Against the Giants by Ru Emerson - (ebook by Flandrel, Undead) Page A

attention, then signed, This
way first. He set his shoulder against one of the main doors, created a
space just large enough for her to slip through, then followed, easing it
silently shut behind them.
    A long, broad corridor led to a vast hall with a high
ceiling, thick wooden pillars, and a low-burning fire. He could see chairs,
benches, piles of cushions, and a huge table on the other side of the fire, but
there was no sign or sound of occupants.
    Agya jumped as someone to her left beyond another set of
double doors snored one bellowing snort. The doors remained closed, and the
noise wasn’t repeated.
    Deciding that they were safe for the moment, Malowan set his
shoulder against the opposite wall and eased down the long passage. Agya sighed
quietly and drew a dagger as she followed.
    The chamber—a feasting hall, clearly—was huge. Fire burned
merrily in a pit at the room’s center, illuminating some things and casting odd
shadows over others. Doors on either side of the room were closed, and there was
no sound to indicate what might be beyond them.
    Malowan glanced both ways, then ran light-footed to the west
doors and listened. Agya started toward him, but he shook his head and signed, Food place. Servants. Agya nodded and laid a hand over her lips, indicating
she’d be quiet. The paladin smiled, then moved across the chamber to test the
east doors. Safe, he finally indicated. Agya clapped both hands over her
mouth and he grinned. “Safe” wasn’t really likely anywhere in the Steading.
    He eased one of the doors open so they could slip through. A
somewhat narrower, dark hallway led straight on. Malowan could hear at least two
giants snoring—sleeping off too much bad wine, no doubt. Moments later, they
came to a cross-point. He eased into the open and listened intently, then moved
past a door left partly open. Fire burned sullenly halfway down a long, narrow
chamber that he thought must be part of the outer walls—here the logs were as
thick as he was tall. There was a door at the far end, and he thought he could
sense the cave bear beyond it. Between them and that door, the room was a jumble
of tables, chairs, and benches. All of them were littered with cups, dirty
plates, and platters. Broached kegs were everywhere. The room reeked of sour
wood-fire smoke, unwashed bodies, wet leather, ale, and vomit. Badly preserved
trophy heads lined the wall above the fireplace—he could only hope Agya hadn’t
seen that one of the heads was human. He touched her hand to get her attention
and led the way back into the hall, crossing to check out the door on the
opposite wall.
    These were heavily barred. Malowan mouthed a reveal spell,
then led Agya to the left. The hallway bent west here, another pair of doors at
the end. He eased them open, revealing another fireplace—the fire here nearly
burned out—and an almost normal-sized chamber that looked surprisingly neat and
almost businesslike. The table was long and narrow. A chief’s chair sat empty at
one end, smaller chairs flanking it. Shelves near the fireplace held odd items,
and opposite the hearth, a huge hide was stretched on the wall. Malowan gazed at
this, then nodded in satisfaction. Map, he signed and moved to study it.
    Agya tugged at his sleeve and held out both hands, making
writing motions. He handed over the blank map hide and charcoal stick and left
her to copy the map while he checked the rest of the chamber.
    Hides and rugs covered the floor, and tapestries hid most of
the walls. Along the west wall, there was a heavy, stiff skin covering a vast
area. Oddly, the bottom edge was moving as if air currents from behind were at
work. Very odd, since the chamber was rather stuffy. He shoved the hide to one
side, sensitive fingers questing until he found a door. It wasn’t really very
well hidden, except by the hide. Once inside the tiny hidden chamber, he cast a
spell, and the rack of firewood along the far wall lit up