A Tale of Time: The Malice of Men

Chapter 21: Debate

Debate is encouraged. Debate is feared.

Debate is enlightening. Debate is frightening.

Debate is deciding. Debate is descending.

Debate is what decides your fate in the morning.

For the first time in more than 900 years, there was a human amongst the giants. They were all around her. Nothing could hide from those , wise, angry eyes of theirs that peered down at her. Even though, she didn't dare ask, she knew that this was a place where lie weren't granted sanctuary.

The place was made from whatever they could find in the forest itself. It wasn't  mighty, it was modest. It wasn't solid, it was simple, yet a power lingered  more ancient than man himself. There was magic in the air, amongst the trees, in the water they drank, in the very ground that lay around them. This was their life. As she walked by them all, they turned. Some seemed neutral, others wore a sad expression,  but most of them were angry, on what and for what reason she couldn't say, but she pitied the thing. It was terrible to incur the wrath of the giants. She hoped she would never be on the receiving end.

Her men walked behind her. Armanda' s presence was the only  thing that made them stay. It was not that her men were craven, but if this meeting ended in a fight, only one party would walk out of it safely and it would not be them.

The giant who came to take them wasn't very informative. When Armanda told him of the circumstances that brought him here, he nodded solemnly and told her and her men, addressing each one by name, to follow him. Nobody dared to ask many questions after that. Armanda asked him where eyes were going to which he replied that they would soon know. 

All day they marched deeper and deeper into the forest. There were many tales told about this dark and eeriye place,  but it appeared most of them were false. While the place did not bubble a nd spring with life, there was certainly no malice nor malcontent here. The birds did not chirp, they listened. The animals lived in relative peace and the trees sheltered them all. As they walked by, they saw wild pigs and tigers, deer and snake, yet none hindered their passing. The giant who led them seemed to be indifferent towards the presence of these animals. He walked on and Armanda and her men were to follow and follow they did, wherever he led them. They took one quick stop by a lake to freshen up and have a drink, but otherwise, they marched on.

By sunset, it crossed Armanda's mind that this giant could have been a solitary creature and was leading them off to eliminate any threat he felt from them. That scared her. But just when she decided to make a move, he slowed down. They had reached their destination.

Their horses forgot all fear and boldly marched behind the giant who lead them away. Her own men were given refreshments and a place to set up camp. As for Armanda herself, comforts would wait. 

She walked into a tent between the trees, large as was possible but quite normal-sized for any giant. She strode in. Inside,  It was dark. The only light came from a large lantern that hung from the roof of the tent, but when Armanda walked in, it increased its brightness. For a moment, she was blinded. When her eyes finally adjusted to the light, she found herself staring at an old, old face. It was lean, haggard, but kind as well. It was full of anger, pain and love beyond measure or compare. He wore several scars and had several wounds. His silver hair fell to his shoulders, but it made him look all the more older. It opened its lips.

"Welcome, Armanda Sparrow, to the house of the giants. I am Iravaan." It was then that Armanda realized who she was looking at. She had quite forgotten that giants werei mmortal beings. This was the Iravaan who had decided to go man. The Iravaan who laid the boundaries of Ëra. Chief of giants, gift giver, ban-maker, art-teacher, the first giant to have risen from the deeps of time itself.