Giants (25 page)

“Take me to Lord Uriah,” Sungara said. “I bring him message.”

“Tell it to me first,” Herrek said.

“Message is bad. Lord Uriah must hear.” When Herrek said nothing more, Sungara said, “Sit then. You must sit before I give message.”

The chariots were brought near and everyone sat, even the dogs, which obeyed Joash’s command. Sungara told them about the surprise attack upon Hori Cove. He left nothing out.

Joash shivered in horror. How many Elonites would he never see again? With his broken leg, had Nestor escaped? Joash’s throat burned and his eyes stung. A hollow feeling filled him, and along with the feeling came a terrible fear of the giants, sabertooths, and Tarag. They were being hunted. The terrible ordeal was anything but over. Joash looked at the warriors. Their faces were masks. They sat rigidly.

“Giant armor is enchanted,” Sungara somberly added. “I saw Elonite swords shatter on mail. I saw own arrow bounce harmlessly off, even though I shot at close range.”

Joash glanced at Sungara’s heavy black bow. In the past, he’d heard charioteers swear fearful oaths against Huri bows. They were fearsome weapons. Because the Huri were experts at ambushes, able to hide in mere clumps of grass, they often fired their heavy bows from close range. An arrow from such a bow could pierce a shield or chainmail. Joash found it incredible that the Huri hadn’t been able to pierce giant armor. Maybe Sungara had been farther away than he’d realized.

Othniel was nodding. “I’ve heard tales of giant armor and weapons. They say in the Far North, in a smithy hidden from the sun’s light, lies the Forge of Bolverk. He knows secrets hidden from our smiths, or even those of Caphtor. In this hidden smithy Bolverk forges the grim weapons and armor of giants. Even his father, Jotnar, is said to be amazed at Bolverk’s skills.”

“Their iron is enchanted,” Sungara said again. “Their shamans are mighty.”

“Maybe,” Herrek said stiffly. “What does Captain Maharbal plan?”

“You must flee to beach. All speed must be used. Make your horses sweat, kill them if need be, but flee. Captain Maharbal is certain giants and sabertooths will come for you next.”

Joash, who had heard all his life how superstitious the Huri were, was impressed with Sungara’s factual telling of the horrible tale.

“They are terrible foes. Not even your lances will slay them. You must flee with Sungara.”

“So you’ve faced Elonites before,” Othniel said grimly, perhaps turning to something familiar rather than dwelling upon the Nephilim horror. “Where have you faced us, Huri?”

“Are you mad?” asked Gens. “Didn’t you listen? The giants have destroyed our camp. Now they hunt us.”

“I heard,” Othniel said, his stare a hard one. “And we’ll destroy them.”

Sungara swore a Huri oath. “You must flee, chariot-man.”

“Am I a Huri?” Othniel laughed, bitterly. “No, I am of Teman Clan. I will hunt giants for what they’ve done.”

Joash couldn’t believe what he heard, but then Othniel hadn’t seen Mimir or Tarag. Joash was ready to accept Sungara’s advice.

“Giants have magic,” Sungara warned. “Beasts follow them. Chariot-man a fool if he thinks he can fight giants.”

Othniel turned red and made ready to retort.

“Bite your tongue, Warrior,” Herrek said sternly.

Othniel gave Herrek a quizzical glance.

Herrek ignored it. He said to Sungara, “You will ride in my chariot. I’ll take you to Lord Uriah. You will tell him whatever extra message the Mother Protectress sent along.”

Sungara’s blunt expression didn’t shift, but Joash noticed a slight twitching of the Huri’s thick fingers. So, there was more that Sungara hadn’t said. Yes, of course. The plan of action, the choice of beaches.

As squat Sungara climbed aboard the chariot and Gens rattled away, Joash wondered what it must have been like for the Huri. He’d been slipped from a small boat and onto the steppes, onto foreign shores with grim legends. Sungara had seen what the sabertooths could do, and the giants, too. He had witnessed horrible butchery at the camp. Yet, all alone he’d come in order to give Elonites a message. Sungara must be brave, and sure of his woodcraft. Joash’s estimation of him rose.

