Vlandar held up a hand. “Nemis, get back to that doorand-never mind,” he added as the paladin tensed and gestured urgently toward theopening, then exerted his strength to pull the heavy slab quietly closed.
“There are at least twenty giants coming this way,” hemurmured. “I suggest we go back that way. Now.”
They moved quickly back around the turn, but Vlandar stopped there and sent the rangers a few paces back to keep guard while Nemis cast another of the reveal spells he had memorized for the night. “I would like totake that map, especially if it shows where future raids may happen. I would also like to get down those stairs since it should lead to a treasury. Not necessarily gold and jewels,” he added as Khlened grinned, “but otherdocuments like the one Mal found.”
“Why would the trove be below?” Lhors wanted to know.
“Underground for more safety,” Vlandar replied.
Maera gestured urgently the way they’d just come. “There’s agiant just opened the door up yonder, and he’s got wolves with him. Whatever’sin the chamber down here that snored isn’t snoring anymore.”
Vlandar nodded sharply and gestured with his head back toward the entry. Nemis took up rear guard as the company walked quickly the other way. Khlened and Lhors got the door open once Malowan tested to be certain no one was waiting in the entry.
They eased through the door into a poorly lit hallway. There was a door directly ahead, snoring from the left wall, and dead silence on the right. When they reached a left turn in the hall, they could just make out a short passage that ended in another door. Nemis tested this, then swung it aside to reveal yet another hallway with doors on both sides. Maera ran light-footed along this and came back to inform them that there seemed to be a barracks or other sleeping chamber to the south and two long, narrow rooms to the north that were divided by a hall that ended in another door. “I could already hear theclatter of crockery and a giantess screeching for someone to hurry up and finish cutting tubers for the broth or go into the broth himself.”
“Wonderful,” Khlened grumbled. “Stopped no matter which waywe go.”
“Maybe not,” Maera hissed back. “From what I heard, it soundsas if they’re piling things up and getting ready to bank the fire and go to bed.Isn’t there a change of guard due?”
Malowan answered, “If these things are constant from day today, then yes. But in that case, the guard will be another green youth who will likely assume the one he replaces has left early for reasons of his own. It isn’t likely he’ll put out an alarm or search the entry.”
“You reassure me,” Maera replied sarcastically and went backup to keep an eye on the passage that led to the kitchens.
Vlandar looked at Malowan. “What do you think? Do we waithere and try the other hall again shortly, or do we wait for the servants to leave the kitchen and go back through the feast hall? You have walked here before, whereas I have only looked at the map.”
“I am of your mind,” Malowan said. “We want that map, and wemust search for other scrolls. Judging from Nemis’ translation of the firstscrolls, I would assume that there are other sets of orders somewhere. Other scrolls could give us locations of the Steading’s allies-other giants perhaps orenclaves of dark elves.”
Nemis shuddered. “Pray there are no drow here. We are too fewto resist them.” He turned aside to look north, and his lips moved. “It is alittle quieter up there, I think. The ranger may be right. The cooks have set their stews to simmer and are leaving the dirty crockery for the slaves to scour later.”
Vlandar nodded. “Nemis, if you have a spell to use on theeast passage, use it. If it’s clear, we go that way into the council chamber.Otherwise, we wait here.” He glanced at Lhors then and laid a hand on the youthsarm. “You’ve done well, so far,” he murmured as the mage moved off. “You haven’tgiven in to fear any more than you’ve ignored danger. I knew I was right tobring you.”
Lhors nodded in thanks, then quietly asked, “The kitchens. Wego that way.”
“We may, yes,” Vlandar replied. “You heard what Maera andNemis said about the kitchens. Remember that the servants and slaves are busy making certain their masters have food when they waken. They won’t be lookingaround.”
The rangers came back. “No sound from the entry exceptsomeone tromping up into that tower,” Maera said quietly. “Whatever itwas-likely another young giant-it went to its place and stayed there.”
“The passage between kitchen and feast hall is still busy,”Rowan added, “but not as busy as it was. Mostly I saw hairy ogres and brutishorcs shambling back and forth and carrying piles of filthy dishes into the kitchen. Whoever was bellowing orders in the kitchen no longer is.” She eyedVlandar steadily. “She may still be there, of course,” the ranger added. “I sawat least two armed guards moving along the north passage beyond the kitchens.”
“Were there any wolves?” Lhors asked.
“No,” Rowan replied. “Why do you ask?”
“Well, Malowan said that he’d sensed wolves somewhere in theSteading. If they actually patrol with the creatures, they’re sure to scent theblood from the giants we’ve slain.”
“Good man,” Vlandar said, nodding approvingly. “All right,people, we’ll test both ways. I still prefer to go straight into the councilroom and down through there, but we do what we must. Stay alert. We’ll move outas soon as we dare.”
8
Shortly after, Nemis indicated the north way was mostlyclear, but three handlers and at least a dozen dire wolves now occupied the east hallway. Fortunately, they hadn’t gone into the entry.
“A wolf’s keen nose would immediately find that guard’sbody,” Nemis said. “They seem more interested in the wrestlers, however-thehandlers do, at least.”
Vlandar merely nodded and moved out ahead, gesturing for his company to stay close and alert. He stopped halfway up the west wall of the hall near its end. It was fairly dark here, though light from the kitchens flooded the opposite wall. Two creatures scurried past, unaware of the company lurking in the lower hall. They were half Lhors’ height and looked more like dogs orlizards than people. Empty platters dangled from the creatures’ hands, and theyseemed utterly cowed.
“Kobolds,” Rowan breathed against his ear. “Cowardly, unlessthey can attack in great numbers. We are safe from them.”
Lhors gave her a brief, abashed smile of thanks. He jumped as someone in the kitchen screeched. He couldn’t understand the words, but the hateand fury behind them was all too evident.
Lhors started as someone brushed his arm. Malowan wrapped an arm around the youth’s shoulders. “Be easy,” he said quietly. “Vlandar wouldnever put you into battle unprepared. Remember the bargain you and he made. You serve as eyes to guard our backs, and in return, we protect you.” He gripped theboy’s shoulder and moved past him, Agya right on his heels. She glanced atLhors, fighting knives clutched in both hands and her face expressionless. She didn’t look afraid.
Remember what she is, Lhors told himself. She stole and fought simply to stay alive. She knows how to be brave. Your father taught you to hunt animals, not kill men or monsters. He remembered how Rowan had guarded in that other hall and turned sideways to set his back against the wall so that he could keep up with the others while keeping an eye on the way they’d come.
Vlandar’s hand shot up in warning as he and Rowan backed awayfrom the opening. Lhors could suddenly hear drunken laughter ahead and to his right, as if a door had opened. A weeping young giantess ran past, scrubbing bits of meat and steaming juices from her face.
I thought the giants were done feasting, Lhors thought. The door banged closed, and the sound lessened. Malowan looked at Vlandar, who shrugged and led them back the other way.
“This won’t do, Vlandar,” the paladin whispered, once Nemishad muttered a spell he claimed would build a wall of silence around them. “There are still giants in the feast hall, and the kitchen is full of all kindsof creatures. The longer we wait here…” He paused significantly.