up a sheep and draw out a gigantic knife larger than any sword. Then, he would cut the wool off the sheep like carving a wood block. He was marvelously skilled at it, too, and held his sheep with very gentle hands.

"Relma, what are we doing here?" asked Ronald.

"Improvising," said Relma.

The cheese was delicious. It had a tangy yet smooth taste. Relma reflected that Ajax might have yet to come after them. If so, Relma should try to make Ergath like them. It couldn't hurt their chances. "Mighty Ergath, you said you'd give us what help you could," said Relma. "Are you knowledgeable about Lightning Trail?"

"Very," said Ergath, hands sheering off wool. "You see, every so often, you get adventurers trying to climb the mountain to take it. When you live up here, you know the routes they will take. It makes it easier to ambush them.

"And since many of them are counting on drawing the weapon, they often have information. I've picked up a book or two in my time. They're over there if you want them."

He motioned to what appeared to be a plain stone wall. But the stone receded when he flicked his hands and revealed an entire chamber. Within were dozens upon dozens of books. Relma wished she was better at reading. But, unfortunately, her lessons hadn't gotten very far. "Thank you very much."

"This is lucky," said Estela. "We'll be able to learn more about Lightning Trail and how to draw it before we get there."

"Or before we get eaten," muttered Ronald. "How do you even know Ajax is coming after you?"

"Well, if I were him, I'd be itching for revenge," said Estela. "The real question is if the messenger found him and Telix gave him leave to go find us. We are on the verge of a battle."

"And if Ajax can get past the stone," noted Relma. "Though if they kidnapped me again, they might be able to avoid a battle. That was why they did it in the first place."

"I don't think you're that important," said Estela.

"Well, Telix thinks so," said Relma. "So if he thinks he can grab us, he probably will."

"Cheese?" said Ronald.

It was a different kind. Relma took it. "Um, thank you."

Estela went into the library while Relma and Ronald ate. A little while later, she returned with a book and opened it. "Look at this."

Relma tried to figure out what it said. She could make out the letters but couldn't remember how they all fit together. "Um, maybe you could tell me what it is."

"Right," said Estela, giving the book to Ronald, "it says here that Lightning Trail was given to Anoa by Elranor. Anoa the Bright wielded it in battle and was undefeated. As he used it, the sword became bound to the bloodline. Only those with the blood of Elranor could wield it."

"That much is common knowledge," said Relma. "How did it end up in the sky anyway?"

"Well, according to this, Aren drove it into the sky long ago. He proclaimed that the one who could draw it would be King of Harlenor," said Ronald. "Many people started trying to draw it, but nobody ever succeeded.

"So, the Kingdom fractured."

"That doesn't sound right," said Relma.

"Oh, I should mention that that story is one of the later ones," said Ergath, not looking up from his sheep. "If you want something old, you'll want one of these."

He motioned, and one of the bookcases began to shudder. One of the books was worked out and fell to land on the ground. The ground shuddered beneath it, shaking it along the bottom until it reached them.

"Couldn't you treat the books more carefully?" asked Estela. "These are valuable."

"I can't read them," admitted Ergath. "The text is too small. Though I put some enchantments to make them more durable and water-resistant."

Relma picked up the book. It was a massive, leather-clad tome held together by steel. It was cumbersome, and she saw no pictures as she flipped it open. Just a spidery scrawl. She glanced up. "What is this?"

"This was stolen by my great-grandfather," said Ergath. "He was alive during the days of Anoa IX."

Estela grabbed the book and flipped through it. "That can't be right."

"What is it?" asked Relma.

"This is a journal," said Estela. "The person who wrote it signed it Anoa X, rightful King of Harlenor United."

"There was no Anoa X," said Relma. "Everyone knows that."

"According to this, he had to go into exile when he was very young. Anoa IX was having trouble keeping his generals in line," said Estela. "Then Baltoth murdered him in an ambush. After that, all the Generals proclaimed themselves the rightful king.

"There was a huge civil war, and they all carved out their kingdoms."

"But that can't be right," said Ronald. "Everyone knows that Elranor commanded the three kingdoms to remain separate. At least until the time Harlenor Reunited came about. Anoa IX's son was murdered by Calishan assassins."

"They probably changed the history later," said Estela. "Kings do that all the time to make themselves look good. We Vortegex's have a long history of doing just that."

"But why would they betray Anoa X?" asked Relma.

"Because they wanted to be king, I wager," said Estela with a shrug. "He was probably a child when it happened. So he wouldn't be able to do much to stop them."

"So what about the Calishan assassins?" asked Relma.

"The three kings probably tried to murder Anoa X and failed," said Estela. "Then they just pretended he was dead to quell any possible uprisings."

Relma realized that the book was written by her ancestors. "How does that journal end?"

"It says here that Anoa X grew up in the care of Gail Arengeth," said Estela. "Then Baltoth began an invasion of Harlenor. With everyone divided, no one could stop him. So Gail drove Lightning Trail into the sky and made the three kings vow to support the one who drew it. In return, he promised that anyone worthy to rule Harlenor could remove it.

"Then he allowed each one to try, and all failed.

"The journal says Anoa X was going to try his luck at Gail's urgings."

"And then my ancestor ate him," said Ergath. "Well, that's quite satisfying."

"Why?" asked Relma.

"Anoa the Bright tried to wipe all the giants out," said Ergath. "We were driven to near extinction by him."

"I can't imagine why," muttered Estela.

"My sheep have a similar opinion of humans," said Ergath. "Actually, I didn't know any of this."

"Why not?" asked Relma. But wait, he already told her.

"I told you," said Ergath. "I can't focus on the letters."

Relma saw an opportunity. But she couldn't take it because she couldn't read.

"Would you like me to read these books to you?" asked Estela. "You could learn all about what's inside them?"

"Well, that does seem a decent reason to keep you alive a while longer." mused Ergath. "Read on, human."

So Estela had been thinking the same thing. At the very least, it would buy them time. And then, she could gradually get Ergath to like her and the others. She was making progress. They could get out of here and find Lightning Trail with any luck.

Without it?

Well, they could end up a giant's meal.