Those thoughts fled at the thought of giants and sabertooths hunting
them
. Joash called the dogs more sharply than he’d wanted. Two of them put their tails between their legs and cowered, as if they’d been caught doing something bad. It had been his tone, of course. He petted those two and spoke to the others, reassuring them, calming them. He knew dogs picked up the emotions of their masters. He noticed that Othniel’s horses had also become nervous.

A half-hour later the rest of the charioteers arrived. Sungara’s tale had spread. At Lord Uriah’s command they moved at double time toward the selected beach.

Later, Adah cried out and pointed toward the east. The westering sun, with its slashing rays, glinted off something metallic. Lord Uriah called a halt. Eagle-eyed Shemul was called. The handsome driver shaded his eyes before he hissed between his teeth.

“It’s armor.”

“Sungara?” Lord Uriah asked.

The squat Huri, who had padded behind Lord Uriah’s chariot, fingered his beads as he studied the eastern horizon. He nodded. “I think driver right. Armor flashes.” He grinned at Othniel, who like Herrek stood near Lord Uriah. “I recognize armor-flashes from when I raid onto the Plains of Elon.”

Othniel didn’t have time to scowl. He, like almost everyone else, strained to pierce the riddle of the bright flashes.

“They’re still far away,” Herrek said.

Lord Uriah tapped his teeth together. At last he uncorked his ale-skin and took a swig. Around him was the chariot squadron. They’d been moving in close formation, the pace a hard one on the runners and grooms, but quite bearable for the charioteers.

“Tide is right for loading,” Sungara said.

“Yes, so you said before,” Lord Uriah said.

“How near is the beach?” Adah asked Sungara.

“Near,” the Huri said.

“The giants are too far away,” Adah said. “They’re afoot, we have chariots. It might be a tight race, but we’ve the advantage of speed.”

Lord Uriah took another swig of ale.

“Even given that a giant can move at twice the speed of a man,” Adah said, “they won’t make it to the beach until well after high tide.”

Joash stood near Herrek’s chariot and saw Gens shake his head.

Lord Uriah must have seen it, too, for he asked, “What ails you, Driver?”

“Lord,” said Gens, “those flashes have the feel of doom.”

Sungara grunted in what sounded like agreement.

Othniel snorted.

“Maybe we should send scouts,” Herrek said, “and determine the number of our foes.” He made a mailed fist. “The giants butchered Elonites. We must teach them the cost of that.”

Lord Uriah stroked his white beard. “Ours is not a combat expedition.”

Herrek squinted, as he stared east. He spat at the ground. “We cannot let the giants think we’re cowards.”

Charioteers muttered angrily in agreement.

Lord Uriah laughed. “Rather, we cannot let the giants slay us, or stop us from leaving the steppes and reporting upon what we’ve seen.”

Adah agreed.

“What if only a handful of giants approach?” Herrek asked.

“I’m certain it
is
only a handful,” Lord Uriah said. “But these are giants, Champion, and this is their land.”

“If we deploy our chariots on carefully chosen ground, then we can slay this
handful
of giants.”

Lord Uriah shook his head. Raising his voice, he addressed the entire company. “All grooms and runners will board their master’s chariot. We will move to the beach at a trot.”

Herrek muttered, as did several other proud warriors.

“Sungara will ride with you,” Lord Uriah told the champion.

“No, no,” Sungara said uneasily. “Danger is near. I trust my own feet now.”

“Nonsense. We’ll outrace you and leave you behind.”

“Sungara not think so, Lord Uriah.”

“Let’s not argue over it,” Adah said. “We’ve already stopped too long.”

Lord Uriah agreed, and the command was given. The squadron moved at a fast trot. At their heels followed the dogs.

“Something feels wrong,” Gens said.

Herrek adjusted the grip on his shield.

“Remember the sabertooth who ambushed us at the black thorns?” Gens asked. “This has that kind of feel.”

Both Herrek and Joash looked back. Armor flashed, bright and ominous, and somehow seeming closer than before.

