It was night time at The Unknown.

The city made for giants was like living in a destroyed or flooded out cave or village.

It was something once. Though vile and extravagant, it was something to be seen at its peak.

A city built and made for giants. All things large, from the stables to their wild beasts they tamed, to the temples, that made the largest human ones look like toys.

Once they took their human slaves and worshipers, which they called the homely, a smaller city was built at the base of the larger one.

All of it was a crescendo up to the open throne at top, where their king and rulers would meet and look out.

The flags and drapes that covered the otherwise open room could be seen moving in the wind from miles away.

The Unknown was now tents and burnt out buildings. The throne at the top was used for the meeting of the giants, but besides that, nothing else.

The giants came and go, though some still called it home.

Most lived with war parties, or were the occasional solo warriors who would kill and destroy on their own.

Elah was the last place where they all truly congregated.

The final battle that took destroyed The Unknown was horrific. Giant against giant, against man, against beast.

No one really spoke of it anymore. It was that despicable. The streets still smelled of blood, and the stains were never washed off the walls.

Joab had this in mind as he and his small group walked through the village of the human followers, staring up at the large throne where the armor should be.

They weren't trying to hide.

They had hoods over their heads, and their weapons out.

They looked like the misfits and rebels and outlaws that they were...at least to their kingdom's eyes.

Though the king had asked for the Elite to be made, the good people of the united kingdom would never know.

A woman follower of the giants met them at the bottom.

"Trade?"

That would be the only reason to come here. Anything else would be death.

"Yes."

"Trade what?"

"Information. Good information. We have been on the plains. We have seen armies. Vengeance is coming for the giants."

The woman nodded, and pointed where a giant should be, up the hill.

"Food. Weapons. Maybe a shelter for the night," Joab demanded for the info.

"They will decide. Sippai will decide. He is the only one here. No wants to stay at The Unknown."

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

"You do."

The bald woman didn't disagree, and pointed again.

The gang of misfits slowly walked through the homely village, eyes upon them.

Triad, the leader of the humans, watched from a rooftop.

Too confident.

Joab and Kai led the men, keeping their heads down.

They were glad it was dark, but they could still see the unspeakable of the giants and their followers.

Things they wanted to change and fight.

But they kept moving.

They made their way up the hill and stopped at the growling.

Wooden cages and crates full of giant animals were before them.

Like giant jaguars or saber tooth tigers. They growled and bit and snarled and swung their claws.

Even Joab was frightened by them.

"Something, aren't they?"

A high pitched voice stopped all of them.

They turned to see Sippai, the tall and skinny and alien like giant, leaning against a cage.

He was known for his brutal deeds at Elah. Slicing and killing and playing of game of how many men he could kabob on a spear.

All Joab could do was just nod, trying not to show his fear.

This was as close as he had been to a giant that he was not fighting.

"The largest one in the back. That was Jalut's," Sippai said, pointing towards the largest cage in the back.

Kai squinted his eyes and his mouth dropped.

The black jaguar or panther like creature looked like a small hill. Its eyes broke through the darkness.

It was not going mad like the other beasts. It just growled into a low purr.

"Who are you?" Sippai asked, walking around the men.

"Thieves. Bandits. The worst of the worst," Joab grunted, staring up at the alien like giant. "We have nothing against you. We are against everyone, and for no one."

Sippai nodded as he continued to circle them.

"You have information?"

"The united kingdom is building an army to the north. A final army to attack here with," Joab said. All of it lies. Not a bit of truth. Only the Elite were fighting the giants.

The unified army under Abner was working on unification, not another giant war.

"In retaliation?" Sippai's high pitched voice cracked.

"Yes. Something about someone paying tribute," Joab grunted.

Sippai looked at Kai.

"Is that true?"

Kai nodded and grunted. "We ran into some of the army in a tavern. Slit the throats of three of them that wouldn't stop talking. Beat information out of the others. Saw the army for ourselves, we did."

Sippai was convinced, and nodded towards the throne.

"The armor of the one they speak of is right up there."

"May we see it?" Joab asked.

"Why?"

"The throne at the Unknown? Even someone without a soul like me knows about that," Joab lied.

"Come on! Let us see it!" Kai spoke up.

Sippai looked at the beasts, growling and snarling.

"I should just let the beasts out and let them chase you. Or I should put you in their cage."

"You could," Joab said, sweat forming under his hood.

Triad, the human follower, slowly came upon the scene, with his best warriors in tow.

"What's the big ones name?!!" Kai spoke, trying to break Sippai's concentration.

"The Goliath's cat? Oh. He called it Worm," Sippai laughed.

"Let us see the throne! Or feed us to the Worm. We gave you information! Give us wine and food and women and song," Joab pointed bravely at Sippai.