The stocky Huri, who ran easily and swiftly, grinned at Joash. It was an odd sight. The Huri seemed too massive to run for long, but he paced easily alongside the hounds.

“Do you think we’re being herded?” Herrek asked Gens.

Gens nervously chewed his mustache.

Lord Uriah slowed the rapid pace. Maybe he, too, was suspicious.

Suddenly, Shemul shouted, “Giants!”

“What?” Lord Uriah shouted back at him.

“I see the giants now, lord, not just flashes of light.”

Charioteers craned their heads east. The westering sun threw up odd shadows. The waving grasses seemed longer than before, and the stones and boulders taller and grimmer. In time, night would shroud everything in darkness. Even so, the armor-flashing giants were visible to all.

“The giant’s are running!” Shemul shouted.

“How far can a giant run in heavy armor?” Herrek shouted to Lord Uriah. “Let us stop and deploy, and attack them when they’re weary.”

Many charioteers roared agreement.

Adah, who rode with Lord Uriah, studied the giants. Her lips were thin. She whispered into Lord Uriah’s ear. He increased the pace.

It wasn’t long before Shemul roared, “The giants move quickly, Lord. Almost as fast as horses.”

“Impossible!” shouted shaggy-bearded Karim.

Many turned pale with fear. For now, many of them could see the giants, Joash among them. The tall, armored giants sprinted. They covered the ground in huge bounds, weapons and shields in their hands. As warriors, those in the company knew that to run far in armor was extremely wearying. These giants didn’t seem to grow weary.

The chariot squadron fled down a long incline of grass. Wheels clattered over shadowed rocks. Runners yelled and hung on with a white-gripped intensity. Seven tall giants sprinted after them, although the giants were still too far off for anyone to see their features. The speed at which the giants ran was unnatural.

“Magic is at work,” Sungara said. He no longer grinned but ran with determination.

Joash knew that Sungara was right. No one should be able to sprint so hard for so long, not armored in heavy mail and bearing shields.

Lord Uriah roared a sharp command. His team broke into a gallop. The others followed close behind. Many charioteers looked back. The giants didn’t diminish, but seemed incredibly to keep pace with them.

“At least they can’t outrun us,” Gens hissed.

“We should turn and face them,” Herrek said.

“Against seven giants?” Joash asked, before he could keep his thoughts to himself.

“Better that, than be driven like cattle!” Herrek snarled.

Joash saw that Sungara had dropped behind. The Huri could pace trotting horses, but not galloping ones. The Huri must have recognized his plight, for he veered and raced away from both chariots and giants. Joash wondered if he’d ever see Sungara again.

“The sea!” roared the foremost driver.

Herrek’s chariot topped the slight crest. Joash felt his stomach lurch at the sudden upward shift. Then they rattled toward the vast Suttung Sea. They shifted to the left and raced through a field of waist-high flowers. The flowers had already closed their petals, as if averting their eyes from the spectacle. To Joash’s relief he saw the two-masted
Tiras
and a horse-barge working their way toward the darkening shore. Surely now it would simply be a matter of racing into the surf and swimming for it. The horses were tired, but shortly the race would be over. They’d almost won.

In that instant, as the squadron rattled through the field of flowers, monstrous sabertooths arose from hiding and charged the chariots in the flanks. Surprise was complete. The dogs were in the rear of the company, and the horses had been driven too hard for them to have sensed the danger.

“The giants have herded us into ambush!” Gens screamed. Other men cried out as they drove through the gauntlet of death. Joash saw a chariot splinter under the impact of a shaggy monster. The warrior flipped backward and landed on his head. A loud snap told of a broken neck. The driver, Shemul, screamed, as heavy claws raked his face and chest. More feral sabertooths arose. Herrek, his teeth flashing as he roared his battle cry, leaned against the rail and thrust. A sabertooth tumbled head over heels. Gens barely turned the team from another snarling beast. Joash thought to feel the hot breath as the sabertooth’s jaws clicked together less than a foot from his back. Spittle landed on his neck. He clenched his teeth as he dearly held onto the vibrating railing.